A Tea Partier’s Letter To His Teacher Wife
A columnist in Cleveland shared this letter that was sent to her by a Tea Partier. This man had voted for John Kasich and Kasich is in the group of midwestern Republican governors who are attacking public employees.
Dear Honey,
I’m sorry.
I am a conservative husband, belong to the Tea Party and I voted for John Kasich. I have been married to a Cleveland teacher for almost 14 years and my vote let her down.
I apologize:
For letting people tease you about having the summer off and not asking them to thank you for the tough days ahead that begin in early August. I know for a fact you work more hours in those 10 months than many people do in 12. All those hours are earned.
For complaining that my Sunday is limited with you because you must work.
For making you think you have to ask permission to buy a student socks, gloves and hats.
For not understanding that you walk through a metal detector for work.
For leaving dirty dishes in the sink [when you awoke] for your 4 a.m. work session. I should know you have to prepare.
For thinking you took advantage of the taxpayers. Our governor continues to live off the taxpayer dole, not you.
For counting the time and money you spend to buy school supplies.
For not saying “thank you” enough for making the world and me better.
I love you.
I think the GOP is finding that public employees are a lot more popular than Republican governors. It’s easy to demonize the “other,” people who are largely invisible to the public at large (like undocumented immigrants). It’s not so easy to demonize your friends and neighbors. My favorite part of the letter is his description of how hard she works for her students. This letter deserves to go viral.
Tags: Education, John Kasich, Ohio, Teachers
I think a handful of dumb teabagz can be forgiven for being snowed by people like Kasich. The majority of teabagz, however, knew full well that they were voting to fuck shit up – and would vote that way again. They must not be forgiven (or forgotten in November.)
Which reminds me, Democrats who stayed home must also bear the lifelong mark of shame for their failure.
Given the turnout in Delaware, perhaps liberals should persuade O’Donnell-style nutcases to run in every election, if only to drive Democratic turnout.
True. Although it would be nice to have some Democratic candidates who took it upon themselves to energize the base.
My spouse has been a public school teacher in Delaware for 17 years. I believe she deserves higher pay as do most other teachers.
But at the same time, I don’t see how public employees (like teachers) work any harder or longer or for less pay than most people in general. Most non-teachers work 2 or even 3 jobs today. Ten and twelve-hour shifts are commonplace as is working on weekends, holidays and overtime.
Many people in the private sector would kill to be able to have the opportunity to bitch and whine about what a teacher has. Finally, every person has chores, duties and responsibilities outside of work. What’s so special about this husband’s run of the mill and mundane life versus the rest of us?
Just because the private sector has succeeded in devaluing its workforce (unless you are a banker), doesn’t mean that we have to accept the same devaluing in our public sector. And I’m going to call out teachers especially — these are people who are supposed to be *teaching* our kids, which ought to be much more highly valued than it is.
Speaking as a public school teacher, I don’t buy the claim that the letter is real.
In a column discussing the business of character (a column JA hasn’t read), Joe American shows he has none. Nor has he any reading skills, which ought to frighten the parents in his neck of the woods.
But that is they way they roll in Texas.
“Most non-teachers work 2 or even 3 jobs today.”
You clearly flunked math. “Most” means more than 50%. This is not remotely true.
“Many people in the private sector would kill to be able to have the opportunity to bitch and whine about what a teacher has.”
Those people should go to school and get the education and skills a teacher needs. Then they, too, can have that opportunity.
“Speaking as a public school teacher, I don’t buy the claim that the letter is real.”
You could always do some research to show that — I have my doubts, too — but of course that would take some, y’know, research. So much easier to simply stick with your pre-existing biases, right?
“Many people in the private sector would kill to be able to have the opportunity to bitch and whine about what a teacher has.”
The above teabagger chestnut must have a soothing ring to it. It appears everywhere, so you have to figure that it has a calming effect on them. Like scented oil gentle massaged into the temples.
It is more mantra than argument.
Actually, Cassandra, I did read the column. I just think the letter does not ring true.
Now i realize that personal attacks on dissenters is the way you folks at DL roll, rather than having to actually deal with the point being made.
But then again, that goes to YOUR lack of character.
I’m confused. How do you, Joe, rationalize working in public education? It would be like me working for the NRA.
Geezer notes the flaw in your argument — you could do some research to actually make your case instead of showing up here with lots of attitude, preconceived notions and no facts. That would be your lack of character right there. Especially when you already know there isn’t much tolerance or respect for that kind of thing here. Too bad that you have to categorize the truth as a personal attack. But victimology is probably the only conservative science.
My bad, I meant to say “many,” not “most.” Btw, I did quite well in math thank you very much. At any rate, if one is “lucky” enough to even find more than one job, that’s the reality. The New York Times has a good article in today’s paper regarding low-wage earners.
That’s way more precise. *eyeroll*
“At any rate, if one is “lucky” enough to even find more than one job, that’s the reality.”
If you’re talking about low-wage earners, it’s more accurate. But most of the middle-wage earners I know are too busy working their 60-hour weeks to take second jobs. At any rate, it’s no excuse for you bashing middle-class people. If you want to envy someone, try the rich. I don’t have any sympathy or patience with assholes busy resenting the middle class members who have it slightly better than them.
I know lots of teachers, many of the ones that I know (I know it’s anecdotal, but I’m trying to be precise to avoid being flamed) have second jobs. Some of them wait tables, some of them work with summer camps/music orgs (I know a lot of band teachers)in the off season. My 8th grade history teacher here in the Brandywine School District pulled shifts at a liquor store during the school year. It’s probably more common than you’d think.