‘Spoiled?’ Not really

‘Spoiled?’ Not really

It is the intention of this let- ter to present another side of the story portrayed in the April 21 letter about “spoiled public employees.” It is a story all too common in our society.

Being an educator with 341/2 years of service, all with the Youngstown City School system, which I have been proud to serve, my wife and I have chosen to live and pay taxes within the community we serve.

It was my father’s dream that his children should aspire to a higher education. He being a construction worker with a family, did not have the opportunity to further his own education beyond high school.

I spent 5 years working construction to acquire a bachelor’s degree. Another 10 years were spent earning 50 hours of college course work and a master’s degree beyond that. This was accomplished while working a full-time job and while working construction during Christmas, Easter and summer. My education came at my own financial expense.

Being an educator, my salary was a half to two-thirds less than other blue collar or college-educated professions.

To be labeled as a spoiled public employee is offensive not only to myself but to many others of our profession. Especially in light of the fact that we Youngstown educators took pay freezes for at least six years and have made changes in our health care to help the district achieve sound financial footing. Having to do this in a crumbling economy and having to survive the largest one year drop in purchasing power ever recorded under President Bush’s term, makes the April 21 letter all the more offensive. So please do not scapegoat those of us who chose to work as public employees.

William D. Barron, Youngstown