Teachers are in for a rude awakening

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I HAVE been reading with interest the various comments and finger-pointing about the teachers migrating to New York. My thought is how does everything comes so political, and people speculate about things they are unaware of.

In speaking to a couple of objective teachers in the NY system (one of Jamaican birth and the other US birth) here is what they have found:

(1) The teachers were given contracts that were fundamentally flawed and should have been reviewed by attorneys with expertise in that area.

(2) The teachers calculated their salary in Jamaican dollars, without ever figuring NY costs.

(3) US$31,000 equates to J$1.3m(@45/1). Dollar is dollar wherever you are. Out of the 31-15 per cent for various city/state/federal deductions, another six per cent for health benefits. Take home an average of US$1800. per month.

In NY the average rent (cheap apartment) is approx. $800.00, then comes travelling, food clothing etc. etc.

As my American friend says, "these teachers are in for a rude awakening" as every student in the school system must be treated as a VIP.

Consider our roughest students in Jamaica, most of them would be welcomed in the schools that these teachers will be going to and considered as 'angels'. The teachers were only given a three-day orientation, comparing to other similar programmes with a seven-week orientation.

These teachers were placed in hotels where when they looked outside the illegal activity is common. Most of these teachers came and had no place to live. You and I urge also the JTA rep who came should do an investigation and let the rest of the teachers in Jamaica realise that they should consider all the logistics before they make such a move. The irony of it is most would rather come back (except they want to save face).

Consider that so many of them were crying and asking Jamaicans living in NY/NJ for assistance, my warning is "Do not burn your bridges behind you".

I am etc.,

PATRICK BECKFORD

pbeckf01@yahoo.com

Somerset,

New Jersey

Via Go-Jamaica

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