Pay is why teachers leave
I am sincerely sad that Mr. Kellogg had an awful experience with his “terrible administration and school leaders.” That being said, I do not think that this is the main reason most teachers leave Hawaii.
In my conversations with my colleagues, I would say that the pay is the main reason teachers leave for “greener” pastures.
I have taught on the Big Island for about three years now, after teaching in New York City, public and private, for 24 years. While I took a substantial cut financially, I feel very fortunate in terms of the leaders at my school. My administration here is fantastic.
When I compare the experiences in the two states, I see an administration that cares for its students, the facility, the programs, curriculum and me vs. the majority of New York City school “leaders” who care about test scores because high-enough test scores translate into admin-tied bonuses, which translate into test prep and admin-monsters … a vicious cycle.
I’m sure that some of my colleagues who have been here a while know things I don’t and may have had different experiences. However, I had to write in because the headline was very deceiving. “Hawaii’s teacher shortage explained by a teacher who left.” Just as my experience on the Big Island is mine alone, Mr. Kellogg’s is his alone.
There is much that unites teachers, especially the lack of appropriate pay … lower than it should be, much lower than we deserve.
Kris Tapper
Waikoloa Elementary
Regarding single-payer health insurance
Do you know what happens when you have universal health care that is government run? You don’t stay in a job that you hate because you need the health insurance provided through employment; you don’t worry about paying for your medical bills for fear you will lose your home; you don’t hesitate to see your doctor because of the out of pocket cost; you don’t choose groceries rather than medicine because you can’t afford both; you don’t even think about it.
Here in Hawaii, as an employer you hire people that have health insurance from some other source or pay lower wages so that you can afford to cover you employees health insurance, or you don’t hire people for more than 19 hours per week so you don’t incur the added cost of insuring employees.
The Canadian health care model may not be perfect, it certainly isn’t free, but the ridiculously complicated system in the United States amounts to legalized extortion. Not having access to health insurance is rationed health care at its cruelest.
I would gladly pay Canadian taxes to live with the assurance that I will always be able to see my doctor when I need to.
In Canada it just doesn’t weigh on ones mind.
Bev Brand
Waikoloa Village
Protect the progress that’s been made
Since Hawaii was the first to make abortion a state law, even before Roe v. Wade, we still need to protect the minimal progress we have made since then.
Amazingly and interestingly, 77% of the people in this nation support safe, legal abortion. Right now, we need that majority to speak up, and therefore, I am doing that now. We must not go back to the days before Roe v. Wade. It’s about choice — no one is ever forced to have an abortion.
I urge others to speak up also.
Marjorie Erway
Kailua-Kona