For most of this year, the local newspaper here has reported numerous elements of bad news, especially for public sector employees such as teachers, police, and firefighters.  On an almost weekly basis the reporters would write about possible cuts in school and town budgets to save money in these tough economic times. 

I understand the purpose of making ends meet and allocating funds accordingly, but people need to realize that cutting a teacher's job or a firefighter's job will not save the town a worthwhile amount of money.  Teachers, police, and fire personnel are not paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to do their jobs.  Cutting these positions would free up approximately $35,000 per person eliminated.  If ten people lost their jobs due to budget cuts, the town would have barely over a quarter-million dollars to spend on things such as office supplies, a few new traffic lights, or perhaps two new school buses.  Not that big of a savings or spending plan.

Certainly, teachers lose their jobs due to shrinking enrollments within the district, but to deliberately lay off teachers because the district can't afford them is insane.  Besides, schools do not hire teachers because they have nothing better to spend the taxpayers' money.  Additionally, by cutting teachers of paraprofessional (teacher aide) help, more students would most likely be crowded into a classroom designed for half as many learners.  A classroom of almost 50 students works in the college setting, but definitely not in the middle or high school setting.  With so many various levels of student interest or capabilities in each room, to jam as many people in a classroom in the name of saving money is an insult to each student.  Consider that a typical class period lasts 40 minutes.  Let's assume that there are 40 kids in the room.  That means -at best- I have one minute to address the questions of each student; two minutes if the school uses block scheduling (80 minute periods).  I would hate to be the student who doesn't  "get it" when it comes to the test or classroom material.  Schools are designed to teach students material and concepts that society feels they need to understand.  Not throw people in a room and hope for the best.  Zoos do that.

As for police and fire departments, well, imagine your property were vandalized, damaged, or on fire.  How would you feel if you were on  a waiting list to receive EMS services because police were responding to various other calls (most likely between domestic couples)?  Probably a good time to hook up the hose and shoo away the burglars or put out the fire.  I could see if the prison population of this country were relatively low, however, new prison construction sites should be a clue.

Honestly, are people really that stupid that they feel sacrificing public service employees is worth the lack of community policing and well-being?  As a stated above, the savings wouldn't go far at all.  Perhaps the best solution would involve having all elected officials from school board members all the way to County Legislature representatives refuse pay for their jobs.  Even though these individuals don't get paid much either, it will at least show some form of sacrifice on their part.  Plus, we may have idealists who rise to the occasion, who understand that public service encompasses utilitarian principles of the greatest good for the greatest number.