Life's Little Ironies

My employer, Monroe Public Schools, laid off the entire staff due to the uncertainty of Governor Snyder's proposed budget cuts to public education. This is old news. I found myself laid off after 35 years of teaching. This is also old news. There are plenty of loyal workers in business and industry who have lost jobs due to the poor economy. And, unlike them, I will be called back to my teaching position.




But, ironies abound. This week my school district held the annual employee recognition program. Technically, there are only 2 salaried employees in the district-- the superintendent and business manager. Bus drivers, administrative assistants, and custodians were not laid off but all the teachers and administrators were. So, many of the very people who had been laid off were honored for their loyal service to Monroe Public Schools. I was scheduled to be one of the honorees for my 35 years working in the school district. I decided not to attend.



And, as it happens to turn out, Michigan's economy has had a little rebound and there's enough money to fund schools. Now, there was always enough money, but Governor Snyder diverted money to community colleges and universities. But now, there's enough for k-12 public schools and for wherever else he wants to divert school funds. Good news, right? Maybe our school district will recall everybody. Maybe those wonderful educational programs we offer that aren't core academic classes can be reinstated. Nope. The irony is that some money will be returned to school districts but with strings attached. School districts must exhibit "best practices." There is no word yet on what "best practices" means. I view this as a form of extortion. Governor Snyder calls this education reform.



The final irony is that a bill was approved in the Michigan Senate to require teachers to pay 20% of health care costs. For years in Monroe Public Schools, wages were frozen in order to maintain health insurance. How silly of us, as our wages have not kept pace with the cost of living. So, we have our frozen wages from which health insurance costs will be deducted. To put a little salt on the wounds, those of us who teach at Monroe High School can remember the jubilation Representative Randy Richardville and his MHS biology teacher wife felt when he was reelected to the Michigan House and was guaranteed lifetime health insurance. The is the same Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville who has lead the legislation through the Senate to make retirees pay income tax on their pensions, who reduced business tax while increasing taxes on the poor, and who supported massive cuts to education. No worries for him--he's all set for the future and his wife is no longer teaching. Life's little ironies.