IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, SMEAR 'EM
NAPTA BULLETIN - 6/12/02 - UNIONS
With Allies like this it's no wonder
teachers are abused!
As NAPTA researches why teacher abuse is so prevalent all over our nation, we have come to
realize that our Unions facilitate teacher abuse. Nearly every member who has consulted with
us has mentioned being anywhere from let down to sabotaged by his or her Union. Even those who
have been supported have had suspiciously bizarre interactions along the way that suggest
something is awry. Unions have looked the other way while hearing records disappeared and
have advised teachers to accept settlements and gag orders even when they included
relinquishing teachers' constitutional rights. In fact, the reason it has taken so long for a
group like NAPTA to form is that the majority of teachers with severe grievances against their
districts are led down the path of silence, ignoring the fact that silence buys districts the
ability to abuse again.
Furthermore, I know in my particular case, the Union did absolutely nothing to assure that my
colleagues would not become victims of fabricated charges, as I had. If they really cared
about teachers, wouldn't they want to analyze how a district was able to violate a teacher's
rights and then construct roadblocks against this happening again? It is mighty suspicious
that the Union has left all the weapons used against me intact for the district to use in the
future when simple additions to their contract could prevent further violations. Not one Union
leader has contacted me for information as to how my district managed to violate my rights me
even after the former uni-serve director testified that they did violate me in retaliation for
filing a federal lawsuit against them. If the Union were in charge of protecting our country
the way they protect our teachers, they would probably be offering scholarships for Al Quada
members to attend US flight schools at this time.
Lately, we have noted the following Union issues that are disconcerting:
Maine Education Association Takes Bold Step to Address Member Concerns.
In April, the Maine Education Association (MEA) had three members arrested for refusing to
leave a Union board meeting. The district attorney refused to file charges and the members
were released, but the incident exposed a continuing discontent among several locals about how
the state association was conducting its business. Faced with criticism from local presidents,
a growing bloc of dissident activists and terrible press, the MEA went into last month's
representative assembly needing to address the issue. And it did. In the long tradition of
bureaucratic organizations everywhere, MEA courageously stepped forward and... formed a
committee. The committee's mission is to "address apparent divisions within the MEA." No word
on whether committee members would also be subject to arrest by order of the Union president.
EIA Communique: The Education Intelligence Agency conducts public education
research, analysis and investigations. Director: Mike Antonucci. PO Box 580007, Elk Grove,
CA 95758. Ph: 916-422-4373. Fax: 916-392-1482. E-Mail: EducationIntel@aol.com
Note that the Union chose to form a committee, a tactic often employed by administrators trying
to manipulate public opinion by putting dissident thought into a holding pattern while they
concoct new methods of propaganda to regain control. Furthermore, having members arrested
suggests top down control parallel to that of our districts. Why would the organization
designed to protect teachers be arresting teachers? Isn't this more reminiscent of the Soviet
Union than in a democracy?
Then I found another issue people are questioning: "It is ironic that teacher Unions oppose
voucher plans -- even when limited only to public schools. For years, the Unions have demanded
recognition of teaching as a full profession ... The irony: Only under a voucher plan would
teachers be as 'professional' as doctors or lawyers. Professionals, except teachers, already
work in an open marketplace." Philip and Susan Jones, Parents Unite!, Wyden Books, 1976
(yes, 1976). Why are our unions trying to prevent teachers from becoming professionals?
Then recently, Damaris Daugherty, a Miami activist working to level the playing field for
teachers in Miami, discovered the following message circulating amongst the members of the
local Union, UTD. Damaris has documented that their Union has let down many teachers, by
betraying their trust. Thus, she has formed an alternative association so that teachers'
rights can really be protected, called the Teacher Rights Advocacy Coalition (TRAC) So far,
TRAC has been representing teachers at zero cost to educators. TRAC has been absorbing the
cost because it realizes their Union, which charges dues that exceed $800 per year, has gaffed
educators. So, in the fashion districts customarily employ, it was time to smear Damaris.
The following was circulated:
-----Original Message-----
From: PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ASSOC. [mailto:mdcpsta@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 05, 2002 8:19 AM
To: THEDISTRIBUTIONLIST@YAHOO.COM
Subject: TEACHERS RIGHT ADVOCACY COALITION (TRAC)
Don't you think it's more than coincidental that just at the time UTD needs to be at its
strongest moment someone comes along and talks about decertifying the Union? Damaris Daugherty
is being financed by the right wing, anti-Union, anti-black and anti-Semitic James Madison
Foundation. Supported and pumped up by Jeb and his friends, this think tank has as its major
objective the obliteration of all Unions. They are paying her handsomely to foment disruption
within UTD at a vulnerable time - OR SO THEY THINK! First, with respect to the two days, no
money has been taken from anyone. While the School Board voted to deduct the days, it has not
been enacted. As the news reports have shown, UTD's pressure has begun to crack the amour and
things will change. We need everyone to stay strong and together. What theSchool Board did on
May 22, they can undo. All we need are five votes! Daugherty's other benefactor is PEN. This
is a group which does not believe in collective bargaining. Presumably her goal would be to
exchange UTD for PEN. That would be a ludicrous endeavor. That would mean thousands of teachers,
paraprofessionals and office personnel would no longer have any collective bargaining
representation. You see, neither PEN, nor the James Madison folks, believes in collective
bargaining for public employees. All PEN offers is insurance. They will let you fight on your
own for a pay raise! Just contact some teachers in Jacksonville who swallowed the PEN rhetoric
and then needed representation against their School Board. They had no one in their corner.
They made a mad dash back to the Duval Teachers Union. For some it was too late. DONT LET THIS
HAPPEN TO YOU! Next, let's look at the figures Daugherty is throwing around in terms of UTD's
membership numbers. She keeps telling you that UTD only represents 39% of the entire bargaining
unit. Does she mention that the bargaining unitconsists of 5,000 to 6,000 substitutes names on
a list who may or may not beworking on any given day? Does she mention the thousands of
part-timers included on that list who may only be teaching one class at night?
The real numbers deal with full time folks, regular part-time and substitutes who work on a
regular basis and those numbers are significantly higher. Just over the past two weeks, over
60 new folks have joined UTD to show the School Board they mean business. THIS WILL ONLY GROW
MORE AS NON-MEMBERS SEE WHAT A "VOICE OF ONE" IS ALL ABOUT! The petitions for "Working to the
Contract" are coming in from the schools in droves. Support from the community is almost
universal. Whatever has personally upset you regarding UTD should be dealt with within the UTD
structure. Don't let a lifetime of hard work be undone by a woman hired and paid for by a group
designed to destroy public employees. She isn't even public employee. She's an attorney who
has been told by PERC that her arguments are invalid. PERC has written her back several times
and told her that she has no basis for her complaints. Has she told you told you that? Has she
told you that the Senators and Representatives she writes are also tired of hearing from her?
SHE TYPES LIKE A PAPER TIGER AND IS A "COMMITTEE OF ONE" Please bring your issues of
disenchantment with UTD to the source of where they can be resolved - SEND THEM TO UTD. Many
of you may be eligible to runfor office within UTD. This organization is yours. Make it yours.
Help keep it the best that it can be. THIS IS YOUR ONLY OFFICIAL VOICE. DONT LET THEM SILENCE
YOU! UTD IS LISTENING AND WANTS TO HEAR FROM THE MEMBERSHIP, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL MEMBERS, WITH
REGARD TO THEIR CONCERNS AND ISSUES ABOUT UTD AND THE METRO-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. We
can't make it so unless we hear from you. Many of you may know someone onstaff you'd like to
contact and you are encouraged to do so. However, if you want a specific person to contact,
feel free to email, call or write Annette Katz, UTD's Director of Communications. Her email is
Annette@utofd.com ; phone is
305.854.0220, ext. 244. Her address is: Annette Katz, United Teachers ofDade, 2200 Biscayne
Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33137. Remember, when we Stand Together, We Demand Respect.
COMMENTS FROM NAPTA: We were under the impression that we lived in a free market society.
Isn't it suspicious when a powerful institution such as a Union, has to bash someone they
claim is a single activist working against them? Playing the religious card is despicable.
Do they really think teachers are so shallow that they align their beliefs based on their
religions rather than on what is right? From the personal experience of nearly every member
of NAPTA, Unions range from worthless to detrimental. We all would have welcomed the
opportunity for an alternative organization to have helped us. Furthermore, calling Damaris a
paper tiger suggests that words really do expose the truth about the outrage occurring in the
teaching "profession". One of NAPTA's basic beliefs is that words will expose these thugs who
believe that abusing teachers will guarantee their financial success. We believe that pouring
words all over the Internet will disintegrate these manipulators as rapidly as the water
disintegrated the bad witch in the Wizard of Oz. Damaris may be a paper tiger: NAPTA intends
to be a paper lion. Together we will get the word out that our schools are fashioned more like
the Mafia with Unions serving as their verbal hit men, silencing teachers into submission or
into exile. This "hit" on Damaris speaks volumes!
You may wish to contact Ms. Katz to let them know there is substantial disappointment with our
Unions and that the widespread teacher abuse documents that our Unions do not care about us.
The following are some of the responses written to Damaris indicating that she is far from
alone in her discontent with UTD. We have omitted names, although each sender signed his/her
letter.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I just retrieved your message from my junk mailbox, which usually gets dumped automatically
on a regular basis; My first question is: with whom am I communicating? I happen to be a
career teacher who recently pulled out of UTD after about twenty years of membership; My
decision to pull out came way before I heard the name, Damaris Daugherty; My discontent with
UTD may be traced to your president and his questionable association with lobbyists and his
well-publicized love for money and power; I have not joined TRAC nor have I joined PEN,
though the tone of your email may just be the encouragement I needed to join. You have asked
that I bring my issues of disenchantment to UTD I have had many long discussions with current
and former UTD building stewards and the common message is that if anyone brings issues to
the stewards meetings that are contrary to the UTD position, they are intimidated and hushed;
This message comes to me from people I have known and worked with for most of my twenty-four
years at M-DCPS. Damaris Daugherty is not your problem; UTD is in a perfect position to become
a strong and respected organization; This could be the defining moment for UTD, but the
membership has to be heard and UTD, in my opinion;is not in the listening business.
Sincerely,
Dear Ms. Katz,
The smear campaign UTD is waging against Damaris Daugherty is going to backfire if it is not
cleaned up. Someone needs to re-think this effort. I have a number of issues with this tactic:
First, anything that goes into my email junk mailbox fits certain criteria, such as being
mailed to a mass of people and that means it is not written to me specifically and is therefore
likely; unworthy of my attention. Second, the message is set in extra large type which is the
way one might write a message meant for children and is therefore insulting to career teachers.
Third, if an organization is trying to show that they are the best choice, the way to do
that is to promote the positive features of their organization. Putting the opposition down
only shows that your organization has nothing to offer and has to resort to attacks; the
competition; UTD's attacks onTRAC show they are in fear of TRAC; Let the proclaimed good
of UTD speak for itself;If TRAC and PEN and Damaris Daugherty are the monsters UTD makes them
to be, they will self-destruct on their own. Finally, when I write messages, I put my name on
them. Anything not signed deserves to land in the junk box.
Another Response
I am surprised that you failed to sign your name at the end of your e-mail - Until about a year
ago I was probably the strongest supporter UTD had - I was asked by UTD to participate on the
Teacher of the Year Committee - be a PACES Trainer for the District - As UTD Steward I had over
85% membership at my school -
Under the collective bargaining of UTD my teachers began to see an erosion of benefits and
salaries - UTD charges the highest dues in the country - teachers making less than the national
average - When I saw many of my teachers having to choose between insurance for their children
or insurance for their spouse (because they could not afford both) I became very concerned -
When Mr. Tornillo stood before the Board and praised Cuevas what were we to think - We all knew
what was going on within the District - Did he praise Cuevas because UTD was doing similar
things? - When Mr. Tornillo aligned himself with lobbyist for HIP and others what were my
teachers to think? I could go on and on with the different issues but I am sure you know them
all already. I can tell you that until teachers are represented by a PROFESSIONAL - HONEST
organization the PUBLIC is not going to support the tax structure to provide money for salaries
and education in general.
BTW - Mr. Tornillo and most of the UTD people - including Annette Katz - came to my school the
latter part of August - insulted the teachers - called them "cheap" - and Mr. Tornillo told
several of the teachers that they should not expect a bigger raise because they " were not
accountants".
I am not making this up as there was a group of over 60 teachers in attendance when this
happened.
UTD has done a great deal for teachers over the years but that stopped about 10 years ago. I
ask you - What has UTD really done for teachers lately? UTD has been too busy giving themselves
a new $22,000,000 building - loans that did not have to be paid back - and any other bonus
they could think of. Believe me - teachers have not been their biggest concern. Mr. Tornillo
wanted us to approve the two days - he supported it 100% - and it was only when the teachers
went against him that he realized he was fast losing support -
As far as anyone being able to run for office - UTD office - that is a bunch of bull - any UTD
member that goes against the current leadership or voices a separate opinion is taken before
a "kangaroo trial" and removed - A FACT!
Damaris deserves a lot of credit for the work she is doing - regardless of where she is getting
her finances - UTD HAS FAILED the employees of UTD - not just now but for a long time -
The majority of the teachers and employees no longer trust the leadership of UTD - and 39%
penetration is a valid percentage - that DOES NOT give UTD the support they need to accomplish
anything - Maybe decertification is not such a bad idea - The idea is definitely being spoken
about all over the District - and gaining momentum - Ask yourself - Is UTD really concerned
about the teachers or is the leadership only providing "smoke and mirrors" - to save their
"jobs"?
Another response:
DO WE REALLY HAVE TO CONTINUE reading the same thing over and over? Are you going to continue
making the font bigger and bigger with the hope more people will stop and read what you have to
say? Have you considered signing your name or are you typical of UTD - afraid?
The majority of the DCPS teachers and employees are finally becoming aware of what UTD is all
about - "smoke and mirrors" - on the backs of the underpaid teachers. UTD dues are the highest
in the country - Tornillo and his "gang" have done little or nothing for the teachers for years
- We are still paid less than the national average - insurance is about the worst in the
country - UTD has NOT GOTTEN one positive thing through the Florida legislature for years -
and if a teacher were really in trouble he/she would have to hire their own lawyer to save
their job!
Damaris is doing a service for the teachers and DCPS - I say we get UTD decertified and a new
PROFESSIONAL organization to take their place - The PUBLIC WILL NOT support teachers and
education as a whole as long as we have the current UTD leadership or we change organizations -
Teachers- take a minute - give yourself a $831 a year raise - or $80 net dollars a month -
Write a short note to UTD and drop your membership. For your convenience, here is the address.
(Make sure you copy the folks in payroll.)
UTD
2200 Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, Florida
FROM DAMARIS: TRAC's position is: Truth needs no defense. The conduct of these individuals
that have never even spoken to us and have embarked on this unkind campaign, only makes me
more certain that we are on the right TRAC. Otherwise why would they take the time and trouble?
They have strengthened our resolve to empower educators and with their help cleanup this
district for the benefit of our kids and for this we thank them.
Damaris Perez Daugherty
TRAC - Teacher Rights Advocacy Coalition
305/242-7632
www.teacherrights.org
damarisdaugherty@cs.com
Below is a letter I (Daugherty) sent to the Miami Herald last week. Of course it didn't get
published. Nothing I ever send in does. And for every one letter they print that speaks
out about the poor quality of representation members are getting from UTD, they print 5
where UTD is puffing itself up. I am starting to question the Herald's commitment to
journalistic integrity in this area.
Damaris Perez Daugherty
TRAC - Teacher Rights Advocacy Coalition
305/242-7632
www.teacherrights.org
damarisdaugherty@cs.com
Resolution proves UTD is weak
Rather than gloating about the resolution of the two-day teacher pay cut that was reached
Thursday, UTD should feel humiliated. It is now obvious that UTD is not the strong negotiator
it touts itself to be. If it were, and had it been minding the store, it would have brought
Stierheim and the Board to this resolution back in January, without putting teachers through
such angst and without spending thousand of dollars of members dues on mediation and lawsuits.
No wonder educators are leaving UTD in droves.
Damaris Perez Daugherty, Esq.
Teacher Rights Advocacy Coalition
COMMENTS FROM Karen Horwitz, President of NAPTA: If you read this far, you care about our
children and the abuse to which we are subjecting them by allowing our schools to operate they
way they do. You are probably a teacher who was abused or one who watched as a favorite
teacher was harassed out of your school. Tell us your negative experience with the Unions and
we will add it to our future web site where an ongoing commentary about the Unions will be
posted.
My personal experience with my Union included the President of our local speaking out against
me in the major Chicago newspaper, the Tribune. There is something wrong when one of the only
persons willing to speak out against a teacher is the Union president. Then this same Union
official perjured herself at my tenure hearing, testifying falsely against me. Throughout my
entire ordeal with my district, there were only two teachers who gave false testimony and she
was one. That is a sad commentary on the Union. The Union did provide me with representation,
but recently I had to file an EEOC charge against them for participating in a scheme to deny
me my constitutional rights. I have to wonder whether the representation was designed to
protect the administration from me rather than to protect me from them, since much advice has
been questionable. Furthermore, three years has passed since I was terminated, yet the hearing
officer for some mysterious reason has rendered no decision.
Although it may appear that we are taking a biased position, keep in mind that the Unions have
spread their propaganda for years because most teachers were afraid to speak out; the high
level of fear amongst teachers is proof that the Unions simply aren't doing their job.
Consider this site an opportunity to level the playing field and put forth the other position.
It has existed underground and NAPTA intends to change that. Controlling teachers into
submission would not be necessary if our educational system did not need to cover up to
survive; we believe that it is time that another viewpoint has a voice.
Our hope is that in the end, once NAPTA has forced the thugs to run for cover allowing
administrators with integrity to take our schools back, the Unions can stop focusing on
commiserating with administrations. We can accept that Unions may have submitted to the
power brokers that currently run our schools for their own financial gains because faced
with this impossible playing field, they realized it was either befriend the people in power
or put themselves out of a job. We know that many teachers have looked the other way while
their colleagues were ruthlessly abused and we forgive them so we can forgive the Unions also.
We hope the Unions will discover financial survival can coexist with protecting teachers once
the playing field is leveled, and the Unions can begin to do the job they pretend to do now.
However, at this point we are far from a level playing field and we need all the voices we can
get to put political pressure on the system so that justice rather than intimidation will be the
foundation of our schools. So write us your thoughts. Forward this on to other perspective
NAPTA members - teachers, parents, citizens - and play a role in assuring that our schools
will build strong citizens and a strong America rather than be wastelands for violence and
abuse as they are increasingly becoming. Abuse begets abuse and we have sown what we are
reaping. Our children see through the hypocrisy and pretense that envelopes our schools and
their choices are telling us this has to stop.
Contact NAPTA at: teacherkh@aol.com or contact Damaris Daugherty at
damarisdaugherty@cs.com
The following was my response to Ms. Katz
Subj: You asked to hear from teachers regarding TRAC
Date: 06/25/2002
To: Annette@utofd.com
CC: DamarisDaugherty@cs.com
Dear Ms. Katz:
I am the president of a group recently founded - National Association for the Prevention of
Teacher Abuse, or NAPTA. I read the correspondence UTD circulated about Damaris Daugherty
with dismay, noting that your Union was employing the same tactic districts around the country
utilize to silence teachers - smearing those with the integrity to speak out about what is
right for our children, teachers and schools. When I observe Unions imitating administrators,
that is a cause for alarm. You are a Union, not the Soviet Union. It appears your group has
blurred the lines.
Playing the religion card is improper. Labeling any organization as anti-Semitic without
factual proof is anti-Semitic as it presents Jewish people as narrow minded name callers, more
concerned about preserving their religion or culture than the truth. As a person proud of my
Jewish heritage, I resent any organization using anti-Semitism to ignite people to follow
blindly since that suggests that you think Jews are shallow. THAT is documented
anti-Semitism. Furthermore, nothing is more anti-Semitic than employing Hitleresque tactics
to silence those with differing opinions.
The following is a Bulletin I have circulated amongst our NAPTA members and perspective
members as a result of reading your group's circulated email. Please let your leaders know
that Damaris is very, very far from alone. In fact, her thoughts are being echoed all over
the United States by people who don't even know her. But many will know her now thanks to
your mean spirited Union.
Original Message-----
From: Teacherkh@aol.com [mailto:Teacherkh@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 5:39 PM
To: Annette@UTOFD.com
Subject: Fwd: You asked to hear from teachers regarding TRAC
In a message dated 06/26/2002 7:54:14 AM Central Daylight Time, Annette@UTOFD.com writes:
Dear Teacherkh@aol.com, While my name was included in the piece circulated by the Public School
Teachers Association, I was not the author. I am Jewish myself and very proud of my heritage.I
am a past president of my synagogue and very active in a number of Jewish organizations
including a Circle of Life member in the Washington Holocaust Museum. I belief the group was
very well intended and blurred the lines a bit. In Florida, the James Madison Foundation has
engaged in a number of less than stellar practices that have been very suspect in the Jewish
community, hence the negative association. Further, Ms. Daugherty's behavior on the local
scene has not been helpful to our local teachers' situation.Her comments and letters in the
press have been abrasive and harmful. Your association's title suggests a very nobel cause
and the United Teachers of Dade would welcome a discussion with you. I also happen to know that
the Public School Teachers Association is a well intended group also seeking to help teachers
and other educational professionals. Our union is very democratic. It is Ms. Daugherty who has
misrepresented herself to you. I did not write that piece for example and you thought I did.
I would very much welcome your contacting me again. Most sincerely, Annette Katz
The following are some excerts from my letter To Katz, in which I explained
my personal experience as a teacher and with the union.
I respect your openness and I understand the commitment it takes to be
president of a synagogue. I know your heart is in the right place. What I question is whether
you have bought into propaganda because like most people we believe the leaders are operating
in good faith. They are not. NAPTA can and will prove this. Meanwhile, rather than looking at
Damaris for the disruption she is causing, look at her for why she is doing what she is doing.
You may have been told she is out to get rich, starting another union. I guess that is a
possibility. I guess one could say that I did what I did for self serving reasons. In fact,
the district took the position that because I don't have to work, I just wanted to throw my
weight around and control things - you know a rich bitch profile. That couldn't be further
from the truth. But fighting them alone made it seem a possibility. Now that I found people
of all backgrounds in the exact same position as me all over the country, we are all becoming
believable finally. We have poor districts and rich districts, poor teachers and rich teachers
and all of us echo the same thing - our schools are corrupt and don't care about our kids and
our unions are secretly helping them with business as usual.
Perhaps you don't have an immediate experience with your union doing like things, but trust me
they are doing it to people. That is why so many of us are so mad and have become activists.
Try to put yourself in Nazi Germany as a gentile being told how bad things are and you can't
believe it. How could you? It was so horrible and so unbelievable. So you let them take the
Jews off in cattle cars, because it couldn't be. How can we fault them if we do the exact same
thing to others who cry out for help or cry out for change? So many people let it happen and
so many people are letting teachers be abused by blindly believing in the existing leaders,
including the leadership of the Unions. Granted being gassed by Hitler does not equal what
they are doing to teachers, but the pattern of political mind control does. Also, do not
minimize the number of teachers with post traumatic stress disorder from all the harassment.
Then many have died of heart attacks. I almost did. That will be in my book too.
If the Union were about good, Damaris would not be a threat. People only want to silence voices
of truth. Voices of stupidity can be ignored because they cannot influence others to know the
truth. Did MacDonalds have to bad mouth Henry's to put them out of business? No. Just do your
job and do it well and that makes the naysayers go away. But when you have no intention of
doing your job and Damaris is out there telling the truth, then you have a problem. So you
spread propaganda to your soldiers so they will take care of people like her, never realizing
the truth.
I guarantee you that if you spoke with the former president of our union she would describe me
as a monster. She called me into her room in 1997 and told me I had to stop talking negatively
about what our district was doing because it was a negotiations year and I was ruining it for
all the teachers. The teachers never had it so good before I spoke out. All the hostility
became directed toward me and they acted really nice to all the other older teachers to prove
they were so wonderful. Then the community got wind of the truth about our district that really
was thought of as so elite, none could compare, and they elected a board that was for real.
There were two board members who supported me throughout and couldn't do anything about the 5
who were in the superintendent's pocket. But now they are the President and VP and the district
is no longer held hostage to one evil man.
All this can be documented with facts and that is why I feel I need to write a book so people
like you can understand the truth about what is going on in education. And I can assure you
that my former district will go right back to corruption when a new superintendent comes in and
stacks the board again. It will happen if all this isn't exposed so people are watching all
over the country.
My current union atty. finally admitted that all this was was a power trip. So the
superintendent took a half million dollar power trip at the expense of the children and allowed
countless abusive situations to take place at that school. So the union admits power trips are
happening all over our country, but they weren't about to do one thing about it when I first
approached them and did nothing to chastise the union president who went against me. Our schools
are similar to the Catholic Church in that they want to conduct business as usual with no
accountability. When our web site is up and my book is out, you can read more about the
specific things that were done and how the union looked the other way.
Do I believe the union is evil? No, I believe they have decided they would have no business
if they tried to go against the administrators as the playing field is so slanted no one has
a chance. They absolutely crucified me. I live in this upscale community. I have raised three
children, one about to go to college, one an attorney and one a professor who earned her Ph.D.
at Yale on a scholarship. My husband is an attorney. I couldn't be more connected in terms of
resources and look what they did to me.
When I describe my experience to most people, I don't mention the Jewish part because to me
it is irrelevant. But I am becoming increasingly weary of encountering Jewish people who
haven't learned the lesson of the Holocaust. How could all these people look the other way
when they know that I was being abused and advise me to just keep quiet and accept things the
way they are? Why aren't they thinking "I won't partake in anything that hurts people because
we were so hurt?" Can they all be so naive or so easily controlled with propaganda? I don't
think so. The lesson of the holocaust is not to build monuments or museums or even to become
leaders in the Jewish community, it is to think critically about life and never allow another
evil force to take over against any humans, even non Jews. Being Jewish I can criticize my
fellow Jews without being considered anti-Semitic. But is it possible that non Jews are
watching us cry foul about the Holocaust while we look the other way when evil is happening
in front of our eyes? Is it possible that we are the cause of anti-Semitism? This is something
to ponder. I know I feel ashamed of my own people thinking the lesson is to protect Jews when
the lesson was to respect fellow human beings and listen to them. I would also like to know
specific examples of anti-Semitism coming from the JMI. I really abhor generalizations thrown
out that are unfounded. Having been oppressed does not give us permission to oppress others.
Thinking how Hitler's generalizations created a major slaughter makes me never want to think
like that again about anyone. If we merely hold people accountable for their actions, we are
standing in our integrity. But if we judge people based on rumors or propaganda, we have
recreated the horrors of the past. I assume that Damaris is not Jewish, but she may be. But I
suspect she knows what Jews felt like in Nazi Germany being chastised without specific
evidence or charges. It is wrong. I do know that just recently she exposed a questionable
land purchase by a government official in your area who was then promoted. If she is wrong,
then someone should challenge her with the facts. But if she is correct, why is she looked
at as the enemy when she is exposing government corruption?
I want to think my situation (no decision rendered in my tenure hearing) is more about
excellent propaganda, but I know how smart Rubin is. His undergraduate degree is from Brandeis
and his law degree from Harvard, yet he participated in this abuse of a teacher. It is time
that good people spoke out and revealed what is really going on so taking the easy street and
going along with the status quo won't be so easy any more.
If you are truly sincere about what you believe, please open dialogue with Damaris and listen
to her views of why she had to do what she did. If you still believe she is not doing it for
good reasons, then so be it. But do not allow others to influence your thinking. Remember the
Holocaust. No museum will have any meaning if we don't treat our fellow humans with the
respect they deserve even if they are different.
Also, I welcome your keeping in touch with me. I know you are a good person and I know you are
not aware of much of what is really going on as most are not. I will let you know when our web
site is up so you can really grasp what we are all about. We love education. We are mostly
parents that are outraged more because of what the schools are doing to our kids than because
of our jobs. Most of all we love this country. Where else could we speak openly and finally
get our points across? And we will. We want our country to remain the home of the free.
Teachers are not free. Once people really comprehend the intricate system that makes teachers
almost more deprived of rights than the terrorists, it will all become clear. Our schools are
financial havens for some elitists. Their budgets are opportunities for personal gain. All
Damaris is trying to do is say look at what these people are doing with your money. And all
the union is trying to do is say smear Damaris so no one will hear her. If you can prove
otherwise, I welcome your facts and will include them on our web site. We are not about
promoting people. We are about promoting the truth. And lastly, beyond everything else I
have been through in this ordeal, I am so ashamed of my fellow Jews who have ignored the
lesson of history taught via the Holocaust that I feel as though I need to work extra hard
to compensate. I will never feel the right to scream out anti-Semitism if what people are
observing is true. Three of the board members who abused me were Jewish. Two of the attorneys
who tried to sabotage my goals were Jewish. Having seen that use of the anti-Semitic card in
the email circulated by UTD was more than I could bear after knowing the truth from what I know.
You must be able to understand why that disgusts me so and how your association with the
writer or tacit agreement with the contents reflects on you and everyone who supports that
union.
I look forward to clarification about what Damaris did to harm the teachers and the
specifics about JMI so I can report this situation in the most unbiased way.
Dedicated to the children I remain,
Karen Horwitz
teacherkh@aol.com
Within hours, I received the following:
The situation is very different here
Date: 06/26/2002 9:11:41 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Annette@UTOFD.com
To: Teacherkh@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Karen, Your story has touched my heart. I cannot imagine what you have gone through.
No wonder what you read set you off. While it is now nearly 10 p.m. at night and it would be
impossible for me to find chapter and verse at the moment to retrive the indescretions of the
James Madison group (but I will in the next few days), I must totally reassure you that UTD
has never done anything whatsoever close to what you described. I have been part of UTD for
28 years. In terms of promoting equal treatment and in fact, more than equal treatment for
all people, UTD has been a leader in our community. In Florida we don't automatically get the
days off for the High Holidays for example. Yet, in our contract, we led the state in creating
Opt days so that Jewish teachers wouldn't get docked pay so they could take the holidays not
lose pay. From the simple to the complex, UTD has stood side-by-side with the ADL, the AJC,
the Jewish Federation, everyone on so many issues and causes that were often accused of being
too liberal too often. It is very different here. We created a Jewish Educators Labor
Committee and we're just really respected by our Jewish teachers. I don't what else to say
to you. In any event, I will provide the JMI information as soon as I get it together.
I am sorry you have been treated so badly. I look forward to our continued communication.
Sincerely, Annette
It is now two months later and neither Daugherty or I have heard from Katz. The alleged
anti-Semitic comments from the James Madison Institute have never been relayed; Daugherty's
problematic actions and words have not been revealed. It is possible that Katz has been busy,
but the accusations against Daugherty are way too serious to simply ignore. Furthermore, she
says the situation is very different there, but according to the three people whose letters
to her were forwarded to me, it isn't different. The same games are in place.
In fact, I did receive a copy of an email documenting abuse does happen
within UTD's domain:
UNIONS