Dover Teachers Union sends message that marginalizes students

Dover High School (Courtesy photo)

A recent Dover Teachers Union press release stated teachers "will no longer be volunteering their time for clubs, sports, events, and other after-school programs for which they are unpaid. Additionally, communications from teachers will be limited to contracted hours only". This policy will affect after school study and homework sessions.
In my opinion this action on the part of Dover teachers is setting a bad example and creating an even more toxic environment than already exists between the community, teachers, school board and union because of their refusal to participate in after school study and homework sessions designed to help students.
The message being sent is that they do not care about the learning loss or failure or success of the student. The message is harmful to our children and the community. Like every single household in Dover, the Teachers Union must set priorities and make cuts where they cause the least amount of harm to our children. If salary is number one - find other places to cut expenditures.
Sadly, the Teachers Union is needlessly turning teachers into public enemy number one. The union appears to have created an environment in which teachers' morale is sinking ever lower by focusing primarily on salaries in the budget to the exclusion of where cuts could be made to support an increase in salaries during a time when taxpayers who pay their salaries are experiencing the highest inflation in more than 40 years.
The big picture is that more and more children will become needy for food and support services in this economic environment if taxpayers are overburdened. Most residents of Dover support good teachers and look only for a compromise in such difficult and unusual times--EVERYONE (pardon the caps) has suffered during the past two years.
The suffering and financial hardships resulting from the pandemic continue as evidenced by the current inflationary rate of living costs. A joint sacrifice is required. Our children are the real victims. Teachers and children and parents were forced into an untenable posture of remote learning for an extended period of time. It is time to heal the pandemic wounds. The union must look at their budget as if they are head of a family running a household.

Cheryl Russell is a former high school teacher and 30-year employee with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. She lives in Dover.