Protection Racket

[Green Lantern]

With all the education talk, I saw this article and found it interesting.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion...IAGswg0XB3ZYoI

[Big Red Rick]

Yep, very interesting.

[Sonuvahusker]

Gotta love those "independent" arbitrators!

[Husker Poyer]

At this point, what can be done? The city (and most cities) are in a position where they either have to keep up the current system or force a confrontation which would certainly lead to a LOT of missed school time. You KNOW the union will dig its heels in and resist all change because they know the city will have to fold after a few months of missed classes. Unfortunately the union has all the power here and they know it and the city knows it.

[Green Lantern]

At this point, what can be done? The city (and most cities) are in a position where they either have to keep up the current system or force a confrontation which would certainly lead to a LOT of missed school time. You KNOW the union will dig its heels in and resist all change because they know the city will have to fold after a few months of missed classes. Unfortunately the union has all the power here and they know it and the city knows it.

I agree, there isn't much that can be done at all. The union will go out of its way to protect crappy teachers that add little value. It makes it bad for the great teachers because they are in an environment that virtually allows poor behavior to flourish by their peers.

[redmachine]

At this point, what can be done? The city (and most cities) are in a position where they either have to keep up the current system or force a confrontation which would certainly lead to a LOT of missed school time. You KNOW the union will dig its heels in and resist all change because they know the city will have to fold after a few months of missed classes. Unfortunately the union has all the power here and they know it and the city knows it.

Bring in the scabs.

[huskrthill]

If they had any marbles, they'd actually tackle the problem head-on.

[Huskermedic]

Ohio tried this with SB5 but the unions had a great lying campain and voters fell for it. It would have taken the power away from the unions and given it back to the voters. A right to work state can also help in this type of problem as well.

[Red_in_Blue_Land]

It is sad, there are a healthy number people on this BBS that want to just increase funding and not question what the system is doing with that funding. Here is a good example about lack of accountability.

[Weinosker]

It is sad, there are a healthy number people on this BBS that want to just increase funding and not question what the system is doing with that funding. Here is a good example about lack of accountability.

Amen, my thoughts that got buried in another forum because of the crapstorm over the past couple of days. This is going to take a serious plan to fix the education system.

Department of Education - I'll start with saying that "No Child Left Behind" actually made the DoE worse, not better. Hopefully that will help the liberals on the board recognize that this is a non-partisan opinion. Unfortunately, it's grown too big and too much of the federal budget dedicated towards education goes torwards its bureacracy.

More local control - Local school districts need to have more control over setting curriculum, creative solutions, funding, rewarding great teachers, and holding teachers accountable that aren't meeting standards.

Right to work - Many teachers have become frustrated by their own union and the views that oftentimes get pushed down to them. At the very least, teachers should be allowed to do what they want.

Private Investment - Some communities have found creative ways to partner with companies around computer labs, science labs, etc. This should be encouraged to happen more broadly.

Creative Solutions - I like what some of mentioned here around tech versus college prep classes. More options need to be offered to create more productive members of society. I like how Warhorse put it, that people should be encouraged to do something that they are going to be excited about.

Attracting More Talent - I'll be the first to admit that I"m not sure how this should be measured, but somehow the top teachers need to be rewarded at a higher level. Somehow those in private industry should have an easier way to get into teaching for somewhat comparable pay. Also, are there certain curriculum that could be taught on more of an adjunct level?

The Familiy/Support System - Thill's point around this is salient. Until families become more involved in their kids lives again and more invested in their success, all the investment in the world will not fix it. And, employers are part of the problem too... More value needs to be placed on education across the board to make any of this work.

There's no silver bullet that's going to fix this, it's going to take a multi-pronged approach.

[Husker Poyer]

If they had any marbles, they'd actually tackle the problem head-on.

How long would it be acceptable to have the kids miss school due to a strike (that would be inevitable)? Would you miss a full year if it came to that?

[Big Red Rick]

How long would it be acceptable to have the kids miss school due to a strike (that would be inevitable)? Would you miss a full year if it came to that?

I think a full year away from blithering idiots would be a good thing for those kids. They might actually learn something, rather than being ignored/indoctrinated. Parents would need to engage at that point, rather than send them to pubic day care. I mean school.

I also wonder what it would look like if congress were in session long enough to pass an annual budget, then go home for the year. Of course, right now, we have the opposite. They are full timers who WON'T pass a budget. Harry Reid, I'm looking at you...

[Pops]

Amen, my thoughts that got buried in another forum because of the crapstorm over the past couple of days. This is going to take a serious plan to fix the education system.

Department of Education - I'll start with saying that "No Child Left Behind" actually made the DoE worse, not better. Hopefully that will help the liberals on the board recognize that this is a non-partisan opinion. Unfortunately, it's grown too big and too much of the federal budget dedicated towards education goes torwards its bureacracy.

More local control - Local school districts need to have more control over setting curriculum, creative solutions, funding, rewarding great teachers, and holding teachers accountable that aren't meeting standards.

Right to work - Many teachers have become frustrated by their own union and the views that oftentimes get pushed down to them. At the very least, teachers should be allowed to do what they want.

Private Investment - Some communities have found creative ways to partner with companies around computer labs, science labs, etc. This should be encouraged to happen more broadly.

Creative Solutions - I like what some of mentioned here around tech versus college prep classes. More options need to be offered to create more productive members of society. I like how Warhorse put it, that people should be encouraged to do something that they are going to be excited about.

Attracting More Talent - I'll be the first to admit that I"m not sure how this should be measured, but somehow the top teachers need to be rewarded at a higher level. Somehow those in private industry should have an easier way to get into teaching for somewhat comparable pay. Also, are there certain curriculum that could be taught on more of an adjunct level?

The Familiy/Support System - Thill's point around this is salient. Until families become more involved in their kids lives again and more invested in their success, all the investment in the world will not fix it. And, employers are part of the problem too... More value needs to be placed on education across the board to make any of this work.

There's no silver bullet that's going to fix this, it's going to take a multi-pronged approach.

we as a country would rather be entertained than educated. Pay a teacher what a athlete/actor can make in this country and see what happens....A big first step I know, but the baby steps are not working here. Parents being parents...sorry that word (parent) lost its meaning many moons ago

[Pops]

I think a full year away from blithering idiots would be a good thing for those kids. They might actually learn something, rather than being ignored/indoctrinated. Parents would need to engage at that point, rather than send them to pubic day care. I mean school.

I also wonder what it would look like if congress were in session long enough to pass an annual budget, then go home for the year. Of course, right now, we have the opposite. They are full timers who WON'T pass a budget. Harry Reid, I'm looking at you...

At that point? why only then. If a parent disagrees with what is being taught at school whose job is it to point them in the right direction. I would send my kids back to school armed for debate on certain subjects. And as most know I'm no rocket scientist, so if I am able to do that...I'm pretty sure most could at ANY point

[huskrthill]

How long would it be acceptable to have the kids miss school due to a strike (that would be inevitable)? Would you miss a full year if it came to that?

You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs.



I don't want kids to be out of school for a year. Since teachers are so poorly paid already, do you think they'd be able to survive for a year with only the scraps handed out to them by the union?

[Husker Poyer]

You can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs.



I don't want kids to be out of school for a year. Since teachers are so poorly paid already, do you think they'd be able to survive for a year with only the scraps handed out to them by the union?

It would be interesting to see how long each side could hold. If 1 large city were to actually force the showdown and end up winning in a reasonable amount of time (6 months?) and break the stronghold then I imagine you'll see many more cities go for it.

[Big Red Rick]

At that point? why only then. If a parent disagrees with what is being taught at school whose job is it to point them in the right direction. I would send my kids back to school armed for debate on certain subjects. And as most know I'm no rocket scientist, so if I am able to do that...I'm pretty sure most could at ANY point

No, I don't mean that the way I think you took it. I mean it as in "FINALLY, the parents would need to engage." They should be engaged the whole time, but so many are selfish and view their children as little pets to be raised by someone else, and to be trotted out as the latest fashion accessory.

"Look at my new thing... my H2, my foo foo dog. Oh yeah, and my seven year old who can't tie his own shoes. I don't care though. I bought him some Kangaroos." - average parent, from what I've seen and heard. Why take your kids to a bar after 9PM on a Thursday? Is that really appropriate? Then, to have the gall to bitch about the state of education? Quit feeding them junk food, get them to bed on time, and be a PARENT.

Sorry, off on a tangent...