Teachers’ Role in Education and the Tustin School Crisis

Four years ago, we bought a house in the Tustin Unified School District--choosing the area because of the quality of its schools.

We were delighted to have located such an excellent school system, and our experience over the last four years has exceeded our high expectations. We’re amazed at how many of our children’s teachers we just consider irreplaceable. They were that good.

Because the teachers are the heart of the school system, we’re deeply concerned that the acrimony surrounding contract negotiations must be terribly disheartening to them.

Whatever the fiscal realities, if they could be dealt with in an atmosphere of openness and rapport, resolutions could be found. Remember when Lee Iacocca sat down with Chrysler’s union leaders--and looked at those fiscal realities? They worked together for the success and survival of the company.

Certainly, the time has come for the administration and the teachers to swallow their anger and stop blaming the other side.

Blaming and reprisals only beget more blaming and reprisals--not the solutions we so urgently need.

We believe resolutions could be found if the participants had the heart and will to do so.

ROBERT MOORE

CHRISTINE MOORE

Tustin