The recent actions of the Levittown United Teachers Union (LUT) make me question the decency, integrity and true motives of the union leadership. Picketing conducted this past weekend by the LUT in front of my home has upset my 9-year-old daughter and several of her young impressionable friends who witnessed the sordid event. My husband presently serves as vice president on the Levittown School Board.

It should be noted that in a meeting this past winter with LUT officers and PTA Council representatives it was clearly stated that the union would never hurt the children. Well, I was at this meeting along with my child who heard the statement that LUT would be professional and not hurt the children. A friend personally reached out to the union president and advised her to use common sense and decency should they decide to picket a board member's house with young children. I also reached out to LUT members and requested that if they were intent on picketing, not to send teachers from my daughter's home elementary school. It is disappointing to note that the requests were completely ignored. Needless to say, picketing is viewed as a threat to a young child, particularly when the child knows the teachers that are picketing and it is conducted in front of her home.

My daughter now questions me on whether she will be treated fairly and wonders if the teachers will be nice to her. I was able to comfort my daughter by telling her that the vast majority of the teachers in the district are professional and that she will be treated fairly and with kindness. My personal experiences as past president of the Abbey Lane PTA have been very positive and I have found the teaching staff to be dedicated professionals. It is unfortunate that the actions of a few are having a negative impact on my child and the young children in the neighborhood.

The officers of the LUT are misleading their membership and need to learn that intimidating young children is not the way to resolve contractual issues. My daughter will come to terms with this recent event as with many of life's experiences. She has learned a valuable lesson that people can be hypocritical even if they are in a position of leadership. I hope that the officers of LUT will learn to think of their actions before hurting the children and the community.