RH Jones: Teachers on front lines longer than cops; where's the funding?

From RH Jones, February 26, 2007
Subject: Educator & Police/fire heros

To all:

Gov. Strickland is asking for more support for the Highway Patrol, who get steady funding from our gasoline taxes. That is fine, but what about educators, as well.

Today, in Toledo, they are laying to rest a police officer would was killed by a 15-yr.old. The youth shot the officer in "cold blood". He could have just as well shot his teacher, who had to face this killer on a daily basis.

Yesterday, 02/25/07, the Beacon P. A7 reported: "A high school teacher was assaulted by two students and hospitalized with broken vertebrae after he took an iPod away from one of them in class officials said. The two students were 17 and 15, were charged Friday night police said."

In my career, among others times, I had to face down a father, his son, and two of their friends. One father was a giant in size. Parents as well as students have been known to attack educators. Sometimes they have joined with their child in the assault. For their hazardous employment, educators need public recognition, in the way of a secure retirement & HC/Rx,as well as our brothers/sisters in the armed police forces of our State of Ohio. While on patrol, at least the officers did not have such health hazards from disease, asbestos and mold filled buildings as educators endured throughout their careers. By the way, by law, our careers are longer than Police/fire & H. Patrol. And, by the way, many legislators want to increase the active years of our employment!

RHJones, retired STRS member & a CORE

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Akron Beacon Journal, February 25, 2007
(National)
Teacher attacked
A high school teacher was assaulted by two students and hospitalized with broken vertebrae after he took an iPod away from one of them in class, officials said. The two students, ages 17 and 15, were charged Friday night, police said.