This is the most un-American statement I have ever heard.
You have a strange notion of what is American. It's American to care about the effects your actions will have on your community. It's American to to say we can't forget or leave behind those with harder struggles. It's American to want all boats to raise, instead of leaving the boats with holes to sink. I don't have much respect for your idea of what it means to be an American.
America was built on the fact that if you work hard, if you put in the time and effort, you can accomplish your dreams.
It was also built on the notion that everyone would get a reasonable chance to have the conditions needed to make those dreams happen.
You are saying that a kid who does things right should be penalized because kids around him aren't doing things right.
Not awarding a special privilege is not a punishment.
I do when it's my money that funds them. Public teachers are funded by taxpayers. They should be 100% neutral politically.
Unions get their money from teachers. Restaurant workers who wait on teachers also get their money from teachers. Should they be politically neutral, or is it only the groups you don't like?
Donations? lol. Good one.
When they are voluntary, dues are basically donations. I see you dodged the main point of that sentence.
More so than they are today.
When was this magical time? When you were a kid? Guess what: kids today still respect teachers.