To be honest, as a teacher and parent of two children with identified special needs, when I first heard the idea that a cap on IEP students was discriminatory I thought this group was really missing the point. Yes in it’s own way it is but it was also an attempt to do better by those students we do have in our classes. However I am also not going to take the position that it is a panacea or that things can’t be done better. If there are better methods out there then I, and I hope my union, would be happy to hear them. We likely do need to be more sympathetic to your position

However if we are to work collaboratively there are some ways this organization may need to become more sympathetic to the needs of teachers. I’ll speak directly to two of your recommendations.

First is #4. An immediate return to work with no further disruption is only in the students best interest if the government agrees and demonstrates a genuine commitment to whatever process will accomplish the goal. Teachers just going back to work means that the interests of the students you speak for, the ones you will speak for in the future, and teachers will likely not be met. It would mean the government could just say “see the schools are open” and we would return to business as usual with the current less than adequate situation continuing.

My second concern is the idea that all additional funding increases go into returning staffing. While this would of course benefit teachers as well as students it requires teachers to allow their interests to again be sidelined. As your statement noted teachers gave up salary increases to gain class size limits and this was then taken from us. What you are expecting is teachers to pay for these improvements twice. It cost us the first time, ultimately with no benefit, and now we are to start from scratch and put off the needs of our own families a second time until you are satisfied. I understand that my point violates your starting point of putting kids first but to me your position is a slap in the face to teachers and treats them as if they had no interests other than serving children.

Those who disagree with teachers often say we are using the kids but there are times such as this were I feel students are used as a bargaining chip against me. If I am not willing to give and only gain by meeting the needs of the other “partners”, I, by your position statement, don’t put children first and therefore am somehow unworthy of the support of parents of students with special needs.