Union Letter Produces a ‘Hanging Curveball’

To the Editor:

While forcing myself through Paul J. Phillips’ Feb. 28, 2007, letter to the editor, I nearly fell out of my chair when I got to this unwitting invitation for ridicule, wherein he asks: “Why is it that no one explains why a teacher, forcibly assigned to a school he or she did not want, will suddenly bring fabulous results?” Does anyone else see it—that hanging curveball waiting to be knocked out of the park? Just substitute the word “student” for “teacher.”

I’ll bet Mr. Phillips, the local union president, would like to take that one back. Besides the obvious benefit of choosing one’s school, there is deeper meaning to his statement in that he was oblivious to the double standard. His consideration of students’ needs ranks so far below that of the teachers he represents that they never entered his mind. Or does he actually believe that some people are more equal than others? Doesn’t anyone read Animal Farm anymore?