Teacher Hardships

Are Not Unique

To the Editor:

I waited with anticipation for the arrival of The Newtown Bee newspaper this past Friday. I was eager to read the response letters regarding the Board of Education budget proposals. I was not disappointed.

It doesn’t seem to be about the children, home values or our children’s future. It’s about the money. The comment, “When you cut my salary you’re cutting my family’s salary,” says it all.

There are other noneducators just like the teachers that work long hours, weekends, and holidays in order to complete their work assignments. This is a profession that they chose and were not forced into.

Everyone’s job is just as important as the next. Police, firefighters, road department, fast food and sanitation employees. The list goes on. We all perform much needed tasks that are paramount to make this country run. One should not be construed as being on a higher or lower level than the other.

So when I interpret from reading letters and hearing comments from other people that some teachers are trying to put themselves in an elevated position as the keepers of our nation’s future (not from a Bee source) and should therefore be immune from the cost cutting process, I have issues with that.

Quoting Mr Harrison [Letter Hive, 3/13/09, “Cut The Fat Off The Meat, Not The Meat Off The Bone”], “If we were to take a pay and step freeze, it would affect teachers’ retirements, our insurance rates would still increase, resulting in a greater financial burden on the families of the employees.” So, Mr Harrison, what could happen to you is not unique; it is happening to me, my neighbors, and millions of others. What is your point?

If this town needs to reduce expenditures in order to pass a budget reflective of the times, it must be shared by all.

The people who are not town or school employees have already given their fair share. (Just read the papers or watch the news.) Now it is time for the town and teachers unions to do their fair share. It’s all or none.

If there is no flexibility, then the voters have an option to respond. I for one am tired of being the budget punching bag and will vote No. I will, however, vote Yes when I’m satisfied that a manageable budget reflects a unified effort by all.

Sincerely,

Fred Gruendig

Average hardworking Newtown resident — no titles here.

6 Plumtrees Road, Newtown                                       March 18, 2009