Liz, you're correct in each statement. I know of no teacher with a cell phone paid for by the districts(there may be a few assigned to teachers who daily commute between 2 or more schools). We pay 1/2 half our retirement obligations(out here about 10 1/2 percent of pay, plus I pay all of my health premiums. I know in PA that's probably different, but remember, this is Arizona, land of the ......). Insert word of your choice.

The facts are, even with all these wonderful perks, the districts can't keep 1/2 of new teachers from quitting before their 5th year, which results in constantly having "rookie" teachers being thrust in with 30 kids(thus overwhelming them, causing 1/2 of those to quit, and the cycle continues). Imagine how many more would quit,or never even enter the profession, if they were promised no health care or retirement benefits to look forward to. These are an incentive to stay in the teaching profession (along with the fact, that in my observation, most teachers are inordinately dedicated to their craft). As I have stated before, teachers receive less pay and benefits than equally degreed professionals.

Here are a couple of solutions: (1) Elect board members who will bargain harder. (2) Go into the teaching profession yourself, thus gaining access to all of these extravagant benefits. Most people can't get their child to make their own bed. Let's see you keep order, motivate students to excel,keep working toward advanced degrees/ certifications, all the while dealing with unreasonable parents. I bet most would last less than the average.