In a Unionized World: Teacher of the Year One Day, Laid Off the Next

Today our daughter's third-grade teacher at Middleton Elementary, Liz Rosenburger, was awarded the Sam's Club teacher of the year award. It is an award she richly deserved. She has been an outstanding teacher in every way. We have been particularly amazed at her ability to be both extremely kind and empathetic, connecting deeply with each child and their individual personality, while at the same time being a very demanding teacher, pushing each child to work very hard. Our daughter has clearly had a first-class academic experience this year. In addition to her extraordinary performance in the classroom, she has devoted additional time to running a very successful "Homework Club", to provide after-hours tutoring.

Sadly, the award ceremony had to be a very bittersweet event. Because only last week Ms. Rosenburger received a pink slip. Yes, she is being let go, because staff reductions are required, and she does not have seniority.

I think "travesty" is the only way to describe this outrageous situation. What rational organization would lay off its highest-performing, most dedicated employees, simply because they may lack "seniority"? Imagine that the Twins had a player who was named Rookie of the Year. Then, the next year, a more senior player returned from the disabled list, and since the Twins would have to cut their staff by one, they cut that Rookie of the Year because, after all, he lacked "seniority".

It is unthinkable that the Twins would run their organization in this irrational manner, of course. I just don't understand why it should be any more thinkable, in the system entrusted with the education of our children.