What is one reason teachers react with skepticism to bonus offers from lawmakers and school districts? Maybe because teachers have been around the block one too many times, watching promise after promise get broken when budgets get tight (see our first story in the February 6, 2004 TQB.) Even salaries aren t immune, as teachers in L.A. and Baltimore are finding out in the most painful way. In Baltimore this Friday, teachers will need the wisdom of Solomon when they are being asked to choose between a 6 percent pay cut or 8 furlough days. If they don t approve either, they face the promise of massive layoffs all because a since-departed previous administration (quick to get out of Dodge) chalked up a mind- numbing $58 million deficit.

On the other coast, sunny L.A. is staring at a Hollywood-sized $500 million dark cloud this coming fiscal year. In response, L.A. Unified is considering sending out "layoff warnings" in the upcoming weeks and slashing their $6 billion budget by as much as 10 percent.

Amidst the chaos, Jennifer Moore, a third grade teacher in Baltimore, reflected, "I work so hard for the little amount of money that I make; I just don't see why I should have to give some of my money to the city [school system] when I didn't create the problem." Well said.