I don't want to go on strike; I don't

I don't want to go on strike. I don't. I'm the primary support for my family, and if I have to go on strike, I won't be able to make my bills. 

I don't want to go on strike. I don't. I teach AP and IB classes, and I don't want to miss time with my students. I will also teach an 11th grade section, and I don't want to miss time with them either. In fact, I cannot fathom a single teacher, paraprofessional, bus driver, secretary, or other school personnel thinking a strike is a great idea. None of us wants to miss time with our kids. I also don't want to lose precious days off to make up time lost from a strike. At my school, at least, the calendar is already out and parents are making plans for holidays/vacations. Should we strike and then have to make up those days, we will lose students to pre-made plans. 

I don't want to go on strike. I don't. Strikes require employees to make decisions that potentially divide one another. My school is like a family; we don't always get along, but we care about one another and support one another in tough times. I don't want there to be a division between those who choose to strike and those who don't. I also remember my sixth grade year when our teachers went on strike. We had substitute after substitute, none of whom knew a thing about what we were supposed to be doing. We weren't supposed to talk to our teacher, but we did anyway because we adored her. And none of us really understood then why our teachers were on strike. 

I don't want to go on strike. I don't. I, like many teachers, have a deep fear of losing my job. Of persecution by the district/board of education. I can't afford to lose my job. What else would I do? I've been a teacher since I was 23 years old, and I'm not sure what else is out there. Am I employable in any other field than education? I don't want someone deciding whether or not I can keep my job; I want to make that decision. I want to retire from teaching because I firmly believe in finishing what I start. I have about eight years remaining in education, and I want to leave on my terms. 

I don't want to go on strike. I don't. But I also don't understand why our district, our Board of Education as well, wants to destroy our schools, our morale, our teachers and support staff. Between the superintendent and his minions, and our board of education majority, they have demonstrated nothing but disdain and disrespect for teachers and support staff. They have perverted the notion of attracting the best teachers and retaining the ones already in place by consistently saying, "We want to attract and retain the best teachers," which implies our district is sorely lacking in 'best teachers.' Not only am I highly qualified, I am also highly effective. Am I not one of those 'best teachers'? Don't my years of experience and training count? Between the superintendent and the BOE majority, decisions are made that undermine our morale, such as giving the superintendent a raise but telling the rest of us there's no money to pay us. Or hiring new teachers at a greater rate of pay than some of our veteran staff makes. They also want to eliminate our bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and janitorial staff to bring in outside sources to perform the same jobs, but more cheaply. I imagine a greater turnover rate with bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and janitorial staff, which means greater instability for students and teachers. It's nice to know support staff. There's a camaraderie among us, the notion that we're all working for a greater purpose: students. Yet the BOE majority and superintendent want to destroy that. They also have disdain for students and have consistently demonstrated their disdain by bullying tactics, turning on the sprinklers, ignoring them when they try to speak to the board. In fact, attend a board meeting or watch a streaming of it to see what I mean. The two male board members never seem to pay attention to speakers as they are always writing, looking at the computers, or reading something in front of them. 

I don't want to go on strike, but I will. I am a hard-working professional, and I deserve to be treated as such. I will go on strike for my students, and my support staff colleagues. And I will strike for my colleagues who feel they can't or who won't so we are all treated respectfully. Our students deserve the best teachers and support staff, and we're already here!