Governor vows no talks if teachers go on strike

The Courier-Journal | 9/20/2004 | Nancy C. Rodriguez

[Republican Wildcat]

Gov. Ernie Fletcher said yesterday that the Kentucky Education Association has "gone too far" by calling for an October strike unless the state improves the health-insurance plan for public school employees.

In a statement released yesterday afternoon, Fletcher urged the union to reconsider, and he said unless that happens, "it is inappropriate for me to negotiate in response to an illegal threat." -- The Courier-Journal

Click here for Story

[LanPB01]

I agree with some of your points, but as someone whose parents are both educators in the Kentucky school system, this place is a mess. The KEA is nothing more than a lobbying arm for the Democrats. I had to listen to their semi-socialist crap during all my formative years. I'm glad I overcame it.

[Porterville]

Reducing class size works; use your commonsense.

[BJungNan]

During a strike against a company, it is management's job to keep the company going the best it can. During a teacher's stike, it should similarly be the administration's job to keep school year and learning on track.

Every school should have a "strike curriculum" in place. That would include auditorium style classes in which assignments are passed out and where students are tested on assignments. Studies and the school year keep going even if the teachers are not there to administer them.

Most administrators were at one time teachers. Certainly they can handle it. Unfortunately, most administrators and school boards are sympathetic to the teachers and thus will continue to do nothing when teachers strike.

The teachers have every right to strike. But that does not absolve the administration and the school board of its responsibility to keep the school functioning.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I don't hate teachers. Conservatives do not usually fall for the old switch in a debate, nice try. Try to stick to the issues here.

Conservative teachers do not look for handouts from the government till. Everyone I know works tons of hours.. and most of them do not get paid for it. Lets not pretend that people in teaching positions in this country do not have more than ample time off.

[benson106]

Right here in my contract. If I choose to take insurance the family plan costs $12,648 a year. The district will contribute $1000, so that knocks it down to $11648. divide that by 12 months and it comes out to, oh i was wrong, it is not $920 a month, it is $970 a month.

thanks for helping me with my error. why do think they are fighting so hard for this.

Another person without a clue.

[myself6]

Where did THAT come from? "left" field I suppose.

Whenever "teachers" (and I use that term lightly, to describe the union thugs who run the indoctrination centers we send our kids to) take any eat they always fall back on some old standby talking points. Thing is though, you need to at least move the topic of discussion in a different direction before you use it, otherwise its just an out of context statement that leaves everyone wondering if you are sane or not.


This is about medical care you dolt. Pay your premiums and stop your b!tch!ng, otherwise get a new damn job.

[Capt.YankeeMike]

too bad, too sad. I have been a teacher at times, right up to the BA level. You have an EASY JOB. 3 months off every summer...short hours..dont give me that crap...i can grade a stack of papers in 20 minutes....
no sympathy here. I have a REAL job.
The Capt.

[Koblenz]

Hey folks, it's medical insurance. As long as we keep calling it "health" insurance then freeloaders will always think that coverage should include just about anything.

So should life insurance be called death insurance? And automobile insurance be called accident insurance?

[benson106]

I do work another job, so my wife can stay home a raise my children right, and not in day care.

So I don't have 3 months off a year do I?

Where is the next arguement?

[VRWCmember]

Did you not read the comment to which I was responding? The other poster made a ludicrous charge about people who object to the dismal state of public education and those who favor home schooling or vouchers complete with an anal reference insult. My comment was designed as an outrageously absurd response to illustrate the absurdity of the original comment.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

huh? Do you get your salary for working for nice months with three months of unpaid vacation..

or do you get paid for twelve months with three months paid vacation?

[BJungNan]

Mmm; your hatred of teachers will chase away conservative teachers that may agree with you on some points... you should look into yourself and try to find why it is you hate teachers.

Hate is too strong a word. I can not speak for the other poster you are replying to, but I can tell you when the teacher's struck our school, it was very upsetting to parents and students, and especially the seniors.

What upset me is that the administration at our school had no strike curriculum in place that would keep the school year in progress. They would not even consider implementing one when asked why they did not have one.

And when parents volunteered to coach the sports teams so kids could keep up their schedules against other schools, the administration said no to that also. They would not even unlock the gym so the kids could get their equipment on game day. Parents were ready to drive them to the games.

[Americanwolf]

I would step up and show them how it is done, but the union frowns upon that! Let me give you a little clue here mr. high and mighty. since you seem to think you know better then us, about education.

You made the comment that most of us that hate public school were the kids that were disruptive. Not only is that comment asinine, but it is also off base, and a generalization!

I was a quite kid in school, I did what the teachers told me, and followed all the rules, I was a normal kid, and because of the my entire 4th grade year I was ignored. I literally went in sat at me desk all day did my assignments and went home. The teach never corrected the assignments so I did not know weather the work I was doing was right or wrong. I never took a test that year, and as a result when I was moved to a parochial school by my parents. I could not pass the test to advance to the 5th grade there. That is only one example.

As for the radical parents that sue to get their kid advance the next grade that is a minor part of the overall issue.
for the past 15 years the school systems nationwide have had an open policy that the did not want to hold students back due to what it could do to their self esteem. That is the bigger issue here.

As for other student disrupting classes, that again is an issue of the school systems and the parents of the children that are the disrupters. Schools fail to enforce or enact punishment on disruptive students due to fears of being sued, or teachers that fear reprisal, because the system fails to back them when they attempt to discipline, so the school system has developed the inmate running the asylum situation. That is only being furthered by parents with the "it's not my child!" attitude.

There are a lot of other parents in the real world that would love to have there kids go to school in a nice safe learning environment, but due to liberal school boards, and courts that refuse to levy appropriate action against those who they need too. It has given the bad seeds free regain and this has raised a generation of kids that do not understand that there are consequence for actions that they take.

And you show either you lack of maturity or lack of education with you post. there is no need to have the elementary name calling here. So here is a suggestion. Go sit in on a week of public school classes at all levels elementary through high school and see what you really see.
On second thought by the screed you posted the lesson would be lost on you.

Regards,

One of your "arseho**" distruptors

P.S. If you respond please make it logical and to the point. If all it is going to be is a personal attack don't bother I have heard them all.

[RFEngineer]

"What benefits? I can't afford my WONDERFUL BENEFITS."

Then you need to either move, find another vocation, or get supplemental income.

The thought that state and federal government employees deserve more than the poor slug who pays their freight is just wrong.

Those who choose not to compete in the real world should not get more than the poor slob who can't afford his needs because of the tax burden he must bear to support people like you.

Nobody forces teachers to stay and teach. They do it because whatever reward they get from staying is better than anything else they can or try to do.

KY teachers are scared of the real world......and it IS scarey when you realize you must add value or be fired in the real world. Most would do fine if they were forced to do it....and that's the problem - they think they don't HAVE to pay their own way, so they are going to try to strike.

[BJungNan]

Reducing class size works; use your commonsense.

It works to employ more teachers. That much is common sense. But classes with 34 or 36 kids is not going to impede learning.

[CastleMan95]

If there are people in the classroom who dont want to learn and/or disrupt it...how is education going to improve significantly by just reducing class size? Reducing class size alone will not make a student who doesnt care about his/her education begin to care...and it will probably not make a disruptive student a lot more attentive. Now if you got rid of the trouble makers and got most students and their parents to care...then I believe it would work.

[Porterville]

Well, I guess commonsense has failed you. For that I am sorry, by don't give up on hope... it may return someday.

[Porterville]

I've taught college classrooms with 50 people before and classes as small as 6.... there is a difference... again commonsense.

[kingu]

If I want health care through the school that I teach at, it would cost me $920 a month, YES a month.

So, umm, you're advocating a $12,000 a year increase in salary, right?

I'm sorry, but there are plenty of medical insurance options that run far, far, far, far less than that. Get a listing of options from Blue Cross, a 45 year old head of household can get insurance for themselves and their family members for under $300 a month.

People in most states would rather spend tax money by building prisons than having a tax increase for your kids in school.

No, that's a tax increase to pay for the medical insurance for the teachers, not a tax increase for the kids. It's for the kids, it's for the kids -- the last bastion of the liberal mindset.

[VeniVidiVici]

thanks for helping me with my error.

No problem.

Some teachers just need a hand every now and then. Some need a hand all the time. Glad to do my part.

Still looking for the url.