"Letters to the Editor, Los Angeles Times"

James Baxter
11/23/2003

LETTERS to the Editor 3-12-03 Los Angeles TIMES 

My 30-year service as a public school teacher began in 1957. In 1970, the Los Angeles teachers' union, UTLA, called a strike. Their attempt to close our schools met failure because of the largely professional viewpoint of the great majority of the L.A. teachers at that time.

Through the following years, the several teachers' organizations continued to represent their members before the school board on a proportional basis of membership as the Winton Act required. The union continued an ongoing drumbeat to the teachers that they would have "more clout" if they would join the union. They had minor success.

By the late 1970's, State Senator Rhodda authored a bill before the Senate and Assembly that would require all teachers in every public school district to choose a single teachers' organization to represent them. It worked! The teachers had accepted the union ploy of "clout." The union won and the voice of the professional teacher was silenced - without further representation. California public schools went from No. 1 to No. 50 as statewide the story was repeated. Nation-wide, the NEA and AFT prevailed. As predicted, public school education went into the toilet. Since the first priority of any union is the benefit of the union and its members, our students were given a backseat. Today, the public-sector blockage of education reform continues (Koret Foundation) by the unions - private-sector organizations not answerable to the public via representative government.

Ignoring the cause, politicians, parents and teachers today do not have a clue as to a solution. The worker-mentality and lack of professional identity and values grinds on while the children of each succeeding generation suffer ongoing classic mediocrity.

Parents who care will have to lead. Meanwhile, private, parochial, and home-schooling, are the only reliable 'student first' educational institutions available. If anyone disagrees tell 'em they're long overdue to "Put up..."

Jim Baxter
Santa Maria, CA

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