Should Teachers Strike?

As most know by now, the teachers in the Huntley School District have gone on strike. The strike started Monday morning, Sept. 15.

Should teachers strike? No. NO! And NOOOOO!

Students belong in school, getting educated with the huge taxpayer dollars that are extracted from property owners.

The disruption in the lives of children, parents, teachers, and the businesses of employers is too great to permit strikes by teachers.

An agreement should have been reached long before now.

There is only a certain amount of money in the pot for education. One solution might be to tell the teachers' union: "This is how much money there is for teachers' salaries and benefits. You split it up. We expect teachers to be in the classroom, prepared and teaching. If they are not, we will replace them - permanently."

And then let the teachers duke it out with their union leaders.

When a mother (or father) must take time off from work to care for children who would otherwise be in school, why should an employer take it on the cuff? Employees not showing up for work should, at a minimum, be docked for the hours they miss. Then we'll see what kind of pressure gets put on the teachers and the school district to settle.

Parents should be demanding that BOTH sides sit down and resolve the issues. No breaks. Put them in a meeting room and lock the door. Send in food. Clean the purple potties. Tell them to wind it up.

And if they can't or won't. Bring in substitutes. There are hundreds of unemployed, qualified teachers anxious to work.