Posted on 11/11/2001 2:54:18 AM PST by summer
The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 4 (Another PRO-Jeb Editorial)
Written by:
summer - a former Dem, now an independent, and a FL certified teacher
Well, class, it may be hard to believe that the last editorial I wrote was dated: September 10, 2001. If you did not read it and you could not find it on my profile page, you can find it here, by scrolling down the page on this URL:
http://bulldogbulletin.lhhosting.com/page8.htm
Because we have witnessed such profound changes in these past two months, I thought it appropriate to resume our learning today, Veterans' Day, Nov. 11, 2001, as such day affords us some sense of familiarity.
We know we honor our military today, as we do every year on Veterans' Day. I do not wish to compare those who serve in various civilian capacities with our military, as I believe our military is distinct in its mission. God bless all those who gave their lives in our military, defending our freedom, including members of our own families. And, God bless all those who serve now and who will serve in the future.
While the military remains separate and unique from civilian life, President Bush's recent speech to the nation about homeland security included reference to several groups of civilians, including postal workers. In referring to them, he used the phrase "those who now also serve on the front lines." His words reminded me of the following quote:
"The only war is the war you fought in. Every veteran knows that."
Allan Keller, New York World -Telegram, 1965
As a FL certified teacher, the war I know is the one I fought in schools, where many teachers, including myself, have worked diligently to provide high-quality, effective teaching to students. And, one of the saddest days I ever had in this battle was the day I read of a certain teacher here in Florida -- Barry Grunow, a "favorite" teacher of a student named Nathanial Brazill. This teacher did not receive a "thank you" at the end of the year from Nathan, but, instead, received a bullet, and died as a result. No, the teacher was not in the military. But, as in other civilian occupations, this veteran teacher died while on the job - and, left a young wife and two very young children. A memorial web page for Mr. Grunow is here:
http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/LakeWorthMS/Grunow/Grunow_Index.htm
What happened afterwards? Well, beyond the outcome of the legal events -- http://www.courttv.com/trials/brazill/ -- there was a request made by other teachers to this state's governor, asking Gov. Bush to please consider the surviving immediate families of teachers slain on the job.
Gov. Jeb Bush timely responded to this request from other teachers. He passed a new law known as "The Barry Grunow Act." This new law allows the families of teachers slain on the job to receive survivor benefits, and other benefits, much the same as the surviving families of a slain police officer or firefighter.
To my knowledge, Florida is the one and only state in this country that has such a law. Yet, other states have also suffered the wrongful murder of teachers. But, it is here in Florida, where teachers have a GOP governor who faced up to this new, potential tragedy teachers now risk confronting in their profession.
After Gov. Bush signed "The Barry Grunow Act" into law, effective June 2001-- ensuring lifetime financial benefits and other benefits to a surviving immediate family of a slain teacher -- the national teachers' union eventually spoke up later that summer.
What is the union's new benefit package for the families of teachers slain on the job? In sharp contrast to what Gov. Bush did for teachers, the union only provides a one-time lump sum payment, called "homicide insurance," in the amount of: $150,000. Not nearly as much as the lifetime financial benefits now available by FL law, thanks to the compassionate nature and fairness of a GOP governor, Gov. Bush.
In my opinion, the national teachers union failure to meet the same standard of financial security and care, as shown to Florida teachers by Gov. Bush, is a national disgrace for that union. A disgrace.
Today's lesson is over. Class, your assignment is this: Evaluate the truth of statements written on a billboard posted in Tallahassee by the FL Teacher's Union. Their photo of said billboard can be seen by clicking on the source link above, which is linked to:
http://www.floridaea.org/NewWebSite/billboardnewsconf.jpg
Keep in mind the following:
Gov. Bush has pushed, and will continue to push, for a Growth Management Plan in this rapidly growing state to eliminate overcrowding in schools, and has done so despite the risk of losing the political endorsement of the Home Developers Association, which does not want to tie new building of homes to new building of schools as Gov. Bush demands; Gov. Bush is not the one who sets teacher salaries in this state, as such matter is left to the local school districts; and, Gov. Bush has passed THREE new laws providing NEW financial benefits to teachers.
These NEW financial benefits are unique and only available for FL teachers - as such financial benefits are non-existent for public school teachers in every other state in this country. To review, thanks to Gov. Bush, FL teachers now receive the following three NEW financial benefits:
(1) lifetime financial benefits, and other benefits, to immediate survivors of slain teachers (as explained herein, in "The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 4:);
(2) full salary level credit for each year of successful teaching when hired by, or transferring to, a local school district (as explained in "The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 3" - available at http://bulldogbulletin.lhhosting.com/page8.htm); and
(3) free liability insurance for teachers, paid for by the state. (as explained in "The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows -- Part 1" - also at http://bulldogbulletin.lhhosting.com/page8.htm as well as on my profile page).
Consequently, here's my question for the FL Teachers' Union:
Why are you criticizing Gov. Jeb Bush's record on supporting teachers, when his actual record -- his THREE new INCREASES of financial benefits for teachers -- actually deserves your public praise?
And, class, here's my bonus question for the most creative among you: How would you re-write this billboard to better inform the public what Gov. Bush has actually done for teachers?
The best response(s) will be featured on a new, upcoming web page, called "Educators For Jeb."
See you again soon!
I mean, very very funny. You are really missing out. Too bad you take offense so quickly because I am laughing out loud just thinking of them.
But I have found something interesting:
It fits in with the shallowness of this post.
And yet you remain. That was culled from post 152. Will you be around for 304? When a subject disinterests me, I tend to ignore it. Perhaps I am just strange in that way.
Clearly I overestimated your tolerance for barbs and witty retorts. My deepest apologies. I cannot overstate how sorry I feel that such profound offense has been taken at my remarks.
Jeb was instrumental in helping out teachers in Florida even though they certainly voted against him in overwhelming numbers. Whether this action will result in more votes for Jeb by teachers isn't clear, but Jeb didn't do it for votes. He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do.
Enjoy your chuckle and your possible future appointment as Jeb's director of government education.
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