Try walking a mile in their shoes

Editor, The Citizen: In response to Faith Hanney. I have walked several miles "in their shoes."

I would agree that a majority of teachers "give their heart and soul to our students." Furthermore, I don't doubt that the school district has an "exceptional group of teachers." I also realize that the teachers control the vote in the Annual School District meeting therefore, I made my comments to the audience because there are parents of children in the school district that are not willing to stand up at a public meeting and voice their opinion on teacher salaries and benefits. There are many that object to an automatic teacher step increase, combined with a percentage increase in salaries. Not many frustrated tax payers (including parents of students) are willing to stand up in a public meeting and say that they prefer to vote for salary increases based on merit and performance rather than automatic pay increases based on time. Many corporations base salary increase on performance. Note the demise of the corporate pension-we provide a teacher pension and life long employment. Not many folks can work 180 days for the salaries teachers make.

Parents of children in school are not comfortable standing up in opposition and calling for a reduction to the number of teaching aids or vote disapproval to increases in runaway health insurances or call for elimination of dental plans, the closure of a neighborhood school, the reduction in the number of administrators or a ceiling on administrative salaries. They fear possible inadvertent teacher retribution to their children. Some electorate are unwilling to vigorously oppose the union openly. Yet there is a hot angry group of tax payers that want to know more about how their tax dollar is spent.

Democracies need a vibrant and credible opposition. However, political correctness and fear of retribution silences the disgruntled voice. Many ask, what can they do against the organized teacher's labor union with a massive treasury and activist political and social agenda. Teachers do not vote against their own economic self interest. Teacher demands for greater salary and benefits continues unabated as does the cost of health insurance which is roughly $18,000 for a family plan. I understand why citizens exercise maturity and restraint in coming forward to object to skyrocketing education costs.

If my comments have been characterized as rancorous bitterness I offer my apologies, but maintain that children of those parents that question the vested interests of teacher unions could be in for a hard time in school. The school budget has reached $20 million. In comparison, the town budget is approaching $13 million. The schools cost us nearly twice as much as it costs to run the town. I would like to make education affordable. Please ask the school Superintendent to justify massive cost increases by reporting test scores, both SAT and local state test scores in the newspapers. Give us data on average classroom size, ie student teacher ratios. Is enrollment increasing or decreasing? Graph out budget increases, enrollments and test scores over ten years. How many teacher aids work in the school system? How many students are categorized as special education? What is our budget for special education? What is the percentage of the total student body that are categorized as special education? What is our student dropout rate? Tell us about the 'gifted and talented program'. How many students complete two years of a foreign language and four years of math? Provide us with accountability.

I believe the teachers union is oriented toward preservation and that we throw money at education because it is fashionable. The economy has slipped into recession and the school board and superintendent increase the number of those on the payroll, and do nothing to ease the pain of the tax payers. We have a housing bust, a credit crunch and weakening labor market and still the school board spends. We are experiencing foreclosures and mortgage delinquency rates are at record levels. Homeowners debt now exceeds their equity. Nine million homeowners have negative equity. Their mortgage debt is greater than the market value of their homes. Many people own vacation homes in Meredith, some might decide to walk away from these homes thus reducing the revenue flow to the town treasurer. Last year we borrowed millions for a new high school track and athletic field. How many national or Olympic sprinters, or middle distance runners have we produced?

I stand up for those with the shrinking pocketbooks. Many from the area are looking for work or have fear of losing their job. Some frugal folks are struggling and don't have $18,000 for a family health plan. Yes, I have walked many miles in their shoes as well.

We appreciate your raw energy in writing. You certainly do not lack audacity.

Vote YES FOR SB2

Richard Gunnar Juve

Meredith