Truth. Both my kids had to do 5th and 8th grade from home. It was a disaster, especially for my daughter the next year when she walked into Algebra class as a 9th grader. Closing schools for a year + was a terrible mistake.

And rightfully so. Public sector unions losing power will be great for this city.

I'm also fascinated by it as a case study in one of California's major failure modes of in-the-weeds, highly technical poor policy decisions in the form of pension assumed investment return numbers. I worry we won't reckon with this contributor.

Yes, and AI has fundamentally altered the information space. SFUSD parents can now easily understand the unsustainable fiscal path the unions have pushed on our school district

Yep this is the real talk my friends in that world do not want to hear, and I have a lot of empathy for teachers, because I have so many friends who are teachers. But the union admin and the growth of admin across the board in our schools is a freaking problem. And just like the rest of governance in blue states we stopped focusing on the basics. And you can still be a liberal and say that.

I'm surprised that some enterprising SF politician hasn't tried to be strongly anti-teacher strike. Seems like parents would welcome it.

I seena few "moderate" (i.e. borderline Republican) parents but the vast majority of those at our school are blaming the district administration/superintendent for this strike. Other than in online forums I haven't heard people blaming teachers for the pandemic closures either

I promise you that EVERY parent of a preschooler is SF is watching what is happening right now and deciding if this is the future they want for their family

i'm always happy to share stories if it will be helpful in any publicity campaigns. parents need to know how deep and how far back the rot goes -- while students and society suffers

They don't realize it yet, but the crisis is near.

💯

Our teacher neighbor & husband left for Maui 1st day of strike - post every day ask neighbors to support strike & “stand w/ teacher on picket line” all while post pic of her & husband on beach / ocean

Nothing. They have parents by the throat. Most can't afford to avoid public schools. And politicians are not even hiding that they'll throw money at failed systems no matter what - long as they hit a handful of hot-button issues (schools are not one) the vote is in their pocket.

The largest districts in CA have been on a self-destructive path for many years, even before the pandemic, and it has shown up in declining enrollment. (Various economic and demographic trends also contributed, but deteriorating instructional environments played a big part.)

Actually, parents have moved on from pandemic closure bitterness. San Francisco remains a union town.

Teachers unions need to bleed out and suffer a slow agonizing bankruptcy and be removed from the face of the earth

They need to stop promising pensions right away. 401ks do better as the pension fund often makes poor investments. Also not sure why you get a pension if you only work 10yrs. The pension system is very broken

Good time to push radical changes that focus on outcomes for students not dollars for unions. Teachers should be rewarded for great outcomes.

School district and government employees have no shame. They make more than non government workers with very lucrative benefits. "SFUSD teachers' salaries range from $79,468 to $131,654 annually, with the average likely falling between these figures based on experience and education."

Interesting unintended impact: as this carries on, the more eyes nationally will look at this. Will be terrible optics as Newsom makes his plans for DC. Because as of yet, he hasn't said word one. Must not have cell coverage/internet in Germany.

Yep. Prior to Covid I was hardcore supporter

all the people who are mad at teachers seem to work at companies with terrible reputations, wonder if there is a connection

Yep. Still a lot of anger towards the union by parents who saw the rest of the country return to classrooms before their kids.

It’s going to be interesting if this manifests as a political liability for CALPERs funding in the future.

They should use the money that they would’ve donated to politicians to pay their wages, and they need to balance their books and cut their pens @HJTA @reason @EDSecMcMahon @DeAngelisCorey @DavidSacks @garrytan @GroverNorquist

There won’t be teachers in 1-2 decades. They may be obsolete in 1-2 years.

Great observation. Agree.

Why would there be any alliance? Teacher's union has zero interest in educating our children. It's a political progressive organization whose primary goals are fund raising and support of progressive politics.

Politically hopefully people will vote yes on vouchers.