For many, many years, all the way back to when I served on Cumberland’s school committee, I have tried to get across the point that it is not the lawyers who are the real problem within the General Assembly. It is the number of teachers, school principals, educators, administrators and those from within unions that are affiliated with them that are bankrupting us with their self-serving, costly legislation and mandates.
While it may appear, on the surface, an excellent idea to send good old Bob, Mary or Jane, educators from our local school system, to Providence to do all of what they espoused they would do once they got there – truth be known, this select group (there are, today, approximately 26 of them between the House and Senate) have overseen, introduced and passed some of the most costly, self-serving legislation of just about any state in the Union. And, in many instances they have covertly had this done for them by legislators that they have in their back pockets.
Examples of the never-ending abuses abound. Take the recently reintroduced legislation for binding arbitration for teachers that was on the table last week. It would be interesting to see how all the legislators who are educators, school administrators and union lackeys with ties to the teachers’ unions voted on it.
The time has long since come and gone to recognize the fact that what a person does for a living needs to be taken into consideration if they run for office. History has shown that first and foremost, no matter what they promise during the campaign, they are first and foremost in this for themselves and their peers, and not the kids.
“When school children start paying dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.” – Albert Shanker, former president of the American Federation of Teachers.
“The major purpose of our association is not the education of children. It is or ought to be the extension and/or preservation of our members’ rights. We earnestly care about the kids’ learning, but that is secondary to the other goals.” – Mary Hatwood Futrell, former president of the National Education Association.
May I point out that once these so-called legislators from within the educational lobby are elected, lawyers, insurance-industry types and others often alleged to represent special interests cannot hold a candle to the educators for self-serving behavior.
In conclusion, I would strongly suggest that every voter in this state who has an elected official from within the educational lobby (I, unfortunately, have both a representative and a senator) very closely peruse their voting records so they can see the kinds of legislation they really promulgate, support and vote for. In addition, voters should carefully watch what legislation they keep very quiet on versus the legislation they try to do a smoke and mirror show on us with all of their press releases, brochures and campaign literature. •
Tom Letourneau is a retired auto industry executive and a three-term member of the Cumberland School Committee.
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