Our stomachs turned a bit this morning when we watched a YouTube video of part of last weekend’s DC AFT rally in Washington, D.C. You can see it here:
The event was billed as the “Rally for Respect.” If the AFT wants respect, we respectfully submit the following suggestions:
Number one – Stop threatening people. During the rally, an unidentified male speaker was clearly heard on the video threatening D.C. school Chancellor Michelle Rhee. “Michelle Rhee had better watch her back,” the large, angry man chanted into the microphone. That clearly sounds like a physical threat, typically used by street gangs. His next few words were not clear, but then he added something about “She’s going down.”
Perhaps Ms. Rhee would be wise to contact D.C. police. Union thugs may very well have her on their target list. How disturbing.
Number two – Stop opposing every reform proposal that comes along. The American people, including our president and education secretary, are demanding more school choices for students and more accountability from teachers. This is a national movement that’s gaining momentum by the day. Only the unions are standing in the way. If you want respect, start acting like education professionals and stop opposing efforts to improve educational opportunities for our kids.
Number three – Stop calling for an end to the valuable D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, a voucher initiative that allows children to escape horrible schools in your city.
Number four – Drop your ridiculous lawsuit that’s attempting to block teacher layoffs in D.C. Public schools are broke and cuts have to be made somewhere. If you want to save some jobs, adjust your wage and benefit demands, so there will be more money to keep a few more teachers working.
In the meantime, don’t be surprised at the lack of respect your organization is getting from the public these days. You stand for a time that has passed, when public schools were employee-based, not student-based. The American public will not accept that any longer. Join us as we search for ways to make our schools better, or just get out of the way.