Republican tax bill makes it harder for our educators to do their jobs

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

There is a laundry list of problems with the Republican tax overhaul that recently passed the House of Representatives and is currently being considered in the Senate. The bottom line is this bill puts corporations and the ultra wealthy ahead of hardworking American families. But let’s dig a little deeper. For someone like me, an educator who spent nearly four decades as an elementary teacher and special educator in Baltimore City, the Republican plan is just cruel because it eliminates the federal educator expense tax deduction, which has allowed teachers to recoup up to $250 that they spend on supplies for their classrooms.

Since school started in September, I have had the honor of visiting classrooms across the city of Baltimore to see educators working diligently to provide innovative learning opportunities for their students. Many of these children not only show up to homeroom without a pencil, but also without a coat or food in their stomachs.

Educators are compassionate. They believe it is their duty to equip their students with the tools they need to be successful, even if they must pull from their personal budgets to provide pencils and notebook paper for class instruction, and food and hygiene items their students can use discreetly during the school day. The “yes” vote that 227 members of the House took to eliminate this option for our educators is a slap in the face for the very people who nurture and teach children.

If we asked each one of those 227 “yes” votes if they can remember an educator they admired when they were in school, their answer would be “yes.” They may even tell us that their son, daughter or grandchild is a teacher. I would remind them how their son, daughter or grandchild sacrifices time, money and resources, which far exceed $250, to create a learning environment that will enable successful academic outcomes for their students. I would remind them of the countless hours their son, daughter or grandchild sacrifices preparing innovative lesson plans, hosting tutorial sessions after school, and mentoring through school clubs and athletics.

http://thehill.com/opinion/education/361708-republican-tax-bill-makes-it-harder-for-our-educators-to-do-their-jobs

[Sophia4]

1. It isn't just in grade and high and jr. high school.

I have a friend who taught as an adjunct at a university for low pay. He had a PhD and earned well below the average income in the area for teaching what, had he been a professor, would have been full-time. He spent money on all kinds of resources for this teaching, for his students. Fortunately, he could deduct the cost from his taxes.

The Republicans have no clue as to what life is like in the real world. No clue at all.

[Angry Dragon]

2. It seems most republicans have no soul or

they have sold it to SATAN

[Igel]

3. I take that deduction.

Oh noes.

The deduction is from the gross income. I can't imagine how this could help recoup up to $250. Perhaps if my effective tax rate was around 95% this would be true. However, my effective tax rate is 5-6%.

So the actual tax savings is 0.06 x $250. That comes up to $15.

Now, I appreciate the $15. Just not that much.

Meanwhile, I'm still out the $235 (and more) per year.

Perhaps if we view it as pushing me from one marginal tax rate to the next down it could save me up to $250, maybe more. But that's not going to be the usual case.

[BigmanPigman]

4. When I was student teaching one of my master teachers

told me several wise things that I remembered and shared with others.
1. You do not get disability as a teacher so you have to pay for it yourself out of pocket.
2. Do not ever spend your own money. Teachers have 6 years of college, years of subbing and working two or more jobs and once they are eventually hired they work 55+ hour weeks and are extremely underpaid.
3. You will be harassed by parents who want that coveted bumper sticker that proclaims their child is GOD at their local school and will do anything to get it...even lie to the school board.
4. Principals will no longer support you but will support whining parents who threaten to take their kid out of your school thereby sending the state $ for that child elsewhere (schools are a business).
5. You will be constantly working while you are sick from kid germs.
6. Document EVERYTHING!
7. Be strong and work with your union.

I taught her something too...but no one believed me until I showed official documents. In 13 states there is Social Security Offset meaning that if you ever worked at a job not in teaching and contributed to SS you will not get more than 10% of what you are entitled to receive when you become a senior citizen even if you have enough SS credits.

As an elementary school teacher I have told all of the ROP high school students who volunteered in my classroom over the years, "DO NOT BECOME A TEACHER!". I am not alone, all the teachers at my various schools told their ROP students, their own children and anyone considering going into the profession to never become a teacher. Two out of three teachers leave within the first 5 years of teaching...and they still have all those student loans to pay.