It’s Time to Free Pennsylvania Teachers

This op-ed is written by Julie Raab, a teacher in Dauphin County and originally appeared in PennLive on August 30, 2015.

After almost 30 years as an elementary school teacher and librarian in Central Dauphin School District, I still love the start of the school year.

Teaching, you could say, is a natural fit for me. My father was a teacher, and as the oldest of four children, I grew up taking care of my younger siblings.

Like most teachers, I entered the profession eager to make a difference. And joining the teachers' union was a natural step. After all, that's what teachers do, and unions, in return, exist to help us be the best educators possible.

At least, that's what we're told.

Unfortunately, the truth is much different. Teachers' unions today have strayed so far from their original mission that instead of protecting us, teachers often need protection from their union.

It shouldn't be this way.

Click here to read the rest of this article on PennLive.