What has been the NEA's response to this Duncan bullshit?

[Catshrink]

I am so pissed right now after watching that MTP segment that I'm planning to sit on my hands in 2012. I'd love to see both teachers' associations do the same. They need to realize that our voices matter and since Arne and his boss refuse to listen to those who have experience in the classroom, they shouldn't get our support.

Would McCain have done worse?

[LWolf]

1. I saw this coming a long time ago.

You know; that FOX news interview, Obama told Chris Wallace he thought Republicans had better ideas than Democrats.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2008/04/27/transcript-obama-on-fns/

Any of the other nominees would have done better.

McCain probably would not have done worse, as far as public education is concerned.

At this point, there is no way in hell that this administration will get support or a vote from me in 2012.

I was angry with the NEA for endorsing him to begin with. I'd love to have my association come out swinging, and stay in the ring all the way down to election day 2012.

[Catshrink]

2. I thought it was awesome back in the campaign

when he told parents to turn off the TV, etc. Feint. He'd have so much more credibility if he'd chosen an educator for Secretary of Education and not his basketball buddy. Since he'll most likely be the Democratic nominee in 2012, I'll sit on my hands for the Presidential race. I'll vote for local races and issues but not the presidential. Yeah, we could get worse -- but I don't see how -- unless it's Palin/Bachmann or Beck or Dobbs.

Just watch. He'll realize how much he's pissed us off and make a nice speech patronizing the hell out of us and promising "something" just like he did for the GLTB folks. And then he'll turn his back on us. The GLTB will remember his deception and so will we.

[LWolf]

4. I agree with your prediction, unfortunately.

:(

[donco6]

3. Join with the GLBT Community in boycotting DNC fundraising.

Don't Ask; Don't Give campaign

All teachers would be welcome to voice their concerns as well. Solidarity! None of us gives until our grievances are addressed. Number one being the punishing of teachers under NCLB.

http://gay.americablog.com/2009/11/dont-ask-dont-give.html

[Catshrink]

6. I am boycotting already...

When the DSCC called I told them they get nothing until Harry grows a spine and gets rid of Lieberman. That was before I heard this crap on MTP this morning. Yeah, I'd heard them before but it really got me today.

[tonysam]

5. They and the AFT go along with it

Contrary to the demonization of the teachers' unions by the right, the reality is they are largely ineffective, especially when it comes to representing the rights of individual teachers. When push comes to shove, the union leaders will sell out teachers each and every time in order to share the spoils with the administrators and school districts.

[Catshrink]

7. Sadly... you're right.

The only reason I join is for the liability insurance. I don't see how else they're benefitting me right now.

[tonysam]

9. Even then the liability insurance didn't do jack shit for me

That's because after the district fired me illegally and like an idiot I went through a "due process," i.e., kangaroo hearing, I ended up being named as a defendant in a civil action brought by a parent about a month after this dumb hearing. My name was plastered all over the media, and the case had regional if not national attention, but all of a sudden, after this hearing officer decides to "award" the "case" to the district as school districts hardly ever "lose" hearings they rig, the district came crawling to me wanting me to cooperate with the lawsuit, which contains sensational if false charges. I adamantly refuse to cooperate anymore, and attorneys for both the student's mother and the school district were told why. The district's lawyers withdrew from representing me, but I don't see how in the hell the case can go on without my cooperation (I am not the only "defendant," but as this student's main teacher and of the other student named as a defendant I was the only person who knew both of them well).

This school district, Washoe County School District, has been in the news in recent years, and not in a particularly good way, either. It was a defendant in a couple of extremely high-profile lawsuits which have received national if not international attention.

There was the case of high school student Derek Henkle, who alleged being bullied and harassed because he was gay and school's administrators and teachers failed to do anything about it. He was supported by LAMBDA legal defense and ultimately settled for a whopping $451,000 because, according to the school district, its insurance company went bankrupt and the supplemental insurance company refused to pay attorneys' fees. The district estimated attorneys' fees would have run as much as $2 or $3 MILLION if it hadn't been settled.

Henkle


More recent was the case of Jana Elhifny, a Muslim student who also alleged harassment over her head scarf and alleged failure by administrators or teachers to stop it. She and her attorneys from the ACLU settled for an impressive $350,000, and a friend of hers also agreed to an amount of $50,000.

Elhifny

I am sure the attorney in the case where I am a defendant is looking for big-time glory in his false case.

[TruthTeller]

12. Sorry to hear that, I am proud and supportive of my local and state

association. I feel very supported by my local as we bargain our contract. Michigan Education Association has always been supportive of me. We've been working very hard at getting funding restored in Michigan. Everyone has been working very hard. Glad to pay my union dues, and do the work that helps all members!

[erinlough]

14. Local President here in Michigan

I agree the MEA has been supportive of us. I think on this thread I am seeing the frustration with Arne Duncan and Obama's policy. Personally I too have seen my union support teachers in bargaining and in legally fighting for their jobs. I support my union.

[Dinger]

8. This Is An Outright Rebuke Of Public Schools, Teachers, And Unions

They will pay inn the next elections. Fool me once, . . .

[alp227]

13. Then will you vote for parties further to the left than the Democrats

and end up turning it back to 1994 just because the Democrats lose some votes to third parties, thus giving the already-solid Republican Party an advantage in polling. Same thing happened with Al Gore in 2000: Ralph Nader's unexpected success cost Gore some critical votes.

[erinlough]

15. Not me, I will just stay home.

In my county there are sometimes only Republicans running anyway.

[Hannah Bell]

16. pfft, mr. public schools are failing.

[Reader Rabbit]

10. I don't watch TV: Does anyone have a transcript?

I was already bummed out by a Susan Nielsen's column in The Oregonian about worn out teachers. It seemed mostly supportive of teachers, but then I got to the following paragraph:

Also, some teachers are truly awful. One burned-out teacher can drag down an entire school and drive parents crazy. A few of these bad apples wrote to me, mostly to grouse about children and to paint themselves as victims.

Yup, she was able to tell all that about some teachers just from reading their letters.

I just don't get it. Why is it so damned hard for the average person to accept that teachers are professionals and that their opinions are the most informed you can get on the subject of public education? These people probably don't ignore their doctor when he or she tells them what to do when they get ill. Why, then, are they so willing to ignore teachers when they explain how to cure education ills?

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to respond to Ms. Nielsen. The whole situation just has me so damned depressed I don't know what to do anymore. :(

[tonysam]

11. Here is the link to the video

Meet the Press