Dallas, PA 2 The Dallas Post Wednesday, March 11, 1992 (| —— Ham Te DarrasPost bs = 8 hy i hi | Students are left out of teacher | H | | i g " Any serious discussion of eduicationil matters has been notably absent from all the wrangling over a new wage schedule for Dallas teachers. But whether or not the teachers get the raises their union wants, we all will pay a high price for lack of | achievement by individuals within our society. | According to data in a package used to attract businesses by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Partnership, students in the Dallas . School District scored well below national levels on SAT verbal “and math tests taken in the 1989-90 school year. Here are the figures: i us. Dallas Crestwood Wilkes-Barre Average SAT : peice score 431 407 486 442 Average SAT math score 475 445 498 486 © In the same brochure, average teacher salaries in Dallas | were listed as being about 10 percent higher than the statewide | average (and higher than Crestwood or Wilkes-Barre), and 20 oO over the national average. Educators caution that SAT | scores aren't an especially [air way to compare school districts, because there are so many variables. For example, some | mdistricts including Dallas encourage all students to take the | Lest, even those who are unlikely to go on to college, while other | districts might restrict SAT's to students in academic pro- grams. And some years are better than others. Even so, the schools themselves use SAT scores for broad : comparisons of their achievement, and these stark statistics should be enough to eliminate any linkage of pay to perform- | ance in education, at least in Luzerne County. So, on the one side we have the leadership of the teachers’ union, with 28 bargaining points, few of which are arguably | related to education, nearly all concerning higher salaries and | benelits. + Facing this is the Taxpayers’ Forum and their sympathizers, bent on the institution of a wage [reeze and merit pay system that sounds more like punishment than reward. To some extent, the current battle is a snapshot of an increasing myopia among people all across the nation. Teach- ers’ unions care mostly about increasing their influence and power; people who don’t have school-age children don’t want to pay school taxes, and politicians work ceaselessly for re- i | election, unwilling to take a stand based on what they think is | right even il unpopular. 8) Meanwhile, those who depend on others — and no one does ‘so more than children — are left out. It has taken many years to get to this point, years in which teaching salaries grew to reach and finally exceed many ~ comparable careers. There is nothing amiss in that — most people would agree that teachers once were underpaid relative to their importance. But dedication and skill aren’t functions of salary, they are character traits, achievements, even social down by becoming complacent and self-centered. The teachers, students and taxpayers in the Dallas School | District deserve a fair and speedy resolution to the current | contract dispute. That means the teachers must abandon demands for a long contract with nearly 10 percent annual & increases, and the taxpayers should accept something less austere than a two-year freeze. Then we had better get on with the real business of our schools, or this year's clash will be nothing more than a sparring match for future bouts. { You're not in the top 1%? Too bad | Ifyou suspected that the economic “boom” of the last decade | or so passed you by, a new analysis of income statistics has | | confirmed your fears. Performed by Paul Krugman, an econo- mist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the data I show that the big winners between 1977 and 1989 were — guess who? — the wealthiest among us. According to Professor Krugman's analysis, the top 1%, i ‘about 660,000 families nationwide with an annual income of ‘atleast $310,000, saw their pre-tax income leap by 77% during ] the period. That made them by far the most fortunate income ~ group, greatly outpacing all others. ~The middle fifth of households, where most people are, enjoyed a gain of 4% during the same period of time. i | But what happened to the trickle-down theory? Remember, & ‘that was the one that said if we let the rich get richer they would ) be kind enough to share their good fortune with us? Maybe we ‘had it all wrong; it really works this way — a gusher for the ‘wealthiest and a trickle for everyone else. Cheer up, though. The lowest income families saw their Bes actually decline in the dozen years tracked in the ‘Stu Tie PALLASCP0ST Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek Charlotte E. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Associate Publisher Eric Foster Reporter Peggy Young Advertising Acct. Exec. Grace R. Dove Reporter Jean Hillard Ofttice Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION I AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION Paul Rismiller Production Manager Olga Kostrobala Classified/typesetting The last winter scene? Photo by Charlotte Bartizek Letters po! | | contracts of a sort. That's where we may have all let each other i Dallas can afford to pay teachers more Editor: Society decides what teachers are worth; communities decide teachers’ level of financial com- pensation; in Pennsylvania, local school boards administer result- ing salary schedules. Communi- ties get the kinds of schools they want, and that they are willing to support academically, profession- ally, culturally and financially. Teachers historically, have been a dedicated lot of professionals willing to accept starting salaries as low as $4,000. I took a salary cut of $1000 to return {rom my teaching position in New York to my home town of Dallas in 1970 and accepted a starting salary of $6300. I knew that, if I persevered in this profession, stuck with it for 20+ years, studied through gradu- ate school (at my own expense in the 1970's), I would be paid a decent salary. In the meantime, many of my colleagues and I worked atsecond and third jobs to balance our personal and family budgets. During that same era, many of my high school classmates who did not choose to go to college or seek other advanced schooling were being paid considerably more than my salary. It was not uncom- mon to find high school graduates being paid more than my $6300 in 1970. Many of us were held as an example by those who chose NOT to go to college of why a college education “doesn’t pay”. Valuing education in its own right, we found such a conclusion difficult to ac- cept, though the financial realities were obvious. So, here we are in the 1990's; salaries have improved; most of the people who started at salaries below $4,000 have passed from the educational scene, either into retirement, or to the ultimate re- tirement, after long years of public service. Many of us are anticipat- ing retirement after long years of service to your children. We know that society decided what we are “worth,” and that our contemporary society has decided that twenty minutes with a medi- cal specialist who cares for your child is “worth” more than a day's pay for a substitute teacher. We know that a lawyer is “worth” more toyou than a teacher when you are in legal dilficulties. We know that a plumber or a carpenter is “worth” more lo you than you pay your children's teachers per day. We all live with our choices, and I chose to be a teacher, not a doctor, a lawyer, a plumber, a carpenter, even though these were choices open to me when | was ripe for career choice. I chose a profession of low pay, long hours, no paid holidays, no paid vacations and greal responsibility. My pay has gradually improved, but I still care for your children for long hours, and on a schedule giving me no personal [lexibility regarding va- cations. I proudly accept the re- sponsibility of caring for your chil- dren and nurturing their academic and personal well-being, and help- ing them to become responsible citizens of our great culture. Statistics from the United States Census of 1990 indicate that the Dallas School District is wealthy, and is able to support its teachers and its excellent public schools without straining its taxpayers. I believe these objective statistics; the Commonwealth of Pennsylva- nia believes these statistics and uses them to determine the Dallas School District's subsidies. An objective Fact Finder recom- mended a fair and just salary in- crease based on these statistics. The Dallas community, apparently does not choose to share its wealth with its teachers, none of whom can be considered wealthy. Communities get the kinds of schools they ask for; I'm listening. Eleanor T. Buda Teacher of American Literature /English Dallas High School Responds to a Dallas teacher's letter Editor: A response to teachers’ rally to improve the education system. Mrs. Fyke is sidetracking the main issue, money! [ will do a line item critique on Mrs. Fyke's letter as follows: * The union cannot assume to receive public support when school taxes continue to climbatanalarm- ing rate. e No one is bashing anybody; your “friends and neighbors” on the petition want to keep their homes. e The profession has been trashed because the union has been acting financially irrespon- sible. » Teachers are “outcasts” when they divorce themselves from the local economy. * “Wings to Fly." In the learning process the students’ responsibil- ity to learn takes greater credence. * On expertise: The union could use some “new blood.” Some of the teachers that are getting top dollar are dead weight. * As leaders of children: Protect them from what? Not to dignify inuendoes and biased statements by silence??? e Leave the messiahship on education to educators and the public will be the messiah on public finance. e The Harrisburg educators will defend the educational philoso- phy and programs; not the union. Defending teacher salaries: The union has no defense when it di- vorces itself from the local econ- omy. * You're sidetracking the main issue (money) by challenging the taxpayer on the importance of education. That tactic will not work with the public. e The school board meeting began with the discussion of the budget. e Parents should take a hard line on education; but again you are sidetracking. e The public will support the workforce if it operates within reasonable budget restraints. e Merit ratings for parents? * Please no sidetracking. e The line has been drawn only between taxes and 0% increase. * The “silent among you" are the ones who are against higher taxes. e The community dark cloud will lift only when the union coop- erates with the public. e We must work together for a healthy society? e The public will help the union touch the future by the teachers behaving in a financially respon- sible manner. * The public will join the union in moving forward when the union comes down from cloud nine and joins the rest of humanity. Thomas Geffert Dallas Only yesterday 60 Years Ago - Mar. 11, 1932 SHAVERTOWN RESIDENTS PETITION TO FORM A BOROUGH The blizzard of last Sunday and Monday did severe damage to local telephone communication. With scores of telephone poles stilldown it will be several days before Com- monwealth Telephone Company again establishes telephone com- munication with Noxen and the outside world. Residents of Kingston Township living in Shavertown filed a peti- tion with Luzerne County Court for the formation of a borough to be known as Shavertown Borough, due to an outgrowth of the recent contention over school matters in Kingston Township. “Five Star Final” starring Ed- ward G. Robinson now playing at the Himmler Theatre. 50 Years Ago - Mar. 13, 1942 SUGER RATIONING HITS THE BACK MOUNTAIN ~, The extension of Dallas R.F.I5. 1 to cover all of Goss Manor and the length of Claude Street was an- nounced this week by Postmaster Joseph Polacky. Increasing Fred Youngblood's route from 42.40 to 45.25 miles will bring many new families within the scope of a free mail delivery. Sugar rationing for families of the Dallas Area will be held Tues- day-Friday, March 17-20 at the nearest grade school in their dis- trict. Registration, supervised by the principals and conducted by grade and high school teachers will be held every afternoon I) 4-6 and 7-9 evenings. Ah Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Co. Minstrels played to large audiences that packed Dallas High School auditorium. Gross proceeds will exceed $750 with a net profit esti- mated at well over $500 by Arthur Dungey, chairman of the ticket committee. 40 Years Ago - Mar. 14, 1952 "I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS" PLAYING AT THE HIMMLER THEATRE Lehman-Jackson Schools are raising cafeteria prices effect ’'e Monday at noon following act#n taken by the joint school board at Tuesday night's meeting. Children grades 1-3 will pay 18¢; gradet” 12 will pay 20¢; and for teachers. it will be 30¢. Snack lunch for younger children will be 5¢. Teen Canteen of the Back Moun- tain YMCA announced that its big Spring Sway Dance will be held at Shavertown Headquarters Build- ing on Friday, Church-Community League playoffs start tomorrow at Westmoreland gym. In the first tilt, second place St. Therese's meets fourth place St. Paul” The second contest will find first place Huntsville Christian matc} 1 against third placd Shavertown Methodist. Jane Coolbaugh will be come the bride of Donald Britt Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Trucksville United Methodist Church. 30 Years Ago - Mar. 15, 1962 JANET CLEASBY WINS NATIONAL SAFETY POSTER CONTEST Janel Cleasby, 13, won an award for an outstanding poster in the National Safety Poster Contest sponsored by the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis and American Auto Asso- ciation at a luncheon in Hotel Sterling. One of the judges states that Janet's entry was the finest piece of graphic art he had seen in this area. Thomas M.B. Hicks, husband of Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks of the Dal" | Post stafl and author of Pillar to Post is seriously ill with meningitis at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital where he was taken early Sunday morn- ing in the Dallas Community Ambulance. The Girls Chorus of Dallas Junior High School will partici- pate in the 73rd annual “Cynon- fardd” Eisteddfod at Dr. Edwards ‘Memorial Congregational Church, Edwardsville, Saturday afternoon. Wed - Karen Lee Samuels to Ronald William Trewern; Charlotte M. Shonk to Lawrence Jones. 20 Years Ago - Mar. 16, 1972 CUB SCOUT HELPS SAVE MOTHER'S LIFE A young Dallas Cub Scout may have been instrumental in saving his mother’s life, Mar. 8, after her clothing caught on fire. Mrs. Phyl- lis Burket was lying on the ground in front of the family trailer when 10 year old Kelly Burket procured a blanket to place around his mother and smother the fire. Lake-Lehman High School Marching Band has accepted an invitation to participate in the 1972 annual Maryland State Grand Festival Parade of Champions. JondJay LaBerge, son of Mr. and Mrs. LaBerge, Country Club Road, Dallas, has been awarded a four year scholarship to Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers