TYLER (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - Concerns about the Teacher Retirement System and health care continue to be priorities for retired educators as they heard from state Rep.-elect Matt Schaefer.
Schaefer spoke Tuesday to about 100 people during the monthly meeting of the Smith County Retired Teachers and School Personnel Association.
He addressed three main issues: the retirement system, standardized testing and vocational training.
He said he is committed to preserving the integrity of the retirement system for current and future retirees, but also said there are many ways it could be changed to address prospective problems.
"To say that the system the way it is never going to change is not an answer," he said. "It's just not."
Schaefer said school districts have focused too much on standardized testing to the detriment of students and teachers.
"You don't have standard kids," he said. "You have individuals. They have different skills … different personalities, different IQs."
He said parents and teachers want accountability. They want to know how their children are progressing. But, he said, the state has taken accountability too far.
"We need reasonable assessment tools, but to judge a school on one test given on one day and neglect all the other factors that go into the success of a student is really shortsighted in my opinion …" he said. "We need to take a more holistic approach into how we're grading our schools and whether we're getting the good value for our dollar."
Schaefer said students should be encouraged to pursue career and technology education at the high school level and beyond, if that is their desire.
College is important, he said, but it is not for everyone and vocational education can provide students with the skills to have a solid and high-paying career.
"There are a lot of students who might be struggling with Shakespeare," Schaefer said. "But if you go out there and put a welding tool in their hands, they come alive. … I'm afraid that we may have gotten to the point where there's a stigma attached to a young man or woman who doesn't go get a four-year degree."
Schaefer said local school districts rather than the state should have more control over determining the qualifications for vocational teachers. He said this likely would open up the position to many people who have hands-on experience in certain fields.
Local retired educators peppered Schaefer with questions about teacher retirement benefits, health care and more.
"It seems that we are forgotten once you leave the classroom," said retired teacher Nelda Ellis, who was unhappy about some of the changes made to the retired teachers' health care program.
Retired educator Mark Wagstaff said he doesn't feel like he's well represented at any government level because he doesn't have the money to pay a lobbyist.
He said the Legislature is not taking care of business and funding the Teacher Retirement System at a level that would give retirees a cost-of-living increase, something they haven't had since 2001.
The state did issue a 13th check to retirees in 2007.
Retired teacher Wanda Barber, 70, said Schaefer is a "nice guy, but he's still telling the same sound bites that the other politicians do."
Karlyene Hall, 84, of Tyler, said there is a movement in Texas to do away with the Teacher Retirement System as it is now and go to a (defined) contribution system, something retirees are not happy about.
Regarding the teacher retirement system, Schaefer said it's important to deal with facts.
"The important thing is to look at the facts and to understand how we got to where we are as well because the past is instructive," he said.
Smith County Retired Teacher and School Personnel Association President Dr. Wayne Berryman said Schaefer seemed very open and interested in hearing and responding to questions from members.
He said he appreciates that Schaefer said he is reading and learning about the issues and wants to be fair in his decisions.
"That's what I want him to be," Berryman said. "As long as he's objective and fair, that's all we ask."
Rep.-elect Matt Schaefer
