Teachers Fight For What's Right

Published: May 3, 2007

Your recent editorial (Teachers Should Roll Up Sleeves, April 21) attacking teachers won't help the public understand what is at stake in our high schools next year.

You spent too little space outlining our superintendent's inadequate communication skills and too much time imploring teachers to play along.

Parents left out of redistricting discussions last year; teachers left out of scheduling decisions this year.

Tell me: What is the best way to handle such a display of totalitarian leadership and the inevitable fallout that occurs?

Instead of stressing the benefits of teachers and administrators working together, you continue to try pitting teacher against teacher, once again comparing high school teachers to elementary school teachers. Divide and conquer will not work in this situation.

Most teachers are disappointed and frustrated with leadership that devalues all of us. Repeating MaryEllen Elia's talking points, suggesting a raise most of us aren't banking on, only makes your views less legitimate.

Teachers are not calling on co-workers to do the bare minimum. We aren't threatening when we speak the truth about our ever-growing list of duties and responsibilities. We aren't whining when we point out the difficulties resulting from a lack of leadership that undermines our very existence and a community that misunderstands our roles.

Your editorial, with half-truths and faulty comparisons, does nothing to improve the situation.

And you suggest we respond with silence. You believe we should play along. What kind of lesson would that teach our kids?

Our students are watching a superintendent who does her own thing no matter who is harmed. They are watching a school board give in to her every whim.

They are also watching their teachers come together to speak out against bad policies that will negatively affect everyone. They are watching us speak up for our schools, our jobs, our passion. Students are watching us speak up for them.

Haven't you heard? Those who can, teach. We can and we will fight for what's right. Our students deserve nothing less.

Catherine Durkin Robinson lives in Wesley Chapel.