If the CV teachers would like to go work for the Harrisburg School district to make $1700 per year more, LE T THEM!! I personally, would rather work in the TAJ MAHAL facilities that CV has, with the bright students whose parents are involved!! More money for teachers is not the reason for CV's good schools, it is PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT!! Hey CV teachers, don't let the door hit you on the way out to find a job in Harrisburg!!!

Maf, you should spend a week at any school shadowing a teacher to get your own taste of reality.

If you want a better taste, try attending an inner-city school.

It starts in the home.

Do you really think that more money will motivate these teachers? Obviously you need to return to school and take some business classes and review the lessons on motivation for employees and realize that it is a temporary motivator until their life style adjusts. Then they just want MORE money! So what we need are teachers who are teaching because they WANT to teach our children, not because they think they can make mega bucks doing it. The comment was made that we should spend the 8 hour day of a teacher. Maybe the teachers need to come out into the real world. They've gone from high school to college to teaching and have no idea about the real world. What do you think parenting is? It's definately not an 8 hour day with two planning periods and an hour lunch break. It's 24 hours and day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. We, as parents, cannot just say, ok, we wanted this, but it's no longer rewarding, so we're striking...and walk out on our children. If you think the teachers are so great go to the McDonalds in Silver Springs Township and ask the server for 30 nuggets. When her response is "we don't sell them in packs of 30", "only in 10's and 20's" then waits for you to answer! She looks at you like you're crazy for wanting something they don't sell! I was so dumbfounded it took me a minute of looking at her like "you're kidding"?? But nope...she wasn't!! Go to another store and have the kids give you your total amount due lets say $5.65. You hand them $6.15 and they give you the 15 cents back!

I have a solution to this whole pay issue with the CV teachers. Have the CV school board handle it like a Multinational Corporation. The school board will give in to MANIACS in the teachers union giving them their 5.9% pay increase. 1 year later, the school board "lays off" 50% of the teachers and outsources their jobs to a non union private company!!! The teachers that are left will get to train the employees of the private company!! As someone who has seen this happen over and over again, I would like to see the teachers get "taught a lesson". The HARD WORKING TAXPAYERS will then no longer be held slave to the MANIACS of the teachers Union. This is what is happening all over the country in private business, why should the teachers be left out????

In my opinion, the numerous dealings that I've had with the teachers and staff at the Cumberland Valley High School has only strengthened my belief that the best choice that my husband and I have made was to move out of our children's previous school district in order that they could attend C.V. during their final 3 and 4 years of school, respectively. We could not be more pleased with the professionalism, respect, dedication, and compassion that is consistently conveyed to our children, as well as to ourselves, as parents. Also, after having worked for several years at other school systems (not in a teaching position), I only have the deepest respect, myself, for teachers after having to witness some of the situations that these professionals are forced to endure by a great deal of students that refuse to accept even the most basic lessons of education. I know that not everyone agrees with my opinion, but so be it. That said...if you are reading this post and happen to be a Cumberland Valley High School educator - My family and I extend our heartfelt appreciation for all you do in your attempts to mold our younger generation into productive and valuable assets to this great country of our's. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

In my opinion, the numerous dealings that I've had with the teachers and staff at the Cumberland Valley High School has only strengthened my belief that the best choice that my husband and I have made was to move out of our children's previous school district in order that they could attend C.V. during their final 3 and 4 years of school, respectively. We could not be more pleased with the professionalism, respect, dedication, and compassion that is consistently conveyed to our children, as well as to ourselves, as parents. Also, after having worked for several years at other school systems (not in a teaching position), I only have the deepest respect, myself, for teachers after having to witness some of the situations that these professionals are forced to endure by a great deal of students that refuse to accept even the most basic lessons of education. I know that not everyone agrees with my opinion, but so be it. That said...if you are reading this post and happen to be a Cumberland Valley High School educator - My family and I extend our heartfelt appreciation for all you do in your attempts to mold our younger generation into productive and valuable assets to this great country of our's. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

If you can use the word "then" correctly in the proper context, thank a teacher. If you can use the contraction "you're" correctly, thank a teacher. If you know that "elsewhere" is one word, and that "I'm" is also a contraction, thank a teacher.

If you have the esteem and humility to accept what you have chosen as your profession/occupation, and you have the strength to restrain yourself from compaining about your life and salary, thank a teacher.

First of all, www.cvteachers.org is obviously run by the teachers. Any statements put forth their are slanted towards their position. Secondly, I find it reprehensible that teachers leverage our most valuable asset, our children, in their selfish pursuit of higher wages and benefits. The school board offer is fair. However, just because the greedy teachers see more money left in the black, they think they deserve it to pad their salaries and benefits. That is wrong. The offer is fair. The fact finders recommendation even improved upon that. Guess what, the teachers rejected it. How greedy can you get? Contrary to what you believe, you can be replaced. Go get the higher wages and benefits elsewhere if you can. Our CV kids will continue to thrive because by and large they come from good homes and good parents. The foundation is solid, the facilities are top notch, the communities that make up the district are great. We can take fresh teachers who want to teach and mold them into great teachers the CV way. Yes, I think the teachers at CV do a great job, but count me in for the picket line supporting the school district and the school board to hardball the bottom line. Teachers unions are way too strong, especially in Pennsylvania. Sorry CV teachers, but your demands are not realistic. It is even more disappointing that the consensus of the individual teachers to authorize a strike is overwhelming and maybe shows some of their true character. They are willing to take families hostage by inconveniencing them by making them find alternate child care arrangements, which many will have to pay extra for, and just stop teaching the children, who by and large all want to learn. Strikes by teachers should not be allowed. Rather, binding arbitration that takes both sides positions into account and then reach one final decision on the matter. Shame on you, CV teachers.

To all you teachers located in the CV area. Im sick and tired of you people acting like your gods. You are not gods. Yes, you deserve to be respected, and you are, but it seems this keeps happening year after year. My mother was a former teacher for EPHS and she never complained. And yes, she made a lot less than what you people at CV make. I know that if I ever have a family, im never sending my kid/kids to school around this area. There are much better educators else where. This just seems to me that the teachers at CV are yuppies! If you teaching professionals are so smart, than you shouldn't have trouble finding a job that pays more.

To all the negative comments: If not for a teacher, you wouldn't be where you are today. You could have chosen that profession, that apparently pays so well and has such wonderful vacation time, but you didn't. You have no right to complain. You need to check out www.cvteachers.org and find out the real facts. Not just those the media presents. Oh, and what does that one bumper sticker say? "If you can read this thank a teacher"

katejoy you want the teachers to come down to your level, and pay for health insurance etc simply because you have to? I think I'd rather see you come up to their level??? Jeepers, they are getting what they deserve. As one other poster pointed out, if someone on here got to be an executive or whatever, they probably have a conscientious teacher to thank!. Nothing is accomplished by bringing teachers pay and benefits down to your level. Try to better yourself by attending a local college?

I suggest you check out stopteacherstrikes.org if you want information. Anyone interested in picketing on the side of the taxpayers of cumberland valley with me??? I am so tired of this. Our teachers are asking for more of a raise than most of the people in the area get in a year. I pay for my health insurance - why shouldnt they pay the $150 a pay that I do?? I am tired of hearing that this wont raise our taxes... look down the road ... it will definately raise our taxes.

I only wish that the teachers/union could work out there problems over the summer rather than durring the school year? It's a shame some people work for less and make a living and don't complain. I understand that some districts may pay more why not have a standard pay so that everyone get the same pay? Some people can't strike and live with there pay.

As a fellow teacher, I have many friends who teach in the Cumberland Valley School District. I think it is sad that they teach some of the brightest kids in the area and are paid poorly compared to neighboring school districts. I suggest you check out www.cvteachers.org to get more information.

Very well said Choda...I don't think the average person truly knows what we educators have to do in an average day. My contract states I HAVE to be here for 7.5 hours, but how long am I really at school? A minimum of 12 hours a day. My father, who is a very successful doctor doesn't even work the same amount of hours I work in a week, especially if you tack on the hours I put in on my part time job since we really don't make as much as everyone thinks. There isn't one teacher in my school that doesn't have some sort of paying part time job, on top of our lives outside of school.

By the way, to all of those who have "climbed the corporate ladder," how exactly did you get there? Ohhh, that's right, because at some point in your life you had a teacher that was there for you, educated you, and sparked a future in your little twinkling eye...come do my job for ONE HOUR, and I bet you my yearly income that you would not stay...

Laborers go to work for 8 hours and go home. Teachers stay on after-hours (without overtime pay) making phone calls to parents who don't parent, grading projects of students who actually bothered to submit work, attend professional education classes to maintain certification, and attend continuous meetings to learn how to better educate students of a generation that have no interest in anything but having other people take care of them so they can play video games all day long.

No matter how you look at it, teaching is one of the most difficult and demanding professions out there. If I was a teacher, I would challenge any laborer or anyone in the private sector to keep up with the rigorous demands imposed by a neglectful generation in an actual classroom for one year. Teachers deserve our gratitude, especially when in today's world, they are doing a lot of your parenting for you. If you chose to be a laborer, that is your prerogative.

I understand teachers have a hard task in front of them when it comes to educating the future of the world. However, they also have it pretty easy compared to laborers that don't get paid anywhere close to what a teacher makes in a year. I have worked my way up from the bottom and have an excellent career path ahead of me. So I have seen all sides.

BUT, When I see teachers working only 75% of what the normal work force works in a year and making more, I have to say it does seem a little unfair and understand where others think teachers are just plain greedy. The average raise for your lower to middle class worker is only 2-3%. Rarely do they have cost of living increases or the benefits that teachers have.

I know many teachers so this is not a bust on them. But just like the lawmakers pay raise in question, I question the mentality of some of these teachers. 4% increase per year is a nice raise for most. They even had a mediator come in and the board thought the offer was nice but the teachers refused it. So if both sides can't agree. Let the parents and the tax paying people of CV school district decide on it and let it be final?

get a clue-Take an Engish/ Writing class. Capitalize your sentence, and use some punctuation for God's sake. Maybe you should have paid attention to your teachers instead of knocking them.

if you don't like the pay get another job oh yea you have to work a FULL YEAR Think of the kids isn't that why you entered this field?