Dear {un}beloved CA Teachers Assn:

I'm sure the news is widespread by now...here's an LA Times article detailing the sad, but true reality that the California Teachers' Association donated ONE MILLION, yes...you read it right, one million dollars to the Prop 8 opposition. In an effort to 'show them' across California today, many students decided to stay home and not report their absence with an 'excuse' so as to make a statement...a large financial statement to the school--those schools will lose the money that they otherwise would have received for an excused absence. We received the email after the kids already were in school, otherwise, they would have stayed home in support of Prop 8 and perhaps joined others at the beach along the roadside displaying with pride their Prop 8 signs.   This is an email I wrote to the CTA...I also called and left it on a voicemail.  Yup, I'm one little voice, but this hits home for me.

TO THE CTA:

Shame on you.

Shame on you for your position on Prop 8. Shame on you because your position in fact HURTS our children and the family unit.  Shame on you for putting an exhorbanent amount of money towards an issue that not every teacher believes is best for our state, our schools our families, and our children.  Shame on you for standing against something that in fact takes away freedoms and civil rights to teach our OWN children what we believe to be a fundamental right to have both a Mom AND a Dad.  Couldn't the money have been used to better our children by enhancing their learning experiences in a productive manner with more funds for academics?  Shame on you--this is a social issue about Religious freedom.  You are obviously mis-informed about the issues.  Shame on you for using union funds to push your social agenda and help a cause that will in fact be detrimental to our schools, our children and our society as a whole if Proposition 8 DOES NOT PASS.  The human dignity and civil rights of ALL Children and youth are NOT being protected and secured if this proposition does not pass.  This proposition is not an attack on gays and lesbians.  It does not change the fact that gays and lesbians will still have rights in a civil union.  But this does affect the very core of every family in our society.

SHAME ON YOU!

Does the CTA really exist to better the teaching environment for teachers and students?  I believe after this blatant cry for attention, that the CTA, in fact, DOES NOT exist to better the environment for our teachers and students.  You had better change your mission statement to reflect your latest actions.  

SHAME ON YOU!