San Diego Unified Parent- Life At School

Emily Alpert of Voice of San Diego is the premiere education reporter in San Diego, and has written an article about Bill Freeman, the new president of the teacher’s union.  Read her article in full right here.

The most important quote from Freeman is right at the end:

And while [current President Camille] Zombro has at times been alienated from her opponents, most notably former Superintendent Terry Grier, Freeman added, “I do believe in getting close to your friends and closer to your enemies. Camille and I differ there.”

It’s more of the same folks- and maybe worse.  Mr Freeman categorizes the world into friends and enemies- the enemies, we assume due to the use of the plural, are not just the Superintendent but- well who knows, the school board?  Parent bloggers? While Freeman may fantasize being either Sun-tzu or Don Vito Corleone,  how does that help kids?

How are our children served by a person who sees the world in such clear terms as “friends and enemies”?  Is it beyond any shred of hope that we parents could expect a teacher’s union president to work WITH the school board and superintendent to move our district forward towards progress?

Truth is- children are obviously not a priority for the teachers union when negotiating with the district -Freeman’s “enemy”.  Children are just the innocent bystanders, caught in Freeman’s crossfire.

Next time the teacher’s union calls itself  ”partners” in education or “advocates” for children, remember the basic premise and attitude with which Freeman has taken the job.

What a disappointment.  Again.

Sun Tzu