WHAT’S BEST for children should be the most important consideration in shaping education legislation, not artificial deadlines (“Legislature should move on school reform by Thanksgiving,’’ Editorial, Oct. 29). There is no requirement that state legislators act by Thanksgiving to qualify for federal funds. And there is certainly nothing in the federal “Race to the Top’’ program that requires lawmakers to violate teachers’ collective bargaining rights.
We are proud that Massachusetts students once again ranked number one in the country on national tests. We can do even better. We need adequate school funding and smaller classes so that teachers can be as effective as possible. We also need high-quality early childhood education and strong support services so that all children can come to school ready to learn. These goals will be difficult to attain if we divert resources from our most challenged public schools or if we choose a rushed or misguided path to school reform.
Thomas J. Gosnell
President,
American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts
Boston 
