Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville) is the sponsor of state House legislation in Tennessee that will prohibit schools from entering into collective bargaining agreements with local teacher unions across the state. Maggart, who leads a nonprofit organization that links businesses with local schools, has proposed this bill because she believes that school boards should be able to negotiate directly with individual teachers.
A letter explaining her position is published after the jump.
Subject: Re: education
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:52:41 -0600
From: rep.debra.maggart@capitol.tn.gov
To: XXXXXX-XXXXXXXXX@hotmail.com
Hello ___,
Thank you for contacting my office. I understand that these ideas have upset you, but I ask that you keep an open mind.
I believe this issue is critically important in our efforts to instill vital reforms to our State's deteriorating education system.
While there is certainly a lot of heated rhetoric out there, the truth is my legislation is a pro-teacher bill that rewards achievement in the classroom and helps promote the best and the brightest in the educational field. By eliminating the collectivist authority of the unions that are trying to dominate, this bill serves the best interests of students, teachers, and school systems across our State.
This is not a bill that I arrived at overnight. In fact, much effort has been put in by my colleagues and me in ensuring we address the root causes of the problems our school systems are facing. As the child of a teacher, I know firsthand what they are facing on a daily basis. I am sensitive to the needs of our instructors and believe effective teachers are the greatest resource we have in providing a quality education to our students.
As a public servant, I have spent countless hours with education leaders all over Tennessee. In particular, I have met with teachers, union officials, local leaders, and other [sic] in attempting to determine a way we can meet the demands of educating the next generation. Unfortunately, our school systems have not had a willing negotiating partner when it comes to the state and local unions.
In the past, when I met with the Sumner County Education Association (SCEA), they have never talked to me about policies, curriculum, textbooks, or even the kids. Instead, they only hand me a demand list of the legislative points that directly benefit them and the political influence of their union. In effect, they are forgetting the students and failing in their role as their chief representative.
It is time for a new direction. I want to promote learning over the politics of teaching.
The evidence backs me up. In systems where the union does not have collective bargaining authority, student achievement is higher and teachers are rewarded at a higher rate. Teachers in those school systems have the ability to directly negotiate their contracts while continuing their ability to remain in an association and attend board meetings. This legislation empowers teachers and allows our State to bring willing partners to the table to advance the interests of our children. I sincerely believe that it is unfair to pay our high performing teachers the same as the poor performing teachers. Collective bargaining keeps you from being paid what you are worth.
I very much appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this issue. I hope you will join me in helping to move ahead with comprehensive and common sense reforms that will make Tennessee leader [sic] in quality education in the South.
Respectfully,
Debra Maggart
State Representative
45th District