Teachers, You Must Have Realistic Expectations

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Teachers See My Children as Spoiled Rich Kids?":

I attended the Board of Education meeting and was very saddened about the display I witnessed. Teacher after teacher spoke with such anger. As a parent it made me question if these feelings are spilling over into our classrooms. I wanted to speak that night and show the point of view of parents but I didn't. I feared that I might be lynched by the angry mob. Fear is the problem in this district.Parents who have spoken up have been referred to as "fringe" members of this community or "irresponsible members of this community" however the problem is more widespread than just the people who have spoken out. Many parents have not spoken up as they are fearful of retribution from their children's teachers.I guess I was naive to think that this is not true but from what I witnessed that night I now believe that this is the truth. It is a shame that parents should cower in fear from speaking up but silently seethe about being powerless to change what they feel is unjust. The teachers have a very strong union to protect their interests but what do parents have? We have to trust the Board of Education is looking out for our best interest but this does not mean that we should sit back idle and not let our voices be heard because we are affected by the decisions the union and board make. It is unfortunate that teachers are offended by what has been said but the union and teachers invited us in. The union sent us the first letter, they put those You Tube videos out there, they had the teachers dressed in black with pins and you ordered them to protest in front of the schools. Not us. At the meeting teachers spoke of not being respected for their hard work, well that is not true. Teachers are highly respected and that has been shown year after year in this community. The concerns people have echoed about the financial situation in our community does not demean their respect and admiration of our teachers.Parents speaking out about further increases in salaries is not a slap in their face.Financial reward is not our only means of recognizing their true efforts.Like it or not, choose to believe it or not but our district, our town, our county, our state, our country is in the middle of the hardest economic times many of us ever known. Many of us in this community are fearful of what the future holds for our finances. Rising taxes from a system that is flawed is a huge problem, accepting the situation, as some teachers had said at the meeting, as part on living on Long Island is a bigger problem. Now is the time to start changing a system that is flawed and start a road of economic recovery but we can not do that when we are continually asked to dig deeper into our pockets many of which are empty and have been for some time.A teacher at the meeting stood up and spoke about the luxury items many of the children come to school with and how disgusting it is for parents to say they can't afford raises but can purchase these items for their children. This teacher should be ashamed of herself for such a comment. Don't presume to know what is happening in people's houses when you haven't even peeked into their windows. It is scary to think that if a teacher can express such a view in public what must they be thinking about these children our children in private.
Many in this town are struggling financially. Are teachers so wrapped up in what they are owed that they are blind to what is happening around them. This situation has gotten ugly but it didn't need to be this way.Teachers pointed to the article in Newsday quite often but this problem started way before then. It started day one of school.We need a resolution to this matter that is fair to all sides but you must keep in mind that the well is running dry and you must be realistic in your expectations.