Letters
Letters to the editor
Highlands Today
Published: January 16, 2013
Teacher payPublished: January 16, 2013
As a teacher in Highlands County, I would like to respond to Mr. McLain's letter, "Teacher issues."
In my contract with Highland County School Board, I am paid for seven hours per day for 196 days per school year. The 196 days include 180 days with students, 10 work days and 6 paid holidays. Although I and the vast majority of teachers work well over our paid 7 hours each day, teachers receive no additional compensation for any time worked beyond our contract time. We are still dedicated and often put the students above our families and personal time.
Mr. McLain may not realize that teaching is one of the few professions that does not earn any paid vacations. Time off at Thanksgiving, winter, spring and summer breaks is unpaid — it is basically a furlough. Once again, you will find teachers researching, reading and planning lessons during this unpaid "vacation."
If Mr. McLain still feels teachers are "on the take," I would like to invite him to spend a day with me in my classroom.
Sherryl Wolfe
Lake Placid
Collection agency
As I sat down to pay my bills, I opened my statement from the VA. I owed $58 for pills I received through the VA in Bettendorf, Iowa. I was infuriated at this not being enclosed with my bill. What gall Barack Obama and the Democrats have to turn veterans who are delinquent on payments to the VA over to a collection agency called the IRS. Veterans who risk their lives, limbs, mental and economic harm for our country deserve more respect; this is the party of love and compassion. This power-hungry group of politicians will resort to any tactic that turns this country over to a dictatorial rule. Pray for our country.
Marvin "Bud" Kammerman
Sebring
Constitutional issues
If President Barack Obama can circumvent the Constitution and violate the oversight of the legislative branches of government, why should I, as a law-abiding citizen of the United States of America, obey the laws he personally fabricates?
The Constitution remains a valid document successfully regulating our society because it was not written or allowed to be amended by a spoiled individual in a moment of rage. I have only one Divine Ruler or King and He does not live in the White House.
Paul S. Sullivan
Avon Park