Guest Column
James K. Reilly
Resident applauds actions of judge during strike

I am writing this after hearing the news that Judge Clarkson S. Fisher Jr. began to put the violators of his court order in jail. I say to Fisher "Good for you! Enforce the law! Thank you!"

As a parent of two children in the Middletown Township public school system, I am glad someone has finally drawn the line against this union. I am appalled by a union that is willing to hold 10,000 innocent school children hostage for their own self promotion and personal gain. I am appalled by a leadership that professes it is acceptable to do so.

The leaders of this union and its blind followers are truly criminals, and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Children are not bargaining chips. They are the future of this country. They are entitled by law to a quality education. You are violating the law by striking. The Middletown Township Education Association’s (MTEA) actions are the poorest possible example for them. The MTEA is depriving the students of Middletown their right to an education.

As a taxpayer, I believe the teachers are adequately compensated for what they do. Their salaries are on the high end of the scale for their chosen profession. My school taxes are already too high. Teachers salaries comprise the majority of my school tax bill. I would like to see my taxes stabilize, while increasing spending on programs that directly benefits the student, even if it means a reduction in the salaries and benefits of administrators and teachers to fund them.

Since the budget is a fixed amount, additional spending on salaries and benefits results in decreased spending on the remainder of the budget, which means programs and facilities suffer. That is what lead to the deterioration of the school buildings in Middletown and necessitated the 1996 $78.4 million referendum in the first place.

As a property owner, I am angry at what the MTEA has done to the reputation of Middletown Township, which is a quiet, safe and beautiful suburban area to live in and raise a family. However, thanks to the antics of the MTEA, most people now perceive Middletown Township as an area with a school system in constant turmoil. Property values will be adversely affected by all of this. The MTEA could have prevented this simply by assessing what they have, compared with other school districts, and being honest with their membership.

If things are so bad, why aren’t these teachers seeking employment elsewhere? The answer is simple, because this union’s leadership has convinced its members the Board of Education and the court system would buckle under their strong arm tactics, and they would be able to obtain anything they asked for. That advice is severely misguided!

The Board of Education must hold its ground. If the teachers refuse to spend their days in the classroom while their union negotiates in good faith, then let them spend their days in jail.

James K. Reilly is a resident of Middletown