Capitol Updates

By Bruce Wilcox

January 10, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this

Sounds fishy to me.

By Bruce Wilcox

January 10, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this

Sounds fishy to me.

By CDog

January 10, 2007 01:28 PM | Link to this

At least this is something of substance unlike the other petty items that have made the headlines (renaming Cynthia McKinney Parkway, Sunday liquor laws, speeding tickets). Now let’s get rid of the income tax, property tax, and vehicle ad valorem tax!

By Bruce Wilcox

January 10, 2007 01:28 PM | Link to this

Sounds fishy to me.

By QC

January 10, 2007 01:29 PM | Link to this

Teachers are always getting a raise, but what about the cafeteria & maintenance workers they are never, ever mentioned or thought about. So Gov. Perdue you need to look into giving them a raise as well, because i’m sure they’re long over do for one and very well deserive it

By just an observation

January 10, 2007 01:36 PM | Link to this

i agree qc the cafeteria and staff do deserve a raise. i haven’t heard anything about them getting one and i work at a school as an educator.

By HD

January 10, 2007 01:44 PM | Link to this

The maintennacne workers and the cafeteria workers are paid by the county not the state. Technically, teachers are state employees although they are hired by counties and some counties supplament the salary.

By educator

January 10, 2007 01:51 PM | Link to this

I’m thinking that we could afford to give cafeteria workers and other maintenance people raises if Perdue loses the RIDICULOUS idea of having a graduation coach and middle school coach for every school in Georgia. What a waste of money, time and human resources! They get paid more than the classroom teacher, and certainly more than the other maintenance and hourly workers.
Perdue re-elected. Shame on us.

By Anyom

January 10, 2007 01:58 PM | Link to this

What about the other STATE employess! We have to buy clothes,food and gas just like the teachers! Or Do We Count!

By Bob

January 10, 2007 01:59 PM | Link to this

Hey CDog, Do you want to get rid of all our police stations, fire departments, etc while we are at it? I bet you enjoy having some of that protection……that all comes at a cost.

By cissy

January 10, 2007 02:03 PM | Link to this

Perdue needs to remember the many other citizens who work for the state - not just teachers. We’ve gotten piddly 2 and 2.5% raises for the last several years with no cost of living increase. Perhaps the difference is who has a lobby group?

By bwhit

January 10, 2007 02:03 PM | Link to this

Thank you from a teacher!!!!!!!!

By bwhit

January 10, 2007 02:04 PM | Link to this

thanks

By Troy

January 10, 2007 02:11 PM | Link to this

I am sick and tired of hearing him pander to the teachers. It is just because they have a union. Other state employees (like myself) always get screwed. We went the first 2 years of his administration with no cost of living raise at all while health care costs went up. Then he finally gives us a 2% last year and this year that just barely covers the rise in health care costs. Not to mention that fact that he cuts the budget to law enforcement departments while increasing spending on government programs that need to be eliminated. I have no problem with teachers getting raises, but he needs to talk about and help all hard working state employees instead of pandering to one group. We take these jobs with degrees, and could be making more money in the private sector but a lot of us feel that we are doing a service by taking a lower paying job to help the people of Georgia. I still don’t think that the Governor understands that the state is just paying for the training for employees like myself just to have us go to other higher paying federal government or private sector jobs after we get trained. Georgia is the training center for the federal government and private sector. He needs to work to retain employees like us. I would love to retire with the state, but having a family I don’t know if it is very possible.

By AF

January 10, 2007 02:13 PM | Link to this

While I agree that cafeteria and maintenance staff need raises - I cannot agree with the fact that teachers are always getting raises – I’ve been a teacher for 5 years and last year was the first raise (other than a <1% raise that supposedly covered cost of living increases) I’ve seen – I have a Master’s degree and 5 years of experience and make less than most legal secretaries – and yes, my students’ test scores are high and my students excel in many other areas.

By AF

January 10, 2007 02:16 PM | Link to this

Troy - there is no union for teachers here - we have a few private companies that help us - but, no true union. Not saying that you don’t deserve a raise as much as I do - just saying that we don’t have a union…

By curious

January 10, 2007 02:19 PM | Link to this

Is it teacher only and not para’s meaning state certified teachers only?

By Kali

January 10, 2007 02:19 PM | Link to this

A raise would be greatly appreciated. I know I spend more than 3% of my salary buying supplies and other things for my students. Thanks Perdue!

By State Worker

January 10, 2007 02:19 PM | Link to this

There are more state workers than just teachers. We all work hard, are under paid, and deserve a raise.

By Brian

January 10, 2007 02:24 PM | Link to this

Sorry Troy, you are wrong. “I am sick and tired of hearing him pander to the teachers. It is just because they have a union.” Georgia teahers do NOT have a union. It is against state law. :-( If we DID have a UNION, we wouldn’t be allowing legislators to govern our profession.

By Bob

January 10, 2007 02:27 PM | Link to this

Not saying cafe and maint. people don’t deserve a raise, but teachers did go to school for 4+ years and in life that does deserve more of a raise. May not always be fair, but that is how this world works. You get what you put in….Anyone that works outside of a government job has seen the people with degrees get higher raises, that is how it works and why they all went to school. All that said, of course everyone deserves some type of raise.

By curious

January 10, 2007 02:30 PM | Link to this

Anyone who comes in contact directly with oday’s children will always need a raise! Teaching is not easy! Teaching is like 5 to 10 percent on top of all the social issues that come from home into the classroom on a daily bases!!!! Again, is the raises just for teachers? If so how can classified personel be overlooked? It takes the entire system to help a teacher!

By Ruger13

January 10, 2007 02:30 PM | Link to this

Hey AF….don’t tell me the NEA and GEA, let alone PAGE, are not unions!!! They are ( and unfortunitely, pretty powerful one’s at that)…you just have a choice to become a member or not

By curious

January 10, 2007 02:33 PM | Link to this

Most para’s do have degree…I do just not certified have a classroom deal with students directly…so where does that leave me? I guess to get certified and have the same mess with more money!

By parent

January 10, 2007 02:35 PM | Link to this

You get what you pay for! So if we want our children to have a higher quality of education we need to pay teachers much more in order to keep and attract better teachers.

By G

January 10, 2007 02:36 PM | Link to this

** Agree with other comments. Yes, teachers do deserve the raise however, the clerks and office managers, the media clerks, the paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers and maintaince workers never see a raise. We all have to make living too! Consider us.

By Bob

January 10, 2007 02:40 PM | Link to this

Curious, it doesn’t sound like you should worry about being certified and teaching our children anything, re-read some of your postings. What kind of degree did you get where you can’t teach students directly? Is it a 4 year degree? Yes, you need to go back to get more money - that is why the more education you have, the more you get paid…otherwise why go to school?

FYI, bases doesn’t equal basis

By SL

January 10, 2007 02:47 PM | Link to this

Anyone of you ever say to yourself……Why are they raising the budget over 1.4 billion dollars for? Were not talking an increase in the budget of 1.4 billion over an X period of time. Oh no, Sonny the most amazingly socialist democrat ever to grace the confines of the fiscally irsponsible halls of power in the greatest state imagineable, obviously has other plans for our paychecks. If like 70% of 0ur state voted for Sonny, why isn’t 70% of the state p** he is raising their taxes, or raising the business tax, or whatever tax(es) he’s raising to come up with the additional 1.4 billion from last year. Mssage for the guv’na…..You are not a Republican Sonny, you sir, are a scumbag Democrat, just like the President. Im wondering when we as a people are going to get together and put a stop to this corruption and public policy of spending freely like money grew on trees. Am I th eonly one that believes in fiscal restraint nowadays? And like I asked earlier, WHY DO YOU NEED AN ADDITIONAL 1.4 BILLION DOLLARS FROM LAST YEAR? Has the cost of living/cost of business in the last 365 days risen so much as to ask for an additional 1.4 billion. Were having the wool pulled over our eyes and were to stupid to even realize it. How come I don’t get any of that 1.4 billion directed to my account. Wy does it always seem to be in raises for lawmakers and other public officials and never into actual programs that do something for the people. The teachers definately aren’t accomplishing anything with the public education rating we received from the fed’s. What was our national ranking teacher’s? 50th? 49th? 48th? Don’t know what’s “sadderer” Alabama having smarter people then us, or Alabama having smarter people then us. Everyone needs to ask themselves the same ?’s. Good idea for the 400 million dollar increase for teachers this budget year? You tell us teachers. Can we fire you if you produce poor results? No? Why not? Can we send our kids to private school if were poor and cannot afford the school? No? hmmmm, so money for everyone….cept for the citizens who worked for it and earned it. Nice Job Sonny, way to show us you care about us by raising the budget and increasing spending. Were proud of you sport!

By SLP

January 10, 2007 02:50 PM | Link to this

The raise for teachers is fine, although being that there was a long period of time when we did not get a raise, as our insurance premiums continued to increase, but how can you justify giving gift cards only to classroom teachers. Your wife and daughter are Speech Pathologists and you don’t consider us important enough to give gift cards to, especially when we generate significant FTE monies to our schools each year. It should be ALL or NOONE!!! ALL Educators need to be rewarded, as we all play significant roles in the lives of all children.

By curious

January 10, 2007 02:50 PM | Link to this

The last I check Teachers and other school personel are human and make typo’s and mistakes. I do teach students directly and have a valid degree just not certified Mr Bob! This is a blog not an interview! I was stating my opinion in an informal way an your are right about basis!!! I take constructive criticism well!!! Again I teach are babies daily so anyway to you!

By joe black

January 10, 2007 02:53 PM | Link to this

All total for teachers alone he is spending over $250m and I guarantee that in the next 3 years Georgia will move no higher than out of the 40’s out of all 50 states. Hell if the governor is looking ot invest in areas that need or that are making improvements then DOR needs to be a place to start revenue collections is up almost $2 billion and all we get is maybe a 4% “depending” on performance and with the level of clicks and “buddy buddy system it will be ever so hard for ANYONE on the “outside” to get the full 4%. And this year AFTER 3 years “regular” state employees will receive a raise? I think it is only BECAUSE 2006 was an election year if not then how can he explain “freezing” insurance rates for the 2007 year while Insurance companies simply up the co pay and deductible just so he could get elected. THIS BLOWS!!!!

Also why do THEY need a cost of living raise that “other” state employee will never receive inn 2003 he talked about ETHICS and now it is clear someone pockets are being lined. If he cared for other state employees as he does for teachers then he should make everything fair across the board regardless of job and title. BUT if job and title are factors for any paygrade decision then he should make teachers adhere to performance standards under this current model bad teachers will never have an incentive to become better at their craft. I honestly don’t see how paying them more money will correct this.

I’m open for feed back. Yeah I am a state employee over 10 years.

By Just a Thought

January 10, 2007 03:02 PM | Link to this

19 Million for a go fish program … can you imagine how many homeless people could be helped with that amount of money.

By Mike

January 10, 2007 03:06 PM | Link to this

I worked as a College Instructor for 13 years. We are paid 2,100 per class with no benefits and little opportunity for promotion or tuition waivers. Long time part time faculty members need to receive raises and be able to buy into the same retirement as full time faculty with the state matching the techers contributions. We also need tuition waivers at state universities so we can complete our PhD’s and a living wage for teachers who teach 3 or 4 classes a semester. Purdue is better than previous governors, but we could still use more.

By amreal

January 10, 2007 03:07 PM | Link to this

I agree - We State Employees need a raise too. If you look at our jobsite and see how little we are paid, it would make you cry. I just don’t get it.

By the real EW

January 10, 2007 03:07 PM | Link to this

Bob, I was with you until you got petty with the typo thing. It’s a blog not a thesis.

Anyway – Joe Black, chill out. I agree that all state workers should be given a proper piece of the pie, but how do we determine who and what piece is fair for everyone. You are a state employee, I don’t know what you do – but you seem to think that salary increases should be tied to performance increases. In a perfect world, or even in a position where so many other outside influences didn’t affect my job I would say that was fair. However, you cannot really tie these two things together for the occupation of teacher.

EXAMPLE: Lets say if I have students who currently are a truancy problem missing well over 30 days of school, but I’m expected to get him prepared to pass the CRCT and any other performance assessment. Is it fair that my livelihood is tied to his lack of attendance, and academic responsibilites? Where are his or her parents, is their money affected as a result - the answer is NO.

Lets come up with some real solutions to the problem and have everyone get their piece of the pie!

By joewhit

January 10, 2007 03:09 PM | Link to this

Reading some of these comments boggles my mind. How can anyone not understand the need to pay teachers more? Yeah others deserve better pay. We all do. But nobody had more influence on today’s youth than the teachers. What kind of person do you want influencing your child? My wife is an educator and for the first three years of Sonny’s tenure there was no increase, except in insurance premiums. Last year, because of an election year Sonny gave them a little and now they get a little more. But it is still not enough. Teachers work HARD and long hours. My wife is at school by 7:30, most days not home until after 7 p.m. and then works on papers, lesson plans, etc until 11 p.m. or later. She’s taking the kids to competitions on Saturday’s and does other school-related things on the weekends as well. You folks who work 9-5 in office with adults don’t have a clue what teachers deal with on a DAILY basis.

By love georgia

January 10, 2007 03:09 PM | Link to this

I think our teachers deserve the pay raise and as for other state employees, I might agree if I could ever get just one of you to answer a phone call or even return one in a 24 hour period. It would also be nice if you did it without a sour attitude.

By Robert

January 10, 2007 03:16 PM | Link to this

We have made it a practice in our system to give the support workers the same percentage of a raise that the state gives the teachers. We feel all employees are worthwhile and deserving.

By francis

January 10, 2007 03:22 PM | Link to this

All teachers do not receive the state “raises”. The last state raise did not make its way to most teachers in the metro areas because their school systems already suplements what the state pays teachers. So instead of the 3% raise we were suppose to get it filtered to approximately 1%. I hate seeing this headlines that misinform the public into believing all teachers are getting a raise. Remeber a few years ago when the AJC ran with an article about a teacher making 80K a year. Once you read the article you found out the teacher had years of experience, had a Ph.d., and coached a team; all which increased his base salary. The AJC needs to be more responsible with the headlines because all the other state employees falsely believe that all teachers are receiving the benefit of a pay increase.

By state emp.

January 10, 2007 03:31 PM | Link to this

I don’t know who “Love Georgia” has been talking with, but it’s not any of the many state employees I am proud to call co-workers. State workers toil along with no appreciation and no consideration when it comes to state budgeting- especially librarians. You would be shocked to learn that even though librarians must have a very specialized master’s degree and usually a state license, they are generally paid less than teachers, who are usually not required to have any more than a bachelor’s degree and teacher’s certification. Students depend on public libraries too! Others like public health workers and law enforcement keep our communities crime-and disease-free. Is that not as important as teaching?

By Todd

January 10, 2007 03:33 PM | Link to this

Do these other state employees have to have kids pass that CRCT that have parents that have never read them a book, or spent 5 minutes with them, or are in jail for the next five years, or really do not care if they come to school, or yell at the teachers becuase Johnny got in a fight and its the teachers fault, or the kids do not have the ability to pass but have to pass anyway or the parents time is worth 300$ an hour so i don’t have time to meet with the teachers about how my child is a lying cheating disturbance to other kids.

By Troy

January 10, 2007 03:37 PM | Link to this

Francis,

I understand how the raises for the teachers work. I know that the base pay is what the raise is based on but I also know (looking at payscales in multiple counties) that the majority of the pay does come from the state. This is why teachers are considered “state employees”. So a lot of us do know it is 3% on your base salary not your total. It is up to the counties to give you the 3% on the other amount they pay you. As I said though, the majority of the salary that teachers get come from the state. The AJC does get stuff wrong, and they should explain what I did above, but they aren’t that far off base. There were years that teachers got their raises while the rest of us state employees got caught with a health insurance premium increase and no cost of living increase. Anything is better than nothing. I am just tired of teachers getting the raises and not other state employees. Start treating us all the same. I don’t care if teachers have multiple lobby groups/unions.

To address some of the other comments, I know there are crappy state employees out there, but I am not one of those nor does my job description have me answering phones very often at all, but when I do I am always courteous. Our raises are based on merit, and all it takes is a person’s boss to fix the crappy employees by not giving them a good review. Then they get no raise period. Too many bosses are to scared to do that though. I will also say I voted for Sonny both times because he better than the alternative. I knew he would try to scre the state employees again once he didn’t have to run again, but I figured it would be better than the alternative. It is very hard to balance my believes being a conservative and working in state government.

By Another State Employee

January 10, 2007 03:39 PM | Link to this

I have no problem with teacher’s getting a raise but take care of the other state employees too. Teachers get their state pay along with a county supplement. Bottom line…I can promise you that they make their fair share. In the last 6 years my agency has had two raise of 2 percent or less. Health care premiums have gone up every year but one. That means we lose money every year. I enjoy my job and take pride that I serve this great state but I can tell you that the Purdue makes me feel really unappreciated.

By kelli

January 10, 2007 03:41 PM | Link to this

Where can you find teachers’ salaries posted online?

By kelli

January 10, 2007 03:42 PM | Link to this

Where can you find teachers’ salaries posted online?

By cetbat

January 10, 2007 03:43 PM | Link to this

I agree that teachers need a raise but I have to say that state workers besides teachers are getting left out! I am a single mom w/ two kids and a raise would be so very helpful to our living situation (could I possibly afford to fix the leaking roof?). Instead, I found out last Sept that GA Legislature decided full time state employees could not qualify for the one bit of help I could get-Peachcare-because of our “comprehensive health care plan”. Which meant another $100 month out of budget…state employees vote too!

By state emp.

January 10, 2007 03:44 PM | Link to this

I really hope Sonny-do reads some of these comments.

By Teacher's Kid

January 10, 2007 03:44 PM | Link to this

Yet another reason why teachers in the southeast need to UNIONIZE!!

By RB

January 10, 2007 03:53 PM | Link to this

What bothers me is that a lot of the comments on this page are from Teachers and state employees… Are you people blogging on my tax dollar and still wanting more?

By another teacher

January 10, 2007 04:03 PM | Link to this

No union. I am not going to picket when we need to be educating children. Plus, another 1 - 2 percent taken out of our pay isn’t worth what the union bosses say they would give. We already have 4 percent taken out for retirement - check the states around us with collective bargaining and you will see why they want to come to Georgia and teach. Plus, Ruger 13, I pay the dues to GAE to cover the liability insurance that is needed in my work. I can’t afford that kind of protection without the group plan. Nowhere in that monthly payment do I see the word UNION. Political Action group, maybe - nothing more. They probably run across your PAC people at the gold dome.

By CobbTeacher

January 10, 2007 04:04 PM | Link to this

Troy and Ruger13,

You have to be kidding me?! There is no true teachers union down here… it is a book of the month club. The impotence of GAE and PAGE is laughable. Now, as for “PANDERING” to teacher’s, he is not. He is instead pandering to voters, just as if he were giving firemen or policemen a raise. Don’t expect him to push out a big announcement that he is raising the salary of the people down at the Revenue Department anytime soon.

By joe black

January 10, 2007 04:07 PM | Link to this

YES! I am a state employee I have been one for 10 years. My argument is about getting a piece of the pie but simple fairness the 3% and COL that the governor is/has proposed will take effect the next budget year 2007-2008 this year state employees are to receive 2%- 4% based on performance the teachers will receive a raise also this is the first year that state employees that are not teachers will receive a meaningful raise next year will make 4 out of 5 for the teachers. Where is the equality in that the governor tells us (state employees that aren’t teachers) how professionally managed he wants the state to be

But if you want to use truancy as a reason why the teacher who is a hired professional cant perform or meet his or her goals then my excuse can be much the same except I have inadequate equipment to perform my job. Teachers are hired professionals period. If I were a lawyer and agreed to perform a particular task my client would expect nothing but the best NO EXCUSES! If a teacher performance isn’t used to help keep the underachieving teachers in line and reward those that are striving to help make the system better.

I think 2% over the board should be a great start but for the gov to give 3% PLUS cost of living is the main reason why I am venting. Next year regular state will receive NO raise COL nothing and teachers will receive at least $2k

By Sam

January 10, 2007 04:13 PM | Link to this

why does the state keep putting more money into an education system that fails year after year. Private schools do more with less money every year. Its like we are rewarding failure

By John

January 10, 2007 04:15 PM | Link to this

I hear alot of complaining here. It’s a great state to work in. Do what I did when my last job didn’t pay well enough…I quit and went to work somewhere else…oh, and I’ll do it again if I have too.

By James

January 10, 2007 04:20 PM | Link to this

The Governor needs to give the other State Department employees a raise. Correctional Officers,State Troopers and the various State law enforcement agencies need more money. If you don’t think so, go to work for a week in a cell block at Reidsville or patrol the highways with a trooper.

Remember Joe South??? Walk a mile in my shoes. That is what the State Law Enforcement Officers want the Governor, House & Senate to do.

By teacherWED

January 10, 2007 04:22 PM | Link to this

I married a Georgia teacher and know all the trials and rewards of teaching in GA public schools, and I must say that a 3% pay raise, may sound good, and a $100 gift card sounds rewarding, but when you do the math…it still falls short of significant education investment! If you had a glance at our tax file you’d know that a $100 gift card for classroom supplies doesn’t do the children justice, when classroom sizes linger at an average of 20 students per teacher. That would leave about $5.00 per child for teachers to spend on your children. If you ask me, I don’t even think Wal-Mart could even drop prices that low for school supplies.

A 3% raise of a total $1200, if your lucky, is great…but not when the starting teacher salary for GA teachers is in the low 30’s. They deserve better. Our children deserve better.

And as a response to RB, we only blog on your tax dollar because it’s your child who we care for 5 out of the 7 days in our week! It’s not our right, it’s our duty. Your welcome.

By philip

January 10, 2007 04:37 PM | Link to this

What about a raise to the thousands of folks who take care of children and families. DFCS workers go out of their way and risk their lives to help families EVERYDAY, not just 9 months out of the year. I wonder how many teachers work weekends and late at night.

By Anonymous

January 10, 2007 04:37 PM | Link to this

Folks,

If you would go to the link provided and review the entire budget, you will see that all other state employees are getting a 3% raise too. I copied the below from the FY08 Budget Proposal:

Hopefully this cool some tempers.

Pay Package 1 Provide for general salary increase of 3% for employees of the Executive and Legislative Branches effective January 1, 2008. The proposed salary adjustment for Executive Branch employees will be in conformance with the compensation and performance management plans promulgated by the State Personnel Board or as otherwise provided by law. Provide also for a cost-of-living adjustment as provided by O.C.G.A. code section 45-7-4(a) and (b). Additionally, provide 0.5% of total personal services to be used for market adjustments, performance incentives or equity adjustments according to plans approved by the Georgia Merit System and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. $42,498,694 2 Provide for supplemental salary adjustments for certain identified job classifications to ensure that all incumbents hired as of January 1, 2008 are paid no less than 75% of the market as identified in the Georgia Merit System Compensation and Benefits Study. 7,544,270 3. Provide a 3% increase to the state base salary on the teacher salary schedule for the State Board of Education effective September 1, 2007. This proposed 3% salary improvement is in addition to the salary increases awarded to certificated personnel through normal progression on the teacher salary schedule. Provide for a 3% increase for bus drivers and lunchroom workers effective July 1, 2007. 186,559,040 4. Provide a 3% funding level for merit-based increases for Regents faculty effective and Regents non-academic personnel effective January 1, 2008. Provide a 3% salary increase for public librarians effective January 1, 2008. 23,709,863 5. Provide a 3% salary increase for teachers and support personnel with the Department of Technical and Adult Education effective January 1, 2008. 5,087,547

By Stateworker2

January 10, 2007 04:39 PM | Link to this

Teachers went years without pay raises? Please! They receive yearly step raises that were eliminated for other state employees under Zell Miller. Real income for non-teacher state employees has not increased in years. As for teachers not having a union. It is true state law forbids public employees from striking but the NEA and such groups have been known to channel a lot of money to state and local elections. They have a great deal of power. Teachers are already the highest paid in the southeast and by some measures among the highest paid in the country. In some state agencies the turnover is so high it is getting difficult to accomplish their mission.

By Dawgtime

January 10, 2007 04:40 PM | Link to this

As an educator, I find some of the comments astounding. We get constant raises. That is simply not the case. Consider the last four years. One raise. I challenge the critics to go into the modern schools and teach under the standards imposed by the federal and state governments, the restrictions placed by administrations, parents, and legal decisions, and the social restrictions placed by apathetic parents, media, and the uninformed. Yes, school has changed since you were in school. If you want to make a difference, get off your butt and go help in your child’s classroom. We deserve every penny of any potential raise. I do agree that all the members of the school should receive raises too. I’m sick of hearing the sarcasm. If you haven’t been in a school recently, then you have no idea what you are talking about. I hear people saying that they could fix the “bad kids” with a “belt and back hand”. I hear peoople telling me that we should teach what they learned in school. Hello, you cannot and should not abuse the children. Maybe you should turn off the T.V. and help your child with his or her homework. Challenge to the men. Stop making babies you cannot raise. That the number one problem I see in education. No fathers in the picture. Grow up and become men and not just sperm donors.

By Dawgtime

January 10, 2007 04:42 PM | Link to this

Stateworker2, your are totally wrong. We have not received yearly step raises. Stop speaking out of ignorance. You are wrong. Without education, society fails.

By Troy

January 10, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this

ok turns out I might have been a little harsh on our Governor about state employees getting screwed. If you view his FY08 bugest proposal you can see that he is asking for the 3% salary increase for at least my agency. He is also increasing the health care money to cover some of the increases. Now whether or not that covers it all I don’t know. But it seems that he is going to give the rest of the state employees 3% also. I guess it isn’t very good public relations wise to tell everyone he is going to give state employees salary increases when people sometimes have a bad thought of state employees. Here is the link: [http://www.opb.state.ga.us/Budget/FY08_Book.pdf]

By Dawgtime

January 10, 2007 04:48 PM | Link to this

If you feel like the schools are failing the children, what are you doing to improve the schools. Complaining and voicing ignorant comments only spreads lies and untruths. Please know your facts before you say things. Check out this statistic. How many of Georgia’s children are growing up without married parents and fathers at home? It will shock you. It takes a real man to raise his kids. We need to punish dead beat parents. No, watching gangster rap and trashy rock is not good for a child. They are growing up with a jaded view of life. Some simply don’t care. What can a teacher do with a child that will not try. We can’t harm them. If you have the solution, go to your child’s school and start doing it.

By Dawgtime

January 10, 2007 04:57 PM | Link to this

Teachers deserve a 10% raise to equal out the pay afforded to people with comparable degrees. I went to college longer than many professionals that make much more money than I do. Teaching is one of the most noble jobs on Earth. Maybe we should be allowed to decide our worth such as Nick Saban at Bama. I change the lives of 1000’s of children by providing them with a chance at a better life. We don’t get to recruit the elite students like coaches. We have to teach all members of society. It’s not fair to blame all the social ills on education. That is a copout made by elected officals. They refuse to deal with the facts. We cannot fix all the problems of America. That is beyond our control, but we do more than our share for the pay we receive.

By getaclue

January 10, 2007 05:04 PM | Link to this

Not all teachers get a “step increase” every year, teachers top out after 20 years. There has been 1 raise for teachers in the past several years…the recent one! The $100 gift card hasn’t come close to covering the total of $1377.14 that I spent on classroom stuff last year (I’ve been working on my taxes). In addition, EVERY teacher I know works evenings and most weekends. You might want to know what you are talking abut before you go around blowing smoke. And there are no teacher’s unions…if there were we would have some collective bargaining power and I wouldn’t have less than 20 minutes to scarf my freakin’ lunch!!!

By State Emp & Mother

January 11, 2007 02:11 PM | Link to this

I am a State Employee. I am also a mother. I am not at all against teachers receiving a hefty pay raise each year because I have two gifted children that have wonderful teachers that challenge them to be better. (I MAKE MY CHILDREN’S EDUCATION A PRIORITY. Not all parents are lazy, are in jail, or try to put undue burden on teachers.)

However, I do believe that state employees deserve better salaries and raises. In the past few years I have suffered without a raise, rising healthcare costs and a surcharge placed on my healthcare premiums because my husband could get insurance on his job.

It is not about teachers having to have more education or certifications. (I have a Master’s degree and am currently working toward a PhD)

It is about doing what is fair for ALL state workers.

By apsteacher

January 11, 2007 02:18 PM | Link to this

3% raise? It’s not enough.

By Scott Adam Mason

January 11, 2007 02:21 PM | Link to this

First off, thanks Perdue. As the husband of a teacher, let me make a few notes. First the comparison between teachers and other school staff needs for a raise is insulting. My wife PAID to go to school for eight years to go into a middle class profession. She pays for most of her supplies, I don’t see cafeteria staff paying for food. Lastly, she works no less than three more than her paid hours on top of not once ever missing a day. Add all that up on top of having to deal with parents and hyper kids without losing her temper. They deserves far more than 3% more, but the gratitude of everyone who has ever attended school. Thanks Sonny, Thanks teachers!!!

By Samuel

January 12, 2007 04:48 PM | Link to this

You should all stop your whinning. If you are a State of Georgia employee and not making enough money - go get another job in the private sector. If you won’t leave your job because you like to make a difference or simply love your job then you are making a decision to forgo wealth and take job satisfaction. If you hate your job and think you are under paid then I pitty you, go get some help and become a healthy productive member of society.

Which ever way you go, get off your computer and get back to work.