Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Timing is not right for teacher raises

As a single mom with a child in the Monroe County school district, I was upset to hear about the push by the teachers union for a raise this year. In some of the most economic hard times this country has experienced in a long time, I find their request appalling, due to the average amount of salary that the teachers earn here in Monroe County.

I make at least $20,000 a year less than the average teacher. I did not receive my quarter-an-hour raise this year, and like everyone else, all my bills have increased. I do not get more than 14 weeks a year of vacation, and so I wonder why the teachers union is crying for a raise.

We the taxpayers voted for a smaller classroom size in Florida, selfishly for our children's well being, but you benefited by that vote. Most teachers these days could not handle the 30-plus students that were the norm when I went to school.

As for teachers having to take money out of their pocket for supplies each year, I do not agree that they should have to do that. I still owe my son's teacher the $25 she asked for at the beginning of the year in order to acquire the necessary supplies that she needs for the classroom.

I would gladly accept some sort of additional monies to the teachers to cover this expense, but not a raise in pay. With all that is happening in this country and in the county alone, you would think that some sort of logic should prevail in the minds of those who are responsible for the future of this nation. Are you dedicated to your jobs and your cause, or are you in it for the money?

Although I did not hear the whole interview with Bill Becker on US 1 Radio, I was appalled by Mr. (Leon) Fowler's attitude in the excerpts of the news. Is there some sort of monetary reason that Mr. Fowler is pushing so hard for this increase? Does he benefit from the pay raises in any form?

If you are a parent with children in the Monroe County school district you should be as outraged at this issue as you were from the incident that occurred in this county. I ask you to please e-mail your child's teacher and inform them if you got a raise this year.

Eleanor McAdams

Little Torch Key

Churches have promoted unity for decades

The misinformation in two recent letters to the editor is shocking.

Recent comments on the Roman Catholic Church engaging in sheep-stealing indicates a lack of knowledge and possibly bias.

Remember the Church of England, the Episcopal Church and Anglican Church were good practicing Catholics up until King Henry VIII. The Episcopal Church maintained substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality.

Pope John Paul II in 1982 allowed former Anglicans in the U.S. to come into communion with Rome while maintaining their Anglican liturgies. Talks between the two churches pursuing unity have been going on for 40 years.

The traditional Anglicans made a request two years ago for an approved canonical structure. Pope Benedict XVI has been promoting this conclusion for a number of years.

For the Catholic Church, this communion is not about celibacy, homosexuality or sheep-stealing; it's about coming home.

James J. Maun

Key West

Make Veteran's Day special this year

As a proud Vietnam veteran, I find it tragic that Veteran's Day is viewed by many as just another day, and for some, just another day off from work or school.

I lost friends in Vietnam and became reacquainted with them during my visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. I made a promise to them, their families and myself that our service and dedication would never be forgotten.

Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, was created as a day to honor each and every veteran who has fought to protect this great nation and the freedoms granted to all Americans. Many Americans have lost sight of the true meaning of this special day.

There are thousands of troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, with more likely on the way. Veterans are returning all the time and many require assistance to reacclimate themselves back into the mainstream of the society they fought to protect. Veterans and service members are struggling to get the benefits they earned through their service. Let's show the veterans that we care.

The citizens of our communities throughout the Florida Keys can take action to support our troops and veterans on this special day and during the upcoming holiday season. Take part in ceremonies honoring Veterans on Nov. 11. Write a letter of support to a deployed service member. Host a holiday celebration for military families. Send a care package or make a donation to a program that supports our troops and veterans, such as VFW Operation Uplink (http://www.operationuplink.org).

Remind young people what Veteran's Day is all about! And oh yeah -- say thanks to every veteran and service member you come in contact with.

Bill Meagher

Big Coppitt Key