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Voter, collective bargaining has brought us some of the highest compensated teachers in the northeast. It has also resulted in fewer than 1 in 4 Warwick high school students meeting basic competency standards in either Reading or Math. Further, it has resulted in a mind-numbing exploitation of a system of sick days that became outmoded three decades ago. It is no coincidence that the latest "sick out" stunt occurred just prior to a three day weekend. And we are, somehow, supposed to take the union head seriously when she mentions "...cold and flu season" in the first week of October! This is who is teaching our children who demands to be seen as a "professional"?! Please. The rest of the world got away from pensions years ago and moved to defined contribution plans, much to the delight of participants. Of course, this requires a level of personal responsibility on the part of participants, something for which government employees have never been known for. It's time to a) De-certify the union and refuse to negotiate collectively, b) move to a voucher plan, which would save money as well as give lower income kids the same opportunities for quality schools as children of teachers who want nothing to do with public schools for their own kids, and c) transition to a defined contribution retirement plan for school employees younger than 35. We've tried it the 'union way', and it's a disaster.