Response to Klemkadiddle

You obviously are too reasonable to deserve my bitter knee jerk response to any commentary about education.

You can compare me to an old boxer who swings every time the doorbell rings.

Among my many identities, was that of consultant for school districts from Burbank to Oakland and a stint as education writer for the Southwest Region of a large wire service network. I witnessed the demise of the Dallas Independent School District after W.T. White retired, and i wrote about it. Some of the guerrilla tactics were very disturbing.

I covered too many NEA Conventions.

I saw too many administrators fired without cause after disputes with teachers and their representatives. And when a union negotiated a contract that made it impossible to fire a teacher for unconscionable behavior, I reacted with venom.

My old files are filled with horrors perpetrated on teachers and administrators and even school board members.

Yes. I suppose i see too many conspiracies in the actions of those managing public education as well as the corporate body of public employees.

Again, I should have read your post and held my peace.

Oh! I must comment, however, that I have known many teachers who abhorred the unions and "teacher associations" but were told not to "rock any boats."

I think we both recognize the extensive problems in public education but maybe differ in what we perceive to be the source of the problem. You are right to be skeptical of the teacher unions, as you should be of all unions. I enjoyed the exchange.