It's Town election season here in NH - and teachers are being closely looked at: If Bedford teachers want to leave, let them go - Granite Grok

It’s Town election season here in NH – and teachers are being closely looked at: If Bedford teachers want to leave, let them go

From another email that was inbound was this Letter concerning teachers and taxes from a town other than mine.  From the folks that I hear from, whose jobs and companies have been affected by globalization in commodity products and services, there seems to be a growing resentment towards government workers who have absolutely no empathy (besides passing lip service) or gratitude for taxpayers that have to do with less even as those they support as demanding more.

What an “Entitlement mentality R Us” nation we have become!

Thursday, March 1, 2012
To the Editor:

Each year, right around this time, we hear just how poorly our Bedford teachers are paid and that if we don’t pay them as well as a surrounding community that they will leave. Some of you may have actually even read through the District Information Guide showing teacher salaries commensurate with experience and degree and seen the “standard” income of these professionals.

In 2008, I decided to investigate this recurring theme of how we would lose our teachers to other communities with better packages. I went to the school district and paid the $7 for copying fees to be able to acquire a copy of those salaries. I was absolutely astonished when I saw the salaries that we actually paid. From custodians (who help keep our facilities functional, but always seem to be the first to be let go in times of financial stress) making $20,000 per year to kindergarten teachers making close to $70,000 per year to principals making over $110,000 per year. And this was in 2008.

In addition, for the past three years now, I’ve been receiving “accidental” emails requesting my support for the Bedford teachers and to vote in favor of the new contracts, increases, etc. Each year, I’ve tried to find out where these people obtained my work email address for this propaganda. This year’s email came from Suzanne D’Amato. Apparently Ms. D’Amato decided that the Math Superstars program (in which my daughter participates) was an approved list to email propaganda. Due to the limitations of the Letters to the Editor, I cannot reprint that here, but if you would like to see the details, please contact me at jcabotl@yahoo.com and I will forward the email along.

It’s disgraceful that our teachers continually get higher and higher raises, incredible benefits and a much truncated work year while the rest of us are trying to hold on to our jobs. Our taxes have increased far more than any raises that many of us non-government worker taxpayers have earned over the past 10 years. At some point, we need to put a stop to this.

I think that we are lucky in Bedford to have a number of dedicated and professional education staff. However, if our environment isn’t providing them with the income that they desire, I recommend letting them go find another position in another school district.

I agree, as it is the way it is in the private sector.  Don’t like what you get for conpensation – seek and find a better fit and job.  Sure, there are times things have not worked out for me, but more often it has.  And yes, I have also tried the other track – take the risk and joined a startup.  It does seem that many, especially those in the teachers’ unions, believe it is owed to them.
>