I could not help but consider the ramifications of life without a union when reading the President’s Perspective column. 

I gave support to the Denver teachers in their strike: I walked the line and attended the rally at the capitol. Our support was appreciated. 

Every argument UFT President Michael Mulgrew used to illustrate how charter schools “drain the lifeblood from public schools” was valid and accurate [President’s Perspective, May 2]. That is why I am puzzled by the UFT’s organizing efforts in New York City charter schools.

A more equitable solution to college debt would be to ask students to perform some form of national service in exchange for forgiveness of their student loans.

Teaching is a profession that comes from the heart. Teachers should be respected, well-paid and treated fairly. 

Regarding “A better approach to student discipline” [President’s Perspective, April 4], I would suggest new ideas might be considered. There is a subtle violence against the students (and teachers) where publishers of curriculum aligned with the Common Core learning standards and other prescriptive directives serve the bottom line of these publishers and tie the hands of teachers — who are blamed for low reading scores.

It was great to read about the teachers at Forest Hills HS [“UFT chapter at Forest Hills HS votes ‘no confidence’ in principal,” April 4] taking action against a terrible principal. I tell people that although I greatly miss working with the kids, I am mercifully retired from the New York City schools. Let me just say that considering my experiences in the system, Betsy DeVos comes as no surprise.

My wife receives the New York Teacher. I read the article about the UFT United Community Schools Showcase [“We’re building whole children,” April 4] and commend the teachers, children and various successes at PS/IS184.

I am a licensed 8th-grade English language arts teacher and reading specialist. In April, I proctored the 8th-grade ELA exam and encountered several problems.

Regarding “Stuy High and beyond” [Editorials, April 4]: Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to punish excellence and reward mediocrity by changing the admissions policy for the city’s specialized high schools. Perhaps your concern should be directed to the schools these less-gifted kids come from and not to where you would like them to go. If you want no inequity and total diversity in a society, I suggest you go to another planet.