Letters
Teachers are overworked
You know, I'm all for first amendment rights and everything, but I feel that the April 10 cartoon regarding the teacher's union was a weak and sophomoric attempt at humor.
I happen to see a teacher at my neighborhood middle school arrive at school at 6 a.m. (school starts at 7:35 a.m.), and not leave until after track practice ends at 5 p.m.
There is a science teacher at the same school who is often in his classroom on the weekends. I also happen to know that he was a coach for this past soccer season. I'm beginning to think that he lives there.
I see a team of three teachers from my neighborhood grade school meet at the cafe by my house. School doesn't start until 9 a.m. They are there, grading papers at 7:30 a.m. in the morning.
When I worked at Sedgwick CDC, I often saw teachers driving into work as I opened the center at 6:30 a.m.; that school opens at 9 a.m. I saw teachers leave at 6 p.m. in the evening. I'm not even considering the amount of work they take home with them.
It takes a tremendous amount of physical and emotional energy to be a teacher. For five hours a day they are school children's father/ mother/ sister/ brother/ confidant/ policeman/ judge/ coach/ nurse/ psychologist/ entertainer/ shoulder to cry on/ activists/ voice of reason in their sea of madness.
Show some respect.
Mariah Waite
Cupertino
DeCinzo lacks some basic knowledge
Mr. DeCinzo, it was with great interest, but I must say even greater pity, that I read your political cartoon of April l0. As a history teacher, I'm well aware of the nature of the political cartoon. I know they often exaggerate their caricatures and use propaganda to try to get their point across.
I guess the pity I feel is for someone who would make a cartoon whose very images demonstrate their lack of knowledge and the very point they are attempting to make.
Thinking back to the "Summers Off" of my career of 32 years, I spent 16 of them as a teacher and 11 as an administrator (summer school principal). On 14 of my "Summers Off," I took college classes--anywhere from two to five units--to better my teaching skills and meet the district's requirements for salary advancement. For 28 of those years, I coached after school sports--at first for no compensation--and after 10 years, for $150 per seven-week sport. In the middle of my career, I coached five sports per year at the junior high level and officiated high school and college sports to help pay for my daughter's college tuition. By the way, my wife was also working all of these years to supplement our income.
A couple of "Summers Off," I had only 10 days not involved with post-graduate work or summer school responsibilities; among my colleagues, I was not alone. I remember a few years that in-service training was offered for a week in June starting the day after the last day of school.
I will never say that I am a poor underpaid teacher. I chose this profession, it's been my life, and I hope I've given a lot to the students I've taught and coached. What I do resent is someone who obviously knows so little about the topic of his cartoon but who can still cause so much pain and hurt from the misinformation he spreads.
You are obviously a talented artist. You should stick to just drawing, because you know so little about anything else.
Marty Redman
Teacher, Hyde Middle School
Cupertino
Coverage is unbalanced
What a shame the Cupertino Courier has sunk so low as to publish the April 10 cartoon, ridiculing Cupertino's teachers. As a journalist, I am appalled that such an ill-informed, ignorant and tasteless piece of work should appear in what I had previously considered a solid local newspaper.
As a parent in the community, I hear that you have lost a great deal of respect and readership as a result of your decision to publish Mr. DeCinzo's cartoon, as well as contributed to the plummeting morale of our city's fine teachers. Apparently you've failed to notice that you have an educated readership in Cupertino and your lack of education sticks out like an embarrassing sore thumb. In fact, I'm disappointed that your coverage of the entire teacher negotiation issue has been very wishy-washy so far. Did your reporter fail to notice back in March that the teachers were wearing black to school board meetings? And how come the work-to-rule news, which started April 1, wasn't published till April 3?
In my opinion you seem to be struggling to bring a balanced, quality news story to print, yet alone a quality opinion piece. You've let the community down--I wouldn't make a habit of it.
Julie Jervis
Cupertino
DeCinzo is clueless
As a retired school teacher in the Cupertino District for 28 years, I was deeply offended by the "cartoon" in the April l0 issue of The Courier.
Perhaps Mr. DeCinzo was not aware of the many hours dedicated teachers put in preparing for daily classes--especially those outside of school, both at night and on weekends.
The teachers that I have known work hard all year, the "summer" they take off is not pure vacation--they are not paid then; only the school days they teach. Many of them attend school then, at their own expense; teach summer school or at other jobs to supplement their income. Teachers are in this profession because they love kids and teaching them is a joy.
Marian M. Crowel
Cupertino
Facts about being a teacher
In response to the cartoon about teachers, featured on the editorial page of the April 10 edition of The Courier--
Teachers are paid for only l87 days a year.
They have no paid vacation or holidays and are obligated to work 25 hours overtime with no pay,
They are "laid off" for eight weeks a year, and are the only profession that cannot collect unemployment during that time period.
During those eight weeks teachers must take classes, at their own expense, to continue their education in this ever-changing world.
The average teacher works over 2,000 hours in the l87 days they are paid.
The average wage earner with two weeks paid vacation works 2,000 a year.
A beginning computer programmer is paid more than the highest paid teacher.
Teachers and computer programmers pay the same amount for rent, food and utilities.
Janice L. Hagerbaumer
Cupertino Education Association
FUHSD students well served by Rotary crab-feed
In our generally affluent community, one might not realize how many families need our help and support. Numerous groups, however, maintain a focus devoted to that end, and there is never a lack of those in need! The Fremont Union High Schools Foundation serves the needs of almost 9,000 students at Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High Schools. The Foundation exists, in part, to develop resources to enhance the quality of education in our school district. One of our goals is to equalize the playing field in technology for those who cannot afford to fully participate on their own. Our high schools offer laptop computer learning classes, but one must own a laptop computer to participate. The Foundation provides need-based scholarships so that anyone who wishes to enroll in these classes will not be excluded.
To help facilitate our fundraising goal, the Foundation recently partnered with the Rotary Club of Cupertino and the Foothill-De Anza Colleges Foundation to once again put on a fabulous crab feed. This year's event was again held at the De Anza College Hinson Center and took place on April 5. It provided an opportunity for the community to come together for a fun evening and at the same time helped generate funds to support our Digital Divide scholarships. Over 850 people feasted on crab, pasta, salad and bread, and participated in live and silent auctions. There were also balloon prizes and drawing prizes, further adding to the funds we were able to raise.
Technology is expensive and this year's Crab Feed raised about $40,000--enough to provide many tools of higher learning for students in need. We very graciously acknowledge the generous support of the Rotary Club members who have helped us immeasurably in our efforts. Club members served on our organizing committee, worked behind the scenes at the event, donated prizes, gave us sponsorships, provided the kitchen staff and bartenders, and never stopped smiling!
Thank you Cupertino Rotary for truly helping us to make a difference for the students who need it the most!
Sandie Zander
Fremont Union High Schools Foundation
Cupertino, California Since 1947
