This page is dedicated to teachers; there are several facts that the general public should understand.

Providing the correct solution will show that we respect their time in the classroom. It will allow them to spend their time teaching children and less time solving the basic needs of some children. All too often the teacher needs to intervein when a child basic needs are not met, for example lack of clothing or food.

Teachers are:
• My hero’s (personal I know, but it is my page)
• Highly educated, and independent.
• Most have a calling to do the job. Seriously I have two kids and have no idea how someone can deal with more than that.

That said they are represented by a trade union which is their right. The union is beneficial in many instances, such as providing insurance, contract negotiations, and support in a disagreement with management. A well-managed trade union is advantageous to all parties. It provides an avenue for the school administration to deal with employees in a professional manner and ensures the members a respectful road to deal with management.
It is also essential to understand that there are two entities when dealing with a union, the teachers and the union management. They are not always in lockstep.

In this case, Solving the Achievement Gap, I don’t believe that teachers are in lockstep with their union.

Education Minnesota (is the teacher union) ‘supporting Teachers and Students,’ so let’s look at their moniker,
• Does ‘Education Minnesota, supporting both teachers and students’ really describe what this organization does or is it deliberately deceptive, because it is really the Teachers Union, and why aren’t they proud of that
• Teachers pay over $1,000 a year to support the union; they are the stakeholder.
• Education Minnesota (the teacher union) does not seem to acknowledge the latest research from leading universities when explaining their position.

If this union, in fact, supports both teachers and students how do they deal with;
Situations where a teacher and a student have a disagreement. Do they pick the teacher, because dues come from the teacher or do they choose the student?

Universal Pre-Kindergarten does not serve the union membership as much as it helps the union management, in my opinion. The opportunity to add 5,700 or more new members may be very intriguing to union management, rather than actually improving the classroom experience for teachers and students.

Conflicting Job Numbers
“the plan’s requirement that pre-K teachers be state-licensed by 2020 (a predicted 2,849 licensed teachers would be needed”  (https://www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/2015/05/12/minnesota-shows-the-next-front-in-the-universal-preschool-fight)

In the ‘One Page’ document from their web page, they suggest a ratio of 10:1 is necessary. Fifty-seven thousand students would require 5,700 teachers.

Class size capped at 20 and student/staff ratios capped at 10:1.
https://educationminnesota.org/EDMN/media/edmn-files/advocacy/EPIC/EPIC_UPK_One-Pager.pdf

The full “Epic Report” on this topic can be accessed at:
https://educationminnesota.org/EDMN/media/edmn-files/advocacy/EPIC/EPIC-UPK-Report.pdf

We believe the foundation of a child’s education starts in the first three to five years of life. While the first three years are the most critical, the next two are necessary to shield the children from toxic stress. When society steps in where needed, your time in the classroom would be significantly improved.

FYI both UPK and the scholarship model would create jobs.

This is your union, so if I were so bold I would suggest:
• If you support UPK do nothing
• If you agree the problem is with impoverished families
• Call your union and express your frustration
• Call your legislator or the candidate and let them know how you feel.