By Victor Skinner
EAGnews.org

MEDFORD, N.J. – Teachers at Medford Memorial Middle School left their departing students with a valuable life lesson at a recent graduation ceremony,

Parents who attended put it this way in a letter to Phillyburbs.com:

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“ … (O)f all the great things these teachers have taught our children, it is, perhaps, this last lesson they will remember most: It doesn’t matter if you hurt or let down innocent children as long as you get what you think you deserve,” Christine and Peter Ippolito wrote.

The parents were referring to teachers’ decision to boycott the graduation ceremony as a bargaining tactic in ongoing union contract negotiations. Officials with the Medford Education Association allegedly instructed educators at the middle school “to not work one minute beyond what their current contract states,” the Ippolitos wrote, and teachers have followed along like sheep.

Not a single teacher from the middle school attended their students’ graduation this month, they said.

“If the teachers and the union wanted to take a stand and send a message to the administration, that’s fine. But to do it in this way was just wrong,” The Ippolitos wrote. “Having had three children attend the middle school we have come to know many of the teachers over the years. We have always respected and supported them and have had a great appreciation for what they do. In this situation, we cannot respect or support their collective decision to boycott the graduation.

“We know there were mixed emotions among the teachers, but ultimately, they went along with the Medford Education Association’s influence. Instead of doing what’s right, they did what they were told. They followed their union’s mandates instead of their hearts.”

What a wonderful message for Medford middle school students.

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The Ippolitos wrote that many of the students and parents were deeply hurt and angry that their teachers decided to boycott the event, and understandably so. The unions like to claim that “it’s all about the kids.” Their sickening tactics tell us otherwise.