I want to appeal to you to express your support for our kids’ teachers in these trying “work-to-rule” times. The focus of our dissatisfaction should be our State and Federal governments, not our teachers. Now more than ever, we need to make our teachers feel our deep appreciation for their commitment to educate our children under very trying circumstances.

I ask you to show your appreciation whichever way you can, for example, a few words or a short note, or notes to media, as well as helping out in the classroom or gifts, would make them feel that we care for their wellbeing.

This past week I have seen 3 communications (2 in the local Berkeley newspaper, one via email) by parents who have objected to the teachers’ “work-to-rule” stance. All have stated that they speak for many other parents. I beg to differ with their views and I too speak for many other parents of Emerson and Willard schools, where my kids’ go to school.

Concretely, one parent wondered why teachers should believe they’re entitled to benefits when he and many other salaried workers have seen their benefits reduced in their workplace. I strongly disagree with this logic—as it basically is asking all of us salaried workers to go for a least-common-denominator. I actually admire the teachers’ courage to tell the political system that the ongoing deterioration of schools cannot continue.

Another parent worried that the current teacher actions could compromise passage of the BSEP measure reauthorization next year. Again, I don’t agree with this causality statement. BSEP passage will depend on many factors. It is up to the community that avails itself of public education and those of us who believe strongly that it is a key element of keeping our social fabric together, to make a convincing case for reauthorization. If anything, our teachers’ action helps bolster the reauthorization by making it clear that our schools have a dire funding problem as State and Federal funds are inadequate.

Finally, I’d like to reiterate my belief that we need to focus our efforts on pressuring politicians to institutionalize improved State and Federal funding for public schools. Education is the key for our future. If our children cannot compete in a global workforce, and our economy tanks, who will pay for our social security and way of life? Will we be willing or even able to pay the higher societal costs (in social service programs and jails) that will ensue if more of our children cannot make an honest living nor sustain families because of inadequate schooling? Is it fair that local monies significantly alter the quality of the public schools? I urge you to pressure the State and Federal government to adequately fund our schools and to do so in a more equitable manner.

The core issue for me is that this is not about the BUSD. It is about education in this country. It is about not letting a group of people, continue to run this country into the ground as they have been doing over the past generation (both democrat and republican). Their actions are based on an ideology I don't agree with--that says no government is good government, that spending on wars is necessary, but on public schools is a waste of the public's taxes. Thus, rather than focus on our local problem, I commend these teachers (and others in California), that are saying "enough" to the ongoing deterioration of public funding for schools. It is absurd that PTA's have turned into supplemental funding sources for covering key teaching areas such as science, art, music, and P.E.

In the end, it is a question of priorities and vision as to what government is about. Those in government who will tell you that it is about making government lean and efficient forget that there are core public goods (education being a key one) that government must provide. Yes—it is those politicians deciding our schools’ budgets, not our teachers, whom we should be angry with.

Sincerely,

Rafael Friedmann