Letters: Princeton Teachers Union Thanks Supporters

The Princeton Education Association (PREA) would like to thank the many parents, students, community members, and local businesses supporting us as we continue to seek a fair and equitable agreement with the Princeton Public Board of Education. We are truly fortunate to have such a strong and pro-public education community!

We are especially grateful to the following individuals and businesses for helping make the April 9th rally a success:

The parents and community members who showed up to stand with teachers and celebrate the Princeton Public Schools.

Ms. Shirley Satterfield, Princeton Public Schools parent, retired Princeton Public Schools guidance counselor, and well-respected community member, for speaking in support of the PREA members and on the importance of educators everywhere.

U.S. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman for generously providing a letter on behalf of the PREA that was read by Ms. Kari Osmond, District Director, office of the congresswoman.

PREA member, and Electric Stingray band member, Bryan McKenna for providing music.

Sarthak Parikh and the Princeton University Juggling Team for providing entertainment and juggling lessons.

Jazams for donating picture books for our book drive supporting Princeton Nursery School

And a special thank you to the following businesses for generously donating food and drink items to feed our rally participants:

Bai drinks, Bon Appetit, Dunkin Donuts, Hoagie Haven, House of Cupcakes, The Momo Brothers, Olives, Tico’s Eatery & Juice Bar, and Terhune Orchards.

With sincere gratitude,
Joanne Ryan
President, PREA

3 Comments

  1. I support the teachers – they do a great job . . . but I have little use for the teacher’s union who have generated most of the strife and conflict in this negotiation.

    The modest differential that the teachers will end up with after a year+ of blue t-shirts, vitriolic blaming, and feeling-sorry-for-themselves will be tiny compared to how much teachers pay in local, state and national union dues. Woe to the the teacher who expresses a dissenting opinion.

    Almost every teacher in the district and tens of thousands in other districts know that Princeton teachers do pretty well. Parents and taxpayers appreciate the quality we get from our schools. And the teacher’s union has very little to do with that.

    1. Do you have any factual information at all about how much teachers pay in union dues? Its too easy to express “vitriol” at unions, and easy to forget how difficult it is to advocate for oneself as an individual worker and how “management” generally exercises great power over workers. Sure, like any institution of any type that advocates for a collective interest of people, workers, environmental interests, safety, etc, etc, in opposition to the management interest of cost-cutting, there are bad apples & there are bad unions. Generally, though, workers are unfortunately too un-organized for collectively and not advocated for in our economy. And where is your factual support for the proposition that the teacher’s union has “very little” to do with how teachers are compensated? And I’m not saying Princeton should or is going to be able to give the teachers and the union everything they want in these negotiations, I think that side needs to compromise, too, I’m just saying that teachers are entitled to collective bargaining representation and I as one Princeton taxpayer do not begrudge them their union.

      1. Well said. I’ve never observed or experienced “vitriol” with the exception of the word being used in response to individuals expressing any semblance of passion around this issue. Putting down those who dissent or speak out with conviction is oppressive and not at all conducive to a healthy community.

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