Who ever said it was indecent for teachers to get paid the same next year. It seems you are the one getting things wrong. You said teachers in norwalk are over paid and thats part of the problem. So my response was its sad to suggest that teachers getting decent pay is a problem. Those comments from both you and I have nothing to do with pay freezes or raises. It was a clear statement you made. Teachers salaries are too high and thats a problem. You didn't say if teachers get a raise next year they're overpaid. You're stating they are currently overpaid as it is. Why would I applaud something I don't think is an appropriate answer to a problem? First off I know that "teacher" (i use that term loosely when referring to him) on a more personal level than you just listening to what he spews at a meeting. I can assure you his intentions are not to benefit the schools or kids. The union came up with an alternate plan. It would cut less jobs and take more from certain activities like sports and band without completely destroying them. Why not go with that plan? Or at least combine ideas from both plans to save more jobs and meet in the middle. You like the idea of a freeze because you're an angry tax payer that feels teachers are paid too much. I liked the alternate reconciliation plan that was suggested over a freeze because I would like the district to keep attracting quality teachers to the schools my children attend. Does that make sense? Probably not to a non parent. From what I've heard the district has already begun to lose some teachers, teachers that weren't at risk of being cut but just wanted out of all the craziness. So yes, as a parent that bothers me. I don't want the district to be left with lesser qualified teachers who failed to get jobs in "better off" districts. View Comment

Ah finally proof of what was always expected. What does witherspoon value in all this. It was obvious you don't have children and certainly aren't an employee of the schools. You're an angry tax payer that feels the teachers are overpaid because having no children of you're own you don't benefit from them. A sad sad day when teachers getting "decent" pay is considered a problem. It also explains your obsession with accusing every other poster of being a teacher. You hate they're paid more than your monthly allowance so anyone who thinks it's a good idea for a teacher to be paid well simply MUST be a teacher themselves. Pathetic. View Comment

You know what spoony I'm editing my post. I constantly see you accusing people of being other people. So I went on a rant breaking down what person you must be Based on your posts. But I decided you're not worth it. I know you make those accusations when you have no better response to a persons post, so that's your strategy to avoid looking speechless. In any case, you can believe I am whoever you want, because you just don't matter. Accusing me of being a cowardly teacher doesn't change what Marks did. So try again :) View Comment

You do realize the "unqualified staff" included Marks? View Comment

What a snake to get all her damaging cuts passed and then abandon her position. A very cowardly move. Having said that it's good to see her go so she can't mess things up some more. And I also have to laugh at the attempt of trying to attribute improved test scores to the super intendent. View Comment

Exactly, then why don't you understand that's part of the unions position now? The teachers made concessions by giving up a really awesome health plan. Now they are refusing to do so again. Thanks withy, you solved that argument! View Comment

My argument is only contradictory when you misquote me. I never said money is a small part of the equation. Quite the opposite. I said more money toward education is an important factor. You twisted that into my point that teachers are a small factor of student success. Those are two separate points that do not contradict each other. View Comment

I wonder what you mean by "the rest of us in the REAL WORLD?" that seems like a suggestive remark about a certain group of people, then followed up by a plea to stop making this about one group over another. Hypocrite? Also you seemed to completely ignore nwlkntve's initial inquiry, could it be put in some legal writing that thte freeze would only be a year? Perhaps some sort of CONTRACT......oh wait that's what the teachersnare being asked to open up right now. But I guess teachers...aka people who are not grounded "in the real world". (according to YOU) shouldnt dare expect to get their raises back after a year. It's just not realistic right? View Comment

My point wasn't toward any one individual. It's just been expressed by some that teachers in Norwalk are so highly paid yet Norwalk ranks low academically. The way I understand that seems to sound like some are suggesting the teachers are overpaid in correlation to student achievement. I just wanted to point out that student achievement isn't just based on the skill of our teachers. As for the pay freeze. I can't speak for all the teachers but most of who I've spoken with said they would be willing for a one year freeze but aren't confident the freeze would only last a year. I can understand those fears. I wouldn't stay in a position that had no potential for growth. View Comment

Yes what a lot of people supporting the teacher pay freeze don't seem to realise OR don't want to bring attention to is that if the teachers give up their raise they don't know when they"ll ever get it back. That seems to be the concern of a lot of the teachers I spoke with. Sure they would be willing to give up their raise FOR A YEAR. But it's ignorance of politics to think they would just be handed back their raises after a year. View Comment

No you both missed my point entirely. It had nothing to do with the schools would not be able to do good with their current financial situation. Are you guys sure you aren't the council members in disguise? You seem to twist words like a politician :) Again, my point was it is not fair to say Norwalk teachers pay scale is too high in comparison to the academic scores of our children. Because of the numerous parts of the equation that need to be looked at. Its not just the quality of the teachers that determine how well our children would do. As for putting more money into the schools. I never said that was a small part of the equation. Thats a BIG part. Like anything, with more funding you will get better results. And that doesn't mean teachers should necessarily get paid more. But provide them with more resources and they can do a better job. View Comment

It's funny how some of you claim to have teacher friends and are "in the know" so to speak but you keep talking about how Norwalk teacher pay isn't on par on how our students rank academically. I made the mistake of questioning that to a teacher friend and rightfully got put in my place. Basically their explanation was along the lines of this: you can take any school in any part of the state or country for that matter and completely swap the teaching staff with a school from a different district. The scores of those schools will not change dramatically. Teachers are just a small part of the equation. In general I'm sure most our teachers are great at their jobs with a few exceptions with any job you will have slackers or those a bit under qualified. When you consider norwalks academic rankings please also consider who the student body is and who their parents are. Surely you don't expect Norwalk who has a giant amount of students new to the country who barely speak English who's parents work multiple jobs and don't have time to read with them or take them on trips to open up their background knowledge to score as high as a town like Darien who's students come in with lots of background knowledge and are raised by parents who's first language is English and have time to work with them or if they don't have time are replaced by private tutors. Not to mention those of you who want the schools to do "more with less". Must not have an idea on how important having actual resources in education. You compare to other jobs well ok, which doctor will do a better job healing a deep cut. The one with a few bandaids or the one who has actual stitches? Providing more money to the schools isn't just about saving jobs, it's also about providing our schools with more resources. Look into other countries that have gotten rid of their military and put all that freed up funding into their education programs. Those are some of the highest scoring students world wide Anyways My main point is trying to suggest Norwalk teachers are over paid, especially in correlation to the students academic scores is a cheap and not well thought out argument that ignores many important factors. Think about that with an open mind not a bias towards any points you want to dearly stick by even though they are wrong. View Comment

Lol Witherspoon if you knew Beckley for who he really is you wouldn't be praising him for offering a "sacrifice." You're talking about a kid who borrows from his fellow teachers, administrators and also the parents and doesn't repay. You're talking about a kid who spent two years not teaching because he was out of his classroom building sets and other silly nonsense for his plays that he charged students 150 dollars to be in. You're talking about a reckless kid who then charged students a dollar to be able to chew gum during school hours to try to raise money to pay back all he owed for his plays. That just touches the surface when it comes to what I as a Brookside parent know about Jeff Beckley but to go on would mean to expose not only immoral but also illegal actions he as a teacher has partaken in. That is irrelevant to the greater topic. But the point is Jeff is a reckless self centred creep who is out for his moment in the spotlight. His speech had kore to do with spiting the union and Bruce than any true intent to "sacrifice." In the future it would do you good to fully research your "heroes" before placing them on a pedestal. Trust me, the last thing any teacher should do is follow any example he sets. View Comment

Those of you praising Mr. "Becker" for his willingness to "sacrifice" should ask him about the 150 dollars he charged the students of Brookside to be in his play. On top of the THOUSANDS of dollars he borrowed from parents and staff members that he made no rush to pay back (and for all I know may still owe). Then ask about his idea to charge students a dollar to be able to chew gum to try to raise money to pay back what he owed for the play. Talk to the more parents and staff members and you'll hear more stories of how people were tricked into lending him money that he never payed back. Its easy to get up and speak about giving up your raise when you're collecting money from everyone else in the first place. He is nothing but a hypocrit. The most hilarious part of his foolish speech last night was when he suggested as a public school we dont charge our students for their education. haha Mr. "Becker" please explain everything above. View Comment