How many times have teachers heard this comment? I wish I had a dollar each time some parent, pundit, or politician have said this. While it is true that taxpayers pay teacher salaries and part of their benefits, it is also true that I, too, pay salary and benefits for others in the workforce.
To wit, when I shop and spend money, my money--at least part of it--is used to pay salaries and benefits of employees. When I buy a newspaper containing a columnist I dislike, a portion of my money goes to pay his or her salary and benefits. My taxes pay salaries and benefits of city and county employees, and if I spend money in another city or county, my money pays salaries and benefits for those employees as well.
Yet teachers seem to be the current target of parents, pundits, and politicians. Why? Is it because we are quiet and accept the abuse heaped on us? When statements like, "I pay your salary" are issued, it is a threat to try to cause trouble for the teacher. My rejoinder, if I were brave enough, would be, "I pay yours too. In fact, through my taxes, I pay my own salary!" Notice, I just commented that I'm not brave enough to make a rejoinder because I will be in trouble for disrespectful comments toward parents.
I do not believe that teachers--or any group paid indirectly through taxes--is enslaved to the taxpayer. I do believe, however, that my job is to do my best for my students; they are who matter. Please don't jump on the 'teacher-bashing' bandwagon; instead, know and acknowledge that most of us are aware of the sources of our salaries and that most of us are in the classroom to do our best work with our students.
