When teachers make this argument, as they have forever, the answer usually goes something like this: You knew the deal when you signed on for the job — long hours, low pay — so suck it up, pal.

Recently, the state law was changed to allow local boards to set their own compensation. It also allows board members to participate in the district's health-insurance plan, with the option for those who don't want the insurance to take a cash payment instead.

Jordan board members became the first of 40 school boards to give themselves a raise under the new law — just as they were the first to start slashing teacher retirement and health-care benefits last year to comply with the law (very few districts have matched the extent of their cuts, law or no law).

Could their timing be worse? With the cut in retirement benefits, some 250 experienced teachers chose to retire last July rather than forfeit the money, and those who remained saw their health-insurance premiums more than double, completely wiping out their annual raises.

Teachers also were denied the option of a cash payout of the district's share of the health-insurance premiums if they didn't want to participate, even though teachers claim they could get better health coverage with the money elsewhere.

All of which made last week's actions that much more galling. The board granted themselves everything they denied the teachers. That sent a message to the teachers, and that message was: Stick it.

At the very least, it just looked bad. (Does anyone wonder why there is a strong movement in some schools to break away from Jordan and form their own district?) The board couldn't take care of their loyal, experienced teachers, but they did take care of themselves.

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Doug Robinson's column runs on Tuesdays. Please e-mail drob@desnews.com