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This is an important reminder that teacher association endorsements are not always what they appear to be. Also, an important lesson to be mindful of what takes place in your children’s school. Sharing this Letter to the Editor.
Editor,
To say that many Carmel teachers were caught off guard by the announcement of the Carmel Teachers’ Association endorsement of (school board candidates) Jon Shapiro and Kristina Wheeler would be an understatement. Many CTA members were not even aware a “vote” was taking place, nor did they receive the opportunity to vote. Of the nearly 850-plus CTA members, only 307 (36 percent) even voted, and yet the endorsement was quickly portrayed to the public as a supermajority vote.
The Wheeler/Shapiro signs, along with the many social media posts suggesting the endorsement by teachers, are extremely misleading to the public considering the large number of teachers who do not support these candidates. This underhanded endorsement is just one of several examples of how CTA and CCS work behind closed doors.
Administration continuously claims to care about what is best for students, but in reality, administrators care much more about maintaining a positive public image on social media. Parents, please get to know what is really happening. Ask your kids about the fights, vandalism, threats and other behaviors they see happening in our schools. Because of the lack of consequences and discipline, these behaviors just continue to grow worse.
Parents who are voting for Wheeler/Shapiro because of concern over banning books from school libraries, we implore you to be more concerned with what is actually happening in our schools now. You should be far more troubled with the lack of discipline, safety issues and toxic culture that currently exists in Carmel schools. It is a culture so toxic that teachers are afraid to speak out due to repercussions.
Parents, please ask questions before voting. A vote for Wheeler/Shapiro is simply rubberstamping the continued downward spiral of Carmel Clay Schools.
Beth Straw, Carmel Clay Schools employee