Helping Teachers for the Future

I have never personally attacked anyone in this publication. In recent letters Tom Bado has attacked me personally, and then accuses me of doing the same with my "dark side." I do not have the time to stoop to this kind of juvenile activity with a person who has an obvious "persecution complex."

However, I do need to give some facts regarding statements made in Mr. Bado’s letter in the October 26 Voice [Play Your Fiddle Elsewhere]. First of all, anyone who insults another profession should state what they do for a living. There is honor and respect in every job. Why is it that Mr. Bado does not want to publish what job he holds?

Regarding his comments on the effect of inadequate salaries on the teacher shortage, some teachers are leaving the profession for better paying non-teaching jobs, while others are leaving Torrington for higher-paying towns. To my knowledge, Torrington’s Director of Human Resources did not do an exit survey of Torrington teachers who left these past two years. However, I did do an exit survey and presented this to the Torrington Board of Education. The survey showed that over 75% of teachers left Torrington for higher salaries. Four of these teachers received over $10,000 more in other towns. I have the hard data in my office.

The CT Department of Education has made a huge mistake trying to solve this crisis without raising salaries. But then again, they think that mastery tests are the answer to every school problem, so how could we expect any tangible solution regarding the teacher shortage to come from these bureaucrats in Hartford who don't know what a classroom looks like?

I chose to run for Torrington Education Association (TEA) president because I wanted to help teachers for the future. I'm only eight years from retirement. I've been underpaid for 27 years. Personally, my salary will never catch up. I have to work extra jobs to supplement my teacher's salary. But in my limited time I am committed to helping education and teachers for the future. I'm interested if Mr. Bado has taken time to help anyone out.

Finally, the TEA president does not have to live in the town they represent. In fact, the first vice-president of the TEA lives in Granville, Massachusetts; the other vice-president lives in Southington. There is no residency requirement, and there is no conflict of interest.

Susan Goodenough, a Winsted teacher, recently wrote a wonderful letter depicting how committed she and other teachers are [A Teacher Talks Back, October 19]. Her letter was written in response to a teacher critic. I have constantly issued a challenge to the critics to spend a week in a teacher's shoes. Interestingly enough, no one has ever taken me up on this challenge. However, the other day I overheard two new substitutes talking at lunch about their first day in the classroom. They couldn't understand why anyone would choose the teaching profession after what they had experienced their first five hours in the classroom. I believe that says it all.

Matthew P. Valenti is President of the Torrington Education Association.