Christine Young, a California parent and blogger, shared a severe concern with me–the California teachers’ unions are protecting child molesters employed by the schools, by making it harder for them to be fired. Christine is concerned this is keeping the sexual offenders (as well as those who commit drug-related acts with their students) near the children.
As a mom of seven, and a parent of four children in public school here in California, I’m disgusted with how special interest groups like the teachers’ union always put our children last, behind their bloated paychecks and pension benefits.
But, now they’ve gone too far. Earlier this year, the California Teachers Association killed a bill in the legislature that would have made it easier to fire teachers who are known child molesters!
It’s almost too hard to believe, right? Well, read for yourself what one Los Angeles area teacher did to his blindfolded students – Associated Press story – and how the teachers union conspired to keep perverts like him in the classroom – LA Weekly article.
California isn’t alone in having a teachers union that protects sexual deviants – New York is battling a similar problem.
This is why we need reform like Prop 32, which is on the November ballot in California. We have to stop the special interest money that keeps these groups powerful and detached from doing what’s best for our children.
Of course the opponents of the measure are spreading lies about how cops, firemen, teachers, et al are against 32, but keep in mind it’s only the union leadership that is against 32. I know plenty of teachers who don’t like what their union does and certainly don’t want sexual predators in our classrooms!
See for yourself what California Prop 32 will do, it’s very straight forward.
And join our Facebook Group “California Parents for Reform” where we discuss this and other issues facing our schools and families.
Christine Young is the mother and blogger behind FromDatestoDiapers.com, where she shares about life with lots of kids and how to make it fun.
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From the Julieverse, aka my thoughts:
I was shocked to read these stories. Teachers committing these crimes should be automatically released from their jobs–there should be no question as to whether it is fit to have these teachers around children. However, the CTA (California Teachers Union) is citing summertime as an unfair time to release a teacher from his job due to travel time. What?! A teacher committed a crime. I don’t care what time of year it is, a teacher who commits a crime should not be permitted to call himself a teacher. Period.
I encourage you, no matter where you live, to read the LA Weekly article (linked above) for the details. You’ll learn that the heavily favored bill (SB 1530), which had no problem passing the CA Senate (33-4 non-paritsan vote) failed in the California House of Representatives, thus, killing the bill.
Teachers’ unions have a place in our world, in protecting their membership and the qualities of their teaching conditions. But taking their influence to politics to influence a bill that has the children most in mind… there’s no place the world for a teachers association such as this.
Christine and I would love to know your thoughts. Have the teachers unions in California, New York and other states taken their influence too far? Or is it better to stand as a union with every employee?
© 2012, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.
Twitter: AndreaUpdyke
says:
This makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. These are CRIMINALS! Sex offenders aren’t even allowed to live near schools where I am. How is it ok for them to WORK there? Disgusting.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justprecious
says:
I am so sickened by it. I hate what I read last night when Christine sent me all those links. So so so wrong.
Twitter: aprilabtbalance
says:
This is what many people didn’t understand when the Superintendent had to remove the entire staff at the LAUSD elementary school where two teachers were found to be abusing the children. It was the only way that they could go about ensuring that all the children would be safe to go to school. This is also why neither of my children go to traditional schools. I’ve discovered that even the principals with the best of intentions can’t do anything about the less than good teachers unless they’re in a charter or other alternative kind of school. I am one of the leftist liberals you’ll ever meet, and I can say nothing in defense of unions anymore.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justprecious
says:
it’s a sad, sad world, really. Heart breaking to know that there’s nothing that can be done in these situations because the teachers unions are such political empires.
teachers should know their limits. they are supposed to be the role model of the students, not their molesters!
My son was beaten by another student on 2/13.
During PE class, the child held the back of my son’s head, and smashed his face no less than five times, causing profuse blood letting, and bruising of his face.
The school found my son 100% innocent, yet refused to punish the offender (unless you call a one day suspension punishment for battery).
The police refused to do anything.
I find it astonishing that the union needs student attendance money so bad that they will allow sociopaths to remain in normal schools; leaving sincere students to fend for themselves against violent children is reprehensible.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justprecious
says:
oh my goodness, David. This is horrifying. I’m so very sorry that happened to your son and is happening anywhere at all. Children should feel safe and comfortable in schools… I’m just… appalled to read this.
Thanks for letting me vent. This was actually the second racially motivated attack he suffered. The teacher was 20 ft away and didn’t help.
The school literally did nothing but pour water on my flames. I realize I’m powerless against the union.
Want another great story? When my son was in 4th grade, he was identified as a GATE (Gifted Talented…etc) student. Besides being mixed with special needs students (thus crippling advanced curiculum), the homework was far below his abilitties.
Having bought into the GATE speech, we approached the teacher, and asked for more rigor. Child Protective Services arrived at our door a few days later.
We’ll be enrolling him in a private school. It breaks my heart thinking of all the kids that can’t go to private schools, and who must endure the hell.
Our nation’s most precious and vulnerable resource. Betrayed.
How long did it require u to post “California Teachers Union Putting Our Kids at Risk”?
It seems to have quite a lot of beneficial knowledge.
Thanks a lot ,Alva
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