Kiss the money goodbye ( teachers union )

The Daily News ^ | May 10, 2008

[george76]

That $13.2 million grant Washington state won last year to enhance the teaching of Advanced Placement courses in math and science is history.

It’s lost because of the financial incentives it would have provided for teachers who improve test scores. The Washington Education Association didn’t much like the idea of tying teacher pay to student performance on exams.

Neither did the teachers union like the involvement of an outside party, the grant provider, in teacher-pay decisions.

[george76]

Last week brought yet more proof that the Washington Education Association has little to do with education. It’s a union, plain and simple. And to advance its members, the union will even resort to anti-education tactics.

If the WEA were really interested in education, it would have applauded and supported a five-year, $13.2 million grant...

Logic leads one to believe the WEA would support more pay for teachers, but because the NMSI grant money would come from an outside source, free from union manipulation, the union effectively killed the program.

http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2008/05/05102008_In-our-view-Cheers—Jeers.cfm

[ClearCase_guy]

I don't actually think the tide is turning quite yet, but I have seen more and more of these types of stories. The WSJ just had one on judging teachers by their student's achievement. They used the analogy that if a swimming instructor lost half the class to drownings, you'd fire the teacher. But in government schools, any effort to look at student achievement or graduation rates brings out the teachers union who says, "It's not our fault. Blame the kids!"

At some point people will start to ask why we spend so much on public education and get so little in return. There are other (better) ways to teach children.

[elpadre]

teacher unions are interested in mediocrity, not excellence.

Everyone is a “C” student, no competitive endeavors such as spelling bees, math bowls, football, etc. All teachers get the same pay, and everyone a Democrat!

I believe there is a good label for their beliefs.

[Maverick68]

The schools get money just for having the kids show up.

[ClearCase_guy]

The schools know the secret of success: fail.

In most businesses, you increase your market share and can generate increased profits by being better than anyone else at the work you do. Public Education isn't like that. They increase their funding by being able to say, "The kids are failing! We don't have enough resources! We can't afford textbooks! Give us money!!"

As long as the schools keep doing a lousy job, the money keeps flowing in, in ever increasing amounts.

The system works as planned.

[knarf]

My first thought was, the "follow the money" rule had just failed.

On further consideration, the rule still holds (imo), it's just coming from another area, to different people and in much larger sums.

NEA ... the Fifth Column.

[Eurale]

It’s no wonder why teachers and their unions refuse to be held accountable. It’s because they embrace and inculcate relativism and egalitarianism. Then they infect generations of children with the same. That’s what we’re facing today - these “chickens have come home to roost.” There are millions more behind them, and apparently there’s no political will to slam on the brakes.

[TennTuxedo]

There are many teachers who don;t follow or believe in the crap espoused by the teachers' unions. The join because of the perks and liability coverage "provided" by membership.

What many teachers don't know is that they can get "umbrella Policy" on their home insurance to protect them from liability. The costs are half of and provide much better coverage than the unions charge for union dues. It's sad that good teachers have to have this kind of coverage while doing good things with our children.

[lexusppd]

While I agree that teachers today care far, far more about protecting their jibs and avoiding responsibility for their failures, there is also a great problem with the parents of children. In many cases they have totally abrogated their responsibilities of teaching their own children even the most basic things in life such the difference between right and wrong, that there are consequences for ones actions and that adults are to be treated with respect and finally when you are in school, sit down, shut up and learn.

[thirst4truth]

teacher unions are interested in mediocrity, not excellence.

And the parents keep accepting the mediocrity. The crappy education system in America is the parents fault for not being in the streets and on capital hill demanding better education for their children.

[popdonnelly]

Improving public education would require breaking the back of the NEA.

[JenB]

I think that the main reason parents don’t put up more a fuss than they do is because the teachers have convinced everyone that the poor performance of government schools is almost entirely because of the kids. So parents say “Well, my kid is a good kid, does his homework, that means he’ll be all right”.

There’s also the “not my school” syndrome where somehow people are able to convince themselves that all this crap can only happen in places like New York or California. Well, that’s not true. Here in Iowa, the schools pride themselves on being “good” schools - but they still all participated in the “Day of Silence” garbage last month. And the local homeschool kids are still beating the pants off the government schools.

[ClearCase_guy]

the difference between right and wrong, that there are consequences for ones actions and that adults are to be treated with respect

With all due respect I reject your premise that the parents of the children are a primary problem.

School teachers (of course there are exceptions) are promoting an educational philosophy based on:

There is no right or wrong. Morality and religion are the cause of prejudice and hostility.
There should be no consequences for actions. Government will save all the suffering people who screwed up their lives.
Adults should not be treated with respect. President Bush is a moron. Let's all make fun of our stupid president.

I see what the schools do. And when the defenders of the schools turn around and blame parents for doing exactly what the current educational philosophy calls for ... well ... I have no tolerance for that.

[Wonder Warthog]

"In many cases they have totally abrogated their responsibilities of teaching their own children even the most basic things in life such the difference between right and wrong, that there are consequences for ones actions and that adults are to be treated with respect and finally when you are in school, sit down, shut up and learn."

Equine manure. The teachers, administrators, and everyone related to the "ed biz" has been actively PREVENTING parental involvement for decades. The mantra is, send your kids to the public education system, and and for the PARENTS to "sit down and shut up" while they're there. Why do you think home-schooling is booming???

[ClearCase_guy]

Your reply is on the money.

Some years ago I attended a public meeting for my town's educational curriculum. There had been complaints, and the school administration wanted to "address the concerns".

At one point a teacher proudly mentioned how second graders were taught to use a calculator. I stood up and said that second graders should be taught to do basic arithmetic and that calculators should be absolutely banned from the classroom. The teacher gave me a condescending little speech about how little I knew of the topic of education, and explained that she knew far more than I did about how to teach math to young children.

Another parent stood up and agreed with me. Then another parent did the same.

The School superintendant stepped in, pointed out that time was short, had to move things along, and changed the topic to the changes in health education.

They don't care what parents think. Parents are "the problem".

[joe fonebone]

I agree with you....here is letter I sent to our school board outlining my many years of problems with sub standard, I don't give a crap about you or your kid teachers....here it is "Your claim that parents are the problem with failing schools is way off base. Let me recount for you my personal experiences: • When you talk to a teacher and tell them that your kid cannot even hold a pencil correctly, and are told that they will get it eventually, we don’t condone telling a kid how to hold his pencil, are told that for 3 years by 3 different teachers, only to have the 4th teacher tell you that you kid can’t even hold a pencil, what do you do? • When you tell a teacher that your child is very bright, and needs to be challenged in their class, only to have the teacher tell you your kid has a learning disability, what do you do? • When you talk to the principal about the disability comment, ask the principal to test your kid, are told the testing has taken place and your kid is normal for his grade level, then have your kid independently tested, and your kid comes out 2 grade levels above where his is, who do you tell that will listen to you? • When you find out the school did not even test your kid, what do you do? • When you confront the principal about this, and he tell you he needs kids like yours to bring up the meap averages, what do you do? • When your kid goes to the library to check out a book, only to have the school librarian tell him he is not smart enough to read this book, and refuses to let your kid check it out, what do you do? • When you talk personally to your kids teacher, and ask him/her to keep you advised of your kids progress, then find out your kid is not turning in his homework, ask the teacher why we were not informed, only to have the teacher tell you that is not his/her job to keep parents informed, what do you do? • When your school district is more concerned with how much community service a kid does, instead of bringing up dropping test scores, what do you do? • When you try to talk to the people on the school board, who won’t even return your calls or inquiries, what do you do? "
Any teachers out there care to comment on this? I would welcome any and all responses to these real life experiences...

[elpadre]

my wife was an outstanding teacher, but took an early retirement when the state installed the new “educational reforms” which, in essence, called for what I listed in the post above. And she wasn’t the only one. In fact, some of the state leaders expressed joy at learning many experienced teachers were leaving - getting rid of the old to make room for young pliable teachers.

[50sDad]

My daughter has a Latin supposed-teacher who regularly fails most of his class. He doesn't stop for questions, tells the students they aren't working hard enough, and clearly views his students as know-nothings. (I should say, my daughter is in a magnet school, and regularly pulls A's on her other classes, but half her class in Latin is getting D's, and she was a B student in every other Latin class up until this guy.) 90% of the graduating class at this school get scholarships somewhere, so they are the cream of the crop in our area.

Logically, given the variables and analyzing the data, the mathematical conclusion is "Sir, you are an elitist and a lousy educator". (But try telling him that.) And the D that she's going to get in that class is going to drag down an otherwise spectacular GPA. Thank you, NEA.

[ClearCase_guy]

Frustrating, huh?

My position is clear: Schools are out to milk the taxpayers for money, as an institution they do not care about educating children, they blame parents for all the problems and they then use that blame as leverage to get more money from the parents. It's a racket.

There are some teachers who really care about the kids and who do a good job. But the institution itself is designed to work against those well-meaning teachers, work against involved parents, and work against the students.

Government schools cannot be fixed. The idea of government schooling is fundamentally flawed.