Dear Cindy,

Despite the fact that I am not a teacher nor a spouse of a teacher, I am proud that you did your homework finally. All the information you are speaking of was already published in the paper, including names. If I am not mistaken, that information is also posted on the school's web page. I am sure the knowledgable people who read this forum are already aware of that data.

The dollar figures you talk about list social security and medicare insurance; two federally mandated programs. Also, I am curious, when you discuss your salary with family or friends, do you say, "I make xxxx, but wait, health insurance is xxxx, dental is xxxxx, pension is xxxxx, medicare is xxxx, and social securety is xxxxxx; when you add them together I make xxxxxx.? Probably not.

The numbers you state hint that that is what they recieve in their paycheck. The reality is, it also includes many things that the typical person does not include when talking about their salary.

Numbers can be reported and added to argue any point. It is just a matter of if a person decides to choose a side based on emotion, or look at it logically from all angles. Guessing from the tone of your postings, you chose emotion.