Teacher Unions Reward Mediocrity, Fail the Students

Real Clear Politics ^ | February 22, 2006 | John Stossel

[george76]

"The teachers united will never be defeated!" chanted thousands of public-school teachers at a union rally.

They may be right -- unfortunately.

Teachers unions in this country are very influential because they can assemble a crowd.

Randi Weingarten, head of New York's teachers union, put out the word, and thousands of teachers filled Madison Square Garden to demand a new contract and more money.

That clout brings timid politicians into line.

The unions can pay for expensive rallies at "the world's most famous arena" because every teacher in a unionized district like New York must give up some of his salary to the union.

Even teachers who don't like the union, teachers who believe in school choice, and teachers who could make more on the open market must fork over their money to support the unions that fight against school choice and merit pay.

The unions use their clout to fight against the interests of the best teachers.

Union leaders make sure the teachers who work hardest don't get raises or bonuses.

Everyone with the same seniority and credentials must be paid the same.

That guarantees that no teacher will take home a dime for making extra sure that students learn.

Joel Klein, who as New York's schools chancellor runs the country's largest public-school system, put it this way:

"We tolerate mediocrity, and people get paid the same whether they're outstanding or whether they're average or, indeed, whether they're way below average."

Klein said that out of 80,000 teachers, only two have been fired for incompetence in the past two years.

Of course, unions do more than just protect incompetents.

[capt. norm]

We can talk about child workers, company towns, company stores and scrip, killings, beatings...all the fun stuff I know you'll be happy to discuss.

Right, but you refuse to discuss the present corruption.

All you can talk about is the past BEFORE they became corrupt. Secondly that's all covered by laws now anyway so how is that relevant today?

What started out as a good idea was ceased upon as a cash cow by the criminal element, but because they Once did some good, they are now immune from criticism.

Remember, dollar uber alles.

....That's what I'm wondering about your zeal in defending corrupt organizations. If that's how you get yours, so be it.

[italianquaker]

Why do i have to spend MY MONEY on public schools whern i dont use and will never use there services

[MarxSux]

Embarrassing to whom? The captains of industry from those bad old days are long dead.

[Eska]

Poor parenting ensures that our public school system will have an endless supply of deadenders lacking basic social skills or the ingrained drive to attain success.

It all starts with the family. Can't figure how some conservatives can be so blind.

[genghis]

freedom and capitalism work
socialism doesn't.
It amazes me that so few understand this.
We need a separation between the state and education.

[george76]

The politicians in Hawaiian also can not figure out (or do not want to figure out) that gas price controls also do not work.

The result is that Hawaii has the highest prices in the nation.

The unions protect the lazy and/or incompetent. Many good teachers leave because of the union rules.

[george76]

But Hillary said that it takes a village.../s

Your point is correct. There are many bad parents. In fact, there are many parents who are not in their children's lives at all.

Many prefer the more exciting life of drugs and crime.

Many parents are teenagers/children themselves. They have not grown up.

Sometimes, it is the grandparents are raising their grandkids because "mom" or "dad" are gone.

There is a huge burden to try to raise these kids. Often the challenges are not met.

[Born Conservative]

If you have asked to be added to this list, and haven’t been receiving the pings, please let me know. I’ve had a problem with my file synchronization between my home and work computer, and apparently have lost some names on the list. I think I have the problem fixed, and will gladly re-add your name.

[wintertime]

While true that teachers' unions reward mediocrity, bad parenting has wreaked more havoc on public education.

6666666666666666666666666666''\

Hmm,,,,According the the NEA only teachers are smart enough to teach kids. Yet,,,,when the kids don't learn it is somehow the parent's fault?

Sorry,,,,you can't have it both ways.

By the way, my homeschooled kids were admitted to college t the young ages 13, 12, and 13. I had plenty of time to hang out on the community college campus and watch high school grads struggle through remedial courses.

If community colleges can teach kids remedial reading and math in two years, then the government schools could have taught it long before these kids hit college.

[traviskicks]

On the 'job banks' that NY city teachers go to when they cannot be fired:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-2_15_06_JS.html

[wintertime]

It all starts with the family. Can't figure how some conservatives can be so blind.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&77

According to the NEA only certified teachers are qualified to teach children, yet, when children fail to learn it is somehow the parents fault.

Sorry,,,you can't have it both ways.

By the way, my homeschooled kids were admitted to college at the young ages of 13,12, and 13. Since I had to drive them and pick them up, I had plenty of time to hang around the campus. What I witnessed was small armies of high school grads being tutored in remedial reading and math.

If the community college could teach these illiterate and semi-literates and innumerates and bring them up to college level in two years, then the government school could have done that all along~!

[Eska]

Maybe not in yours or mine, but the failure of the American family affects us all just the same. Maybe you should turn on fox news and see the real world. You can't run or hide from the problem either; eventually you will feel the pain in taxes or crime.

Today, teachers are required by Fed law to attempt to raise proper citizens. Academics has taken a back seat to all the socialization not being accomplished by parents.

You can preach the benefits all you want about homeschooling and I won't dispute the fact your kids are getting a better education. Truth of the matter is that homeschooling is a small part of education in America. Public education is here to stay. I guess I had my own eyes opened to the scope of the problem when I spent some volunteer time in the local school.

Can't blame it all on those evil, commie teachers.

[wintertime]

Maybe not in yours or mine, but the failure of the American family affects us all just the same


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Teachers love to blame the parents.

If it were the parents' fault, why are the KIPP schools doing so well? They are working wonders with the most disadvantaged children in America?

Why are the KIPP schools working?

They are working because they are teaching!

[.cnI redruM]

Just wait until a fairly large percentage of the union membership is retired. Than you'll you'll see how little they really care about the ones still in the classroom.

[moog]

While true that teachers' unions reward mediocrity, bad parenting has wreaked more havoc on public education.

There's a combination of factors to consider, both of the examples you cite as two of them, though to be honest, as a teacher, I don't reward mediocrity and don't know of many teachers who do. But that's just here. Obviously different in other places. While I'm not a big fan of big media types like Stassel, this does tell me that as a teacher, I need to make sure I do my part by working to help my first graders achieve and to do it the best I can. Now, I think next week, we'll learn 3 sounds instead of 1 :) HEHEHEHEHE:).

[moog]

It all starts with the family. Can't figure how some conservatives can be so blind. I don't think the family is JUST to blame. We often forget about things like the media and individual responsibility/accountability too, not to mention some teachers too. BUT having an involved nuclear family indeed helps. Teachers love stay-at-home moms too. I'm glad there are many families around here who do expect their kids to achieve.

[moog]

Many parents are teenagers/children themselves. They have not grown up. Sometimes, it is the grandparents are raising their grandkids because "mom" or "dad" are gone. There is a huge burden to try to raise these kids. Often the challenges are not met.

As a teacher, I've seen all types, but I completely agree here. I have one student who has his grandparents raising him. His mom is coming around--she's off drugs now, but all of a sudden she's pregnant again (I have no idea where his dad is, all I know is the kid deosn't see him). This boy has had a lot to overcome, but with the love and guidance of his grandparents he has come a long way. He went up over a grade level (from second to third in my first grade class) last month. He has some issues such as being overly active, but he is a wonderful boy with a wonderful heart. I sure appreciate his grandparents too. He is going to be one student who I will remember and keep in touch with for years to come.

[moog]

Just wait until a fairly large percentage of the union membership is retired. Than you'll you'll see how little they really care about the ones still in the classroom. I agree and I think there will be a shift.

[moog]

Teachers love to blame the parents. Many people just love to blame someone else period. We all need to look in the mirror, me especially. I agree that when there is teaching involved, things "work." It's something I learned and applied long ago. And I am still learning from others. If you can't learn from others, you ain't learning.

[george76]

A local baby boomer couple who were planning their retirement recently had their daughter permanently drop off her five kids. One is a baby.

She is now off on to more fun with more drugs.

No reports on who the fathers are...or if the mother plans on having more kids.

The grandparents now get retirement posponed another 20 years. If they live that long.


The kids did not deserve this.