Ozment, a GOP moderate who is bowing out from his Rosemount-based district after more than two decades, isn’t saying whom he’d like to see in his seat. At Saturday’s endorsing convention, however, he plans on making his reservations about former challenger Judy Lindsay as clear as rainwater.
“Judy’s an extremist. Everybody knows my opposition to Judy. She doesn’t support education,” Ozment said Wednesday.
“She’s just not electable,” he continued. “If they would endorse her, I’m afraid the Republicans would lose that seat.”Lindsay, 50, of Rosemount, is taking Ozment’s anti-endorsement in stride. She spent more than eight years on the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board, winning re-election in 1999 with the official backing of the Republican Party and strong opposition from teachers’ unions.
We all know that Judy Lindsay would be a welcome addition to the party of Marty Seifert.
Lindsay has good reason to ignore Ozment. When he (or anyone else says they “support education” they mean they support the teachers union, not the students.
Conversely, any time you hear about the teachers union supporting someone, or something you know the kids are poised to get screwed again.
The fact that Lindsay is opposed by that self-serving bunch of socialist muck rakers proves she puts the best interests of the students right where they should be: Up front and center.
The fact that our representatives are trending conservative is great news for the hard working families of Minnesota, and for the GOP.
Rep. Lindsay will be great in her new position.
If Kurt Hanson gets the Dem endorsement it wouldn’t matter who runs against him - he has extremely high negatives with his eminant domain battle which enriched himself by $75k at the expense of Rosemount taxpayers.
Swiftee is right on - the NEA and EM are what’s wrong with education.
This piece by Democrat Ember Reichgott Junge regarding the 5th District House race sheds light on the power wielded by EM if you step out of line - http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/11131541.html
Wow, thanks for the link Moose.
If anyone has any doubts about why the public schools are in such a shambles, this tale of what happens to prospective candidates that dare challenge the status quo should clear things up immediatly.
EdMN exists soley to protect it’s political power and to ensure that it’s membership recieves a generous pay increase each year, whether they earned it or not. They own public education in Minnesota and crush any challenge to that ownership…even, or maybe expecially, if that challenge might refocus public schools towards academic excellence at the expense of their financial and political priorities.
Reichgott Junge is liberal as they come, but she promoted charter schools which are public schools, but are typically non-union. Here’s the right-on-the-money quote:
“Five days before the primary election, the local teachers union sent out a mailing to likely primary voters describing me as “no friend of public education,” though I was endorsed by the union in four prior legislative campaigns. The attack dropped my support numbers significantly in one day.”
So once again the union wins and the kids lose. This article makes me loath Keith Hakim Ellison all the more…what a scumbag.
I was about to post something saying “good for Ozment to be a moderate voice.” And I believe that. But then, I saw the posts. I have to say that I agree — being supported by Education (upper case ‘E’, the union) means you are in good with another union. Not having their support is a positive or at worst a neutral, in my book.
Supporting education - lower case ‘e’ - is very important and something government is supposed to focus on.
I know how Reichgott Junge feels Dan.
In 2003, I ran for the St. Paul School board and when the union found out how vehemently I opposed their agenda they pulled out all the stops to smear me; it was ugly.
As a conservative, I knew I never had a chance to win an election in St. Paul, even to the school board, but I wanted the platform to bring issues that are very important to me to the public stage.
Of course the teachers union wanted anything but that.
So one of their puppets was elected and the districts 42% failure to graduate rate has held steady as a rock. The only thing headed up in SPPS (or MPS for that matter) is the amount of money that is wasted.
Swiftee, you’re not a “conservative”; you’re an extremist wingnut.
And these days, reasonable people are sick of your type.
You know 2pud, I’m against abortion; I think it’s murder.
But in your case I’m almost tempted to consider the possibility that your mother deserves a good slap for having foisted such a big mouthed, one balled punk on the rest of us…no, really.
The adults are talking, so go sit by your water dish and shut up, boy.
You need a person for it to be called murder.
In other news: The repubican party eats itself.
That the best you can do, NotSoSwiftly?
Swfitee -
Having known Ozment all my life, I can tell you that he is a Republican, not a Republican you would like, but a kind of Republican that Minnesota likes (think Anderson, Carlson, etc). He has a strong pro-life record (active in the 1st Baptist Church in Rosemount), a strong position on public safety (reired fire captain), and a strong environmental record (Clean Water Legacy).
Judy on the other hand just wanted to deconstruct things. She acted like she wanted all public education dismantled, and that doesn’t fly here in Minnesota. Yeah she hated the teachers (and their union), but there was soooo much more that people disliked about her too.
There are two other candidates on the GOP side, why don’t you check them out before you start with the Judy-worship. And while you’re at it, ask your buddy Father Altier what the bible says about love
As for the rest of the field, I predict that Kurt Walter-Hasbeen will take a fall in the endorsement. HE FLEECED THE TAXPAYERS OF ROSEMOUNT WITH HIS REAL ESTATE SPECULATION. It was never about eminent domain with this guy (a foreigner for you xenophobes), it was always about the dough-ray-me.
Phil Sterner has a big chance at this seat, Apple Valley is turning DFL, which offsets the “new money, house poor” in Rosemount. And even Eileen Tompkins is involved in one of the GOP campaigns, but I don’t think her participation will be helpful to anyone.
“Having known Ozment all my life, I can tell you that he is a Republican, not a Republican you would like, but a kind of Republican that Minnesota likes”
Who are you to speak for what “Minnesota” likes or does not? We’re going to go into your broad brushed non-sequiters in depth here, but for starters what you mean is the Ozment is a Republican that Democrats like, so you’re right in that he’s not a Republican I would endorse.
“She acted like she wanted all public education dismantled, and that doesn’t fly here in Minnesota.”
Public education is a constitutionally protected right of the citizens of Minnesota. But there is no verbage as to what the bureaucracy, administration or infrastructure needs to look like.
As long as the schools are the bought and paid for property of a blue collar trade labor union they are doomed to failure; that’s not an opinion, its a fact.
But of course the majority of the politicians in the legislature are also bought and paid for by that same union, so there is little chance that academic excellence will regain the focus it deserves until something drastic allows for a wholesale rebuilding.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the public schools, as we know them today, will have to be allowed to collapse under their own rotting, dead-weight and rebuilt from scratch before the kids that depend on them will ever have a chance of success.
It sounds like Judy has come to the same conclusion…smart woman.
“Yeah she hated the teachers (and their union), but there was soooo much more that people disliked about her too.”
She hated teachers?
You’re saying that Judy has met every teacher and decided to hate them all? Or are you suggesting that she just hates some and not others? Which ones does she hate, IM, specifically?
See, that stupid little attempt at a slur doesn’t stand up to scruitiny very well does it?
We can, and should hate Education Minnesota as an institution for the carnage it has wreaked on our kids, but we really couldn’t even hate individual minions because we don’t know them.
Finally, when you say “there was soooo much more that people disliked about her too” you really mean that there was soooo much more that *Democrats* disliked about her, don’t you?
Quick, somebody call the WHAAAAMBULANCE for Swiftee. Do we need to give Planned Parenthood some money in your name Tom?
Even though EM likes to argue differently - it’s a perfectly logical argument to say you love and support teachers while at the same time loathing Education Minnesota.
The majority of teachers are wonderful, caring individuals that make a difference in the lives of our children.
Unfortunately, the goals of the Teacher’s Union is about protecting mediocrity and wielding influence - not at all about how to improve the results of our students or even promoting excellence among teachers.
I see Ioannes “gets” Kurt Hanson - he’s no better than a white collar thief.
he’s not a Republican I would endorse.
So Oz will have to struggle on without the critical, nay, required for election to any office in state government, endorsement of Tom “I am the endorser” Swift.
will have to be allowed to collapse under their own rotting, dead-weight and rebuilt from scratch before the kids that depend on them will ever have a chance of success.
It sounds like Judy has come to the same conclusion…smart woman.
So Judy Lindsey is advocating the collaspe of the public school system. This is good for the voters to know.
WTF?? Heh…I guess that smackdown rattled around the peanut that passes for MaximumIgnorance’s brain and ‘tilted’ him.
Someone do the poor slob a favor and hit his reset button will ya?
That’s right Richard, Judy is a big collaspe backer, spread the word.
Judy Lindsay would be bad for the Republican party and bad for Minnesota. Her high tax big government agenda is exactly what
the Republican party does NOT need.
Unfortunately, the goals of the Teacher’s Union is about protecting mediocrity and wielding influence - not at all about how to improve the results of our students or even promoting excellence among teachers.
Without the teacher’s union, teachers would be paid less, have fewer benfits, and poorer working conditions. This would result in a higher turn-over rate and fewer teachers with years of experience. High turn-over is one of the most serious and expensive quality costs any enterprise can incur. Teachers need a union to negociate contracts that provide livable wages and safe working enviroments. Anti-union sentiments are exactly counter to working for a better educational system. The intellectually lazy might like to rail against the “damn unions” but we all owe our current standard of living to those same unions they so frequently demonize.
I have taken the moonbat Swiftee down, now I will put it on my blog
“Without the teacher’s union, teachers would be paid less, have fewer benfits, and poorer working conditions.”
Mediocre teachers would be paid less, you’re right.
But if teaching was treated like the professional vocation it purports itself to be highly skilled teachers would be able to demand compensation commensurate with their abilities and teachers with highly prized educational backgrounds like mathematics and science wouldn’t have to settle for the same pay that someone with an Phy Ed. degree gets.
“This would result in a higher turn-over rate and fewer teachers with years of experience. High turn-over is one of the most serious and expensive quality costs any enterprise can incur.”
Initially the dead wood would certianly get weeded out. The cynical, the jaded, the uncommitted, the incompetant…the schools would certianly breath a sigh of relief to be rid of these.
Years of experience, in and of itself doesn’t mean jack. In the current system a complete moron can warm a chair until retirement without challenge. A bit of professional competition would fix that up.
“Teachers need a union to negociate contracts that provide livable wages and safe working enviroments.”
The only people that “need” a mouthpiece to do their talking for them are the unskilled and the uneducated. Teaching isn’t commensurate with drilling holes in widgets all day long; or at least it’s not supposed to be.
“Anti-union sentiments are exactly counter to working for a better educational system.”
I say that’s a specious statement. I say that’s BS. Prove me wrong. Your entire thesis has revolved around how the union is good for the teachers. I’ve thoroughly debunked it, but at least your premise was properly placed.
But if an “educational system” is created for the benefit of teaching our kids lessons of academic importance there is nothing of value that a union has to offer…nothing.
When Lindsay testified in favor of Arlon Lindner’s bill to repeal the Human Rights Act as it applied to gays, she made the claim that homosexuality causes bipolar disorder. This is one of the most nonsensical claims I’ve heard - and I was not able to verify the source she claimed:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2003/04/judy-lindsay-responds-and-her-email.html
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2003/04/figures-dont-lie-but-liars-figure.html
I don’t recall receiving any mailing from Education Minnesota as a ‘likely primary voter in 2006,’ so I think blaming the union for a drop in numbers is just an excuse for a poor showing in the primary.
Ozment is a military veteran, and Rosemount has a very large National Guard Training Center (Armory). Someone like Phil Sterner, that has a son in the Air Force, and a family business, might be a better fit for the district than those extremists.
Swiftee is against supporting teachers, or unions - but wants to support the kids????
What does that mean, exactly?
As loving a paean he offers other posters, why should I believe he cares about ANYONE else?
The name fits. A “wiftee,” all right.
I read former Houston, TX superintendant, Rod Paige’s book - The War Against Hope. A very good read if you want to educate yourself on the topic of teacher unions. Here is a telling comment from the Amazon comments on the book -
I am a veteran public school teacher and read this entire captivating book in one sitting. Paige does make some valid arguments about the corrupt, anti-child actions of teachers unions. Some of his frustrations I share 100%. First of all, I agree that unions make it very difficult for school districts to fire blatantly incompetent teachers.
I also agree with Paige that because of union contracts, there is very little incentive, apart from a teacher’s own conscience, to go “above and beyond” to help the students learn. The teacher pay scale applies to every single teacher, regardless of his/her competence or effectiveness, and is based only on seniority and continuing education units. Therefore, the veteran 30-year teacher who does the bare minimum will usually make at least TWICE as much as the new teacher down the hall who comes to work early, stays late, works hard, and does a darn good job teaching the kids. Paige cites research which claims that a teacher’s effectiveness declines after he/she has been on the job for five years. If this claim is accurate, it is probably due to the fact that a teacher’s salary does not correlate even one bit to how good that teacher is. Once a teacher has been in the system for a while, he/she begins to realize this and as a result, there is a decline in motivation to perform the job well.
Rod Paige is a load
Yeah, Rod Paige is the Bush appointee who referred to the NEA as a terrorist organization. Heck of a job, Paigey. Unions might might make it difficult to fire incompentent teachers but, as with all unions, it’s a matter of documentation. How does one measure the competence of a teacher? Popularity?, Pass/Fail rates? Standardized tests? How about the extremely competent and dedicated teacher who has a high percentage of “english as a second language” students? Is that teacher going to suffer because of a low Pass/Fail rate or low scores on the standardized tests? My three kids went through the public school system, and I will be eternally grateful for the job the teachers my kids came in contact with, did. Of course, my wife and I approached the task of educating our kids as a partnership with the teachers. In fact, we decided early on that we were primarily responsible for our kids success or failure. Educating our children is the most important job in our society and railing against the union for trying to provide decent wages and job security is a “straw man” arguement for the real motives behind it. These anti-education proponents want the public to pay for an exclusive private educational system so that the ruling elite can remain the ruling elite and everyone else becomes it’s servants. You want a higher caliber of teacher? Pay twice the wages. Build temples to education and build a lot of ‘em. You want a better outcome to 13 years of school? Get serious about educating kids and quit trying to do it on the cheap. Let’s swap the Pentagon budget for the education budget and let’s make the Air Force hold a bake sale for a new bommber.
“These anti-education proponents want the public to pay for an exclusive private educational system so that the ruling elite can remain the ruling elite and everyone else becomes it’s servants.”
You win Richard. This is *the* most assinine statement of the week; congratulations.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the public schools, as we know them today, will have to be allowed to collapse under their own rotting, dead-weight and rebuilt from scratch before the kids that depend on them will ever have a chance of success.
And exactly what would be the end result of that collaspe? A private system. Your words, moron, not mine.
assinine,, close but it’s spelled asinine. Tom, how many different ways can you debunk the notion that you have a wit of intelligence?
Ouch. Swiftee’s spelling and grammar is obviously the result of teachers’ unions.
Or perhaps he got a ‘superior’ private education.
I think Swiftee’s diatribes sound better in the original German.
Richard - the amount of money spent on K-12 education has far outpaced the rate of inflation and yet we have no better results. What evidence does paying the same people more under the same system will result in different results?
Why is it that so many other countries get much better results for a fraction of the cost?
It’s not the amount we’re spending - it’s the structure. Even teachers themselves recognize the problem.
Ever watched the movie “Stand and Deliver” about an incredible Math Teacher in LA’s inner city? Read the whole story about how the union & school administration ruined what was an unbelievable teacher’s success - http://www.reason.com/news/show/28479.html
The fact is that the U.S spends as much or more on education as many countries that have students that tend to perform better than children in the United States. In Minnesota 40% of our general fund dollars go to education. As a nation we spend about 7% of GDP on education with puts us in the top tier of developed nations so the idea that we simply are not spending enough to compete is fundamentally false.
Also “In 1982, per-pupil spending was $5,930; it rose 60% by 2000 to $9,230 (inflation-adjusted). The reduction in student-teacher ratio from 18.6 in 1982 to 15 in 1999 accounts for the greatest proportion of this increase in spending.(Hoxby, Caroline, M. “What Has Changed And What Has Not, in Our Schools and Our Future …Are We still at Risk, Koret Task Force on K-12 Education, 2003, p.101,103.).” Which shows that the trend for spending has by no means been down.
If you believe our education system is broken the reason is not simply funding. The fact is that the different teachers unions and education special interest groups have been the primary controllers of our education system. The power they have gained for themselves through massive political donations and decades of political gamesmanship makes them more responsible for he current state of education than any other group.
The unions have no motivation to improve education. They are motivated only to increase the compensation and job security for their members. While properly compensated teachers are a vital part of education eliminating the motivation for those educators perform has negative consequences. Consequences the union has made an effort to ignore and hide as doing so is in the best interest of the union. The union has gone from a balancing force that helps to increase the competence of our educators to the primary driver of policy. Policy that tends to put the union above all else while denying any responsibility for the results.
KH — You are letting parents and the coommunity off the hook mighty easily. Qualtiy teachers and schools are important, but they are meaningless without parental involvement. Yes, a lot of parents (to save time: all of them reading this post) are deeply involved in their children’s educations, but there are many more who are, at best, passive consumers. An active parent is one who asks about homework before letting the kids turn on the video game. How can we expect reading abilities to improve when the adults in a child’s life don’t read anything more complex than the television listings (probably so they can find the show that teaches that the smart kids are geeks to be mocked)? What’s going to happen to math abilities when balancing a checkbook, if done at all, requires a calculator for what is just basic addition and subtraction?
What about the community? What do most people expect of schools? Good athletics, and babysitting. The University is, according to most people, a combined trade school and professional sports training ground. Real learning? Knowledge for the sake of knowledge? Education because ignorance is not a good thing? Who[m] are you kidding?
You’ve got the situation just right KH.
But as long as the public system continues to have the support of people who are willing to trade the futures of their kids, and the kids of others, in return for a stable pool of high paying unionized jobs and the ability to inculcate political agendas people with the wherewithall will continue to pull their kids out.
That is the truth in the assertion that the public system is finding itself being forced to deal with students that, for a variety of reasons, are difficult if not impossible to educate. Parents that give a wit are finding alternatives.
SPPS spends $12K per student each year in return for a 58% rate of graduation; MPS gets even more for less return. But it might as well be $120K for all the effect money has on academic excellence when academics are not the priority.
It should also be noted that more than half of students (nearer 3/4 actually) that graduate and go on to college, the public schools “cream of the crop” need remedial coursework before they can move on to regular college level studies.
This may be OK for the kids of the Richards and IM’s of the world, we’ll always need someone to dig the holes and haul the trash, but for the majority I think it stinks.
Your confusing curriculum with compensation. The union has nothing to do with mandating subject matter. If you want to argue for the teaching of intellegent design in High School science classes we can do that but it has nothing to do teachers contracts. If you want to argue for the efficacy of “No Child Left Behind” in the accurate measurement of the educational system that would be great, but again, that has nothing to do with the union’s positive or negative impact on the system. The teacher’s union works for decent, livable wages and safe working conditions. Wtihout that union, teachers would be paid less and would be forced to work in worse conditions. If you want to improve the educational system, maybe the first place to start would be anti-science members of the Republican party.
I’m glad you’re satisfied with the status quo for your kids, Richard. Like I said, there will always be a place for unskilled laborers.
Richard,
You cannot possible believe that the unions have no say in curriculum unless you are truly delusional. The force of the unions in education goes far beyond simply fighting for the fair compensation of their members. The union is an overwhelming force when it comes to changing the integrated framework of our education system. Any policy that advocates for reform on any level is almost impossible to pass at any level if the union finds it objectionable. They use their monetary and contact resources to “encourage” legislators to support their point of view over any other. The only way you can believe that the union does not affect policy is if you don’t believe money affects politics.
The unions have had and do have a much bigger impact than the anti-science types on the day in and day out mechanics of our education system. People with different and nutty views will always be one of the issues the system must deal with. Like it or not the unions and those who support a bigger more intrusive government have had a majority of control over education for decades. That puts the majority of the responsibility for it’s current situation on them.
Though the truth is there is only so much any education system can do. Randy is right in that a majority of the problems stem from the home and family situation kids come from.
Forget it KH. The lights are on, but no one’s home
I agree with Randy as well. Parents of failing students own at least half the responsibility for their kids failure.
But if the schools would re-focus their primary mission towards academics, a much larger share kids, even those who live with irresponsible parents would be succeeding.
You cannot possible believe that the unions have no say in curriculum unless you are truly delusional. The force of the unions in education goes far beyond simply fighting for the fair compensation of their members. The union is an overwhelming force when it comes to changing the integrated framework of our education system. Any policy that advocates for reform on any level is almost impossible to pass at any level if the union finds it objectionable.
I’ll need an example of this. I’ll need an example of the the union getting in the way of a reform that would further the educational system. Anti-union sentimates are just that. If you don’t like unions then say it and we can argue that but the success or failure of kids going through the educational system has nothing to do with the teachers union. I’ll repeat what I said earlier. It’s a straw man arguement meant to devalue teachers and the public educational system. This is a necessary first step to an exclusive private educational system where only those deemed worthy will recieve an education. KH I would’ve expected a little more intellectual honesty from you on this.
One last note to Zack, Sean, Matt.
I’m glad you’re satisfied with the status quo for your kids, Richard. Like I said, there will always be a place for unskilled laborers.
Over the line? Certainly objectional.
Swift, you’re idiocy manifests itself no more clearly, then in your implication that the sole reason for education is to provide skilled laborers. My kids are doing fine thank you and are leading far more interesting lives and pursueing far more interesting careers then their old man.
Pursueing? Close, but it’s pursuing
Recieve? Also close, but I think you mean receive
Arguement? Probably more important to have one, but it’s spelled
Argument
Sentimates? Did you mean sentiments?
So much for that. Now let’s put the finishing touches on your pathetic attempt to engage in a subject you haven’t the first clue about.
“I’ll need an example of the the [sic] union getting in the way of a reform that would further the educational system.”
Sure. How about their seniority system that ensures members with the longest time sitting at their desks suck up the lions share of every new buck that finds it’s way into the system, irrespective if they actually teach anything or not? How about the negative effect this practice has on class sizes?
How about how that same system ensures that schools are powerless to hire talented, young teachers with science degrees because they can’t offer them any more than the washed up Phy. Ed. Teacher?
How about the fact that the union orchestrated the removal of Saint Paul Superintendant Pat Harvey because she had the unmitigated audacity to demand that schools make administrative changes that the union bosses didn’t like? I happened to be at the committee of the board meeting where SPFT bossman Ian Keith grilled Dr. Harvey…I really wanted to deck the bastard.
“Swift, you’re idiocy manifests itself no more clearly, then in your implication that the sole reason for education is to provide skilled laborers.”
Actually Dick, it’s you that’s the idiot…but more on that later. The sole reason for public’s investment in education is to educate our kids, I think I must have said that ten times over the past two days, but you’re pretty dense I guess. That said, without an education no one is employable at anything that doesn’t involve manual labor.
“This is a necessary first step to an exclusive private educational system where only those deemed worthy will recieve [sic] an education.”
See Dick? I’m right, you’re the idiot here.
I’ve already reminded you once that public education is a constitutionally protected right in this state. If you can’t keep the facts straight even when they are spoon fed to you, just go back to your coloring book.
“One last note to Zack, Sean, Matt.”
You gonna squirt for us li’l fella? Pfft.
Richard,
I’m sure you are perfectly aware that I am being intellectually honest. I just can’t really believe that you think that the largest union in the state and one of the most powerful special interests in the country would have no affect on policy that affect curriculum. Maybe you should try heading over to the SOB and asking legislative staff if the Education Minnesota lobbyists have any trouble getting meetings with legislators. Ask how quickly bills submitted by Education Minnesota and their surrogates find authors and co-authors. If nothing else go to the Education Minnesota web site where they have a whole section devoted to issue advocacy at the legislature. One of those issues is No Child Left Behind which as bad as it is a policy that affect curriculum. Just the fact that the union has such pull over what teacher can be assigned to what class has an affect on what types of curriculum can be used. It is impossible to affect reform in education if administrators have little control over where they can best use the different skills of the staff.
Both my parents were and my sister is currently a teacher in Minnesota public schools. I am have paid for and am still paying for a good deal of education for myself and my wife as well. I in no way devalue education or the teachers that provide education. Unlike the Machinists Union President in Ohio. Your straw man claiming I do is as insulting to me as Swiftee was to you. So if he goes maybe you should as well.
My mother left public school teaching after 20 years because the bureaucratic nightmare created by the city, state and federal education systems that was exacerbated by the union’s incompetence. She has spent the last 20 years at a private Catholic high school where the pay is lower but the rewards much higher.
I highly value teachers and education. I just do not believe that the teachers union is without sin. I see the damage they are doing that they and their supporters refuse to acknowledge. People work and pay their taxes even if they disagree with many of uses for those taxes. A good deal of those taxes go to education which pay the salaries of public school teachers. Those teachers are forced to join the union and pay their dues in order to do their job. The union then uses some of those funds to lobby for policies that many of the tax payers do not agree with. The union is a very powerful entity that has a assured source of income from the pockets of tax payers no matter what they do. A source of income that causes them to desire an increase in education funding over all other solutions since more funding can means more income.
How about their seniority system that ensures members with the longest time sitting at their desks suck up the lions share of every new buck that finds it’s way into the system, irrespective if they actually teach anything or not?
Teachers with years of experience are expected to mentor teachers fresh out of college. Without those teachers, new educators would lose a valuable resource. Without that experience, new teachers would burnout very quickly. Their higher pay is incentive to remain in the field.
How about how that same system ensures that schools are powerless to hire talented, young teachers with science degrees because they can’t offer them any more than the washed up Phy. Ed. Teacher?
Sounds like you’re saying the system needs more money. Good that we can agree on something. I knew I could convince you.
How about the fact that the union orchestrated the removal of Saint Paul Superintendant Pat Harvey because she had the unmitigated audacity to demand that schools make administrative changes that the union bosses didn’t like?
Union bosses, oh my. How about Ms. Harvey working within the constraints of the contract signed by all parties. It’s called negociation and not letting any swinging dick in the room do whatever they want. Contracts are frameworks for discussion and benefit both parties when properly structured.
public education is a constitutionally protected right in this state.
But there is no verbage as to what the bureaucracy, administration or infrastructure needs to look like.
There ya go. No need to, constitionally provide more then just the basic education for servitude. Not for the unwashed masses anyway. Private schools for the landed gentry which will keep them the landed gentry. The right has been trying to get rid of public education ever since the criminal Raygun. Be, at least a little honest and just admit it.
“It’s called negociation”
Maybe, but it’s spelled “negotiation”. Pffft.
Really, the only swingin’ dick around here right now is you, Dick.
Richard,
You really are delusional. You simply are not able to see the negative side to a union no matter how obvious it may be. Few organizations are all good or all bad and Education Minnesota is no different. The fact that I responded to you points and that you simply ignore the one I make is evidence of how easily you are able to fool yourself.
Seniority as a primary measure of pay is simply stupid. It encourages people to stay in a position longer than they are affective. If you want to reward professional mentorship than do so directly by giving good experienced teachers pay to manage other teachers and review their progress. Just paying somebody because they stuck around for a long time will get you people that want to simply stick around a long time.
As I pointed out earlier the education spending in the United States is among the most in the world. Funding is not the issue. If it were we would be doing far better than Great Briton who spends less than we do. The fact we can’t remove ineffective teachers and replace them with better ones is an issue for getting good talent.
I don’t know the details behind the Pat Harvey story so can’t comment on that. It does seem though that if a union that has the power of Education Minnesota wants something in a contract they will most likely get it. There seems to be a good chance that some of those items could eliminate the chance for an administrator to make positive changes.
Yes, Richard, I know education is a constitutionally protected right in this state. The fact is that the union has been a big part of the current systems failures and has, like you, failed to take responsibility for their part in those failures. Note how I did not say all the failings are due to the union. Unlike you I am capable of seeing shades of gray.
As for thinking private schools are only for the “landed gentry” I will have to inform the parents of my friend, they will get a kick out of it. He has seven brothers and sisters all who went to Totino Grace while his father was a mechanic and mother stayed home and did day-care and made clothes. They sent their kids to TG mainly for religious reasons but also had no faith in the local public school. They will be thrilled to know you have anointed them part of the gentry class.
The fact you have in the past said how that real men have jobs like construction of assembly line and that those in service, informational or intellectual industries add no value limits your credibility on education. You do sound a lot like the anti-intellectual, anti-education Tom Buffenbarger who endorsed Hillary in this speech.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/20/684411.aspx
I support publicly funded education but doing the same old thing that we have been doing for decades and expecting different results is insanity. To make progress you first have to admit that the union has much more power than you currently are willing to see. Their level of contributions to candidates and their ability to completely control the way teachers are assigned would be enough to leverage the entire system. The fact that they actively lobby on policies that have wide ranging curriculum consequences makes them even more responsible for the current education system.
They have the power so it is about time the act like adults and take some level of responsibility.
New Rule - If you can’t say it in a paragraph, don’t say it. It’s the “comments” section, not the great American novel.
Results from the DFL convention
Sterner gets the endorsement on the first ballot, Walter-Hanson goes home to count his millions.
Too many big words makes little Magnum Idiot’s head hurt.
Hey, I took you down Swiftee, I have a moonbat on my myspace page to provide it.
How much money have you raised for Planned Parenthood?