It was with some concern and great anger that I read Bob Augustine's letter to the editor of April 30, "Reduce KC pact offer."

Augustine listed all the reasons that we as a community should insult and degrade the teachers of the Karns City School District by lowering the contract offer that is on the table.

This mind-set is one of the accomplishments of the Reagan revolution — that we as a country should support lowering the lifestyle of the middle class, and that we should give up our wages, pensions, health care, vacation, health and safety, and workers' rights in general. All this so that the already wealthy of this nation can become the ultra-wealthy.

Augustine waits until the very end of his letter to attack his real concern, organized labor.

The only hostage in this case is rational thought. And the hostage taker isn't the union but the mind-set that the middle class of this country should continue to lower its standard of living.

My union brothers and sisters have been victims of corporate greed over the last few years. We have had our wage increases limited, and have lost vacation time and post-retirement health care.

Our current health care is sad, to say the least. We have lost much of our contract to those who wish to hoard the wealth at the top.

I have lost ground in my standard of living over the last few years, and I support our teachers in their quest for a fair contract that will help them raise a family in this area.

No one should have to regress, least of all someone with the responsibility of teaching our youth and, at the same time, shaping our future.

I can say that Augustine does not speak for the entire community. There is no protection for the taxpayer by lowering standards for Karns City area children.

And, make no mistake, shortchanging teachers now means shortchanging students for the future.

The statement "public education is not a constitutional right. It is provided at the pleasure of the taxpayers through the legislative process" is just ridiculous.

Pleasure? It is the greatest responsibility we, as a community, have. The fabric of our country is at stake.

We must have a strong teachers contract in place in this district to attract good-quality teachers. This is an award-winning district. Sugarcreek Elementary School received the Blue Ribbon Award awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. The high school received the Bronze Award, as awarded by U.S. News & World Report, as one of the nation's highest-achieving districts.

That is not accomplished by bargain-basement teachers. Poorly paid teachers will give us underachieving adults.

It's just that plain and simple.

I suggest that those on the board look less at "winning" this contract and more toward settling it. As a union member, I believe the actions of this board toward achieving a contract to be quite unsettling and disturbing.

The issues of this contract are well within reach of a fair settlement, if common sense and cool heads prevail.