Who Moved My Tenure?

I often like to make analogies involving every day items. Sort of like how I often refer to the staff at St. Mary Magdalen as the Saks Fifth Avenue of educators and The Block in Webster Groves as the Cadillac of Pork Burgers.  

That being said, I've never been a big fan of management that hands out copies of the book titled, Who Moved My Cheese?

Sure, there are some good points to be made but I've often found it to be a cop-out to mass distribute this book during any type of structural reorganization or otherwise to portray these events in a positive light.  If you are management, then you need to reassure your staff that things will be positive by words, actions, and the way you handle yourself and others. Not by handing out a book. Might as well slap them in the face while you're at it.  Once again as the French (which I happen to be), would say, C'est La Vie, such is life. Not always fair, so deal with it.

I had a long conversation with Amy Sauer a few days ago. She's the Principal of St. Mary Magdalen school, and an excellent one at that. My main inquiry was why anyone in their right mind would choose to work for a parochial or private school over a public school. Parochial and private school teachers see none of the benefits a public school teacher would be granted. Most importantly, Tenure.

As recently as 12 years ago parochial school teachers had to pay the same tuition for their children as everyone else. Hence began the Parish Teacher Compensation Committee (PTCC). One of the few things Archbishop Burke approved of, might I add.

Parochial school, as well as private school teachers, do not have Tenure, but they do have an "implied" contract. In that written contract, there is a clause for termination based on "reduction of cost." Parochial School teachers as well as principals, are all on the same pay scale as every other counterpart across the board. Every Pastor must follow this rule set forth by the St. Louis Diocese.

 
Here's where it gets tricky, and why so many parochial schools are closing. You have a poorer parish and a wealthier parish. Each of which are responsible of sustaining their revenue. The schools themselves are required to cover at the very least 70 percent of their budget (teachers' salaries consuming the most).

Anything additional the school needs, 30 percent can be subsidized from the Parish itself. In a nutshell, you have a $100,000 budget. Your school only comes up with 70,000. You ask 30,000 from your parish to subsidize. The parish only has 40,000 lying around. The parish only has 10,000 left in the till.

School's gonna close. No way around it. You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. Tuition and fundraisers typically cover 70 percent or more of the school's budget as collections and offertory cover the income of the Parish Church.

Now, as far as teachers across the board go. It's safe to say that anywhere you go, and any teacher you speak with whether public, private or parochial, they will assure you that the old adage of, "Well, if I can't get a job at a public school, then I'll 'settle' for parochial" no longer exists.

During this economic time and the amount of teachers that have been laid off, terminated and moved around, teaching jobs are hard to come by.

"Aimee, you wouldn't believe the amount of resumes I get on a weekly basis from out-of-work teachers", Amy Sauer said.

After all of the budget cuts and 'specialized' teachers being out of a job as well as the closing of an obscene amount of parochial Catholic schools in St. Louis, teaching jobs are hard to come by.

 
If you recall the news story in 2010 how the Lindbergh School District had a budget decrease in upwards of $4.7 million, guess what happened? Forty-two teaching positions were eliminated as well as 18 non-teaching positions. That's 50 people out of a job.

This is only one example. Those teachers are sending their resumes to anyone and everyone. So what do you think happens when there is an over-abundance of people in the same profession you are in, and a good majority are scratching at the door to get in? You're going to stand up straight and tuck your shirt in, because you sure don't want to be next in the unemployment line.

 
"(These) teachers don't complain and don't expect more...they know they were chosen to sacrifice because what they do is a vocation and a calling..." Amy Sauer told me.

So you have a person who is doing what they love and the vast majority chose this career simply because they felt they were called to do so.

You have bratty kids who come from uncaring homes and you're stuck dealing with them ALL day long. Then you have the parent like me, I hate to admit, who in the past, has approached my daughter's teachers with the attitude of, "What? Not my daughter. You must be the one with the problem, my child is perfect!"

Or the times I annoy poor Miss Liz and Miss Carolyn with my unexpected visits while I'm volunteering at school. Hmmm, it seems even in adulthood I can't stop "disrupting class." Old habits die hard I suppose.

Until next time, Aimee....