-=> Quoting Charles Beams to Regina Finan <=-
 CB> Quotes are taken from a message written by Regina to Charles on
 CB> 07/22/96... 
 CB> I don't blame the board of education members as much as I blame the 
 CB> system.  Except for a few big cities here in New York State, board 
 CB> members serve without pay - if they give themselves a free trip or two
 CB> each year, I think that is a perk some of them have probably earned.  
 CB> BUT, the system is political - those who get elected are those who
 CB> make  the biggest promises with little or no regard for the actual way
 CB> in  which schools run.  As I mentioned earlier, our medium sized
 CB> district  (2,700 kids K-12) spends $21,000,000 a year and the board
 CB> members don't  have to have any qualifications nor do they even need to
 CB> get any  training after being elected.  Now that's a sad state of
 CB> affairs. 
 Well over here in Michigan they need certs for all kinds of things and
 the district that gets the most members to get certs get rewards.
 Unfortunately I don't think they take what they learn seriously.
 CB> Our school district is the largest employer in the area and it pays 
 CB> considerably better than most of the small businesses around.  Many of
 CB> our residents equate teaching with blue collar jobs and don't
 CB> understand  why teachers are paid more than $10 an hour.  Less than 10%
 CB> of our  residents have any college training and don't understand the
 CB> investment  that goes into getting that degree.
 
 Oh I understand that.  I know it takes alot of investment to become a
 teacher.  My sister has a degree, but did not start teaching because at
 the time there was an abundant amount of teachers and she just got
 married and they needed the money.
 CB> That's common in our area right now as well.  The current blast in our
 CB> local newspapers (letters to the editor, editorials, etc.) is that the
 CB> staff is so well paid, THEY should pay for the school improvements.
 
 Well I was wrong the bond did pass and they are going to make the necessary
 improvements.  But these improvements will take up to 3 years.
 CB> In some cases cutting costs today increases the promise of even larger
 CB> problems tomorrow.  If we don't educate and protect our children
 CB> today,  they will be a serious drain on our society tomorrow.
 CB> Chuck
 You said that right!!!!!
 Regina
... "Transporter chief Beams, beam the landing party to the bridge"
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