Resident dismayed at Torre’s criticisms

How fortunate the NBTEA members are to have a leader with the stamina and dedication that Mr. John Torre attributes to Mark Balaban, their president. Very few "… great teachers in this town who truly care for the kids who sit in front of them each day…" are willing to expend the energy and time required to meet the needs of the group. Very few "… great teachers in this town…" are willing to be subjected to the ridicule and remarks which might be hurled against them for being active association members." Hello? How lucky they are to have a Mark Balaban to represent them.

Mr. John Torre claims Mr. Balaban is serving his own agenda. Is Mr. Balaban’s agenda different from the agenda of the educators he represents? As Mr. Torre has written, many of the teachers whom Mr. Torre has approached "either do not know whom they are represented by, or don’t know what Mark Balaban stands for." Hello? Do you think this might be true simply because they agree with the president’s performance? These intelligent people would soon find out who is representing them, and what Mr. Balaban stands for, if they were not satisfied.

Comparing the "authority" of Mr. Balaban to Mr. Hoffa gives the reader a clear picture of Mr. Torre’s prejudice. This prejudice seems to taint Mr. Torre’s judgment. Mr. Balaban receives no compensation for his position, just as the board members receive no reimbursement for their service. Mr. Balaban and the board members might make what others view as unreasonable demands, but this is very different from accusing either the Board of Education or the Education Association (represented by Mr. Balaban) of having a "… totalitarian stronghold." Hello?

AlmaJulie Edly

North Brunswick