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élodie
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4 months ago
in Milford para-educators deserving of new pact on Nashua Telegraph
Bill, you've obviously not been in the clasroom for decades. These aren't just "teacher's assistants". These are people who work 1 on 2 with special needs kids that are integrated in the classroom. There are no longer "resource rooms" where the learning disabled kids go to learn to cook. It's called inclusion and it's the law. Kids with autism, downs, ADHD, XYZ whatever are to be in the classroom as much as possible. If you think a teacher can look after an autistic kid having a meltdown while providing an excellent education to the other 23 students you are mistaken. The "para-educator" I admit it's a stupid title, is a babysitter for these special needs kids but they also tailor "modify" coursework (which teachers are supposed to do) to the level that is reasoble to the student. Some of these kids pull their pants down in class, some have panic attacks. Maybe they don't deserve $40K/ year but I think giving them sick time, vacation time and a small boost in salary is fair. The inclusion doctrine is meant to save money, as you have less special ed teachers and it is supposed to promote compassion in the classroom as other students connect with these kids. But it's tough work and these people deserve a modest pay raise if they are doing a good job. There has been no money allocated for raises (performance based) for 2 years.
I assume these staff don't get insurance either.
I assume these staff don't get insurance either.
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It is a tough job for those that work 1:1 or 1:2, working with some of these special needs students, and it's necessary to help them stay integrated in the classrooms. Others in the union, like the classroom aides who make photocopies and help teachers prepare for the daily classroom activities - maybe not as tough a job. There are a number of job classifications in this union that are not as tough as the associates working 1:1 or in small groups with these students.
It's also not true that no money was allocated for raises - they were in negotiations since the fall of 2006 (and they got a raise for that year), so their wages were frozen pending completion of the negotiations. Money would have been budgeted there for that, but there was no contract, so those in the negotiating group did not get a raise for the 07/08 or 08/09 school year.