Looking for a Few Good People

To date, the public perception has been that teachers make too much and have a benefits package that is far superior to the private sector.   

This perception has been promoted by republican governors across the country, including governors Scott Walker and John Kasich.

In fact, Kasich went so far as to say that he was going to “break the back of organized labor in schools” because teacher unions became too powerful.

Fact checking organizations like Politifact.com would contest the promotional efforts of these governors and of public perception.  According to this source, a Pulitzer Prize winning network, “state employees typically earn salaries 11 percent lower than their private sector counterparts.”

However, I’ve been told repeatedly that the public is beyond facts and their ideological allegiances trump information and data.  If that is the case, simply pay attention to one of the republican mouth pieces.

In an attempt to justify why the state of Ohio is giving his staff raises, the governor explained that workers in the private sector simply don’t want to work in the public sector – they can’t make enough money.  "We’re fortunate that we’re getting a lot of good people to come in. Salary is an issue. So what we’re trying to do is call people to service."

Not only did the governor offer raises, but bonuses as well.  One his staff members will receive a bonus of $50,000.  The average teacher in the Fox River Valley doesn’t get paid that much for a year’s salary.

Governor Kasich continued to justify the raises and bonuses he gave by saying that high salaries “attract good people”.

All of you people in the private sector looking to improve your lives by joining the public sector, I advise you to visit Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction for you to learn just how to do that.  Schools are always looking to attract more good people.