From the Houston Chronicle's Viewpoints Section -- Tuesday http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/editorial/605127 So, is it right? Is it a good idea to have teachers driving busses? Is it a good opportunity? A slap in the face? Teachers good at driving buses? Houston Independent School District has the highest-paid superintendent in the nation. It also has some of the best-paid administrators in the state. During the past school year, the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test scores reached an all-time high and the superintendent was rewarded with a raise of nearly $60,000. Teachers, meanwhile, were given the opportunity to supplement their incomes by driving school buses. And we wonder why there's a teacher shortage. -- Thomas Iocca, Stafford In response to the July 14 Chronicle article, "HISD's teachers can get behind school bus wheel," I was completely shocked, outraged and offended that the Houston Independent School District considers its teachers as little more than unskilled, low-level, blue-collar workers. To suggest that teachers should drive school buses is a slap in the face. It only further strengthens the image that top-level HISD administrators have a complete disregard for the professionalism of their teachers, as well as a total lack of respect for those who work so diligently at educating Houston's children. Instead of further demeaning its teachers, HISD should focus on raising the wages of those bus drivers who are underpaid, as well as recruiting more and treating the new hires with respect and dignity once they are on the payroll. And, yet, I don't know why I suggest this for HISD when it has already failed miserably at doing the same for its teachers. -- Omar Garza, Houston It was very encouraging to read about the Houston Independent School District offering teachers the opportunity to earn extra income by driving a school bus for the district. I was especially pleased to hear that teachers make excellent bus drivers because they are already trained to work with students and have good rapport with them. But why limit teachers to only earning extra money by being bus drivers? Since the HISD administration feels teachers would make such good bus drivers, I'm sure it will find teachers will make good cafeteria workers, plant operators, custodians and grounds-keepers, too. -- Douglas E. Pennekamp, Houston ------------------ Stay Cool...
