Independence requires courage, conviction, and a clear vision. In a letter to his wife on July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote: “Through all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and glory; I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that posterity will triumph.” Just as our founders declared their independence for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, parents today must declare their independence from the teachers’ union control of our schools.
Over the past four years, with our public schools falling into decay, the culprit of this malaise is beginning to come into relief. Teachers’ unions have overstepped their mandate of advocating for the pay, benefits, and working conditions of their members. They claim to speak for students, teachers, and the community at large. The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), enjoying exclusive negotiating privileges afforded to no other entity, demands the largest say in the $3.32 billion MCPS budget. Petulant, MCEA interrupted County Council meetings and held protest marches for “fully funding” MCPS, even when the FY25 budget was a $147 million (4.6%) increase over FY24. It demanded a $10 million special appropriation from the County Council without the public first receiving a report from the Office of Legislative Oversight. Intense scrutiny over the budget is necessary. However, parents and all Montgomery County taxpayers should be the principal stakeholders in determining how funds are used towards rebuilding academic excellence in MCPS.
Acting as self-proclaimed arbiters of what is best for students and teachers, teachers’ unions were instrumental in closing and keeping schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. They forced students into virtual learning, causing significant learning loss. Despite parents’ petitions warning of emotional, physical, and social harm, MCPS remained closed for nearly 18 months, the longest school lockdown in the country. Chronic absenteeism now afflicts nearly all our schools. Reading and math scores dropped precipitously despite thousands of hours dedicated to tutoring. Literacy readiness dropped 35% for second graders year over year from 2018-2019 to 2020-2021. Math readiness for fifth graders was down 25%. Literacy for Black second graders decreased by 38%. Hispanic second graders had a 46% drop. At Kennedy High School, only 9% of students meet math proficiency standards. While we welcome small improvements in scores, parents must remember the role MCEA and union-endorsed Board members played in causing this decimation of our students’ learning.
MCEA also threatened the safety of our children by promoting Restorative Justice practices and supporting the removal of School Resource Officers (SROs) from our school buildings since 2013, once again operating beyond its commission. It follows the directives of the National Education Association, as seen in contract negotiations with MCPS in 2022. Since the removal of SROs, teachers anonymously reported major fights at Clarksburg High School, a student was arrested for bringing a loaded gun to Gaithersburg High School, another student was charged with threats of mass violence at Wootton High School, and there was a violent brawl at an MCPS football game. A Kennedy High School teacher testified before the Board of Education about rampant vaping and drug activity, quoting a police officer who referred to the school as an “open-air drug market.” Knife-wielding vandals have easy access to campus. Students have overdosed on campus, as the county has experienced a 120% increase in youth fatal overdoses.
Parents, the data is clear—Restorative Justice and the Community Engagement Officer models don’t work. They put our children’s safety at risk. We know that SROs serve as mentors and role models to our students. We know that their presence in our schools was a positive contributor to school safety and the learning environment. MCEA’s silence was deafening as the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP) and the Fraternity of Police Lodge 35 fought to retain the SRO program. Yet, MCEA chose to ignore their pleas. By doing so, MCEA disregarded the reality of rising school violence and asked us—parents—to ignore the evidence of our eyes and ears.
Thomas Jefferson believed an educated citizenry was essential for self-government. “Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories. And to render even them safe, their minds must be improved to a certain degree.” Today, public education is in peril. Parents must stand up and send a clear message to teachers’ unions—it does not speak for us and will not control our schools. The will of the people, not unions or special interests, must drive public education. Our children’s future and the future of our nation depend on us.
Brenda M. Diaz is a candidate for MCPS Board of Education and veteran educator with over 2 decades of experience teaching across various educational settings, from preK to 12, ESOL to AP. She served as an administrator, presented at regional conferences & coached JV Softball at Gaithersburg HS. Raised in The Bronx by Puerto Rican parents, she benefited from a gifted program that led her to graduating from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, earning a Master’s from George Washington University and becoming a James Madison Memorial Fellow. A passionate life-long learner, her students benefit especially from her love of American history and international studies.
