Bill McClister, Titus Avenue
To the Editor:
After putting in my usual 14 hour work day, I attended this weeks school board meeting. The auditorium was filled with hundreds of staff all dressed in black protesting that they are working without a contract. After union leaders made brief statements, the staff abruptly, loudly and rudely left the meeting while public comment was still in session. Now I hear that teachers, wearing black, are congregating in the parking lot not entering the school a minute before start time and not staying a minute after the end of the school day.
First, I would like to state that our district implemented a gang policy. How is this way of behavior much different? All involved wearing the same colors to show solidarity, all behaving raucously, all followers listening to one leader. This is a form of gang mentality. What an example for our professionals to set for the children they "care about." This form of protest by the teachers shows the people of Lawrence that they don’t appreciate their jobs, pensions and health benefits the taxpayers afford them.
Is there a tenured teacher who worries their paycheck will not come when the economy is poor? Is there a tenured teacher who worries their job will be gone tomorrow if 50 percent of their students fail? Has there ever been a tenured teacher who thanked the taxpayers who afford this guarantee? Has there ever been a tenured teacher who ever worried about the taxpayer whose job and benefits were abruptly taken away?
For the success of our children, more leaders and independent thinkers are needed, not followers.
