Is anyone following the Seattle teacher strike?

[MayDay]

I am not, yet.

Most people I know are siding with the teachers.  Anyone have a balanced opinion? 

[vivian]

I am only loosely following it. My understanding is that the biggest issue is the district wants to increase instructional time in the day (which I tend to think is good, at least for upper grade levels), but want to do so by reducing teacher planning time. So teachers will have more planning to do, but less time to do it.

[MayDay]

The thing I read was they want a 18% pay increase, and haven't gotten a COL increase for a bunch of years.  I looked up inflation over the past 10 years, and it has been a few percent a year, so I can see their point.  OTOH, 18% is a LOT. 

I am inclined to think elementary kids do not need more instructional time.  I thought the length of day thing was just for elementary.  I may be wrong.  As a teacher I would be pissed to lose planning time because yes planning might only take 30 minutes or so a day, but you also have all the grading and meetings and stuff.  IDK.  I think teachers get paid fairly in general, overall, but as a sub, I also know you are Busy every minute kids are in your room, so you need other time to do grading, planning, have meetings, etc.

[mrteacher]

FWIW, planning can easily take more than 30 minutes/day, especially if the teacher is in the first few years of his/her career. Also, most teachers teach multiple classes (i.e. - 2 sections of Algebra I, 2 sections of Honors Geometry, and 1 AP Calc). Planning three unique lessons, creating materials, and revising takes much more than 30 minutes. 

[aceyou]

Michigan teacher chiming in here.  I know nothing about the strike, but losing prep time would be terrible for their education system.  It would crush new teachers, and even be tough for veteran teachers. 

Being a new teacher is really hard.  No matter how hard you work, you feel below average because you have to prep and plan so much more, and you are inefficient because you don't know how to optimize the work flow yet.  The pay scale is generally terrible at the bottom as a teacher.  Teachers are fairly-ish paid I think, but not for the first few years.  It's hard to stick with it starting out.  I came so close to quitting and going into the business sector after one year.  34k for 70 hour/week was killing me.  As a 10 year teacher I am far more effective and work approximately 50 hours/week, and I get paid better, so it's easier, but those first couple years were rough:)

[MayDay]

FWIW, planning can easily take more than 30 minutes/day, especially if the teacher is in the first few years of his/her career. Also, most teachers teach multiple classes (i.e. - 2 sections of Algebra I, 2 sections of Honors Geometry, and 1 AP Calc). Planning three unique lessons, creating materials, and revising takes much more than 30 minutes.

Totally, I was thinking more about once you are established.  The first couple years will be a time suck no matter what!