Signs are unfair to female workers
I write this letter in the continuing fight for equality in our American work force. I want to know why do we still post big orange traffic construction signs stating, "men working?" After all, I myself have been one of those men at work, yet I have also given birth to three sons.
I, myself, have been fighting for equal consideration in the work force of construction for 20 years. I like to believe that my hard work has helped pave the path for up-and-coming female construction workers. But when its the millennia, why can't we post politically correct orange traffic construction signs?
I feel like I'm treading water.
TAMARA TAYLOR
Sandpoint
Debates, not football, are more important
I was upset to learn that KSPT determined a football game to be more important than one of the presidential debates. The town hall debate was one of only three presidential debates which were offered to the public, a debate which would have allowed us to hear the candidates face off against one another had we been able to get it.
KSPT interrupted the debate so it could air coverage of what it must have considered a priority, high school sports. These debates will be long gone over the next four years, while there will be four seasons of football in the interim. Not all of us, it should be noted, subscribe to and pay for the delivery of deviant popular culture and corporate fear messages into our homes, i.e.: television and television commercials. Therefore, we rely on KSPT radio for pertinent information. We take note of KSPT's sponsors and we patronize those sponsors when we can.
It also should be noted that after KSPT interrupted the debate, its phones were busy for an extended time. It's clear KSPT doesn't have much competition in its market and need not concern itself too much with the consequences of bad decisions, but just for one night, couldn't we ignore kids chasing a ball and instead pay attention to how this country is going to address the challenges presented to it in the new millennium. Consider it an investment in future kids and future football games if you will
ROBERT M. PETERS
Sandpoint
Low pay is reason for substitute 'shortage'
I am writing in regards to the article (Nov. 3, 2004) that Lake Pend Oreille School District has a substitute teacher shortage.
1. There is a surplus of certified teachers in the area and only so many salaried teaching positions available. Therefore, those certified teachers who aren't salaried full time must either substitute teach or find other work.
2. Substitute teaching pays only $50 per day (before taxes) if non-certified, or $60 per day (before taxes) if fully certified as a teacher. These pay-per-day amounts have remained the same for the last 11 or 12 years. Repeat: There has been no pay increase for substitute teachers for the past 11 or 12 years.
3, Many certified teachers either have families to support, or education loans to pay back, and simply put, substitute teaching in Lake Pend Oreille School District does not pay enough. Waitressing pays better than substitute teaching. And you will find many certified teachers doing just that.
4. If it appears there is a shortage, there really isn't. Most of the substitute teachers know who the poor teachers are and choose not to take those assignments. (Those teachers usually have low-quality lesson plans for the sub, and/or have little to no discipline in the classroom — thus making for a very tough day for any sub). When those assignments aren't filled by substitute teachers, the district panics and thinks there is a shortage. Why would a sub making only $5.50/hour after taxes take on classrooms that are chaotic and undisciplined? There is no shortage of subs for the good teachers.
My daughter is a substitute teacher. It is a tough job. Many times she has come home in tears from having to deal with undisciplined students who do everything in their power to "get away" with anything they can because the regular classroom teacher has not set down guidelines or expectations with the students.
Subs have no benefits, and poor wages in Lake Pend Oreille School District. Go over the border to Washington state and subs make twice what they do here.
Lake Pend Oreille should do everything in its power to keep quality certified teachers and pay them what they are worth. Our students deserve that.
JAMES STRATMORE
Sagle