Teachers not to blame for tough economic conditions

Just to clarify a few things about teachers and benefits in Brick Township. It is true that they are not required to contribute to their health care costs if they choose a direct access plan. However, Brick schoolteachers are well below the state average in salaries for teachers.

I personally know of one teacher with a master's degree and 18 years of service, and she is paid less than $60,000 per year. I wonder what that kind of résumé would fetch in another district. A lot more I'm sure.

Conversely, what would someone with six years of college and 18 years experience get in the private sector? Yes, the private sector is facing some difficult times right now. But remember, as a whole, the private sector does a lot better financially averaged over the years. The potential for earning is far greater than the public sector. You don't become a teacher with aspirations to be rich and wealthy.

And while we're on the subject of the private sector, who do you think got us into this mess anyway? It was the greed and the irresponsibility of the financial sector that caused these tough economic conditions. While they were handing out million-dollar bonus packages to employees, were they giving out bonuses to any teachers? No, they weren't.

Let's face the fact that these difficult economic times are not caused by teachers, cops or other public employees. It's caused by waste, fraud and corruption at every level of government, and the social programs and spending for unproductive members of our society. Leave the hardworking public employees alone.

Jim Salerno

Brick