I agree with Senators Berger and Hunt. In my opinion this proposed walk out by teachers demonstrates that their first concern is not the children but the union and themselves. Willingness to break or disregard the law for self-interest purposes is a poor example for students and only serves to exacerbate our current National problem regarding non-enforcement of many laws. It is simply oxymoronic to claim to be a nation of law and at the same time disobey laws that happen to inconvenient. I do not fault teachers or the NCEA for wanting to express their discontent regarding salaries and other forms of compensation. That is their right. (In fact I would consider supporting their position in this regard when it is next visited by the NCGA.) But it is not their right to break North Carolina law and, in the process, set so poor an example for students to emulate. Civil disobedience when unchecked (when laws are not enforced) is a slippery slope toward anarchy. Just having a cause is not necessarily just and does not justify unjust acts. ----------------------------------- Sen. Berger & Sen. Hunt Statement below ----------------------------------- Berger, Hunt Statement on Planned Teacher Strike Asks what the Attorney General plans to do to protect student safety Raleigh, N.C. – At least one North Carolina elementary school is soliciting volunteers over the internet to watch students while teachers walk out of their classrooms to participate in a politically-motivated one-hour strike next week. And the North Carolina affiliate of the national teachers’ union has stated on record they “affirm the desire, and right, of educators to use tactics like a walk-out or strike” – a clear violation of North Carolina law. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and Sen. Neal Hunt (R-Wake) issued the following joint statement Wednesday after being contacted by concerned parents: “Schools have a duty to educate and protect our children, not serve as marching grounds for political protests orchestrated by unions. We are deeply disturbed the NCAE is encouraging teachers to turn their backs on their classrooms and leave their students in the care of strangers who may lack formal training and background checks. Things have reached a new low when a teachers’ union is willing to abandon its core responsibility and jeopardize student safety for its own gain. “As attorney general and our state’s chief law enforcement officer, Roy Cooper has an obligation to protect our children’s safety, and we look forward to his swift response.” Background: Below is the text of an email from a Raleigh elementary school’s PTA that was shared with the senators by a concerned parent: “Good afternoon. On Monday, November 4th, there will be a teacher walk-in at Lacy to demonstrate the importance of our teachers and public education in North Carolina. The PTA is working to provide classroom coverage that morning so that teachers can gather in the multi-purpose room with parents and other community members from 8am to 9am. Note that this will be broadcast on the televisions in the classrooms so that no one in the building will miss it. “We are in need of one (or two) parent volunteer to cover each of the 3rd – 5th grade classrooms from 7:45am – 9am on Monday morning. I am copying the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade room reps so that you are aware of this event, but you are not needed in the classroom since the teacher assistants will cover those grade levels. “For the 3rd – 5th grade room reps, please use the following SignUp Genius to sign up your volunteers so that we can ensure all rooms are covered on Monday morning.” signupgenius/go/10C0B4DA5A72FA13-parent ###
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:43:06 +0000
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