Pay Raise for Prison Guards Seems Criminal

Couldn’t help but notice the report on the new contract for the California prison guards that could boost their pay by roughly 25% in the later years of their five-year deal (“Prison Guards, State Strike Deal on 5-Year Pact,” Dec. 15).

Could you imagine the hell that would break loose if California teachers asked for the same amount?

In fact, I remember The Times’ editorials (“LAUSD: Trust Isn’t Enough,” Jan. 25 and “Risk for L.A.’s Schools,” Feb. 25) blasting the 12% average raise we L.A. teachers eventually did receive for 2001 (with zero budgeted for 2002). Where’s the editorial outrage now? To quote your article: “At the end of the contract, officers’ pay could average $60,000 to $65,000.” Any guesses on what the average LAUSD teacher makes?

Or maybe it’s just a matter of priorities. Does it make sense that if we could keep our best teachers by giving them comparable pay to a prison guard that we might not need so many prison guards?

Kirk Jordan

Long Beach