Published 5-20-2023, Sun Sentinal
In a recent opinion piece (“DeSantis offers a lesson in freedom”), state Rep. Spencer Roach, of North Fort Myers, would have you believe that crippling teacher unions teach students about freedom.
On the contrary, Roach provides a perfect example of the level of deception and doublespeak by state leaders to fool Floridians into thinking they are protecting our freedoms when in fact they are increasing restrictions on freedom. Don’t believe a word of their propaganda.
If kids in Florida are learning about freedom, it’s because they’re learning what it isn’t. When books are banned, it’s not freedom. When certain populations such as Blacks or LGBTQs or immigrants have their history rewritten or erased, that is not freedom. When parents are prevented from making health choices for LGBTQ or pregnant children, that is not freedom.
When teachers are muzzled, academic courses or programs are banned, and mainstream news is vilified for reporting truths about the lawmakers who are perpetuating these egregious actions, that is not freedom. The effort to incrementally cripple, then eliminate teacher unions, does not secure freedom for students or teachers.
Rep. Roach and others like him want you to believe that teacher unions insert a “wedge’ between teachers and students. On the contrary, unions keep teachers abreast of national data, trends and best practices while providing them with access to professional development, salary equity, job security, safe working conditions, resources and benefits through collective bargaining.
Further, he would have you believe teachers are tricked into paying for a membership they don’t want. Not true. Teachers in Palm Beach County must actively opt-in for membership at a clearly identified fee and provide written authorization for payroll deduction. They can opt-out.
Why are lawmakers so aggressive in limiting access to unions? Because by doing so, they can ignore teacher salaries and working conditions; reduce or change benefits; fire teachers for making remarks related to race, gender or diversity at the request of a single parent; and jeopardize the future of public education by providing vouchers for all students, all without being challenged by a union.
Ignore the propaganda. If ever there were a time for teachers to join a union, this is it.
Mary Mertz, West Palm Beach
