I have to weigh in on this one because it is really a big issue for most of us in NJ right now. Teachers in NJ, across the board, are VERY well paid for what they do, yet they always threaten strike and hold your kids over your head when demanding more money. Teachers work day shift, usually from around 7:30am or 8:00am till 3:00pm at the latest, weekends and holidays off, 2 weeks off at Chrsitmas, one week for "spring break" (why kids in grade school and high school need a spring break is beyond me...and I always thought that break was designed by teacher unions for teachers only), plus all the other time off for teachers conventions, teacher meetings/inservice trainings, sick days, vacation days, personal days, and great benefits. They also only work 9 months a year for their salary, which in most cases, is a salary higher than police officers who work 12 months a year in a tough job too.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge anyone from making a good living...but when you constantly whine about needing more money for the "children", yet the majority of the funds go to teacher and administraotr salaries and benefits...I get tired of hearing it. Then, you add on the fact that just before school starts, the teachers send lists home of things you have to buy for you kids because the school doesn't have the money to buy them, and I get peeved. Teachers in my town make an average of $79,000.00 for 9 months of work, and it's still not enough. We get hammered on property taxes every year because they need more money, yet I'm constantly getting notes home that we have to buy this or that because the school can't afford it, or those fund raisers they get the kids to peddle every week, sometimes two come home a week, because they need more money. Well where in the hell does the $6,348.00 I pay in school taxes go...oh yeah, I forgot, look in the teacher parking lot and you see where it goes...Jags, Mercedes SUV's, Lincoln Town cars, BMW's, Lexuses and Acura's dominate. I'm driving around in a 14 yr old Ford pick up with 200,000 miles on it because my school taxes jump by several hundred dollars evey year for what...does the Vice Principal need a new boat...the music teacher need a new beach house...the spanish teacher need a new pocono house...the art teacher need a new inground pool? The best homes in the town, and the nicest vehicles belong to teachers or school administraotrs...and they get that by reaching into my pocket and yours, even after we tell them we can't afford it and vote no on the budget...they pass it anyway.

Personally, I wish the school boards would just fire them when they strike...I have no sympathy for striking teachers...and if you think that's harsh, you should try living in my shoes and paying my tax bills, then watch as your kids go to school in classrooms with no AC, falling down buildings, and very subpar facilities...while the teachers live in 1/2 million dollar homes and drive fancy new vehicles.