To the editor:
It disturbs me to read all the negative comments about teachers that have been recently published in the notorious Open Line. As a former school district employee (not a teacher), I have seen how much time some of the teachers put in-off the clock. Many go in an hour or more before they are supposed to, and they stay afterward as well. Why? So they can be more prepared to teach your children. These are the people who spend the majority of the day with your child. They may actually have more communication and know more about their students, your children, than some parents do.
The picture of the teachers lined up in front of the school that was recently on the front page of The Sentinel did not depict the true meaning of the point that was being made. They were not being selfish. Negotiations are in the process at this time, and their point is they are under contract to work certain hours so that is exactly what they are doing. They go to work when the contract says, and they leave when it says. How many of you go into work an hour, or more, than your actual work day begins - and actually start working? How many take your work home with you and work during your free time? People have this huge misconception that teachers make a large amount of money? They do not.
Our school district, along with many others in the state, is in sad shape. I agree there need to be changes, and I do feel some changes within the administration need to take place, such as eliminating some positions, and cutting wages. It seems funny that most of the employees (teachers, secretaries, cafeteria workers, custodians/maintenance) have taken some type of loss whether it was hours, or jobs eliminated but the administration hasn't been affected too much. There could be more in that department.
As an employee, I saw a number of ways money could have been saved, and I saw a number of ways that money was wasted. It was very frustrating to see all the money that went into building a walkway to the modulars at Lewistown Intermediate for a mere six months. I could go on and on about the district's wastefulness, but I don't want the point of this letter to be lost. My point is we need to support our teachers, as well as the support staff that I mentioned, but the teachers are the ones who are helping pave the way for your child's future.
Sally Burkholder
Lewistown
