Both sides Need to Listen

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Teachers, You Must Have Realistic Expectations":

Dude, take a breath. I appreciate your heart felt opinions and feelings. This is the type of discussion that should occur between the board and the union - not between teachers and parents. It didn't start with day one, as you claim, it started in February, before the contract expired.

Plainview would like to continue to be considered one of the top districts on Long Island, as it is now. One of the reasons it is a top district is because the community is behind its students - that includes teachers and parents. High performance in the schools supports home values.

If Plainview falls significantly behind other districts in performance, home values will also fall. Failing to attract the brightest and the best may affect school performance and, consequently, the value of the community will be diminished.

If Plainview fails to pay commensurate with other districts, it will fail to attract the brightest and the best. Scores may fall based on the diminished quality of instruction. The community will still support their kids, but, expertise, or lack thereof, in the faculty will affect performance.

It's clear that these are difficult economic times. These difficult times affect teachers as well as taxpayers. After all, teachers are taxpyers in some community. Many of the Plainview teachers are Plainview taxpayers. Teachers have the same difficulties as the community - spouses losing jobs, tax increases, stock losses, etc... However, when the market was rocking, did the teachers get huge raises like the rest of corporate America?

It is wrong to point to the Lexus's, the Coach bags and the Calvin Kleins as evidence of parents ability to pay higher taxes. Just like it is wrong to assume teachers will retaliate against parents that speak out. Healthy discussion focusing on the issues is more healthy and desirable.

It is a complex situation and should be discussed by the experts. Pointing fingers and spewing incendiary comments is counter productive. Recognize that many teachers have many more years of service in the district than some of the more vocal opponents of the union. Many teachers will be here long after many of the residents move. Teachers and residents have a vested interest in the performance of the students in the district.

The union should also recognize that parents and taxpayers are an integral component of the success of the district. And, the district is highly successful. It has been a highly successful partnership. Both sides should be committed to continuing this successful partnership.

Everyone is hurting. Nobody has ownership of pain. Are union members greedy? No. Is the community devaluing teachers? No. Do both sides need to LISTEN? Yes.

I would encourage everyone to try to be positive and encourage the discussion between the board and the union. Nothing will be resolved here.

Peace.