Dori Monson’s Feedback Friday: Debora Juarez in ‘A Christmas Story?’

Welcome to Dori’s Feedback Friday feature, where we collect a sampling of comments received over email and Facebook on various topics throughout the week. Want the chance to have your comments included in Feedback Friday? Send your thoughts about any show topics via email or the Dori Monson Facebook page.

Dori, you’re not fair to teachers

Most teachers don’t make as much as your example

I listen to your show on occasion, and while I agree with many of your opinions on government and inefficiency, I take issue with your comments aimed at teacher pay. You keep on calling out two teachers that you know of who are making $232,000 per year, and saying how that is wrong. In my time in education, I found that there were some who did make that much, but usually it was from being in the classroom for years, having advanced degrees, and being involved in extra-curricular activities, whether sports, music, or clubs. You don’t offer any details on what makes up their pay, which, for a purveyor of truth, is disingenuous in my opinion.

Also, please do the work to compare teaching to other professions in the area. If you were to compare a teacher’s pay to large industry (technology or aerospace) with equal seniority and education, I doubt they would be content with annual pay of $140,000. I have three children who work in tech, and they like to remind me at what point their salary went to double mine as a senior teacher. To that end, I am the middle generation of three family generations of teachers in this state, and I know that none of them get their work done in the 36 hours that you talk about. I know some do, but not many. We have systems in place to remove inferior teachers; if a teacher needs to go, the districts have the tools to get them gone. If that is the case, blame the district administration, not the teachers — unions later.
– Tony in Olympia

It is not an 80-percent job

Your 80-percent job for teachers is not accurate, in my case. I started my teaching job in 1965, and would like you to know that I started back for my fifth year the summer after that. Then summers for my masters, then every summer for more credits to work my way up on the salary schedule. While teaching, I also started coaching three sports, to not only help with a small increase in take-home pay, but to have more and better contact with the students. The last part wasn’t appreciated until after a few years. It took me until the mid- to late-1980s until I reached the top of our salary schedule. I guess if my salary would have been close to $100,000 instead of $60,000 when I retired in ’08, then I may not have struggled financially. Not sure where you come up with 80-percent job, when most evenings and weekends are taken up with correcting papers and recording grades. My working day usually started at 6:30 a.m., and I was out of the classroom around 4.

I appreciate you helping out coaching, but that is only part of education. Not to say you didn’t do the job coaching, but I feel most coaches belong working, as classroom teachers, in the building. I do love your show, but don’t agree with everything you believe.

– Mike in Kingston

Public commenter ignored by Seattle City Council

I’m listening again to the guy trying to talk to the city council — has anyone else commented on how Councilmember Juarez snapping at him sounds just like the cranky Higbee’s Department Store elf in “A Christmas Story?” She’s just like the elf who says, “Hurry up, kid.”

– Pam in Tacoma

Durkan says everything is fine after ‘Seattle is Dying’

Durkan is like the boy in ‘Life is Beautiful’

Mayor Durkan’s glowing review of how well the city is thriving reminds me of the movie, “Life is Beautiful,” where a dad and son are housed in the same concentration camp, and the boy only sees beauty and humor at the camp, because the dad tries to keep him focused on his own humorous antics. Both the boy and the mayor see what they want to see.

– Barbara in Burien

Both sides of the aisle can appreciate Dori’s take on Seattle’s problems

I’m just so disgusted with what is happening in Seattle (as well as Olympia, which I live much closer to). I appreciate the show and have been a fan since my very early 20s … you all do a great job. Additionally, I lean more to the left, but have always appreciated Dory’s perspective.

– Ruth in DuPont

Be careful of word choice when criticizing politicians

I’ve heard you call any number of politicians either socialists or communists without any reference to the actual meaning of those terms. It’s easy to call names, and to ascribe intentions and motives to others. But honesty and integrity demand that careful attention to vocabulary and rhetoric do not include hyperbole or carelessness in language. You are very influential in the community. I encourage you to be more aware of the way you infer motives and actions in your characterization of those with whom you disagree. If you disagree with policymakers, your listeners are best served when they are given an honest discussion of the issues.

– Michael in Everett