Letter: Slam of teachers union off base

Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003 | 9:15 a.m.

Don McDonald needs to reread his own Jan. 28 letter to the editor and do a little research. His comments about his gated community costs have nothing to do with his other points and only confuse the issue.

He moved from a high-tax state to Nevada for the low taxes after that high-tax state educated his children. What about the retirees in his previous state who paid taxes to educate his kids? Should children be banned from Nevada so he can have low taxes?

The comments about the teachers union were off base. The union in Nevada is not very strong compared to some states, and nowhere near 100 percent of the teachers belong and pay dues. It is a good union, however, and does its utmost to support what is best for children and education in Nevada.

Teachers, like all people, learn and get better by experience. They are required to take additional classes at their own expense and on their own time to renew their licenses. The pension for teachers is not as lucrative as some believe, especially since it is based on much lower salaries that people with the same education earn in the private sector.

Every study ever done has proven that children in smaller classes achieve at higher levels. Isn't that why we have schools in the first place?

Anybody who thinks teaching is easy should be made to teach, not for a week or two, but for a year or two, and they should be made to live on a teacher's salary.

Never judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.

F. ALAN FARRIS Editor's note: The writer is a union member and a Clark County teacher.