Cindy Grosz: It’s Not Guns Randi, It’s Your Union Members Staying Silent

Within 24 hours of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten tweeted multiple times about the need to end gun violence and sales.

Gun violence needs to end, but the bigger problem is the emotional and social stability of student mass shooters, teen robbers and rapists and the high suicide rates of today’s youth and young adults.

In every case, there is a popular thread.  School staff, including mandated reporters knew of troubled students, neglected and/or abused home situations and issues of desperation and depression.

As an award-winning teacher in a school filled with hidden weapons, bullying and physical violence and students in need of guidance and medical services, I watched fellow teachers, administrators and union representatives violate chancellor’s regulations on reporting discipline violations and offering school support team help.

I contacted Randi Weingarten on multiple occasions.  Instead of appreciating the help, she wrote in an email dated May, 14, 2008 that I am “constantly complaining. There is a paperwork procedure.”

I filled out every paperwork that produced a trail of liars.  Union members are mandated reporters, as are all school staff.

See the following email from a district representative after I contacted her about a possible abused second grader who wanted to commit suicide.

The principal of the school testified under oath she didn’t fill out school safety reports or cooperate with completing reports for the Children’s Protective Services.

In New York, as in most states, as mandated reporters and school designers, those who deliberately fail to report it—can be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. This misdemeanor can result in a penalty of up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. (Social Services Law 422)

Parkland, Buffalo and Uvalde… young shooters with social issues.  They also have the common thread of witnesses in school who had the authority to get them help and alert law enforcement.

If teachers don’t report, it’s less work.  More importantly, school evaluations and funding depend on safe schools.  That means teachers keep their jobs. Less work and the likelihood of a job for the next school year, it’s easy to look the other way.

Educators have looked the other way for decades.  The result, a generation or two of entitled, unhappy and dependent young people who find their answers in criminal activity and death.  Bias and questionable curriculums add to their failure.

Teachers Unions Pay To Silence Their Involvement In Hiding Student’s Violent Behavior

After reporting to all avenues for support, including the Mayor’s assistant, with the assurance of anonymity and no retaliation, I sued the Department of Education.

They, in turn, terminated me in retaliation.  The teachers unions paid over $100,000 to a union friendly hearing officer in an arbitration.

Administration admitted under oath that they did not report or comply with investigations regarding student violence and emotional issues.

The hearing officer had “sympathy” for the administration when they admitted they didn’t comply with chancellor’s regulations and state and federal laws.

When one fills out TSA immigration entrance they have to divulge toy guns, knives and other questionable items as possible weapons.

This hearing officer heard from a parent and staff and saw student statements regarding second grade students threatened with a toy gun.  His conclusion was that toy guns used as weapons aimed at seven-year-olds are “jokes.”

Teachers like myself are portrayed as liars.

We must stop Randi Weingarten’s agenda to stop the second amendment and start holding her and those within the circle of her power to start obeying their contractual obligations and follow the law of the land.