You're not paid what you are worth..
You are paid what you negotiate!

Comments on this article should be addressed to:
Stephen Hoppy Hopkins
PO Box 1421; Pollock Pines, CA 95726. (530)644-3487 Phone/FAX

About 90% of my work as AEOE Chair involves organizational maintenance tasks. i.e. filling board positions, organizing conferences, delegating, etc. These primary responsibilities are challenging, time consuming and very rewarding as I have watched our organization grow professionally and increase in size. 

Only about 10% of my time is spent with work related issues as they pertain to hours, salaries and benefits in the EE profession. There is a frustration in dealing with these issues as they seem to be the very antithesis of so much of what we stand for in the environmental movement. Fairness and justice are two words that come to mind as we address issues relating to a healthy natural environment. These very same attributes should also pertain to how we treat one another with the same respect and dignity we have for all earth's living things.

Environmental educators provide an invaluable service to schools, kids and the environment. However, in the spirit of "Let no good deed go unpunished" a significant number of environmental educators labor under Machiavellian, totalitarian working conditions that amount to little more than indentured servitude and eventually lead to poor morale at the work site.

Outdoor schools are a great place to work and teach and most schools treat their teachers with the utmost respect. However, when the bottom line becomes the determining factor, employee rights can become the victim and working conditions can become exploitative. The following is a list of a few practices that this organization finds entirely unacceptable:

- Working out of classification. i.e. Interns are "in training" and should not be used as a substitute for naturalist or teaching positions without a commensurate pay increase.
- Working in excess of 8 hours per day or more than 40 hours per week without additional compensation.
- No written contract
- No health benefits

These employment practices are unacceptable and are contradictory to the noble goals of AEOE and environmental education. The first two are particularly egregious and cannot be tolerated. Prior to your employment get an agreement in writing. If hours, salaries and benefits are not clearly spelled out in your contract - Don't take the job.

If you find yourself having to dealing with work related issues do the following simultaneously:

1. Bring the issue to the attention of your immediate supervisor. 
2. Document everything in detail.
3. If you are connected with a school district or a County Office of Education call your personnel department and request a copy of your personnel handbook, contract or other document that explains your rights as an employee. a. Contact your union representative. b. Follow the prescribed grievance procedure.
4. If you are instructing in a private program contact the Federal Department of Labor at 916-979-2040 or, in the Bay Area, at 415- 975-4510. In the white pages under "State" look for a listing for the Industrial Relations Department or the State Labor Board. The California State Labor Commission can be reached at 916-323-4920. These offices will investigate your claim and will keep the information confidential.
5. Let others know about the situation at your work site. Write a note for inclusion in this newsletter and contact the college campus career center or recruitment office where you first heard about the job. Have them add a note of clarification to the job announcement.
6. Contact me. I may have some additional information that may be of value. 
7. DON'T GIVE UP. Quit griping and take action. These intolerable conditions will continue only if you allow them to do so.

See also my article "Professionalism" from the February 1997 AEOE Newsletter.