And you're right. There are few teachers out there teaching for the money. Teachers are there because they want to teach. Isn't that the great UFT motto? 'Let the teachers teach.' Of course we need to recognize that the union is far from perfect and teachers need to be held to a higher standard, but it is not the UFT's job to make sure that this happens. It is the union's job to give teachers room to take control and set the tone in their own classrooms. Students benefit when teachers are allowed to be the bosses of their own classrooms. Students benefit when they view their teachers with respect. Students benefit most of all when teachers stay at the same school for a long period of time and gain experience in working with one another as a team. The union works to allow teachers the space they need to establish themselves in their teaching environment. Unfortunately, I think, many times this fight becomes directed by petty disagreements between the union and the DOE (as in arguing about an extra 30 minutes of class time or about bulletin board format). Teaching needs to become a profession that our society truly respects. The union is far from perfect, but it does work towards giving teachers power to choose what is best for their students. That is its power. Given space to do what they do, teachers will be more successful in teaching their students precisely because they are not there for the money.