Predictably, the only aspect of the reform package they challenged was the portion allowing parents to take their children to other private schools that can do the job the public education establishment is not doing. Admitting that they can't do the job, the education establishment has circled the wagons of self-preservation. The arrogance of the education establishment in this regard is best illustrated by the argument made by Bob Chanin, NEA general counsel, during court arguments before Judge Smith. Rarely are teachers heard from in matters such as these. In some respects, that is no surprise.
Teachers are professionals with jobs to do and families to feed.
They are no more interested in being public figures than most other people. However, there is another reason. It has been publicly documented by the press in our state that teachers who disagree, as do we, with our elected school board employers and bargaining representatives are subject to reprisals from principals, administrators and their unions. However, we respectfully decline to sit on the sidelines here while a hopeful reform effort is skewered by special interests. Our perspective speaks for itself.