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J j- PLAINPEALEB-HERALP. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 23, IMS Opinion/Politics -f Strike brings reader response Student voices concern Board bias is charged VALENTINE Dear Editor: by and concerned j about the present teachers' strike. In a recent letter to my parents from the school board, the board tries to show a con­ cern for the student in "its position." Where • was this concern over the last 10 years or so as the salary and other benefits of our teachers depredated? They also imply thai the teachers' associxtion is requesting ridiculous demands. But then the whole situation has gotten ridiculous. They don't mention the ridiculous offers they made to the teachers. They say that 1,560 students are being deprived of an education by the "callous" attitude of the teachers. I'd much rather be educated by satisfied, top- quality teachers than un- |«erpaid, less desireable ones. Situations like McHenry- indeed, anywhere strikes oc- * cur-can only discourage future i* teachers from choosing that profession; leaving teaching a second-rate job. I feel a school is for the benefit of the students who, i in turn, can benefit a society with the knowledge they receive. To achieve this idealistic goal, a superior staff is required. I feel this quality can be found at McHenry, but the chances of it staying that way aren't very good if the present situation isn't resolved. Quality teachers can't last forever, and prospective quality teachers wouldn't be attracted to a less than quality school. I've been brought up to respect my authorities and a major part of that respect was for my teachers. The profession of teaching is a very worthwhile one. Who else would take on the responsibility of educating our youth-the leaders of tomorrow? This in itself is priceless. I can only hope that the respect I hold for my teachers can be shared by my classmates and my community. Carol Snyder Dear Editor: A copy of a news release was recently mailed to the parents of the McHenry area high school students by the administration of District 156, concerning the Respect for board is lost J Dear Editor: J For most of our lives we have I been taught the meaning of ;• respect. Our parents, our - community and all those who we * come into contact with expect it from us. j* In ideal circumstances, the > board of education and the teachers worlr together in a » combined effort to teach and v educate the community, f What then, do we do when >. these two groups, namely the ^ school board and McHenry Teachers' Association, stand in opposite corners. ^ I have and always well hold a £ great deal of respect and £ gratitude for all of my teachers, f They have provided us with an education to be proud of and I have seen them demonstrate caring and concern for me and my classmates throughout my ^-foiir years at ™ Campus. i A great dial of my respect for the school board. however, was £ lost when a copy of their press £ {release was sent of my parents. p It was not only written with the : sole intent to turn public opinion away from the teachers, but it was also very one-sided and exaggerated). The. statement was Obviously meant to insult the association. After 10 months of negotiations without a set­ tlement, how cxn our school board, which is several million dollars in the black, claim to be "fair;" "concerned," #nd "ready to negotiate," while the teachers continue to be R I % k "callous," "demanding," and "irresponsible?" One solution being tossed around is that of calling in an arbitrator. If it would end the strike and lead to the fairest settlement for all concerned, why won't our "fair" and "concerned" board agree to fthis. As I stated before, I am a senior now. This means that I am a member of the class that will be most affected by a prolonged strike. Our 7th semester grades, required by most colleges, and our tran­ scripts are not available to us. We are also not able to obtain r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a n d signatures from our teachers and counselors when needed. It is important also to remember that this is our last year to represent our school and ^ community through ^ par­ ticipation in athletics ana co- curricular activities. It is our last year tfpfftre to ourselves our potential. The board of education made one fatal error in their statement to the press. They have not turned over every stone in their efforts to reach a set­ tlement. One still remains: binding arbitration. I feel we should t turn the last stone over in this debate and put an end to this strike. I am asking the board to take action and earn back my respect. After all, we're all losing out in the end, aren't we? Laura Dworniczek Letters of the responsibilities of a community newspaper is to provide a forum for public comments. We invite our readers to share their views and opinions. The shorter the letter, the less we will have to edit to fit our space. The McHenry Plaindealer reserves the right to edit objectionable or libelous statements. All letters must be signed with the author's address and phone number (addresses and phone numbers will not be printed). Readers are limited to one letter per month on the same topic. Send letters to The McHenry Plaindealer, 3812 W. Elm St., McHenry, 111., 60050. McHenry Teachers' Association strike. This release made several biased statements, the intent of which was to turn public opinion against the teachers. For example, the letter used such words as "callous" to describe the teachers, and called the t e a c h e r s ' d e m a n d s "irresponsible." However, the administration^ has left one question unan­ swered. If the teachers' position is so unreasonable, and the position of the administration is so very reasonable, why won't the administration grant the teachers' request for binding arbitration, which would end the teachers' strike? Realizing that the McHenry High School District has an excess of approximately $2, million in the budget, from which the teachers are only asking $200,000, and realising that the teachers are deserving of a a healthy raise because for several years their pay has fallen behind the increase in the cost-of-living, perhaps it can be concluded that their side is not so unreasonable after all. Elaine C. Robbins ROSES ARE RED.. VIOLETS ARE BLUE- ON THE 17th-TWO CENTS MORE POSTAGE IS DUE! 7s . • ^ X g -- - ~ Comptroller Burris notes changes in state payroll City sidewalks dangerous Dear Editor : I am writing on behalf of myself, a senior, as wejfl as many other seniors here in McHenry who do not have a car, therefore necessitating us to do some walking. Upon taking the bus the other day to Elm and Green Streets, where I had to take care of some personal business, I found it almost impossible to walk back to the city hall to get on a bus to return home. Our mayor has expressed concern over the condition of our streets after recent snowstorms many times in our local newspaper. Has he evat walked the sidewalks in sections of our ci# after a What's on tap *%TY COUNCIL-- The council is meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at city hall in a change from the normal Monday meeting. On the agenda is the discussion of perhaps a further tax abatement and the creation of a local landmarks commission, prior to the city's 150th birthday in 196 The council will also be discussing the lion's Carnival, tentatively scheduled for June 6-9, in the Green Street parking lot. V I- EUREKA TRADE-IN SALE TWO MOTOR POWER TEAM MODEL 1784 SERVICE ON MOST MAKES! Powerful 5.0 amp High Per­ formance motor delivers extra power for more beating, brushing, cleaning action. ONLY $1 IS'5. 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Ella Green McHenry Comptroller Roland W. Burris reported today that the number of personnel on the state payroll at the end of November was 116,590. This was a decrease of 466 or .4 percent from the previous month. Burris said a decrease in higher education payrolls was offset by hiring in code depart­ ments, especially Corrections, where additional employees were added due to new facilities. Exclusive of educational institutions, the November payroll was 76,420, an increase of 444 or .6 percent from the previous month. Changes by major groups were: -Constitutional Officers and Courts up 74 or .8 percent. -Code departments up 363 or .6 percent. -Major commissions down 8 or .3 percent. -Miscellaneous agencies up 15 or .7 percent. Payrolls for all agencies totaled $194,661,371, an increase of $10,211 or .005 percent from October. Payrolls for all agencies, except educational institutions, were $137,445,717, an increase of $2,013,345 or 1.5 percent. The number of employees in November 1984 was 3,891 more than in November 1983. Educational institutions in­ creased by 1,035 while all other agencies increased by 2,856. Total payroll^costs for all state agencies increased by $16,202,214 or 9.1 percent from November 1983 to November 1984. McNENRY MARKETPLACE 3S5-4I00 spurgeons AND MORE A* Dresses, Slacks, Sweaters & Blouses, Ladles' Sleepwear, Coats fer the Entire Family,~ Men's a Boy's Flannel Shirts, Children's Wear, Handbags, Jewelry, Towels, Cotton a Flannel Sheets. • Snap-up fantastic buys as we clear all Fall and Winter items for women, men and children ̂• Enjoy big bargains on specially selected gifts and home needs. glEBBB DAILY 9 to 9, SAT. 9 to 6, SUNDAY 10 to 5