The Teacher by Gray Meg

Author:Gray, Meg [Gray, Meg]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-07-15T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

The library was as gloomy as a mausoleum. An early morning meeting had been called for all teachers. Emma stared at the man talking. The more he talked the more she equated him with the grim reaper.

“It’s important you not show up on these days,” Mr. Deeds, the union rep, said as he pushed up the sleeves of his black turtleneck sweater and adjusted his rimless glasses, which immediately slid back down his long shapeless nose. His hollow cheeks began to flush, as he rushed through the delivery of the district’s demoralizing news—budget cuts.

The district, finding itself once again low on funds, had elected to scratch seven days off the school calendar from now until June. Most of the days were non-contact, days the students already had off, like teacher workdays and conferences. Fewer days translated to less pay for everyone.

“We have to send a message to the administration that if they won’t pay, then you won’t work.” Mr. Deeds snaked his paper thin body through the tables and chairs handing out a half sheet of paper as he made his plea.

Easy for him to say, Emma thought as she waited for him to reach her side of the library. Neither his job nor his students’ learning was at stake. If she didn’t get her report cards marked or her lessons prepared it wasn’t the administrators it would impact, but her and her students. She would work longer hours, to make up for the cut days, and get paid less just like everyone else in this room.

Emma looked down at the paper Susan slid across the table to her outlining the effects of the pay cuts. The biggest cut came in June and Emma wondered, staring at the reduction, if her check would be enough to cover the month’s rent and bills. She was probably going to have to dip into her savings again—and start looking for a summer job. The thought was discouraging and depressing. She wished Seth was home this week so she could whine about her latest plight to him, but he was in Sacramento. Instead, she would bake a deep dish of fudge brownies when she got home and eat them right out of the pan. That might boost her spirits.

With five minutes remaining before the school doors opened, teachers started shuffling out of the library.

“That was a great way to start the morning,” Emma said, walking into the hall with Susan.

“Yeah, remind me why I went into teaching again, because it wasn’t for the money was it?” Susan waved the small paper in front of her.

“We don’t do this job for the money,” Mary Ellen said, suddenly materializing next to them. “We do it because we make a difference in children’s lives. You can’t put a price tag on the value of the knowledge, confidence and abilities we foster in our students.” Mary Ellen gave her head a sanctimonious shake before picking up speed and heading for her classroom.

“Well, that won’t help me pay for Junior’s college education,” Susan said to Mary Ellen’s back.

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