The woman leaned over the pew, touched my arm and whispered softly. &uot;I’m so sorry for you about that letter in the newspaper today,&uot; she said. &uot;It was just uncalled for.&uot; The letter she was referring to was one of dozens published recently in response to an editorial published in The Democrat about Louisiana teachers’ behavior in their attempt to lobby for a pay raise.

That editorial, and the underlying issue of teacher pay raises in general, has proven to be a volatile one these days – with opinions, and unfortunately, hard feelings running deeper than the river that separates Mississippi and Louisiana.

And, truth is, that letter was a particularly bitter and caustic one. And perhaps it was that one comment, more than the letter that sparked it, that has prompted this column.

At dozens of large, metropolitan newspapers and news organizations across the country, ombudsmen have the sometimes unpleasant task of trying to explain the newspapers’ positions or actions to the public, and in return, finding a way to turn the most constructive of the public’s comments and complaints into actions — improvements and learning experiences — for the newspaper staff.

At community newspapers, that role falls to the editor, and it’s one that most of us welcome gladly — although it can at times be quite difficult.

This is perhaps one of those times … so let the lesson begin.

The editorial published under &uot;Our Opinion&uot; is the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board – Publisher Todd Carpenter, me and Managing Editor Kevin Cooper. It is sometimes written by one of us, sometimes by all of us, and it is unsigned because it represents the opinion of the editorial board as a whole. We will, from now on, be sure to include the members of that board on the editorial page each day, though.

And, we continue to stand behind our opinion on the issue:&160;The teachers’ actions at the Louisiana Capitol that day were unprofessional and unproductive. We believe the teachers — especially those who chose to boo and curse the governor — could find more productive ways to work within the system in seeking a pay raise. And, more important, we believe that the teachers had an opportunity in that action — and throughout this issue — to be proactive, to seek solutions and to prove good role models for the students they teach.

Was the teachers rally really &uot;all about greed,&uot; as that editorial said? Unfortunately, for some of the teachers, we believe it was. Their actions are proof of it.

But, can we honestly say that &uot;not one teacher can honestly say otherwise?&uot; Of course not. And, trust me, I’ve talked with many who passionately argue that point.

Unfortunately, our opinion has been misinterpreted as a blanket attack on the teaching profession. That’s unfortunate, because each of us on the editorial board have shared close relationships with teachers in the past and can easily name several who had profound influences on our lives.

But we realize that while teachers — like professionals in any group — may share some overall goals and ambitions, their personal commitments are as varied as the individuals themselves. Many, arguably most, view their jobs as a life’s work — a work that includes educating young minds and instilling character and a love of learning in children.

But for some teachers, the work is just a job. And, well, you’ve read our opinion on that … Could we have made our point clearer, and left less of a window for misinterpretation? Of course …

But, as one parent pointed out, some teachers have taken advantage of their ire to voice – in vivid detail — why they believe they deserve a raise. And those teachers have argued their points well.

Could they have made those points just as effectively, without booing and cursing the governor? We believe so…

Let’s just chalk it up to a learning experience for all of us.

Stacy Graning is editor of The Democrat. She can be reached at 446-5172 ext. 239 or stacy.graning@natchezdemocrat.com.