SpeakOut
Former Oakmont guidance director
Dick Mackey GUIDANCE DIRECTOR, OAKMONT 1968-1993 RETIRED WESTMINSTER

I would like to commend Mr. Harding on his letter that papered in the 1/24/08 edition of The Community Journal though his use of the salary figures he obtained from the Department of Education (DOE) cannot be accurately used to compare various school system's salaries. The DOE very simply takes the total amount of money reported to them (DOE) as being spent on salaries from various districts and divides by the number of teachers in the district. This does not take into consideration the years of experience and the degrees teachers have attained. Until you compare one contract with another at various steps and degree levels the information you get is of no value. School systems with more senior teachers will always show higher average salaries. Though I in no way call Mr. Harding a liar this is another case where "figures don't lie but liars figure."

During my 50 years of service, 40 in the Ashburnham- Westminster school district, to public education I have never seen such unprofessional behavior by any group of teachers as that I have witnessed by most teachers in the Ashburnham Westminster district during their contractual issues over the past several months. Starting in the fall their "Work to Rule" efforts denied many students extra help before and after school. Many wore clothing to school stating union positions. Picketing began on school grounds in front of students with some signs ending up in the classrooms. Many sent complaint cards to school committee members about their "dire straits." Recently teachers have taken to the streets with one sign reading: "The best money for the best teachers." Who, other than themselves, judged them as the best teachers?

Having worked closely with administrators and school committees for many years I have never seen a better and more committed group to represent our educational interests than our present school committee and superintendent of schools. Three years ago this superintendent and an almost intact school committee "gave" our teachers the best contract in the area. The members of the committee continue to donate hundreds of hours yearly to help our students and faculties. The Superintendent works innumerable hours in the best interests of the schools and the communities. The teacher's union is now asking the public to "please" help them with their contractual issues while at the same treating those elected by the public with intimidation, harassment, and humiliation. From my observations the only significant change in negotiations from three years ago has been the creation of a crisis team by the union. The crisis team has then followed the advice of the confrontational MTA rep. who has taken the teachers on a one way path to nowhere. Did anyone in the teacher's union check the background of the MTA rep? If not you should have.

It follows that some of my former colleagues will be asking why I have not shown loyalty to their cause and support their union. My answer is simple: "For 40 years I have supported education in these two towns as much or more than any other individual. Now as a result of your unprofessional behavior I cannot." Many years ago a man much brighter than I stated: "Loyalty to an unjust cause is not loyalty but rather a sin" and I've already sinned enough in my life.

This eventually will pass but unfortunately the behavior of the teachers will not soon be forgotten by the public. Many teachers in leadership positions today will be retiring in the next couple of years. They will be replaced by those younger and less experienced. It is my hope that the new leaders will have learned a lesson in how not to negotiate and as they become involved in contractual negotiations they will choose a different path from what they have seen over the past year.

In the spring it will be time for the public to vote a school budget for the 2008-2009 school year. Hopefully those who go to the polls will support the school budget in spite of what they have witnessed over the past several months. Not supporting the budget will only do harm to the kids in our district and they have been harmed enough already. To steal a few words from Mr. Harding: "This is a fine school system with excellent kids and parents and an outstanding administration and school committee. The teachers have excellent working conditions and are paid above average salaries."