Judges Lock Up More Teachers

Star-Ledger ^ | December 6, 2001 | SUE EPSTEIN, BEV McCARRON AND KELLY HEYBOER

[ZULU]

Another 88 Middletown teachers -- including a woman recovering from cancer, a man with spina bifida and a veteran teacher who hadn't missed a day of work in nearly four decades -- were led to jail in handcuffs yesterday as one of the nastiest strikes in New Jersey history dragged through a fifth emotional day without a settlement.

[hobbes1]

Me too. My SIL is a PS teacher...I JUST LOVE to start this crap at Christmas Eve...LOL

[Don Myers]

Ref your post 97, I pasted a quote from another post. Did you miss my reply right below it?

[ZULU]

Jail may be the only option. Firing teachers may not be possible. On the other hand, when a judge issues a court order and anyone else ignores it, they are jailed. Exceptions should not be made for this pampered, overpaid, underworked class of elitist snobs.

If people were recompensed on the basis of the product they produce, teachers in the U.S. would be paid a dime an hour. When a third rate nation like Malaysia or the Phillippines can produce students who equal or surpass the average American student in history, mathematics and the sciences, that says a lot.

Sure, teachers aren't the only fly in the ointment. There may be too much political interference with schools, or not enough. The NEA and NJEA have a powerful lobby and their primary interest is in inflating the benefits and salaries of teachers, not producing a better student. (Tenure which protects poor teachers is a perfect example.)

Parents today spawn their offspring and expect the state and school to take care of them while they pursue their leisurely activities. When a student is censured for poor behavior or lack of attention to studies, amny parents attack the school teacher. The work ethic and sense of personal family honor, so important among certain non-native American social groups, has been eroded to a state on non-existence, primarily due to liberal political, educational and social actions.

But none of this excuses the actions of teachers who break the law, illegally strike, ignore a court order, set a poor example for their students and demand that they receive benefits not generally availabel to the poor working stiffs who pay the taxes that finance those benefits.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Agreed. Parents do have responsibility for their children. And the flower-child parents seem to be the worst ones today.

P.S. I wonder if our friend from the other thread would also support jailing teachers who tell children there is no Santa. lol

[xsmommy]

i pay my child's elementary school tutor $40/hour for extra help. i do not begrudge it, because she is a catholic school teacher doing it for her love of kids and to subsidize her sub-standard wage. i have no doubt that the public school teachers in this area can earn a pretty penny during the summer and after school, to supplement their very respectable salary also. striking over a $500/ yr. health premium increase, indeed!

[hobbes1]

Jail may be the only option. Firing teachers may not be possible

Oh, but ...hee hee...it is after they've been jailed for a week.(Court Order...)

[ZULU]

Then there is still hope. Interesting that the hope is not coming from the northeast, that den of liberal degeneracy.

[xsmommy]

well, my BIL (teacher) used to be a UNION REP as well.... and how do you think the school choice/voucher discussions go over?

[hobbes1]

Yes, when I get on this One particular soapbaox, my SIL lights up like the Christmas tree..hahahaha A mircale I'm even allowed there. If this strike is still going on in 3 weeks....heh heh..../evilgrin

[hobbes1]

I guess your Zeal of the Converted just doesn't carry over...? LOL

[xsmommy]

oh geez, and it is NJ, as well, i forgot!! local news and all!

[xzins]

already paying very high property taxes are not going to have any patience

You misunderstand. The property tax RATE doesn't have to change. Let's say the rate is X mils. That is a constant. What isn't a constant is the VALUATION. That is adjusted regularly -- in some places annually. In other words, if the assessor says your property was worth 100,000 last year, and then says inflation was at 3.2% so it's now valued at 103,200 this year, then you AUTOMATICALLY pay more in property tax every year.

The school district receipts go up EACH YEAR! The school district doesn't have to increase the rate to pay the teachers enought so they keep up with the inflation rate. They simply have to keep the VERY SAME percentage distribution.

How would you feel if they cut your pay every year to pay for "new ideas" that the front office came up with?

Bottom line, though, is that it is power negotiating in a distorted market.

[hobbes1]

Yup, though she teaches in Rutherford...It will be a BEAUTIFUL opportunity, If I am forced to attend....

JAIL'Em ALL, then Fire'em....hahahahahahahahahaha

[freeperfromnj]

Cool! Hazlet is a great town to raise kids. The schools are exceptional. Wouldn't you disagree with some of the posts that are portraying the Middletown school district parents as 'flower children' and working parents who don't care? When I moved into the area I was surprised at how many stay-at-home moms there are and how involved the really are at the schools.

[ZULU]

When you say its O.K. to break one law in an action of civil disobedience, but not o.k. to break another law in an action of civil disobedience, I think anyone but an educator would consider that a double standard.

[Don Myers]

"P.S. I wonder if our friend from the other thread would also support jailing teachers who tell children there is no Santa. lol"

It is possible.

[hobbes1]

Yes I would. It is mostly a solid Middle to Upper Middle class community.I got all the flower Children up Here in Montclair.... (I live one town over...)

Montclair is TRULY a sight to behold...Moms dropping off thier kiddies at the Public Schools In Range Rovers,BMWs and Benzs...I guess the 70k car, is just a tad more important than say driving a Ford, and Privately educating thier Kids...

[Northpaw]

Two teachers who are married and own rental property can afford a $400,000 house.....and your point is?

Oh really? Unless an incredible cash down payment is made, (and of course, teachers have very little excess cash, right?) the mortgage payments on a $400,000 home would be approx. $4,000 a month. They also had to purchase that rental property before they had renters to garner additional income. Do your math. It would require incomes far exceeding your 'average' teacher's salary.

[AmishDude]

including a woman recovering from cancer, a man with spina bifida and a veteran teacher who hadn't missed a day of work in nearly four decades

Dear Star-Ledger: They were well enough to sit out there protesting. All of a sudden now they are weak and frail.

[xsmommy]

well undoubtedly, they are libs and so what objection would they have to public school indoctrination?