So by now you have probably heard that the teachers in my district voted to go on strike last week. This has been an enlightening week, to say the least. If you have been following the news at all, I am sure you have some sort of opinion on the subject. Tonight, I a feeling a little bit anxious about the whole thing so I thought I would share my opinion.
First and foremost you should know that I DID NOT want to go on strike. Throughout the summer, I heard rumblings that the contract negotiations were going less than swimmingly and that it wasn't looking likely that we would have a contract in place by the start of school. Still, I was hopeful and confident that I would not vote to strike. The night before school started, I left Open House (having just met all of my eager new kindergarteners) for the fateful meeting. As I learned more information about the contract items still on the table and the actions of the district administration, I knew that my mind was changing. Tears streamed down my face as I checked the "Yes" box on my strike ballot. As I thought about the short term affects of the strike, I worried about disappointing the kids and paying my mortgage but as I thought of the long term affects of having to live with the terms of the contract the district was proposing, I knew I had chosen the lesser of the two evils.
The vote that night fell short and I got to spend the first 6 days of the school year with a great group of kids before we voted again. This time, there was no mistake. 87% of the teachers in my district had voted to strike.
When I headed to the picket line Tuesday morning, I didn't know what to expect. What I found were new friends, old friends, sore feet and community support (as well as a few choice fingers from the classiest of Tacoma citizens) . As the days have gone by, a lot has happened. The district has had no problem portraying us as the bad guys. We were ordered by a judge to return to work. Most of us didn't go. We have seen the students and parents of Tacoma rally around us in an unexpected way. I will never forget walking out of a meeting in the Tacoma Dome to a tunnel of 500 (give or take a couple 100...you know me and estimates) kids chanting, "We support our teachers! We support our teachers!" The staff that I work with have become closer in 4 days on the picket line than the past 4 years in our own classrooms.
Tomorrow, I head back out to the picket line for what I hope to be my last day of civil disobedience. I am as anxious as anyone to get back to work. But I am also proud of myself and my fellow teachers for doing not what is easy (as if 6.5 hours with 21 5-year-olds is a piece of cake), but what is right. We are doing the right thing for ourselves, our profession and our students. I know there are people who would like to see us sent to jail, fined, and fired as if we are some sort of organized crime ring that is denying children their education. To them I say relax. Your child will get their education. I can appreciate the hardship this is causing for families. Believe me when I say that we want to be in the classroom just as much as the kids do. Your child's education is important to us too. But sometimes, when you have the chance, it is important to stand up for what you know is right.
