New Westminster - The Editor, This is in response to teachers' letters I've read recently - as a B.C. taxpayer, I'm angry.
Between just the signing bonus the teachers asked for and the $3,000 in massages they want per year (seriously, who thought up that idea?), they want me, personally, to pay them $155 (based on the amount of taxpayers in the province).Further, they expect that every extra dollar raised in the latest surplus is used to just make teachers jobs easier - every single dollar.What other group is that audacious and comes with that much self-importance that they think they are better than every other government union, and every other government service (environmental, infrastructure, etc.)?Not only do these teachers think they're more important than everyone else, they think they're literally the only group that should benefit from a budget surplus.I understand teachers' frustration with the government and the contracts. Take an incremental approach if you want to earn my respect back. Work on class size and composition, but do it gradually so the cost isn't so high at this very moment. Asking toget everything reinstated right now - and going on strike because it's not going your way - is childish at best.Be adults. You screwing up summer school caused me to lose every ounce of respect I could possibly have. That was irreparable damage to thousands of kids you're pretending to care about.Mark JohnsonNew Westminster