Don't read this if you like Unions.

What have your experiences been with your union?

Friedrichs: When I was a student teacher in 1987, I was being trained by an outstanding master teacher, but next door to us was a teacher who had become, in my opinion, abusive to her little first graders. I would witness every day as she would be lining them up outside the classroom. She’d grab them by the arms, she’d yank them over, she’d yell right in their faces. I asked my master teacher, “What can we do about this awful situation?” She sat me down and she said, “Today is your lesson on the teachers union.” She told me about tenure and that districts really struggle to rid themselves of these teachers. And I was shocked.

At that point I was really soured on union representation.

In my third or fourth year of teaching, the whole idea of vouchers came up here in California. We had to go to mandatory staff meetings, and during those meetings the union would come in and basically tell us how they want us to vote and be boots on the ground for their side of the campaign. They came in telling us about the evils of vouchers.

I started studying up on it.

At the next staff meeting, they were passing the paper around to sign up for phone banking and going door to door. When it came to me, I tried to be respectful. I said I’m leaning toward vouchers, they might be a good idea.

My union rep right there in front of everybody called me a radical right winger for daring to not stand against vouchers. I was trying to follow my conscience and I was abused for that. That whole school year I was shunned and treated like a second-class citizen....

Darkhorse, you forgot one word ..so let me help you finish the sentence ..."Unions are only as good as their members dues".

There ..that sound better and more factual ....