There’s more at stake than money

Those of us who live in Marysville are painfully aware that our teachers are on strike. Many feel the teachers’ salaries are their primary concern. There are, however, three other crucial issues at stake. First, the administration wants to remove existing contract language that limits classroom sizes. Second, they want to be able to place, in overloaded classrooms, any number of children with special needs and/or behavioral considerations. Third, the district wants to hire fewer educational aides and cut the hours they will work. In the past these aides have been immensely valuable in helping a classroom teacher meet a special child’s needs. In classrooms developed specifically for moderately and severely handicapped children, these aides have given inestimable assistance, and cuts in these classrooms would be dangerously devastating.

Traditionally, teachers have understood that the quality of education in their classrooms is seriously impacted when overloading occurs. So, when you drive by, or walk past, these courageous men and women, know that they truly do have your child’s best interest at heart. Your child’s education is important enough to them for them to go through this excruciating experience.

Marysville