As the new school year nears, the teachers in our public school system still do not have a new, fair and affordable contract. WHY?
There is absolutely no logical or justifiable reason for the Department of Education and the United Federation of Teachers to still not have an agreement regarding a new contract. Why are both sides dragging their feet? It seems that Chancellor Dennis Walcott and UFT president Michael Mulgrew cannot agree on anything tangible. They had better get their act together and sit down to do some hard bargaining.
Teachers work extremely hard, and they do it under a plethora of conditions: overcrowded classes, disruptive students, lack of essential teaching materials, unsupportive administrators and some parents who are not very cooperative are several factors that teachers much face in the classroom each and every day.
It is time for them to be given a fair and affordable contract. Let’s stop all of the stalling and get a contract – now.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
