Teachers Work As Hard As They Can

To the Editor:

On April 26 we in Newtown will vote on the town budget. My husband and I have lived here for 34 years and have seen our taxes increase from just over $700 to more than $6,000. I know how high the taxes are; I pay them, too. I have also been honored to teach at Newtown High School for the last 20 years, and have watched as the demographics of the town changed.

As the town’s ability to pay for services, especially education, has risen, our per pupil expenditure has fallen dramatically relative to that of other towns and cities in Connecticut. This year the town was forced to pay $1.2 million to clean up an oil spill at Reed Intermediate School. Understanding economic reality, the budget Dr Pitkoff sent to the Legislative Council was already extremely lean, and that was cut by an additional $400,000.

Some in the community, especially those without children in the school system, are sometimes tempted to criticize teachers with charges of not working hard enough to justify the salaries they make. They reasons that in times when the economic belt must be tightened, teachers can just work harder. As a teacher watching other teachers, I am telling you they cannot; most are already working as hard as they can.

One of my colleagues who entered teaching after having worked in administration said, “I have never worked so hard in my life.” Another said, “If I were working this hard in corporate, I would expect a six-figure salary.” In addition, many teachers volunteer numerous extra hours to advise clubs and activities not funded by the school system. Many also use their own money to purchase items not supplied through the budget. Newtown is so fortunate to have the quality of educators it has serving the town. They are extremely competent, dedicated to the children they teach, very hard working, and worth every dollar Newtown pays them and more.

The budget we will approve or not on April 26 does not fully meet the needs of the students we serve. Teachers will continue to work as hard as they can; however, if it is cut further, the quality of education for which so many have moved to the town will erode. When that happens over a period of time, property values will decline. I urge you to vote Yes on April 26.

Sincerely,

Jan Lee Brookes

38 Hundred Acres Road, Newtown                               April 19, 2005