Sixth in a series. 

Re: “Mielke Says His Side Cannot Relax”

As the longtime president of the Teachers Union in Culver City, David Mielke instinctively recognizes threats, a requirement in his position.

After a state Supreme Court decision last month ended the heavily publicized Vergara vs. California case in defeat for the plaintiffs, Mr. Mielke sighed temporary relief because he saw a hidden agenda.

“These people will be back,” he said. “Their interest is not in helping public education. Their interest is in weakening unions.

“They have not succeeded in any meaningful way in California, but elsewhere it is different. Take Wisconsin, which became a right-to-work state. Teachers in Wisconsin can’t even bargain collectively anymore.”

Mr. Mielke believes the threat is massive, nationwide.

“This is part of a privatization, anti-union, a movement that says ‘we’re-gonna-change-private-education-into-charter-schools, we are going to weaken unions, and we are going to do it all in the name of we’re helping kids.’”

A positive outcome is impossible, in Mr. Mielke’s view.

“The reality is that, if they succeed, it will lead to a two-tiered system,” he said. “The wealthy kids will select charter schools. The minority kids will end up in underfunded public schools.

“The Supreme Court’s decision is an important one for public education,” Mr. Mielke holds. “It just says ‘No, no, no, having some rights for teachers is crucial, especially because we are looking at a huge teacher shortage coming up.’”

(To be continued)