Let me tell you, as a graduate of Corvallis schools, about an important experience I've had. I'm currently in my second year at the Honors College at the University of Oregon. I've seen students around me, from other educational backgrounds, struggle with assignments that I found challenging, but doable based on the concepts I had instilled in me by my pre-college teachers.

All of my teachers, from primary through high school, helped shape my education which has served me so well. They devoted themselves fully during class time. And, as the son of an elementary school teacher, I can vouch for the countless hours they spend grading papers and planning lessons outside of class - on their own, unpaid time. Without the instruction of the many fine teachers of the Corvallis school district, I doubt that I'd have been as well-prepared for success in college as I was.

One of the many interesting things I've learned in my studies of psychology regards reward and punishment: the occurrence of rewarded and non-rewarded or punished behaviors will increase and decrease, respectively. The actions by the school board essentially punish the teachers. This sends the message that good service to the students is wrong. Therefore, I urge you to think about the best interests of your children and support Corvallis' teachers so that they will get the high level of instruction and guidance that I received and have the skills available to succeed in any college setting.

Andrew Thomson

Corvallis

Opponent in the right is galling

I'd like to begin today with a reading from St. Paul. Paul Krugman, that is, the patronizing saint of the American left and a writer for the New York Times. On Sept. 5, 2003, Mr. Krugman wrote the following: "Nothing makes you hate people as much as knowing in your heart that you are in the wrong and they are in the right."

The offense rests, your honor.

Lee Findley

Corvallis

Who's the enemy in war on terror?

It is incomprehensible to me that a government can send an army, bombs, guns, etc., to another country on the opposite side of the world that has done nothing aggressive to that government's country, to kill the citizens of that other country, destroy homes, hospitals, schools; raze world historic buildings (all the time going deeper into debt) and not care for their own citizens' hunger, health, poverty and to have the gall to call it a "war on terror."

Jane Sivetz

Corvallis

Fear is big factor in politics today

As part of the definition of the word "tyrant," a famous 13th-century Spanish legal code cites the methods used by the tyrannical ruler. He holds power by keeping his subjects fearful, poor and divided. Today, in our country, an atmosphere of fear, partly masquerading as patriotism, encourages support for a disastrous war. Dead-end economic policies favor the rich at the expense of the middle and working classes. Divisions of opinion are magnified and exploited.

At the time of the Nuremberg trials, Hitler's No. 2 man, Hermann Goering, in an interview, pointed to fear as the greatest tool of government, as he sneered at the ideal of freedom. Fear has been the favorite weapon of repressive regimes too numerous to name. Just think of any cruel government, present or past.

This thought may offer some insight to those of us who are baffled by the president's re-election. A substantial number of people who don't pay much attention to the news feel a vague uneasiness since 9-11 and take encouragement from Bush's vague tough talk about terrorism.

Thomas Montgomery

Corvallis

Beware the karma of discrimination

There is an ocean, an ocean of consciousness. Each one of us is a droplet in that ocean. In that sense, we are all connected by (as the saying goes) "six degrees of separation." Carried by the waves of the ocean, we overcome our limitations and we become a magnetic force for abundant light and all that that implies.

How can it be considered moral to discriminate against our brother? Christians, beware of false prophets and prophecies: That gay person whom you deny the same privileges you espouse to is also God's vessel. When you look in his or her eyes, do you see a reflection of your own light and love or discrimination?

Bobbie Gaines

Corvallis

Bush certainly is no flip-flopper

Letter: I have heard and read that some folks admire President Bush for not being a flip-flopper, for being someone who stands up for what he believes to be true and never wavers. He has certainly done this when it comes to his views, decisions and actions concerning Iraq.

President Bush did not waver even when he was confronted with overwhelming evidence that the reasons he used for ordering the invasion of Iraq were untrue or based on unreliable intelligence. He did not let the facts alter his thinking or affect his decisions; and he has continued to profess the validity of his claims even though they have been proven false. Surely this is what is known as a false prophet.

Robert Hoffman

Corvallis

Former teacher on contract fairness

I taught for 22 years in Corvallis, and I loved my job. I might have stayed longer, but I was convinced (correctly, as it turns out) that if I taught another year, I would risk losing my deferred compensation benefits long promised me by the district.

The current battle being waged over this issue between the teachers of Corvallis and the district administration is a regrettable one. Yet it is precisely the same one that was fought two contracts back. You might recall that teachers came within a hair's breadth of striking that time.

To his credit, Bob Johnson came to my school to talk to staff the afternoon of the last mediation meeting before the planned strike. I explained bluntly that the deferred comp benefit was the only thing keeping me tied to my job. My kids had grown up and left home. I was considering moving to Eugene to be closer to my daughter and had discovered to my horror that I would have been making $11,000 more annually had I begun my career in Eugene. The contract was settled that night, I retained my benefit, and I taught happily for another seven years in Corvallis.

Corvallis teachers have long shielded the community from the devastating effects of Ballot Measure 5 by working longer hours under more difficult conditions. It is only appropriate that they finally stand up and say no to decreased compensation for an exponential increase in workload. It's a no-brainer that "life happens," but the district should work to ensure that it happens fairly.

Penny Fulton Brassfield

Bend

Teachers' lot has steadily worsened

A fully explained comparison of Corvallis teachers' salaries with the Consumer Price Index is available at www.corvallisteachers.org. The increased work required just to stay even with the CPI underscores this comparison.

In 1985, a district English teacher taught an average of 115 students each semester. This year, that teacher has more than 200 students each semester, and expectations of that teacher have also increased dramatically.

In 1985, the mandated measure of English competency for 10th grade students was the ability to write a coherent, substantive paragraph. For several years, that measure has been the ability to compose two substantive, well-organized, fluently written and correctly punctuated essays, at least three times as long as the 1985 requirement. In short, the objective measure of the teacher's work has increased six-fold per student for 67 percent more students. This comparison overlooks the factor that each essay must be scored for six criteria, rather than just certifying it competent. Similar requirements now exist for reading and speaking as well, and teachers in other subjects face corresponding increases in student numbers and curriculum requirements.

Corvallis teachers have not only met these increased demands; they have consistently enabled students to exceed statewide achievement levels at a time of yearly resource attrition and little, if any, real increase in salary. Of course, secondary teachers do not accomplish this alone, but stand on the shoulders of colleagues in all grades. Is it any wonder teachers continue to insist on fair compensation for their labor?

Maynard Freemole

Corvallis