Bellevue Teachers Explain why they are on Strike

[CaptainWalton26]

and add in the benefits...average teacher makes $80,000 for 8 months of work...highest in the state

[Hippiechick238]

You people make me sick. Teachers whine about being poor be cause the stereotype is that they are poor. Most teachers in the state of Washington make 100K a year. 100K is a hell of alot of money. They should not complain at all. These yuppies drive BMW's when some people I know cannot afford running water and has to shove 3 people into a 1 bedroom apartment and these people who whine that 100K isn't enough are greedy worthless scum.

People like you make me want to vomit.

[gst0ne]

100K a year? LOL

[gst0ne]

If you have a PHD and teach 15 years in the district you top out at 75K...most teachers make around 40 - 50K

[Qber4life]

yeah!! miss meyering!! haha shes the guitar teacher...

[gst0ne]

Correction 94% voted for the strike in June and 74% voted to reject the districts most recent offer. The curriculum is STILL very much an issue.

[CaptainWalton26]

I have no respect for school teachers who are striking illegally. It isn't even a real strike. You are still getting paid? You must teach your students yet this year 180 days by state law.

[gst0ne]

Correction....the strike is NOT illegal until a judge orders it. Teachers are NOT listed specifically under the public employee clause. The media and district have been misrepresenting the truth.

[blockinater]

The BSD site is full of crap

[Blabermouthe]

yeah, real easy to move closer when you have money... wait, isnt that what they're striking for??? Humm.. and what about the cost of rent in the Bellevue area? Because most of the schools are near Microsoft, it cost far too much for most people to live there, even with both spouses working. Checki your facts first.

[OldCavLT]

It doesn't matter why, these scum are breaking the law and holding our children hostage to their greed. Here's a clue: Don't like the pay? You were too damned stupid to look it up BEFORE you took the job? Then go deliver pizza for a living. Meanwhile, these lawbreaking scum should be locked up until they agree to go back t6o work, and their union leaders should go to prison. It's simple, really.

[scolen3]

CORRUPTION, the teachers want to teach what THEY want so they can brainwash the children into a new Nazi army and destroy the US as we know it. It will start in Bellevue and change the world for ever, LONG LIVE HITLER!!!

[THEREALJACKIE0]

OMG MR MARCUM IS THE DUDE IN GREEN! and mrs dumas is the first lady

[rabejo3]

I'm sorry, I live in Kirkland and it takes me 20 minutes to get to my Bellevue job and usually 40 minutes to get home. There is no way the commute would be 20 minutes to Bothell or Everett!! My colleague who does live in Mill Creek has a normal commute time home of about an hour. It's not like teachers can work staggered hours and drive in at 5 in the morning or drive home at 8 at night when traffic is light.

[smoore69]

This is nonsese at this point. We need an injunction against the union, we need to fire the superintendent, replace the board, dump the web based curriculum.

This will make two full weeks that I'm caring for my kids alone while working, or attempting to work. The financial damage to my family is huge, as well as the social impact. I give teachers a big thumbs down on this one.

[ceramisister]

When looking at the compensation issue in this strike, it is also important to consider that the required workload of Bellevue teachers has increased every one of the seven years that I have worked in the district. Teachers are required to spend hours inputting extra assessment data along with their regular class time with students. Being compensated for the work that we are doing is only fair. Pay increase with more workload isn't a raise. COLA isn't a raise; it's helping us to tread water.