Mailbag: Union politics are harming the teaching profession

Union politics are harming the teaching profession

Brian Crosby makes interesting points about public school working conditions and pay possibly leading to a teacher shortage. (“Paying teachers more would reduce pending shortage,” Oct.18).

If pay were the issue, why do Newport-Mesa Unified School District long-term substitute teachers work for $115 a day without benefits, and private school teachers work for less than their public counterparts?

Pay is not the issue. As Mr. Crosby notes, education bureaucrats mandate Common Core standards, curriculum and testing with little input from teachers (and none from parents). Why are public teachers unions allowing federal “educrats” to take over local education? Teacher unions have become big political machines that advocate for agendas that often have little to do with teaching and are not supported by their members.

There are many fantastic teachers in public education, but public teaching has become a union job instead of a profession. Teachers are paid the same, regardless of results and productivity. Poor teachers are not dismissed, they are transferred. Transferring is so common it is known as “the dance of the lemons” or “the turkey trot.”

The California Teachers Association (CTA) even fought legislation to facilitate firing teacher sex offenders, as in the Los Angeles Unified School District Miramonte scandal. CTA is one of the largest donors in California politics, so its appetite for union dues predominates all else.

Until teachers unions stop playing politics, and start representing their members and fighting the federal takeover of education that is Common Core, many bright, motivated college graduates will look to other vocations.

Jeff Arthur

Costa Mesa

*

I am being awoken by JWA flights

As a reporter in Laguna Beach for almost 30 years, I have written numerous stories about low-flying commercial airplanes out of John Wayne Airport, periodically bombarding the city with noise, beginning with the closing of the El Toro Marine Air Base.

The low flights reportedly save fuel and time as the flights do not go out so far out over the ocean before turning back over land, resulting in lower altitudes reached before flying over Laguna.

Complaints by the city and its residents were ignored by airport and FAA officials early on. Each episode of noisy, polluting low flights eventually stopped, at least for time, only to begin again.

As happened in the past, the recent low flights started sporadically and then increased, probably because of no public outcry.

However, for more than a week now, I have been awakened at 7:10 a.m. by the early flight out of John Wayne Airport. The low flights continue throughout the day and into the night.

People who object to the unnecessary low flights should contact City Council members and also complain to airport and FAA officials.

The number for the John Wayne Airport Noise Office is (949) 252-5185. Emails may be sent to [email protected].

To complain to the FAA about low-flying aircraft, call the local Flight Standards District Office in Long Beach at (562) 420-1755. Press “0” and ask for the Operations Officer on Duty.

Barbara Diamond

Laguna Beach

The writer used to report for the Coastline Pilot, the Daily Pilot’s affiliate in Laguna Beach.