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New numbers from New York City's teachers union beg the question of whether the city really needs any help in getting rid of teachers. (See "Targeting Teachers.") The United Federation of Teachers reported yesterday that 4,606 certified teachers resigned last year—the largest number in recent history. The figure includes some 14 percent of teachers who were newly hired, according to the union.

“[L]osing good teachers is the predominant staffing issue that the City Department of Education needs to address,” emphasized Randi Weingarten, the UFT's president.

An education department official countered that the union's numbers were inaccurate and characterized their release as a "media stunt."