Benefits or cake?

Once again I am appalled by the lack of respect and conscience when dealing with teachers. I was a teacher for 35 years, 32 in the Memphis City Schools, and I am now being told that my insurance benefits may be cut. I stayed after school, worked at home, bought supplies, gave children clothes and went in every day with a plan to be sure my students learned what they needed. I, like all teachers, did it because I care about children. However, working for the love of the job doesn’t mean we are not professionals. We deserve the respect and compensation we have earned. Teachers make it all happen. Promises made to us should be honored.

Meanwhile, SCS Supt. Dorsey Hopson apparently subscribes to the Marie Antoinette School of Management. He asks us to take cuts, but what is he willing to give up? Part of his salary — at least $269,000? His fully funded family health insurance? His fully funded life insurance policy? The $8,000 plus the board puts into a retirement account for him each year? His paid liability insurance? Dues to professional organizations? The board-provided car?

That he has a negotiated contract at all, is more than teachers now have! Yep, “Let them eat them eat cake.” Maybe it’s time for us all to take a look back at the French Revolution.