European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 28, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes tuesday april 28,1987 letters sex teacher takes today s educators to task once again we have heard about the poor under paid and overworked teachers of the department of defense dependents schools system this time it con Cern the successful court Challenge in the Mediterranean Region regarding being subjected to unrealistic demands on leathers by management because they were asked to perform lunchroom duty on a rotational basis. Perhaps it ii Lime thai we � parents and taxpayer who support the educational system file some court challenges of our own against the unrealistic de mands of teachers unions which raise costs while degrading our children s right to a Safe and orderly environment and against incompetent or Lazy teachers and administrators. Before every teacher in Dodds rises up in righteous indignation let me caveat the above with the statement that there Are Many competent and dedicated teachers within Dodds and the educational system in general. During my Yean As a Parent Raisin three children now Ages 25, 17 and 9have had the pleasure of meeting and working with Many. However for those whom the shoe pinches let them reassess their dedication and professionalism 1, Loo was once a teacher of High school science who performed lunchroom duty sponsored class activities and clubs worked sporting events and patrolled school grounds to ensure the safety of our students. 1 resigned no because of extra duty but in disgust wit the hypocrisy of the National education association the american federation of teachers the stale an local education associations and the education profession in general it s a profession that progressively became More anymore concerned with what was Best for the educator and not what was Best for the student who is the reason the professional educator has a Job. During the past 15 to 20 years i have observed movement towards earlier and earlier starting Lime for the convenience of the teacher. These starting times provide teachers with afternoons free for person Al Pursuit even if it Means your 6-year-old has to walk to school in the dark or be a Latchkey child for extended periods after school is dismissed for the Day. Heaven help the poor child whose Parent in a mis guided fit of parental concern drops him offal school Early because he cannot be admitted to the facilities until 15 minutes before class time. Ostensibly this is due to insurance requirements regulations contractual agreements and nausea but could it really be so As not to disturb he teachers during their Mornin Coffee pick me up what is even More discouraging is the increasing number of teachers who look at heir chosen career not As a profession but As a Job who have demanded an been granted less and less responsibility for the total developmental process of the child maybe that s Why they Don t want the children in school except under a tightly structured classroom situation they May have to accept some of the responsibilities for the fail ures in our society while at the same time clamouring for More and More bin com but the worst by far Are those teachers whose Atti tude can be summed up. If the child wants to learn ill help him or her. It they Don t want to learn it s none of my business. Therefore i do not intend to become involved and waste my time trying to reach and Challenge the student of. Be of Little Faith have you forgotten that special teacher who opened your eyes to the wonderment of something new even if you did t know you wanted to learn stand who lit that Park of enthusiasm that Leto your becoming a teacher or has the Homeric god of sloth and greed been too Strong an adversary?.if i sound slightly sarcastic or bitter i guest it s because i am. To watch our once proud educational system fall by the Wayside because too Many teachers and i May add that even one is Loo Many if it s you son s or daughter s teacher have became highly paid baby Sitters and poor ones at that is  increasing illiteracy of the american Popula Tion the gradual decline of scientific and mathematical kids in comparison to other countries and the Appal Ling Lack of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences bodes ill for our democratic Way of life a Way of life dependent upon an educated and informed society. Name withheld Moehringer Germany allowances for 2-Soldier families reviewed t am a Soldier married to another sol Dier we live in government quarters with our daughter. First1 question Why do we both lose our Basic allowance for quarters bad while living in quarters a total of about1600, when a Soldier married to a civil Ian Only loses about 1300? is is fair that we pay $600 for a two bedroom apart ment while another pays Only $300 for he same Benefit second question my husband has Achild from a previous marriage he is paying child support his bad Wilh de pc Dent rate is $300. I am told once we leave quarters i will not be entitled to receive the with depend enl bad rate be cause he already gets it for hit son. Can you explain Why third question can you explain Why they say he1 can collect a variable housing allowance via for his son since he s inthe states Why can he get that and not get bad with dependents can he get backs a for the entire time we be been Over seas since his son has been in the slates fourth can you explain exactly what the terms bad bad with dependent. Via overseas housing allowance Oha and Cost of living allowance cola stand for in terms of Soldier married to soldiers name withheld Frankfurt editor s note sgt. Mai. Rob Ert e. Sears office of the Deputy chief of staff resource management he usar eur replies entitlement to Par and allowances i provided for by Congress. Because there is a difference Between a Soldier married to a civilian and a Soldier married to a Soldier the Ruks for determining entitle ments Are a Little different and therefore sometimes Little confusing. This is especially True with regards to band Over Mas allowances you Are absolutely righting that your questions affect numerous Soldier couples. Thanks for your letter and the Opportunity to explain these important items. Bad is an allowance which � Soldier receives to pay for quarters not provided by the government. Bad without dependents and bad with dependents Are two nit of bad when two soldiers Are mar ried to each other reside together As Hus band and wife and there Are no dependents involved each Soldier is entitled to bad at the without dependent  family government quarters Are As signed the family forfeits its entitlement to bad. When quarters on terminated each Soldier would again be entitled Tobay. Children Are Dpi of dependent for which a Soldier is entitled to receive bad when two soldiers who an married teach other have a child born of the marriage or adopted by them the soldiers de cide which oat is to receive bad at the dependent rate. However when one of two soldiers i already receiving bad an behalf of child then any child bom of their marriage or adopted by them is for bad Pur poses considered to be a dependent of the same Soldier who is already receiving bad with dependents and the other Soldier cannot claim them. Therefore when not residing in government quarters your husband is entitled to Bat the wild dependent rate for All of your collective dependent and Yon an entitled to Bat the without dependent Rale. Congress recognizes that bad might not cover housing costs rent and utilities everywhere in the world. Because of this the variable housing allowance and Over seas housing allowance were established to help soldiers defray High housing easts when government quarters Are not As signed via is the Continental United states allowance and Oha is the allow Ance for outside he Continental United slates. They Are paid at the with or with out dependent Rale based on present family  oct. 1, 198$, Soldier paying child support Are not entitled la via on behalf of that child. Upon return to the Continental United stale your husband would be entitled to via with dependent rate for Jour daughter and you would beat the without dependent rate if not As signed to government  Coshof ii Etna allowance is for tort Ilde the Continental United states to give soldiers overseas he approximate same spending Power As the average Soldier of similar Grade years of service and num Ber of dependent who to stationed in the slates. It is payable whether or not Yon live in government  husband is entitled to cola with one dependent your daughter and Yon Are at the without dependent rate. Hopefully this response clarifies you concerns and will indeed prove to be beneficial for Many soldiers. Rules of Infra theater transfers explained i am in a cohort unit stationed in Italy. My military occupational specially mos is  of e-6s. I put in for Low Cost Intra Thaler Transfer itt on nov. 14,1986. The paper Woric was returned from 1st personnel come disapproved because 1 have to stay Here until is months from my Date eligible for return from overseas Derosant Hen redo the paperwork. This is going to be rated time. Who is going to Raceme during those months when i m not working my specially i wonder if 1st personnel come will give Memy Eer saying to great a Job i m doing hang in there we arc Short e-6s but Ean l move you because i costs taxpayers Money just like using military vehicles As pos. Name withheld Vicenz Italy editor s note Sec. Lav. A Lanned chief non commissioned officer. Combat arms Branch enlisted assignment division i personnel come replies we Welcome the Opportunity la respond 10 the writer s concern about Gullli Atit Irr of soldiers and 1tt moves. Since the writer s numb was nut provided we a unable to elaborate on the a act circumstances brought up in his letter. But i can provide general information about personnel assignment and utilization in a cohort unit and the army s Intro theater Transfer itt policy. The writer is a member of a rotating cohort co Hesion operational readiness training battalion. The goals of the new Manning system supporting co Hort Are to reduce turbulence and enhance cohesion by keeping soldiers and their leaders together in units longer. Soldiers assigned to cohort units Are required to serve the prescribed tour length elected. Co Hort personnel management policy discourages re assignment from a cohort unit prior to a Soldier Normal rotation Dale. Underlying the Coli Ort unique policies Are the army s general assignment and utilization policies. The need of the army Are the main considerations in select ing soldiers for assignment. Once assigned the we Dir s commander supervisor and unit personnel officer Are responsible for effective utilization. A Soldier a consid ered properly utilized when assigned to an authorize position in the primary military occupational specially pos career progression mos secondary mos additional mos at mos substitute a the same Grade or up la Iwa grades higher. A surplus Soldier May be utilized in the pos in a unc Grade Limyr position. With a surd to itt policy in it 1986 the depart ment of defense implemented new rules governing per nunsent change of station pcs moves. Consequently he army s itt policy has changed. Now a Soldier must Complete a Normal overseas tour prior to pc assignment. In conjunction with an itt a Soldier must serve another full consecutive overseas Low cot. I the Soldier s itt request does not meet these criteria it must be submitted As an exception to policy with full justification. The writer stated in his Teller that 1st personnel omd told him to resubmit his 1tt request to months prior to Deros we must establish this no earlier than time Frame because the personnel system cannot accurately project strengths and control assignments More thin 15 months in Advance of a Soldier s Avail Able for reassignment Date f a Soldier s itt is App Rorn Loo far in Advance of arrival Date an Aten Trenth situation could be created from double filling positions with he transferred of Dit r and currently assigned Soldier who gets promoted or extends. By nil in fur the 15-Momh window we can better Tia Stafie theater level full and individual assign ments. We Hope shh information has helped the writer understand his particular situation. If the writer has by other Zurc tuns he May Contact me at