By Mussi G.
I teach in Bais Rivkah. I found out I was on ‘STRIKE’ when you did.
I came to Bais Rivkah accidentally. I’ve always said, “I’ll NEVER teach there. Who in their right mind would work without pay??”
Well, here I am. And I love it. I can only speak for myself. I love working in this school. My coworkers are wonderful. There is so much teacher sharing, and a true spirit of camaraderie.
My principal is amazing. She is always there for us whenever and whatever we need. She always has our back.
And I can go on and on about my precious students. They are my chayus.
Overall it’s a wonderful place to work. Yes, I don’t get paid on time. I’m approximately 8 checks behind, not on time.
Yes, I have credit card debts from this. Which I’m hoping to be able to pay up when the checks do come in.
Yes, I do feel like people think less of me for teaching in this school. People who don’t know me, that is. People who do know me just think I’m crazy. Maybe I am.
Parents of my students are just grateful. Thank you parents for showing your gratitude. It keeps me going.
Teachers strike? I know just as much as you know. Probably even less. I’ve been coming in to school to set up my classroom. Using these extra days to make it extra nice for my girls. As are most of my colleagues. The secretaries, too, have been in school every day. So have the principals. The only thing missing are the students. Oh, and some very overdue checks.
My job as a teacher? Doing whatever is in my power to make a safe, fun, and engaging learning environment for my students. And then some. I am trying my best.
My principal’s job? Doing whatever is in her power to make sure I have the tools and the means to do my job. And then some. She is doing her best.
The administrators job? Making it possible for the students, teachers, and principals to do their best. Are they doing their best? Well, I don’t see them or know them to tell you… I do know that we are very behind in payment.
Every year, I do know that the principals and administrators I do see in school lose sleep, cry, and get physically ill over this. I do know that they are doing everything in their power (which is not much power) to stand firm and demand change.
I applaud them and back them fully. I thank them.
Thank you for taking it on your shoulders to try and make a difference.
Great idea!
we should put together a platform where parents deposit automatically every month $200 per kid, and discount from their tuition payment.
and the money goes to pay the teachers only!
yes its horrible that BR isnt open and people should open a new girl school like bnos menachem.
as a side not teachers should get pay raises. Being a teacher is a hard job. A teacher has to put so many things into her classrrom that unfortunately people think anyone can teach. which is not true anyone can be a teacher but be a good one? No.
Parents should get together and pay the teachers directly and cut out the administrators. That should save about $500,000 right there
Elementary is all nice and cuddly what about high school. We demand and want teachers who are getting paid and qualify for the job of teaching. We do not need favours from unqualified teachers that we can’t get rid of
Sorry to say this but your idea wont work, firstly bc if they half the salary their giving now the teachers income wld be less than minimum wage… which is illegal. Second noone wld work for such a low payment, as it is teachers dont make a lot and are so dedicated. To cut their salary in half to pay them up wld make no sense bc then forsure everyone would leave. This can work maybe for the administrators since they are making wayy above the line they need and living the rich life. Maybe if their salary was cut… Read more »
A teacher who can manage without paying or getting half salary can easy say this
I think that the solution is that BR announces that the salary is going to be half for everyone , including administrators
I this way BR will pay everything . Starts paying that they owe to the teachers and after this year to see finances and offer the salaries that they can pay
Teachers have the option to accept or to go somewhere else
To #8 Envelope, Can you please explain how the parents can do that AND pay tuition? That’s the confusing thing about this situation. Parents are being asked to pay tuition and now none of us can work, or we have to pay additional babysitters on top of the tuition we just paid. I went two days ago and spoke to someone in the school. He blamed all of this on the parents not paying tuition. The parents owe me millions of dollars, he said. Excuse me? We do pay!!! We pay what we can And there is also a major… Read more »
The teachers that go to work in BR know that they haven’t paid on time for years. If they would all agree to quit if they aren’t paid on time like in every other business the admins. woould start paying.
For all the ppl who rushed and bought uniform and supplies it’s very upsetting that we are still waiting for school to start
I would add one more point, your working for the Rebbes mosad. For all who are criticising this article as of she is ok with not getting paid, read it again, she simply has a refined way of making her point, not shouting at the administration but making it clear what she truly thinks of them but at the same time bringing out the special qualities of the beis rivka teachers, it is truly beutiful. You should all have much success in your personal life’s, true chasidishe nachas from your children and students, and abundance begashmius. Ksiva vachasima tova leshana… Read more »
To #8 Envelope, Can you please explain how the parents can do that AND pay tuition? That’s the confusing thing about this situation. Parents are being asked to pay tuition and now none of us can work, or we have to pay additional babysitters on top of the tuition we just paid. I went two days ago and spoke to someone in the school. He blamed all of this on the parents not paying tuition. The parents owe me millions of dollars, he said. Excuse me? We do pay!!! We pay what we can And there is also a major… Read more »
I don’t think you understood # 25. She didn’t imply teachers shouldn’t be paid. And why can’t your husband get a job? The great majority of OT graduates are gainfully employed.
BRILLIANT! And I am a bubby of girls supposedly BR students NOT a BR teacher
You are WRONG they took a job and are UNPAID employees NOT volunteers. They did not sign up to work for FREE and should get PAID NOW!!
Are you talking to the teacher who is supporting a family of four, whose husband is an OT graduate who can’t read or write English because he spent his whole life in learning, and who is now not able to get a job in chinuch EVEN in OUR OWn MOSDOS; are you talking to the teaher who’s life and soul was learning and teaching and now has children for who she has to pay tuition in yeshiva???? Are you talking to the teacher who has chovos over her head, is drowning in them, and who doesn’t get credit from the… Read more »
To work /teach without pay even one check is unacceptable
And everyone seems to take that for granted. Hatzlocho rabboh to all.
Your not working, your volunteering, kol zman that your not getting paid it’s not called a job, it’s called being a volunteer.
Dont consider yourself a working person, that is not what your title is, rather you do volunteer work.
All of you beis rivkah teachers are VOLUNTEERS!
it’d wonderful working in br and being in chinuch brings pleanty of brachos to our families. I too set up my class and I’m devoted But there is no excuse for us who work hard not to get paid yes administration should do more and yes parents should get involved is not fair that we have to worry about paying for rent food and clothing for our children!!! Something must be done drastically to change this situation quickly it isn’t ok or acceptable!!
I was a teacher who didnt get paid. I loved my students and loved the chassidish atmosphere in the school, all the staff were devoted and cared and never considered striking for pay. Today they get paid, the government provides, but the atmosphere will never be the same. Dear crown highters, beis rivka is the Rebbis school whatever happens its the chassidish chinuch that matters please dont ever consider compromising chinuch for money, (and yes i agree its doesnt need to be either one or the other but experience shows that it can happen)
teachers should not only get paid on time, but paid more
As frustrated as I am with the bais rivka administration (WHICH IS ALOT!!!!!) Im as appreciative to the Bais Rivka teachers. My daughter has had incredible, and passionate teachers throughout the years, that although dont get paid, still show up daily, and teach with a smile. You are all incredible human beings and you deserve to be paid on time. Can all of us parents come together and decide to pay the teachers directly? As soon as I find out who my daughters teacher is, I will ask if I can pay them the money directly. I think this is… Read more »
I am a shliach outside NY. If I would have the money, I would send a check/gift card to every teacher in BR to make their Yomim Tovim a bit easier and to show them our appreciation.
Nu, there must be some readers (and commenters) who can do that. Get the ball rolling. Others will follow.
A lot of people have written. Now, let’s do something.
your students are very lucky to have you as their teacher!
Kol Hakovod to all of you who have such beautiful devotion to teaching & your students. You should be Benchted with a Truely Healthy, Happy, Sweet Good Year!!
I don’t think there exists any business or institution that their employees would work, not getting paid, being owed more then a half year salary A school or any organization can’t function on such a premise The heartbreaking thing is that m as a result of the failure to pay what is owed,lovely innocent children are not learning,progressing and growing Kol hakovod to the teachers who are going beyond the call of duty, and teaching in their homes these few days Kol hakovod to the students who are organizing mivtzoim And chavrusa learning Kol hakovod to the parents who are… Read more »
It’s more like 11 checks behind
100 percent agree. thanks for saying it so well.
Thank you principles for sticking up for us! May the aiberster bench you with all the Brochas begashmius uberuchnius!!
From another teacher
and pay full tuition and love it I hope they open by MOnday
I’m a parent – and I’m not able to work.
Thanks BR
Great for you, but what about the people who work there and rely on the paycheck?! They might have a passion for teaching as you do, but they simply cannot afford it. There are absolutely no excuses.
is it true school is starting in a week from thursday..not even monday???
amazing job please keep up the work.
i think all the teachers should go back in.
this strike has to do with the admins arguing nothing to do with teachers it is time that the community says enough is enough
just open and teach and iyh the internal fights would be fixed
Thank you for your devotion, love and care towards our girls!!!
Parents should start sending kids to school and hand teacher envelope with weekly payment…like $100 per child per week until they are fully paid.
Mussy G. is clearly devoted to BR, which is highly commendable – her students are very lucky to have her teach them. Her principal is also fortunate to have her on staff.
But at the end of the day, there are 2,000 girls not in school. If the administration had done its job, they would be in class. learning and developing all sorts of skills. I don’t believe anyone thinks the current situation is acceptable.
I love you, your article is beautiful & so encouraging. We need more like you and we will all have a Truely Good G’Benchted Year with Moshiach Mamosh!
wow beautiful article keep up the good work:-)
I totally agree 100% with the teacher who just wrote this article. I have been working in Bais Rivkah for many years and work with the most wonderful and for the best principals that anyone can possibly work for. KOL HAKOVD to the principals who are sticking out their neck for their devoted staff who work beyond the call of duty doing extra work that is not required in the classroom because of our devotion to Bais Rivkah. I’d like to see some of you willingly come back to start the new year being owed payment for half of last… Read more »
Very well said! Thank you for posting. We all trust that for the sake of the hundreds of sweet, innocent children, Hashem will send some kind of salvation!
I am a BR teacher and looove what I do bh! I am so fortunate to work in such a wonderful mosad with so many wonderful people.
I’ve been in school the past two days working.
But I would have rather been teaching….
I too applaud the principals for staying strong and not giving in.
Although im not working for the money, it’s still halachicly and ethically wrong, for them not to pay.
Although, I am sure you are a great caring teacher, the administration simply do not care. They are not behind in their checks. They all have summer homes. They aren’t maxed out on their credit cards.