L.A. Teachers Work to Improve Schools
Re “Don’t Flunk This Test,” editorial, Oct. 4: The Times recognizes the shortage of qualified teachers in L.A. schools but advocates “teaching” the school unions who’s boss by tearing up our contracts, wholesale firings and keeping the survivors on short leashes. Bashing teachers is meant to drive away “bad” ones. In fact, it only makes it harder to recruit and retain the best and brightest.
The United Teachers-Los Angeles won’t let the Los Angeles Unified School District flunk. Earlier this year the UTLA negotiated a contract with Supt. Roy Romer that raised salaries, and today the LAUSD is competing successfully against other districts to recruit and retain fully credentialed teachers. The UTLA is now lobbying in Sacramento for a statewide construction program so that every LAUSD student can have a clean and safe classroom and so new teachers get enough training before taking their place at the head of a class. And the UTLA has helped more than 400 LAUSD teachers earn national board certification--the most of any district in the nation.
Day Higuchi
President, UTLA
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
