Fore!!!

[moondog]

The National Education Association is a false union with no competition and it's own Department of Education in the Federal Government which lavishes money on them. They got that when they endorsed Jimmy Carter for President in 1976, their first Presidential endorsement in their 119 year history. Not a wise endorsement, conisdering the poor administration that he had, even with a Democrat majority, unelss you consider that Department of Education he rewarded them with.

There is just one small problem. It has been around since 1857, but the education of our children has been in steady decline since 1960, which coincides with their actually becoming a labor union in the 1960's after absorbing the ATA or American Teachers Association, formerly called the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools (NATCS). Yet, with their 3.2 million members, they had a budget of $307 million dollars in fiscal 2006/2007. This union, along with the UAW, have been returning a poorer quality product as their power grows. This can not be disputed.

This union, as well as the UAW and all other unions, should be subjected to taxation as well as anti-trust laws. The Wagner Act needs to be rescinded and the Taft-Hartley Act needs to be strengthened. It is time to rein in the unions and make them work for America again. Hold them accountable for the poor quality products the create, in this case, the education of our children. There is no reason that our education level should be diminishing with over $4 billion a year coming from the Federal Government alone, even if the money is earmarked to specific areas. And remember, that is only 78 cents on the dollar for every federal tax dollar sent in by California.

The Federal Government is the primary source of our problems. They were never intended to micro manage at the level they are currently at.

[subdjoe]

I can't quite agree with you on the matter of Unions, Moondog. They are needed as a counterpoint to the power of the State and the Company. Check Ludlow Colorado (Bloody Ludlow) for one example. I'm not saying that Ludlow is typical, but it is a stunning example of what can, and often does, happen when the State and Business get too close. (Interesting that this happened under good old, Woodie Wilson)

And, for the most part, unions have been loosing power and membership for the past two or three decades. I do agree that the teachers union is way too strong, ditto the prison guards union. I sort of agree with the UAW, but, hells bells, when the failing auto companies are paying their top execs hundreds of millions/year to run the companies into the ground, I can't really come down too hard on the (peaceloving) workers.

[moondog]

Don't get me wrong, but unions are currently out of control in many sectors. I don't believe they should be abolished, but they should be subjected to more oversight and not be exempt from taxation and anti-trust laws. Especially the NEA, who has no competition and it's own government agency to direct funds to them.

[moondog]

I would also like to point out that under the administration of George W. Bush that California has received $2,353,668,015 in Grants to Improve Teacher Quality. I wonder what all the liberal screw heads think about that? To bad this liberal State has not shown any improvement, dropping to 47 among the 50 States for education level.

[digger]

My wife's a teacher in SR. The lone conservative at her particular school. Money that is tagged for education doesn't always make it to the classroom. Some of the stories she brings home are pretty discouraging. In fact, she's almost ready to call it a career and start looking for other work.

[JustMyOpinion]

digger, didn't you post months ago that your wife purchased classroom supplies out of her own pocket?

How many public schools in SOCO have fund raisers similar to private schools? I know in Marin a small part of what makes their public schools so successful is fund raising to offset the lack of direct funding by the state. The schools can control where the money goes and you can bet there is accountability for it.

[The New Guy]

never has ONE DAMN DOLLAR ever made the difference between a good education and a bad one. our mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, had far less money for education and i guarantee they could beat the pants off kids these days in any given subject.

we keep falling victim to the NEA/CTA mantra that we always need more $$ for ed. we need more accountability of where the money is going. having been in that system for a few years i know most of it goes to worthless, unnecessary programs, high administrator salaries, and maintenance for dilapidated facilities. very little gets to teachers and classrooms. throwing more money into education only further lines the pockets of administrators and union bosses.

it's time to privatize education. i could start a school (if there wasn't so much bureacratic BS) teaching the basics (RRR) using the $$ that CA currently spends per pupil and turn out better educated graduates than most public schools. guaranteed!

[subdjoe]

Don't forget the intentional dumbing down of education to make it both easier to teach the kids, and to supposedly build the self esteme of those who can't or won't learn. Yes, some kids need special help, but it is no service to anyone to put them in with everyone else and then teach to the slowest.

I've see, and used to sort of gather (can't call it collecting since I didn't really have a system) old text books. The grade school and junior high texts from the 20s, 30s, and 40s would be deemed too difficult for high school today. Too many words, note enough pictures. Actual problems to solve in the math and english books. Nothing spoon fed. And, the kids were held accountable. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar counted not just in English classes, but in any class in which one had to write. Bring back some class room discipline, hold the students accountable again, allow the teachers to restore order, get the social engineering out of the text books, and maybe our schools will get better.

[JustMyOpinion]

TNG, on average private schools do a better job of getting academic results. I often wonder if it's because they can directly control the assests, or if the kids that go to private schools have a head start coming from families that place a high value on education. Maybe it's a little of both.

If public schools raise money to improve dilapidated classrooms, and offer cash in hand to teachers for supplies how is it that more money is the wrong answer? As I see it for now anyway maybe that is the best solution.

[moondog]

Jan 27, 2009 19:04:24 GMT -5 digger said:

My wife's a teacher in SR. The lone conservative at her particular school. Money that is tagged for education doesn't always make it to the classroom. Some of the stories she brings home are pretty discouraging. In fact, she's almost ready to call it a career and start looking for other work.

Like all the quality teachers with half a brain have.

[moondog]

Jan 28, 2009 9:46:51 GMT -5 JustMyOpinion said:

digger, didn't you post months ago that your wife purchased classroom supplies out of her own pocket?

How many public schools in SOCO have fund raisers similar to private schools? I know in Marin a small part of what makes their public schools so successful is fund raising to offset the lack of direct funding by the state. The schools can control where the money goes and you can bet there is accountability for it.

Look, this is BS. First, this is entire system has been in a shambles since the 1960's, when the NEA first went to Union status. It got worse when they endorsed their first Presidential Candidate in 1976 for the first time in 119 years since they were conceived. Ever since it has been pork barrel money sent to the NEA. The education system has been broken by liberal do-gooders who will not admit they broke the system.

[moondog]

Jan 28, 2009 11:42:59 GMT -5 The New Guy said:

never has ONE DAMN DOLLAR ever made the difference between a good education and a bad one. our mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, had far less money for education and i guarantee they could beat the pants off kids these days in any given subject.

we keep falling victim to the NEA/CTA mantra that we always need more $$ for ed. we need more accountability of where the money is going. having been in that system for a few years i know most of it goes to worthless, unnecessary programs, high administrator salaries, and maintenance for dilapidated facilities. very little gets to teachers and classrooms. throwing more money into education only further lines the pockets of administrators and union bosses.

it's time to privatize education. i could start a school (if there wasn't so much bureacratic BS) teaching the basics (RRR) using the $$ that CA currently spends per pupil and turn out better educated graduates than most public schools. guaranteed!

Yep, it happens everyday. Because private schools are non-union and put their money toward results. Teachers are better paid and students learn. All on a budget that would give any public school official a conniption. Libidit's killed our public schools, time to hold them accountable. FIRE THEIR DYSFUNCTIONAL ASSES.