So, we're stopped for the first night on our cross-country car trip in Lebanon, MO, the heart of middle America. It's late, we're exhausted, and our choices for dinner are a Chinese Buffet (uh, no thanks) and the Waffle House. Yummmm, waffles for dinner. We settle in among the truckers who are enjoying the "Meat Lover's Special," 3 pork chops with waffles and hash browns. As we dig into our waffles I pick up on a conversation between our waitress, Stacy, and a female trucker at the next table. The trucker has been talking not so quietly to herself. I try to imagine the solitude she experiences on the road and decide she's not nuts; just lonely. So, Stacy and truck lady are talking. Stacy teaches 3rd grade (just like Carrie and Jolene!) and is a single mom of 2 kids. By day she teaches. She tutors. She works at the Waffle House in the evening. On weekends she has been waitressing in a bar, but is worried that she will be in trouble with the school district if they find out. Maybe she'll travel to a nearby town to do the bar gig, she says. She's gotta make the mortgage. Trucker lady cooes her empathy. Turns out she used to teach. too, but needed to earn more so she shifted to long haul trucking. Yes, it's lonely, but it pays the bills.
What's wrong with this picture? How is it possible that we pay our educators less than our truckers? Why must a single mom work 3 jobs to make the house payment? When does she get to be with her kids? I just don't get it. I'm sure Stacy was pleased with our ubergenerous tip. Sheeesh. It didn't even touch the problem.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
What's wrong with this picture?
Posted by Rhoda at 8:56 AM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
finally we can leave a comment. welcome to AZ, have fun!
Well, I don't know how to fix the problems of pay inequity in education, but given my salary, you've passed along some options!!! Have fun in AZ, Susan
The people who pay truckers and waitresses have a vital short term financial interest in hiring good people; the pay off (or loss) is immediate. Although we pay a lot of lip service to the importance of education,we don't feel that same urgency, and it's also harder to see the effect of one teacher on a child. And of course there's still the perception that anyone can teach.
Post a Comment