Tell It To George is a collection of thoughts from here and away, from people who want to get their two cents worth in, without using their names.

The Thursday, February 21, "Kennebec Journal" carries the headline that Augusta schools will eliminate 18 positions. Don't hold your breath to see a similar headline in Wiscasset, which, 11 years after the closure of Maine Yankee, still spends as if Maine Yankee were still open.

Despite losing about one-third of its enrollment since 2000, the Wiscasset school system employs about the same number of full-time employees. Yes, the debate on the current contract on pay and benefits is important, but Wiscasset taxes will continue to go up until positions are eliminated. No one needs to get laid off; simply use attrition.

The WLYG Committee went to the Westport Island Selectmen's meeting on Tuesday night to give George a hug, but no one was there.

We then went to D&G Garage and found Dennis playing with his computer and counting his money. Dennis had some figures on the town salt shed that he had run through the computer. He found that by properly mixing the salt and sand and storing it in the salt shed, the town would use 40 less tons of salt a year. The overall savings to the town will be $17,401.33 per year (his computer like to be exact).

As George wasn't around, we gave Dennis a hug and went up to the store for a pizza.

We've delegated our secretary to check on the date and time of the next selectmen's meeting.

I'd like to comment on the recent articles I've read in the paper regarding the teachers and the school committee. Having been a former teacher I think I can speak with some sense of knowing what I'm talking about.

It's unfortunate that in today's world any type of legal action has to be threatened to seemingly get things accomplished, and that school boards and teachers always seem to be at odds. I'm sure that there was a point in time when I was teaching that I felt teachers were being unfairly treated compared to the rest of the business world in terms of salaries, medical insurance, etc. However, I don't feel that way any more.

I don't think at all that teachers aren't respected for what they do as some would want you to believe. In the teaching world as well as the business world, there are always those who go above and beyond, and there are those who collect a paycheck and go home. That's the real world. However in this day of rising energy costs, soaring medical premiums (yes, I pay a BIG premium each month for my wife and I to have coverage), why should teachers be any different?

When I hear and read the articles about declining enrollment, a school that may be closed because of that, testing that is below the average state numbers, more money being spent on Wiscasset schools that is way above the state recommendation, should we really be talking about giving teachers more than is reasonable After all, the individuals who are the teachers, made that decision as I did to become a teacher.

We all know that if you want to make money then teaching is not what you do (usually). There are lots of other jobs that will pay more.

In my case, I wasn't given a choice, my position was eliminated because what I taught wasn't deemed important. And yes this was a Maine school district. I did manage to get another job, and, yes I did make more money.

Interestingly enough, a school district I taught in out of state is in the midst of a teacher's strike over the same issues that are going on here. This particular district is one of the top districts in their state, and the country and is in a very well to do community. The parents and school board there have also said "NO" to some of the teacher's demands, especially salary and health care costs. Coincidently, since we left there a second high school has been built, two new middle schools, a new elementary school, and now a third high school is on the drawing boards as well as a new elementary school. Not quite the same circumstances and the teachers are being held to task.

I wouldn't say that I have a particular love for any school board (especially the one that eliminated my position), but I would hope that the one in Wiscasset will hold the ground on "reasonable" demands in today's world. I'm tired of hearing about Maine Yankee. That was then, this is now. Shame on this town for putting all their eggs in one basket when they had a "sugar daddy" to take care of everything they wanted. We're all paying for it now.

Maybe it's time for the school committee to put a clause into teacher's contracts that says teachers will receive the same COLA (cost of living adjustment) that Social Security recipients get every year. I think we all could live with that. Also, there are plenty of summer jobs available for the three months the schools are closed for those who need additional funds. I worked every summer when I was teaching.

In closing, I would be say that yes teachers are respected for what they do, but don't engage in actions that would cause people to think otherwise. Be thankful you are gainfully employed. Accept the contract from the school committee and concentrate on teaching kids.

Do any of the taxpayers of the town of Woolwich know that our acting Fire Chief, gave away a fire truck belonging to the town of Woolwich without any authority to do so? Or without the knowledge of the selectmen? The proper procedure is to put the truck out for bids.

Would one or more of the Westport powers-that-be address the following:

Westport children and Wiscasset children share the same schools, same teachers, etc. Why as publicized without consideration for state subsidy is the per child cost for Westport Island children 24.7 percent greater ($12,300 vs. $9,861) than it is for Wiscasset children?

Even considering the Westport state subsidy for special education versus the gross Wiscasset per child cost ($11,122 vs. $9.861) why is Westport per child cost 12.8 percent greater that Wiscasset's.

Except for special education, why does Westport not receive any other state educational subsidy?

What has the Westport elected representatives done to obtain additional state educational subsidies?

Send "Tell It To George" entries clearly marked (this way, we won't use your name) for the "Tell It To George" column, by mail at P.O. Box 429, Wiscasset, ME 04578.

Or hand carry them to our office on at 47 Gardiner Road (don't mail them to Gardiner Road, because they will be sent back to you by the post office); just put them in our mailbox right next to the front door.

Or, walk right in and give them to us.

Or, send them to us by E-mail, at wiscassetnewspaper@verizon.net.

Or, fax them to us at 882-4280;

Or, if you're not good at writing, leave us a voice mail on our answering machine after hours, at 207-882-6355 (speak slowly and distinctly). Please make sure your entries a r rive by noon on Tuesday for publ i cation in Thursday's issue.