The state Senate is considering House Bill 225, which would remove the limit on the number of days retired teachers can work and permit certified retired teachers to fill positions in areas with shortages of qualified teachers. Please call or email your state Senator today. Tell your senator to vote "yes" on HB225. Call the Capitol switchboard at 1-717-787-2121 or go to the PFT's new GETACTIVE Web site to email your senator today.
I believe the senator for our area is Anthony Williams. I am asking for your help with this because I believe it can be helpful to our school system. For instance, I am running the remedial reading program at my school as a retired teacher, because my school couldn't afford to have a fully paid classroom teacher teach small groups. When the remedial reading program was stopped, and I was put back in the classroom, I retired so I could start the reading program back up. But, as retired teachers, we are limited to working 95 days per year. My students need more than 95 days of remedial reading instruction. I attended the recent evening meeting at West Philadelphia High to inquire about their reading program. They don't have one, and I'm sure many other troubled schools also don't have reading programs for the poorest readers. Therefore all those kids who haven't learned to read have been abandoned. Another retired teacher neighbor is also doing remedial work in a very distressed school, as well as directing a student show in the spring. His 95 days run out in about a week, and mine run out tomorrow. Hiring retired teachers to do remedial and enrichment work in schools is a terrific idea that needs to be spread all over the district. It permits the most experienced teachers to work with the most educationally needy students. As retired teachers, we are very cheap to hire. Hiring a retired teacher for 95 days only costs a school about $13,000. So, a full year would cost about $25,000. For the retired teacher, the job gives tremendous satisfaction. It is also much less stressful than full-class teaching. The pay is ridiculous, but it still provides a nice addition to retirement. So, please call your senator. The House passed the bill a long time ago, but the senate is sitting on it. If you have any other ideas as to how to approach this idea of retired teachers do remediation and enrichment in our schools, please let me know. Thanks, Jo Ann Fishburn ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
