Sound Off for March 30

Traffic lights

With today’s price of fuel, motorists can’t afford to sit and idle vehicles at traffic lights that are out of sync and need to be re-calibrated. Monitoring these traffic-sensitive lights will allow for a smoother flow of traffic and save gas as well. It also takes a greater amount of fuel to move any vehicles from a complete stop back to normal traffic speed.

Teacher pay

I have never been and will never be a teacher. My belief is they have a challenging and rewarding job. I challenge any person who thinks they do not earn their pay or feels they are rewarded with two months off as ‘compensation’ to themselves go to work in the school system, perhaps as a substitute teacher. Do not judge until you have walked in their shoes.

The Oscars

Chris Rock should have called the police and had Will Smith arrested for assault.

The truth about teacher pay

Teachers don’t get two months paid vacation. Teachers are on a 10 month contract and most of us opt for our monthly pay to be spread out over 12 months. My school district requires teachers clock in by 7:45 a.m. and clock out no earlier than 4:00 p.m., with a 20 minute lunch break on your feet watching over your current class while they eat their lunch. Rather than take my paperwork home, I opt to stay at school until 5:00 or 6:00 to work on it. I reserve my “free time” at home researching my subject area, only after helping my children with their homework, feeding them, bathing them and putting them to bed. I work a second job on the weekends to try and make ends meet. That’s how much I value a quality education.

Biden’s budget

Did anyone notice that President Joe Biden’s new budget calls for more money to give to police? He also wants to raise taxes on the rich as well as fix our infrastructure. These are all good, but I bet our Republican leaders will find a way to convince their base that somehow these are bad.

Submit your Sound Offs for consideration to soundoff@sunherald.com.