THE GLOBE once again trots out tired, inaccurate, and inflammatory anti-union rhetoric in an editorial about the state’s winning Race to the Top funding (“For Mass., reform bears fruit,’’ Aug. 26). Far from standing in the way, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union, supported the Race to the Top application and played a critical role in crafting it. The governor and others credited the MTA publicly for helping to make it a stronger proposal, contributing to the Massachusetts application’s being ranked first in the country.
The MTA also supported almost all provisions in the achievement gap law. In districts with underperforming schools affected by this law, our members are busy this summer working toward agreements on longer days and other changes to help students succeed. They also worked hard to win passage of the federal education jobs bill, which will keep class sizes down and, once again, contribute significantly to student learning.
Instead of gratuitously bashing teachers unions, the Globe editorial board could help promote cooperation and good will among all parties concerned about public education simply by calling us and finding out our views on the issues at hand.
Paul Toner
President
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Boston 
