Ted Schnell
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On the article St. Charles Slates Brush and Yard Waste Pickup, Hydrant Flushing
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On the article District 303, Teachers OK 3-Year Contract
Ted Schnell
3:35 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Now that's a start! While I understand the argument Niel presents (above), I've always questioned the pension spiking practice. In the business world, early retirements/buyouts are not usually tied to pensions -- at least for the majority of working joes. I know very few private sector employees who have pensions, although the payouts some CEOs get are about that and seem criminal to me.
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On the article St. Charles Police Cite Four in Fight on Main Street
Ted Schnell
2:22 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Public interest, Bob. Police news always has been a big interest to readers.
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On the article District 303, Teachers OK 3-Year Contract
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On the article District 303, Teachers OK 3-Year Contract
Ted Schnell
11:28 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tom, as I said above,
"I'm not discounting your criticisms about the pay increases and pension spiking. Those are entirely legitimate concerns to raise."
I am not defending the contract. That's a far more complicated issue on so many levels.
But on this issue in particular, it seems that teachers are demonized for far more than just the terms of the contract and fail to consider other issues.
Yes, they don't have to work during the summer, but then they're only getting paid for working nine months of the year. They are contract workers, like road construction crews, for example, who often get winters off — although many of those guys likely find other seasonal work in the winter.
Yes, teachers seem to get a lot of time off during the school year, but let’s also consider the nights they spend grading homework and tests, .reading papers and preparing the next day's lessons. They work longer days than some would give them credit for.
Finally, my point about the certification is that it is a demand on their "nonwork" time and an expense that most of us in the private sector would consider an imposition.
I’m not saying there’s nothing to be angry about, but let the focus be on the logical, relevant issues — contract terms and property tax pain go hand in hand, as does the quality of education and what level of quality for which you are willing to pay.
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On the article District 303, Teachers OK 3-Year Contract
Ted Schnell
11:09 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tom, as I said above, "I'm not discounting your criticisms about the pay increases and pension spiking. Those are entirely legitimate concerns to raise."
I was pointing out that teachers are employees for nine months. The "summer vacation" criticisms seem hollow in that light.
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On the article St. Charles Police Cite Four in Fight on Main Street
Ted Schnell
6:14 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I'm still trying to figure out whether it was a case of honest misdirection or a prank gone awry.
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On the article District 303, Teachers OK 3-Year Contract
Ted Schnell
4:35 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
ReplyHi Doug, I just wanted to offer a couple of points to consider:
One, teachers are paid for nine months of work. They don't get paid for their "summer vacation" unless they actually work for the school district during that time. I'd point out, too, that many districts around the nation allow teachers to have their salaries paid out on a 12-month basis instead of nine. That's a budgeting convenience for the teachers.
During the summer months, teachers often must attend classes to keep current on their certification and professional development. Many also take summer jobs during that time.
I'm not discounting your criticisms about the pay increases and pension spiking. Those are entirely legitimate concerns to raise. But the nine-month complaint seems rather hollow when you consider they are not really being paid for their summers off.
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On the Blog Post A Way Forward
Ted Schnell
10:46 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Hi Rich,
I don't think I defend the types of actions you mention. However, I do offer correction when someone's account is not in sync with the only written account of which I am aware. Here again, your version of this incident neglects to mention some key points that were in the official report. The officer saw a woman slip on a night when it was snowing. The report mentioned specifically the officer believed she had slipped in the snow, got up and went on her way, and did not notice anything wrong until she was driving, which is when the officer started following her.
That's the official version.
The suppositions others inject into incidents like this either reflect a bias against the police -- assuming the officer failed to carry out his duties -- or perpetuating a misunderstanding of a story I wrote.
If I am defending anything, it's the truth as reflected in the official reports of the incident. Yes, I know these reports are written by police, and checked by their supervisors, but they are the only pieces of the public record that are there.
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On the Blog Post A Way Forward
Ted Schnell
12:49 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
The incident you cite about the police watching a drunk staggering around the street occurred in the course of a few minutes while the police officers in question were stopped at a traffic light, if I remember the report correctly. Regardless, the bar served the guy a drink after he walked in and was cited accordingly.
Still, talking about trying to control people whose judgment may become compromised over the course of an evening of drinking seems to me more akin to trying to herd cats. Alcohol is, after all, an intoxicant that affects judgment, which likely is the underpinning for many of the state laws that regulate bars, restaurants and taverns. Those same laws place much of the onus, or responsibility, on the license holder.
Is it a higher standard for that type of business? Certainly. Is it unfair? That's debatable. Other businesses face far greater regulation — anything in the medical industry immediately come to mind, as does the waste disposal industry.
Regardless, the distinction you make about creating new classes of liquor license may seem ill-conceived, but what the city is considering is not unique. Other communities have taken similar steps and been satisfied with the results. Is there a better way? Probably, and it seems that the city is looking for a better way.
Ted Schnell
8:45 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
I believe those were discontinued due to budget cuts before I started at Patch.