Fifth in a series.
Re: “Mielke Sees Only One Fair Path”
Enough of courtrooms, says Teachers Union President David Mielke of the latest attempt to lengthen California’s teacher tenure laws.
“If the state legislators want to change the law, that is where it belongs,” he said.
“There is a bill now that is taking a second look at extending the probationary period from two years to three.”
Sacramento “is where these decisions should be made,” according to the Teachers Union leader.
“This going through the courts was not right,” Mr. Mielke said, his voice rising.
As for the plaintiffs in Vergara vs. California, whose plea was rejected last month by the state Supreme Court, “I think these people realized that the legislature in California is Democratic, as in the Democratic party,” Mr. Mielke said.
No sympathy there. The legislators and teacher unions ae historic allies.
Speaking slowly, deliberately for emphasis, “they realized they were not going to have any luck in changing the law.
“So, they decided, we will say some poor kid, that her civil rights are being violated by these provisions.
“I mean, it just did not make sense to me,” Mr. Mielke said.
“If you disagree with a law – I mean, it is a stretch to say that was some sort of Constitutional violation, that I am entitled to a hearing before they fire me.”
Mr. Mielke knows his side cannot rest and bask in the glow of the Supreme Court victory.
“These people will be back,” he said.
(To be continued)
