Union Thugs!

Typically, I am pretty Anti-Union when it comes to most things, but when it comes to the Teachers Union, it's not soo black and white. I could list the pros and cons, but ultimately, when it comes to our future, our youth, our students, I get a bit sympathetic to the teacher's and the belief that you get what you pay for. Now, considering that 50 cents to every $1 of education dollars spent actually get to the students (the other 50 cents go to administration and overhead), primarly because of the Unions, I don't really get too sympathetic, but anyway...In today's Bible, there's an article which reminds me why I generally don't like Unions. Up until now, I've been on the side of the teachers, mostly, because you really do get what you pay for. And because the pay in the Newport Mesa Unified doesn't compare to our neighboring cities, the newer (but doesn't necessarily mean more qualified) and more experienced teachers are not coming here, either going to Private schools or going to (gasp!) Garden Grove Unified or Laguna Beach, where the pay is better. Therefore, the guess has to be that the teachers that remain in Newport Mesa Unified do so because it isn't about the money, they stay here because of the students and their overwhelming desire to educate Newport Mesa's future. Those children who's parents couldn't afford Carden Hall or Harbor Day, Mater Dei or Sage High School. These teachers, who don't do it for the money, are do-gooders, saints, and deserved to be praised. But now...they "call in sick" because "although it was unclear how many of them did so over salaries. Union President Jim Rogers knew some teachers planned to be absent Friday but said his group had not ordered them to call in sick, since that would violate union rules." AARRRRGGGGHHH!!!! Who would want to violate Union Rules...So now these Saints, these heroes, these do-gooders show their real colors? Who cares about these students right? Who cares that these students did not have their teachers for one day, instead having some pencil pusher substitute in for the day? Gee...only the High Schools were affected by this, and not the Elementary Schools, where your medal? Knowing many high school kids, one more day without their normal teacher is ONE TOO MANY!! I understand the need to make a statement, but if you do, do it to their bosses, punish their bosses, punish management, but don't punish the kids. They don't deserve it. Congratulations teachers, you've shown that getting paid more isn't about the kids getting a better education (since they flippantly "ditched" school), it's all about #1. Pay me (in your best Robert DeNiro voice from Goodfellas).