Opinion

Pols’ perverse priorities: Union bosses over kids

The Issue: Promises by three Democratic mayoral candidates to keep failing schools open, if elected.

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I challenge anyone to find examples of any of these Democrats publicly disagreeing with the United Federation of Teachers on major educational issues during their respective careers (“Three Stooges for Mayor,” Editorial, Jan. 25).

The UFT is the most powerful, self-serving special-interest group on the political landscape today.

Its recent million-dollar media blitz rivals that of any major candidate running for public office.

It spends more money than virtually any other union, business or other special-interest group in supporting its favorite candidates for public office. Larry Penner

Great Neck

How many times must the point be made that charter schools cherry-pick the best students from the public system?

They provide few special-ed services and quietly transfer students back to their neighborhood school if they do not make the grade.

Charters receive constant favoritism from the city because they are a clever ploy to fight the teachers union.

Once you review the facts, it is more than clear which type of school is the true nightmare.J.B. McGeever

Stonybrook

Your editorial is hateful, ignorant and unfair.

I believe you owe Moe, Larry and Curly an apology. As ridiculous as the Three Stooges acted, it was only an act.

With Bill de Blasio, John Liu and Bill Thompson, it’s not an act, but an outright disregard for the welfare of our children.

Charlie Honadel

Staten Island

“Three Stooges for Mayor” makes a key point that the Democratic mayoral candidates are against closing failing schools and co-location of charter and union schools.

When a bad union school closes, it makes room for a good charter to open up in that space. In a densely populated area like New York City, school buildings are scarce and nearly impossible to build. By denying charters the real estate to operate, the unions choke them out.

The Archdiocese of New York is closing Catholic schools all over.

It should lease them to charters and keep the competition with union schools alive.

Greg Rand

White Plains