Jail Birds

  More Letters From Paradise

            Jail Birds

A  neighboring school district  saw the first of many clashes between teachers and school boards. the problem could be traced to a statement made by Mark Twain. "God created idiots first, and then he made school boards." Sadly, this is often the case.

The teachers in this district had worked hard to obtain a contract, but to no avail. They resorted to the use of the press and television, in order to tell their story. They also resorted to picketing school board meetings. Still, no contract. In sheer frustration, a strike vote was taken. The teachers struck. 

The Superintendent and School Board obtained a court order, which ordered the teachers to return to work, or go to jail. Faced with this threat, the majority of the teachers returned to their classrooms. 

There were a few stalwart males, who refused to bow to this order. They then were arrested, finger printed, photographed, booked, and locked up. Their crime was refusing to teach without a contract. 

And much later, a contract was settled. The ex-prisoners were all transferred to unpopular  positions in buildings far from the main building. The Superintendent found a job in another district, and the judge who sent the teachers to jail died. He was fondly remembered by one of the jailed teachers, by hanging the picture of the judge over his basement toilet. True story.  

            Aloha

            Grant