Wendy,

I don't think anyone likes teacher strikes, perhaps least of all the teachers. Unfortunately, the strikes are a symptom of larger problems, and you can't cure a disease merely by treating its side effects.

Before we get into a lengthier discussion on strikes, I think it's important to remember why teachers strike. Under PA law, in order to for parties to enter into mandatory arbitration, the teachers must strike for a certain number of days. Simply put, the teachers have no means of forcing the board to even hear an objective third-party opinion without striking. That's why we're in the situation we are.

The problem with Metcalfe's bill is that it's designed more to win elections than it is to fix problems with our education system. Sure, saying strikes should be illegal is nice, but we need more substantial reform that considers the larger picture. Merely eliminating the right to strike takes the final negotiation chip off the table for teachers. What leverage would teachers have in a district like South Butler, where the board has shown little regard for professional quality?

The PA legislature's job is to do more than tip the balance of the negotiation table unfairly towards school districts. It's to ensure that all students have equal access to a quality education. Eliminating teacher strikes, without any other reforms, has much more potential to harm the quality of education in smaller, rural schools (most of Metcalfe's district) that will not be able to attract better teachers in the future.

One fact you won't hear from Metcalfe is that our schools receive $1000 less per student annually than the statewide average. Why has he spent so much time and so many taxpayer dollars focusing on the narrow goal of eliminating teacher strikes, rather than more direct and substantial improvements for our children's education? After all, he has served on the Education Committee for years; supposedly that's where he'd have the most influence on these issues. Bear in mind, I'm not criticizing the ostensible purpose of Metcalfe's bill, merely his true motivation for introducing it (to win votes). Real reform lies in broader initiatives that address all components of education: teachers, students, boards, administrators, parents, and the larger community.

Besides, if Metcalfe couldn't get his bill passed after 10 years of trying and serving on the Education Committee, what makes anyone think he ever will? He's ineffective, and plain bad at the job we pay him (much better than teachers) to do. Like the tenured, but incompetent, teachers that you and I agree deserve the boot, it's past time Metcalfe was replaced with someone who can do the job.