Op-Ed: Another Woburn Teacher Calls For A Suitable Contract

The following was sent to the Woburn Patch from Matthew Gangi:

To the Woburn Community:

Know that I’m writing this because I really care. I care about my city. I’ve lived in Woburn all my life and have great memories from my time in Woburn schools. Part of this is because I realized I wanted to be a teacher when I was 12 years old. Mrs. Doyle, Ms. Cerullo, Ms. Deminico, Mrs. Cullinane, Mr. Harkins, Ms. Hanson, Mr. Treacy, Mr. Brennan, Mr. Fedele—these are some teachers from my life who showed me what great teaching is. I studied at Salem State and, in 2006, I was very lucky and honored to get a position at Woburn High. For the past nine years I’ve devoted most of my life to my work and my students.

I care about my kids. I take my influence very seriously and I’ve done much to be “the best” at this profession. Constant coursework and professional development are required, and I knew this going in. Recently, however, with the influx of standardized testing and new requirements seemingly every year, JUST to be able to teach, I’ve found myself worried. Please understand: I’m not complaining that my job is too difficult, nor am I asserting that my only responsibility is to teach English. I concede that an educator’s job goes well beyond presenting academic material to students—I play the part of a coach, counselor and mentor most days, and I’m fine with that. Helping students in any way I can still brings me joy. What I am worried about is that recently I’ve been ordered to do more but I feel that to some I’m worth less.

With our current negotiations entering the seventh month since our contract expired, I now feel not only overwhelmed but also underappreciated, a sentiment with which I’m sure many other people in the city can relate. I know things are tough and money’s tight for many. I know Woburn has to keep this in mind during these negotiations. However, I feel it’s important that everyone step back from all this and realize the importance of what we do for our students, and that we’re only looking for a fair solution, for a fair contract.

I love my job. Part of this is due to the aforementioned teachers; they made me realize what kind of teacher I wanted to become. More importantly, they made me realize how I wanted to spend my life. Currently, we have teachers like this in Woburn. We can’t afford to disenfranchise and perhaps even lose passionate, dedicated people who no doubt reach our students as my teachers reached me. It’s important that we ensure Woburn continues to attract the best and the most dedicated people to work with our children; so, while I understand the financial costs involved now, I feel it’s necessary to also think of the long-term cost to our kids and by extension our community later on.

When you recognize this, you have to admit that providing our children with effective, dedicated teachers isn’t a cost, really—it’s an investment. And it’s one about which we should all care.

Respectfully,

Matthew J. Gangi
WMHS English Dept.
WHS Class of 2001