‘European-Americans’ have reasons to reject tax hikes

‘European-Americans’ have reasons to reject tax hikes

EDITOR:

This is a response to a letter published Nov. 25 in which the writer stated that the voters of the 4th and 7th Wards have a racist attitude toward this school system and administration.

Being a voter and a retired “European-American” of the 7th Ward I would like to express my concerns. If last week’s writer would check into the number of voters in the 4th and 7th who are employed and those who are retired, unemployed and are living on fixed or limited incomes, I would venture to say the majority of people fall into the latter category. People cannot afford increases in any new taxes, levies or whatever. When they are living on “x” number of dollars per month or year. I retired in 1995 and have not seen a penny increase in my pension.

As for the minute increase in my Social Security, that is eaten away by Medicare increases before I see any of it. Add to the mix gasoline, food, utilities, etc., and you can see where a European-American voter of the 7th Ward stands on any new increase on anything.

The school board and administration have to realize that when voters say no, they mean no. The voters in the 4th and 7th weren’t the only ones voting no on this issue. I believe we do have the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Wards that still vote.

As for his remarks about our racist attitudes and Apartheid-like Euro-centric environment, the writer may be practicing what he preaches. My grandparents came over to this country in the 1880’s from Slovakia. When they came here they had to endure being called “Hunkie” and “foreigner.” They got the dirtiest jobs in the workplace, were passed up for promotions, worked long hours and were paid little. So to the African-American community who are going through the same, my people have been there and done that.

E.P. YAVOCIK

Youngstown

Give teachers credit for time
they work outside class

EDITOR:

Your Nov. 30 editorial about the labor dispute in the Austintown schools contains the same kind of unfounded bias that appears in many other editorials that have dealt with those who have chosen teaching as their career.

In particular, your assertion that teachers have a “four-hour day” is both incorrect and insulting. You seem to feel that teachers walk into a classroom, teach, and go home without spending any out-of-class time with planning, preparation, grading, and the uncountable meetings that educators are expected to attend.

It is unfair for you to perpetuate the notion that teachers work at their jobs only when they are in the classroom. That myth is as ill-informed as the ideas of a much earlier civilization who insisted that the world is flat.

BOB HOGUE

Youngstown

X The writer is an associate professor in computer science and information systems at Youngswon State University and is first vice president of the Ohio Education Association at YSU.