Editor:

Teacher-union vitality depends upon the three legged stool of security, professional growth, and the ability to leverage power for change.

In the mid-1960s a Colorado teacher had to confront outdated local school board policies. The Colorado Educational Association provided her with an attorney who specialized in educational law. He provided her with expert support and counsel to resolve her grievance.

The local school board not only backed off from a policy of intimidation but was forced to rewrite its school contracts to provide fairness for all teachers in their locality.

The issue of more pay for good teachers is a false one. Educational unions are for better pay and working conditions for all professional teachers - no exceptions. The real issue is not differential pay but how to retrain, counsel, or terminate inadequate and unprofessional teachers.

Is it not time to modernize our educational system and stop running our school districts like private plantations or ranches?

My suggestion is that we follow the medical model for teachers and establish professional and expert educational boards to handle issues of certification, professionalism, recruitment, suspension and termination.

In general, unions will cease being confronting and adversarial if there is a system in place that is more professional and teacher friendly.

ED WARSAW, Cheyenne