Another retired teacher who's not backing Bevin

By ROY PULLAM

I never forgot what an honor it was to be in front of a group of students as a teacher.  It was a seminal honor to be given the responsibility of teaching Henderson County students.  

For thirty seven years, I was proud that I could be a part of the education of students.  Some of my peers crossed the bridge for the additional $10,000 that teachers made in Indiana.  Like my peers in the Henderson City and the Henderson County School system, I thought my place was to be here helping to prepare my students for the citizenship that would come their way when they achieved the age of majority.

Teachers in the Henderson County School System had little say in curriculum planning, salary schedules or class size.  We took what we were dealt and did our jobs.  It often wasn't the best of circumstances, but we showed up, did our jobs and did our best.  I was proud of the people I worked with throughout my career.

 They put in extra hours, bought things for their classrooms out of their own pockets, stayed after school with clubs and tutoring and never complained about all the extra time they put in without pay.

When I hear this governor malign people who make so many sacrifices, it makes me angry.  He doesn't mind pushing unfunded mandates on the school system.  He doesn't mind insulting teachers or talking about knocking them in the head and dragging them.  He doesn't mind calling some of the most selfless professionals I know thugs or blaming them for children being molested because they are at home alone.  His language is abusive; his motive is to denigrate.  

I cannot support Matt Bevin for governor. His words must have consequences.