Signs of Discontent with an Unsatisfactory Process?

Yesterday afternoon, while driving through Bridgewater to run a few errands, I noticed a roadside placard emblazoned with white lettering against a prominent blue background bearing the statement, “We support our teachers and staff.”

Early this morning, I had to go out again to complete another short run of errands and I came across more of the same posters on front lawns in Washington Valley, up in the hills around Martinsville, and on a public intersection near Route 22.

They seemed to have sprouted overnight like blue and white tulips anticipating an early spring.

I wondered where they came from. 

However, none of these placards bore the usual small-lettering statement at the bottom identifying the source of the message.  Such disclosure is customary with public signage which is normally associated with a citizens group, an association, or a political entity backing a candidate . . . so I wondered. 

In fact, under certain conditions – as during elections, for example – source disclosure is required by law and is subject to enforcement by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

In my view, it would be absurd for anyone to take fundamental issue with the statement imprinted on those signs.  Naturally, all responsible citizens and taxpayers should be behind teachers and staff.

But what’s really going on here?  Since these signs don’t identify their source, who are they aimed at?  Bridgewater & Raritan?  Somerset County?  Trenton?

And what kind of support, exactly, are the originators of these placards seeking?  Respect?  Money?  Better Programs?  More Benefits?  Smaller class sizes? 

Of  whom, and by whom is the support being requested? Is there a cost to this support?  Is it justified?  If so, who is to foot the tab?

It’s not doing anybody in this community any good for the official sponsors of these posters to remain hidden.  It’s time to come out into the open and to explain who you are and what you want. 

My hunch is that this has to do with the still unresolved contract dispute playing out between the Board of Education and the teachers and staff and of the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, a process which seems to be frustrating everyone as it slowly grinds to its resolution.

Prove me wrong.

Thanks for reading.  Enjoy the mild winter weather.