Pav2704

I have to laugh with your postings! You think that your the only one that works two jobs. You live on Long Island...everyone works two jobs here!!! Everything here is expensive, not just taxes. I've worked two jobs since I started college and still do, ten years into my teaching career. When my part-time teaching job ends at 3, I can't wait to go to my construction job for the change of pace. I do it so that my children and family have everything they need. Not so I have something to bitch about online. You never mentioned what you do for a living??? I do know that you spend an awful lot of time at this site during the work day. Who are you cheating out of money???

Couldn't agree more with you Karpteach. Unfortunately, it's a lot easier for some to complain about what they don't have than to actually do something about it!! Definately seems like that's the trend society is taking today!!!

Sits in trees, I find it very hard to believe that your school taxes went up 88% over the last six years. Most school budgets only increase on average around 5%. That would mean that your school's budget passed an increase of close to 15 to 20% every year. I don't think so. If that was truly the case, why don't you grieve your taxes??? Since property values have dropped drastically, you should definately be able to save money after your grievance. But what do I know? I'm just a "pompouse" teacher!

Woofer, Here's some facts about where the Teachers' Pensions actually comes from. The Claim: Taxpayers are shouldering the burden of paying lavish public pensions. The Facts: Over the last 20 years, investment returns accounted for 86% of NYSTRS' income. During this same time period, the System took in $13.9 billion in member and employer contributions but paid out $54.4 billion – all while net assets more than doubled, from $27 billion to $72.5 billion. The Claim: Legislatively mandated employer contributions to public pension systems are bankrupting employers. The Facts: While employer contribution rates (ECRs) have been on the rise of late due to recent financial market declines, NYSTRS' ECRs have been in single digits for 21 (and soon to be 22) consecutive years. In eight of those years the rate was less than 4%; in six of the eight it was less than 1.5%. For three consecutive years earlier in this decade, the rate was less than 0.5%. Here's another link to show you where the money actually comes from for NYS Teacher Pensions. http://www.nystrs.org/main/library/NYSTRS-Dollar.pdf If you are going to make broad statements, at least have the facts correct!

That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out? How did that video lead to "Here's where our tax dollars go for education"???? I'm sure we can continue to argue about the details of how great teachers today have it, so I'll end with this. Seven or eight years ago before the economy tanked, everyone was doing great financially. If your family only made 100,000 you were just doing ok during this time period. I knew contractors, realtors, and many other people making well over teacher salaries and no one said crap about teachers. In fact, most people looked down at you if they knew you were a teacher. Now that the pendulum has swung and teachers salaries aren't so bad anymore, we are the ones to blame. Apparently more than the man in that video since this where the discussion has went. Like everything else though, the pendulum will swing back the opposite way! In the meantime though, I will definately enjoy my wife's as well as my "teacher salaries" and "benefits"!!!

That must be an Upstate school or charter school that everyone thinks is great because those "facts" that you provided couldn't be farther from the truth here on Long Island in public schools!!! Most classroom that I teach in average 25 to 30 students and include various types of learning disabilities. Most teachers on Long Island, myself included have taken a pay freeze for the last three years!!! And as far as testing better, that once again couldn't be further from the truth again!!! The students today take many more tests than we ever did growing up and if you check the scores in Newsday, Long Island schools do very well!!!! What truly amazes me is how ignorant some people really can be!!! There arguments are based on supposed facts that couldn't be further from the truth. Arguments can be comparable to anti-hunter groups!!! JUST PLAIN IGNORANT!!!!!!! I still am in total amazement about how the video that started this entire discussion is the "educators" fault????

Great finds!!! The rubs are real cool. Is it normal to find so many dead antlered deer like that???

I wish I taught in the school districts that you are talking about because I have been teaching for about 12 years and don't make close to those numbers. I work a second job in construction during the summer to live on Long Island just like everyone else. We all pay the same taxes!!! Don't you think that if teachers were not paid well, "Quality" teachers wouldn't be interested. Isn't that true for all professions??? I had a plumber do work in my basement last year. He worked for about 4 hours and I payed him $700 just in labor. He was the cheapest estimate!!! If educators are so well paid and the benefits are so great (which we pay towards) I encourage all to go through the necessary schooling and get a job in todays education field.

Great pictures

Woofer You are absolutely right that most of the educational cost is teacher salary...who is educating the students? However you are wrong in saying that NY teachers do not need a Masters Degree. In NYS if you do not have a Masters after 5 years of teaching your certification becomes invalid. Most teachers today start off making 40,000, the $110,000 salaries that you are refering to only come after 30 years of teaching along with masters degrees and inservice credits. Suffolk county cops make that same money after only 5 years of working and I don't hear anyone complaining about them. When did the education of our children become so less important. Remember, we are the same people that have no problem spending $1,000's on a 5 day hunt. Now, isn't that crazy! Myself included!!!

Woofer The difference in numbers that you were speaking of are due to many different factors. One, private school are not mandated by NYS to give the Standardized tests that all public schools do. These standardized tests cost roughly $8 to $12 per student and on average a student takes three standardized tests a year. Secondly, the public school that you were referring to has a extremely small student population. Most public schools collect on average $16000 per student. I paid close to that much money in daycare last year!! Finally, how much money would should someone expect to receive in salary for obtaining a college degree, masters degree, and 90 inservice credits past their masters degree? If you look at it that way teachers aren't paid enough. I don't believe that the education system is to blame for NYS current status. After watching that video, maybe groups like Newsday should publish articles to speak about that video or how 40%of Americans are on some time of government assistance!!!

Thanks!

I finally found my first deer shed...ever!!! Although, this was the first year that I really started to look. I probably spent 10 hours this year looking. I combed through a corn field and found nothing. Then I walked over to my stand which sits on the corner of the field and there it was. Its only a spike shed, but I was still thrilled to death.

Really cool pics. I was hoping to get up to my property sometime this week but I think its suppose to rain all week. I havn't been up there since mid December...real interested in seeing whats been going on???

Beautiful deer... what a lucky find find with the sheds!!!

Thats pretty cool. Where is Tifts farm nature preserve?

Thats a pretty cool idea... beats bringing and setting up a video camera everytime you go to your stand!!!

Hey guys... just went pheasent hunting today and I came home with a few birds... does anybody have any good recipes? I have breast and leg meat. Thanks!

Bear looks great!!! Who did the mount?

Hey guys! I also have been coming to this site for awhile now and enjoy the topics. I've been hunting now for five years, mostly on the island, and I recently bought land in Richmondville. I am looking foward to sharing pictures and posts!