Letters: Are teachers being treated fairly?

Don't blame the teachers

I'm an educator, Detroit Public Schools, and with all due respect, I disagree with Nolan Finley ("Teacher perks bleed budget dry," Oct. 4). We teachers are not responsible for the state budget deficit. We go into the classroom and provide a service and are compensated for it. We pay for a portion of our medical, dental and vision coverage, just as Finley does. These benefits are bargained for. We aren't asking for anything unreasonable. If $218 from each of the 110,000 teachers will get the state out of the budget deficit, I'm rather sure we'd "share in the pain."

Thomas A. Wilson, Jr. Detroit

Construct good values

Lately education and teachers efforts have come under heavy attack but it should be noted that historically, education reflects the values of society. My assignment is teaching high school students construction skills and work behaviors through the process of actually building a house. This requires toughness, determination, attention to detail, working on tasks to completion, and meeting industry standards. Sadly, many of our students are unwilling to put forth the effort to develop these traits. Instead of blaming others or money, we parents, teachers, and society as well, should join forces to emphasize to our young people that life is not always fast and easy.

John Ruhlig, Dearborn Hts.

DPS needs more help

As a Detroiter and a Cass Tech graduate, I feel that the plight of the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) is not getting enough attention from the national media. If the city of Detroit develops a strong, educated work force, then there is no limit to what it can do. We have reached a point where we can no longer keep this to ourselves. We need outside help. I feel that if people across the nation knew about DPS, then more of an effort would be made to speed up its reform.

Abigail Burns, Detroit

All must share hardship

Teachers are important, yet they are overestimating their importance on the backs of the rest of us in this state. Why do teachers feel that they are immune to what is happening to the rest of us? If teaching our children is as important as they claim, how come students' needs are not put first?

Joe Perotta, Nashville, MI

Kids need a union

I wish the children had their own union representation. Someone who would stand up and say, "Wait just a minute here. This funding is for the kids first. Sure, you will get paid. But you will get yours after the kids get theirs." Just think what a system like that might look like.

Cecilia Bruck, Northville