Skip to comments.
The Education Costa Nostra
townhall.com ^
| 3/01/04
| Armstrong Williams
Posted on 03/01/2004 1:08:41 AM PST by kattracks
Paige has had hell to pay this week for comparing the largest U.S. teachers' union to a "terrorist organization" during a private White House meeting. The New York Times called the remark "staggeringly stupid." And indeed, it wasn't the smartest thing to say, even if in jest, because it puts the unions on the defensive allowing them to create the sort of self-righteous noise that detracts the public from real education reform. That said, the remark was right (even if it wasn't politically correct).
The two largest unions, the AFT and NEA, hold public education system hostage. They are fundamentally opposed to any education reform-like vouchers or the No Child Left Behind Act-that seeks to hold public schools accountable for their failures. They attack such reforms because they know that these plans would mean the likely defections of public school personnel to privatized systems and the birth of competing collective bargaining entities. For the teacher's unions, the idea of competition can only mean giving up leverage and money.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: armstrongwilliams; educationreform; nclb; nea; neaterrorists; rodpaige
1
posted on
03/01/2004 1:08:42 AM PST
by
kattracks
To: kattracks
He was just overstating his opinion, I did not take offense to it, he was just remarking on their tatics and it is his right to have his own opinion, a good man should never be centured for a slip of the tougue.
2
posted on
03/01/2004 3:51:45 AM PST
by
garylmoore
(Now I know: It is as it was)
To: garylmoore
I heard a paraphrase of his remarks, but haven't seen a transcript. I also can't recall where I heard the paraphrase, maybe by Newt Gingrich on FoxNews.
Anyway, the remark comes off very differently in context. Paige likened teachers to soldiers in a war on illiteracy or some such. His gripe and his unfortunate choice to use the word "terrorist" were aimed at NEA leadership.
3
posted on
03/01/2004 4:00:51 AM PST
by
Cboldt
To: kattracks
I think he made an accurate statement.
There is no adjective too vile for these gangsters who use the schools to advance an agenda of atheism, political correctness, sexual perversion and historical revisonism upon America's youth.
4
posted on
03/01/2004 4:20:59 AM PST
by
ZULU
(GOD BLESS SENATOR McCARTHY!!!!)
To: kenth; CatoRenasci; Marie; PureSolace; Congressman Billybob
5
posted on
03/01/2004 6:10:52 AM PST
by
Born Conservative
(Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps.)
To: ZULU
There is no adjective too vile Agreed.
6
posted on
03/01/2004 6:13:57 AM PST
by
FourPeas
To: FourPeas
I would ask each teacher commit to wanting higher salaries. Then I would ask them to commit to achieving higher salaries by increasing the GPA of their students, which will be verified through student testing.
That is not asking for much.
7
posted on
03/01/2004 8:12:37 AM PST
by
EQAndyBuzz
(60 Senate seats changes the world!! Bury Kerry in 04!)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson