I also am a concerned parent – although my concerns are different than those who have spoken out publicly in favor of the teachers. While I believe in fighting for what you feel is right, breaking the law should never be used as a method to solve your indifferences. I believe this is the worst of all the examples our children have been subjected to.

I believe the district when it says it has offered a fair package. In this day and age teachers should feel lucky to be keeping their jobs and have contracts to work under while most of us wonder every day whether we will be the victim of the next round of job cuts. As long as the pay is similar, there is nothing that says you are automatically “entitled” to a raise.

I understand the cost of living continually increases, but not everyone gets a raise every year. There has to be some give and take. In a perfect world we can all complain about how underpaid teachers are

For the services they perform. We can make the comparison about our values being out of whack because of what sports figures make in today’s society. At some point, however, the complaining has to stop and reality has to set in. This is the chosen field of these educators. They tell us they do it, “because we love the children.” And “the reward is so gratifying.” Where is that love now? Where is that gratification now? While we continue to work hard for the pay we receive (and believe me, we all feel underpaid and under appreciated), we continue to do our jobs. I would expect these educators do theirs.

Marysville