‘Genuinely perplexed’ parent concerned about ‘probable’ Fresno teachers’ strike

I’m a parent concerned about the probable teacher’s strike in Fresno. I heard the district is willing to pay $500 a day for a substitute who’s underqualified and unprepared to cover for those who are qualified and prepared.

This communicates several things:

▪  the district doesn’t value their regular staff because they think they’re so easily replaceable

▪ ; the district thinks either that a sub is worth more than a regular teacher or they want to win the argument more than they want to be fiscally responsible

▪  and the district’s out of touch with what students really need in the classroom.

I can only sympathize with the Fresno Teachers Association. I hope the district will consider that what’s best for the students isn’t a hard-line attitude toward the people who serve in the classrooms, but a reasonable and wise dialogue that will ensure the teaching staff have all they need to teach without burning out.

I’m seriously doubting whether I’ll be sending my kids to school if there’s a strike. Unless, of course, someone can explain to me why my kids’ attendance should continue to provide funding for such hardheadedness. I am genuinely perplexed.

This story was originally published October 19, 2017 at 6:12 PM with the headline "‘Genuinely perplexed’ parent concerned about ‘probable’ Fresno teachers’ strike."