The NEA Lists its Goals and the Democratic Party Agrees

Human Events ^ | 08/20/2007 | Phyllis Schlafly

[samtheman]

If I had a touch of the Old Time Religion I’d seriously entertain the idea that Hillary is the AntiChrist. Can a woman be the AntiChrist?

(Is her mother’s name Rosemary?)

[wintertime]

I am very sorry to hear about your friend.

If you work for jerks ( and all Marxists and their useful idiots are jerks) expect to be treated badly.

[Tired of Taxes]

What a shame. I used to work in sales for a company where practically all of my clients were schoolteachers. The stories they would tell me... Quite a few had been wrongly accused at one point or another. I would never want to be a teacher today.

I read your poor friend’s eraser story, and it reminded me of an incident I witnessed in grade school. Feel free to pass this story along to him. Maybe it will put a smile on his face:

Back in the 70’s, my seventh grade class in a Catholic school had a particularly strict nun. The class was always silent when she was teaching. I should also mention she had a terrific pitching arm. I remember seeing her pitch fastballs to kids out in the schoolyard.

One day, when she turned her back to erase the blackboard, a boy sitting near me whispered to his friend sitting next to him. Sister pivoted (much like my 11yo son did recently when he made a second base pickoff from the pitcher’s mound) with eraser in hand and threw it hard. It smacked one of the boys in his head, bounced off, and hit the head of the boy he was talking to. And I’m not exaggerating at all. You might say she made a double-play in one throw. Immediately, the boys went silent again, and she went on teaching like nothing happened.

No lawyers. No lawsuit. And that was one of the tamest incidents I witnessed at our school.

For the record, I homeschool my sons. :-)

[guinnessman]

Thanks for the story, I’ll tell my friend Garry.

Garry used to tell me about a teacher (a Brother) in his high school who used to write perfectly on the chalkboard with his back to the chalkboard. That he never had his back turned to the students. :^)

[Twink]

Thanks for the link. That’s a shame about your friend.

I worked for two districts with different unions (NEA and AFT). The AFT (or PFT) seemed far more interested in working for the teachers. My brother worked for the AFT so I learned much about union corruption. The suburban district was easier in every way, though. That was back in the late 80’s/early 90’s and it’s far different today.

[Pinkbell]

These socialists want control of children so they can indoctrinate them with their “values” from an early age. This way they’ll support socialist goals, and they won’t listen to their evil, conservative parents.

[Twink]

no one is holding a gun to anyone’s head. However, if one wants to teach in a district, one has to choose his/her battles.

I don’t consider public school so abhorrent to call them government institutions. I value the public education system but it’s way off course imo.

It’s easy to say all teachers suck, contribute to the problem. It’s easy to say any parents who send their kids to public schools is just getting what they deserve.

Believe it or not, some actually teach because they’re good at it. They enjoy their job, interacting with and teaching kids something they’re knowledgeable about and excited about sharing.

If a teacher doesn’t join the union, he/she still has to pay a huge percentage of union dues. Here, it was close to 80%. If you don’t join, even tho you pay those dues, it’s a target on you.

Some teachers just want to teach what they’ve studied. I don’t know what it’s like elsewhere but I know PA and NJ. A teacher can’t NOT join the union and expect Tenure or anything fair job related. And those who don’t join the union, still have to pay a ridiculous amount of union dues.

I sent my kids to catholic grade school (K-8) but I’m still active in our district because I live here and I teach here.

So I guess I’m part of the problem in your opinion. That’s fine. As for me, I’ll continue to attend every school board meeting and faculty meeting and say my peace. And vote and encourage everyone I know to vote. I prefer to try to change the system rather than toss grenades at it. Many teachers in this area are disgusted by what’s happening in their schools and their union. Many parents are digusted, too.

Not all parents think homeschooling is the best option. As for me, I would never do it regardless of my two master degrees, one in education. I credit those who do but don’t discredit those who don’t. Not all parents can afford catholic or private schools. Especially when property taxes are paying for the public schools.

My conclusion: anyone who doesn’t understand how the public school system in this country works needs to do more research.