Breaking up (teachers’ union) is hard to do

Michelle Rhee (in photo), chancellor of the Washington, D.C., public schools, is making the Washington Teachers’ Union an offer that many of its 4,000 members may find hard to resist. With financing provided by private foundation, Rhee is offering raises of as much as $40,000 if teachers are willing to give up tenure. Rhea argues that tenure hurts children by making is hard to fire incompetent teachers, while the union contends that tenure protects teachers from arbitrary firings.

87 Comments

  1. writerdog
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 6:49 am | Permalink

    While working at the middle school I came into close contact with many teachers including the head of the local NEA. A school district is a very political place, it is a valid concern for teachers that they are not subject to political firings. Parents often complain to the board members about things that are not valid.
    No parent want to side with a teacher when it is their child that has been accused of a wrong doing.

    Also what may not have been a genuine slight is taken as a intentional attempt to corrupt a parent’s teachings. But I will agree too that many a bad teacher is kept on because they have tenure. Burned out and lackluster without caring anymore for the students or the job. Every teacher starts out with the grand goal of making a difference for the future. But ends up often only having apathy for the future.

  2. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 6:57 am | Permalink

    No, they can’t make $40,000 a year digging ditches; that’s what motivates most of them; that and a lack of imagination. One good teacher however can erase the effects of a dozen bad ones. What do you bet that if tenure were eliminated, the good ones would be the first to go?

  3. LonnythePlumber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:05 am | Permalink

    Kansas has great teachers. It’s one of our middle American values. Business spends over 7 million dollars every year to work against employee groups. It would be okay if we didn’t need employee groups but many in management get full of themselves and abuse others. Our teachers often care more about the kids than their own parents.

  4. Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:18 am | Permalink

    My ex- was a teacher.

    On of her nemeses was an Assistant Principal who judged teacher on the basis of straight rows of desks in the classroom.

    She taught Spanish and had a bunch of Hispanic students who learned Spanish in the home and thought they’d be getting an easy A. But they didn’t know the grammar and a lot of what they knew was Spanglish.

    She regularly teamed up Anglo students with Hispanics. They tended to teach each other; the Hispanic helping with pronunciation and sentence structure and the Anglo tyros learning and asking questions and…. the point is, it involved turning around desks to talk face-to-face.

    The Straight-Rows guy was the only person to give her negative reviews on “Teaching Style.”

    I have no problem with merit-based bonuses for K-Hi teachers is someone could come up with a viable measure of merit. Straight rows in the classroom shouldn’t be a criterion. What kids actually learn should matter.

    There was a chemistry teacher in the school my ex- taught. She had a lesson on fungi that — for the very cleverest of students — taught them how to make beer.

    Over the years, she turned out about a dozen future doctors and twice that many chemists, simply by teaching high school students a lesson which, had the parents known it at the time, would have doomed her career if she didn’t have tenure.

    Measure that.

  5. XXX
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:28 am | Permalink

    Here in Kansas, if teachers didn’t have a union they’d never get a raise.

    Teachers have a major impact on our most precious commodity, our children. They should be treated with the same respect as a doctor or lawyer.

  6. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:46 am | Permalink

    Christ, xxx, are you a lawyer; what fantasy world do you live in?

  7. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:49 am | Permalink

    Beber hates teachers because they stand between him and the children he lusts after.

  8. XXX
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:50 am | Permalink

    #
    beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:46 am | Permalink

    Christ, xxx, are you a lawyer; what fantasy world do you live in?
    _________________________________________________

    Care to explain just exactly what part of my post you have a problem with?

  9. XXX
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:54 am | Permalink

    #
    ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 7:49 am | Permalink

    Beber hates teachers because they stand between him and the children he lusts after.
    _________________________________________________

    Morning, KFG!
    I was just perusing the Gay Marriage thread. Damn, you’re good!

    I suspect Berber’s problem is with the union. The mere mention of the word “union” seems to set off a Pavlovian reaction in some people.

  10. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:11 am | Permalink

    “Damn, you’re good!”

    Heheheh. Thanks. Coming from you, that’s a real compliment!

  11. Blaidd_Drwg69
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:14 am | Permalink

    Why shouldn’t teachers (or any other group) have the right to be represented by a union?

    The “they protect bad teachers” strawman isn’t going to get it either.

  12. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:18 am | Permalink

    “The “they protect bad teachers” strawman isn’t going to get it either.”

    Strawmen and arm flailing. It’s all they’ve got.

    Well, that and bedwetting!

  13. XXX
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:19 am | Permalink

    Blaidd_Drwg69
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:14 am | Permalink

    Why shouldn’t teachers (or any other group) have the right to be represented by a union?
    ________________________________________________

    Are you insane?!?!? People negotiating for their rights in the workplace? What kind of madness is that?

    [sarcasm off]

  14. Blaidd_Drwg69
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:20 am | Permalink

    YOU, ksfarmgrrl, are on a roll this morning!

  15. Blaidd_Drwg69
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:21 am | Permalink

    Oh, I forgot, big “bidness” can take care of all of our needs.

    Just look at the mess they have the economy in right now!

  16. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:23 am | Permalink

    HA! I’m feeling better….

  17. outlander
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:54 am | Permalink

    Can public school teachers in Kansas get tenure?

    I don’t know why a teacher should be any different than any other employee. If you are halfway competent, you have nothing to worry about.

    I wonder how many alcoholics Monkey’s tenured chemistry teacher created?

  18. Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:56 am | Permalink

    “Rhea argues that tenure hurts children by making is hard to fire incompetent teachers, while the union contends that tenure protects teachers from arbitrary firings.”

    Wrongful termination suits can be filed for those who think they were ‘wrongfully terminated’ from employment. Tenure only cements some individuals into a position to prevent them from having to care about what other people think. It is another example of a well-meaning plan going astray because nobody thought it through. Classic stage one thinking.

    The irony is how often teachers talk of the community and then turn around and demand they keep their thoughts to themselves.

    And to give them the same status as a doctor or lawyer? Insane. If I don’t want to support a particular doctor or lawyer I do not have to. However as long as we are forced to pay through taxes for the incompetent as well as the competent teachers then they will always been seen as the lowest grade of so-called professionals. If you don’t separate the chaff the whole crop is tainted.

  19. Political_mama
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:11 am | Permalink

    Wrong, you support a doctor even if you don’t want to. Here, they won’t tell you who the doctor on call is, so if you have an emergency, you take who you get. The groups of doctors are tied to each other.

  20. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:13 am | Permalink

    “I wonder how many alcoholics Monkey’s tenured chemistry teacher created?”

    Jesus outie, you are really desperate and reaching lately..

  21. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:14 am | Permalink

    “I wonder how many alcoholics Monkey’s tenured chemistry teacher created?”

    Probably not as many anti-choice bombers and murderers as your churches have created…

    Heheheh. They love life. Until they dont.

  22. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:16 am | Permalink

    Hey Pmom. Boy, you are correct on that one. You cant fire one doc in a group without firing them all. And out here.. when there is only one “group” in town, and only one “group” that has privileges at the local hosptial, it makes choice of medical care kinda hard.

  23. Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:20 am | Permalink

    “outlander” –

    “My chemistry teacher made me an alcoholic!”

    “If I give her the yarn can she make on for me?”

    Why is it so many of you CONs show up in this forum simply to bait and sneer and try to pick a fight?

    Sorry, sad folk you must be in real life.

  24. Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:22 am | Permalink

    You do pick a doctor. So what if you have to fire the whole group? Why not complain to the group about the one doctor or just refuse to schedule an appointment with that doctor. Doctors do get thrown out of groups.

    Second, if you don’t like the problems of living in a small town then don’t live in a small town.

  25. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:33 am | Permalink

    Second, if you don’t like the problems of living in a small town then don’t live in a small town.

    you must have stayed at a Holiday Inn last night to come up with that original response.

    Who knew they had a discount rate for multinic sock puppets? A “group” rate of sorts.

    “Sorry, sad folk you must be in real life.”

    It is sad and lonely living in mama’s basement. And if you are a sock puppet, it’s really cold with no warm human hand up your backside.

  26. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:34 am | Permalink

    “Second, if you don’t like the problems of living in a small town then don’t live in a small town.”

    Oh, and one more thing, genius. I doctor in a neighboring town and continue to live on my farm.

    nitwit

  27. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:37 am | Permalink

    Heheheheh. That’s why I thought bigotbox’s lies about asking about me here were so funny.

    I dont even doctor here. He has NO idea where I doctor, or who I am to ask about me by name.

    And he couldnt even spell my town correctly.

    Hahahaahaha. I wonder if he sends his mythical invoices from his mythical business with that spelling on it. Every sign in town has it spelled correctly, which leads a sane person to conclude he’s never actually BEEN here.

    Jesus WEPT? Remind me again. WHAT church do all you sock puppets attend that supports lying and deceit?

    Just askin’. I know some liars I’d like to refer to them.

  28. XXX
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:37 am | Permalink

    ProudMan
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:56 am | Permalink

    Wrongful termination suits can be filed for those who think they were ‘wrongfully terminated’ from employment.
    _________________________________________________

    Kansas is a “Right to Work” state. You can be fired for any reason or no reason except discrimination. In a right to work state, you leave your constitutional rights at the door of the workplace.

  29. JWink
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:40 am | Permalink

    As I read the above comments, it appears the problem with weeding out non-producing teachers is the same as weeding out non-producing employees in government and/or business organizations.

    That is, who’s going to be the “decider”?

    I don’t think these decisions can be made unilaterally by a principal or assistant principal. Can the decision be made with a public pronouncement which might cause ongoing friction?
    How can these decisions be made to accomplish the goal?

    I suspect a committee of peers will somehow have to be charged with the decision.

  30. JWink
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:45 am | Permalink

    For proposing such an absurd idea, which could cost close to a billion dollars to make a few needed decisions through a back door arrangement … Ms. Michelle Rhee needs to be shown the front door … out of the Washington D.C school administration building.

  31. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:48 am | Permalink

    Hey Wink! The moon’s been beautiful this week, no?

    I read somewhere this is a “beaver” moon. It’s time to trap and skin the beavers with their winter coats, but still in time to use the furs during the winter.

    Is that right?

    We miss you when you’re not here!

  32. outlander
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:53 am | Permalink

    Monkyhawk, you made an absurd statement when you said that a tenured chemistry teacher created doctors and chemists because she taught them to make beer.

    And which is totally irresponsible behavior for which she should have been disciplined.

    And you trumpet her actions. Pathetic and predictable.

  33. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:03 am | Permalink

    Maybe outie would like some cheese to go with that whiiiiiine?

  34. outlander
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    This just out.

    A new poll shows that, after reading kfg’s nasty, bullying and insulting posts on the homosexual marriage thread, 90% of voters are now against homosexual marriage.

    Keep working it.

  35. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:07 am | Permalink

    “A new poll shows that, after reading kfg’s nasty, bullying and insulting posts on the homosexual marriage thread, 90% of voters are now against homosexual marriage.”

    And Generalissimo Franco is still dead.

    No news today.

    You and yours need to remember outie, that the most dangerous person in the world is someone who has noting to lose.

    BOO!

  36. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:09 am | Permalink

    Heheheh. Still laughing at outie.

    Because, um, yeah. Being nice, playing by the rules and trying to work WITH you people has worked out SO WELL for the gay community…

  37. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    Hey outie, do ya think the California wildfires are punishment from god for their bigotry in passing Prop. 8?

    God doesnt like bigots.

    oh, and GOD HATES SHRIMP!

  38. Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:25 am | Permalink

    Well, “outlander” –

    I suppose we disagree on the basic purpose of education.

    You CONs seem to think schools exist to indoctrinate kids.

    I prefer a philosophy that doesn’t tell kids what to think but how to think.

    As one of her former students (a pharmacist; non-alcoholic) related the story years later, it wasn’t a lesson plan on Making Beer, but the brightest students learned about how yeast worked with carbohydrates, created bubbles & stuff.

    The teacher retired maybe ten years ago. I don’t know where she is now. Her best students loved her and what they learned from her.

    Now, in your role as a self-righteous prig, you would have denied her tenure and denied her students the genius of her, admittedly, unusual teaching methods.

    My experience hanging around public school teachers exposed me to all types. There are some who get into teaching because they never could make their lives make sense outside of a classroom. Sometimes that’s good but too often it results in a teacher without a lot of real-life common sense.

    I had mostly bad math teachers. The tests said I could do it but I never really “got” math; I just didn’t connect.

    I had terrific history and English teachers. They made the curriculum come to life, they challenged me to bask in the subject matter, they probably did stuff you would object to because of your self-ordained imaginary holiness.

    I was a bit of a rebel and during my Freshman year I wrote a major book review on Phillip Roth’s “Portnoy’s Complaint.” I thought it would shake Mrs. Erickson to the bones as I wrote about a lot of Alexander Portnoy’s, ahem, adventures. Well, she’d read it, too, and the one-on-one conference we had included laughing and and sharing and teaching and learning and, as I recall, the first time a grown-up treated me like an adult.

    I’m sure had someone like you, “outlander,” learned Mrs. Erickson was teaching such “filth” and “pornography” her teaching career would be in jeopardy.

    Teachers who teach how to think instead of what to think will always offend the likes of you, “outlander.” Tenure — which is never absolute — protects good teachers from the likes of you.

  39. okobserver
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:27 am | Permalink

    9:37 KFG fired her first anti Christian remark:

    “Jesus WEPT? Remind me again. WHAT church do all you sock puppets attend that supports lying and deceit?”

    10:12 KFG fired her second anti Christian remark:

    Hey outie, do ya think the California wildfires are punishment from god for their bigotry in passing Prop. 8?

    God doesnt like bigots.

    oh, and GOD HATES SHRIMP!

    —-
    And this on a thread about teachers unions.

    25% of threats and intimidation are because of a person religion. Only 10% are because of their sexual orientation.

    KFG posted this interesting fact last night. Thanks fermie.

  40. BlueJay
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:29 am | Permalink

    Give up your union protections for money?

    Yeah that is sort of a way to weed out the stupid. AND the people who are in teaching for the wrong reason.

  41. okobserver
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:29 am | Permalink

    And monkey thank you for showing us how successful Mrs Ericksons teaching was in your life. We see the results daily.

  42. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    My own personal troll!!!!!

    ““Jesus WEPT? Remind me again. WHAT church do all you sock puppets attend that supports lying and deceit?”

    10:12 KFG fired her second anti Christian remark:

    Hey outie, do ya think the California wildfires are punishment from god for their bigotry in passing Prop. 8?”

    And I see you STILL havent answered my questions.

    How’s that five dollar marriage with yo mama working out?

  43. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:34 am | Permalink

    I guess grmie thinks a “righteous” lie is ok?

    heheheh. AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

    The perfect example of a “pick and chose” christian.

    She must attend spirit one.

    Haters do flock together.

  44. Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:45 am | Permalink

    “okobserver” posted –

    “…monkey thank you for showing us how successful Mrs Ericksons teaching was in your life. We see the results daily.”

    You certainly do.

    I routinely rub your CONservative noses in the s#it you post.

    I denude your bigotry with simple logic and hard evidence. I put you CONs into virtual fetal positions when your ridiculousness catches up and your parroted RNC talking points contradict your so-called “principles.”

    The other 9th Grade English teacher in my junior high (remember when it was “Junior High?”) made kids memorize “Trees” and convinced them it was good poetry. They were the dumber kids. But, I suspect, you know that.

  45. LonnythePlumber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:06 am | Permalink

    I’m agreeing with JWink more often. It’s both comforting and unsettling.

  46. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:07 am | Permalink

    Hee hee heeee!

    “I routinely rub your CONservative noses in the s#it you post.

    I denude your bigotry with simple logic and hard evidence. I put you CONs into virtual fetal positions when your ridiculousness catches up and your parroted RNC talking points contradict your so-called “principles.”

    True dat!

  47. JWink
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:27 am | Permalink

    Monkeyhawk: I talked to the young black employee in a Quik Trip a few days ago. Casually, I asked what he had learned in school earlier that day. He replied his teacher asked his class to take turns reading aloud, Edgar Allen Poe’s, THE RAVEN.

    This student said he never liked poetry much, thought it was sissy. But his teacher encouraged him to try. He said at first he was embarrassed. But he did read, perhaps one of the first times he had read to his class.

    He said he quickly caught the beat of this 160 year old classic poem. When he finished reading a stanza or two, his fellow students gave him a round of applause and the teacher praised him.

    Do you suppose this student will look at poetry the same way again?

    “BUT THE RAVEN STILL BEGUILING ALL MY FANCY INTO SMILING,

    STRAIGHT I WHEELED A CUSHIONED SEAT IN FRONT OF BIRD AND BUST AND DOOR,

    THEN UPON THE VELVET SINKING, I BETOOK MYSELF TO LINKING,

    FANCY UNTO FANCY, THINKING WHAT THIS OMINOUS BIRD OF YORE —

    WHAT THIS GRIM, UNGAINLY, GHASTLY, GAUNT, AND OMINOUS BIRD OF YORE,

    MEANT IN CROAKING “NEVERMORE.”

  48. Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:30 am | Permalink

    “Who knew they had a discount rate for multinic sock puppets? A “group” rate of sorts.”

    Congratulations on being the first ‘progressive’ who decided to call me a sock puppet rather than discuss the idea.

    And one more thing ‘genuis’:

    #
    ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:34 am | Permalink

    “Second, if you don’t like the problems of living in a small town then don’t live in a small town.”

    Oh, and one more thing, genius. I doctor in a neighboring town and continue to live on my farm.

    nitwit
    ————————————

    You might be interested in knowing that ‘doctor’ is not a verb. If you are going to sit around and call other people a nitwit and other juvenile names I suggest you find someone to proof-read your attacks.

    Now, if you want to respond to the post I try to concentrate on ‘denuding’ the idea that if you do not like the problems of living in a small town then do not live there. You made a choice to live where you do everyday. Deal with it.

  49. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    I guess that is why I get paid to write and you dont?

    hehehe HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

    Yeah, I know that’s bad spelling and grammar too.

    nitwit

  50. Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:40 am | Permalink

    “I guess that is why I get paid to write and you dont?”

    Care to prove that you get paid to write and I don’t? Or is that just another juvenile attack on the poster rather than discussing the idea?

  51. lindainks55
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:47 am | Permalink

    I was a bit of a rebel and during my Freshman year I wrote a major book review on Phillip Roth’s “Portnoy’s Complaint.” — Monkeyhawk
    ————-

    During my grandson’s junior year of high school and third year of French he was assigned to write about visiting the Moulin Rouge. I have NO idea what this teacher expected from a healthy 17 year old, but if she had made this assignment in the past she hadn’t encountered a brave rebel before.

    She wasn’t as good as your Mrs. Erickson, and although each word was perfect French, properly punctuated and executed, she wanted very badly to punish for her embarrassment. There was a school principal who was as good as your teacher so he wasn’t expelled.

  52. Lux
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:50 am | Permalink

    A few points from a retired teacher and KNEA member who represented teachers who got crosswise with adminstrators:

    1. An adminstrator who wants to fire a bad teacher has the tools to do so through timely evaluations, according to state law. Many adminstrators don’t want to put out the effort to do this.

    2. Public school teachers in Kansas don’t have tenure. Administrators have to give cause for firing after a teacher has worked for three years in a school district. Teachers who change districts start anew. This is not tenure.

    3. Anyone who goes into teaching expecting to get rich needs to have his or or head examined. If a person doesn’t love kids and teaching, he or she should be doing something else because teaching is hard work.

    4. Any public school teacher who doesn’t join the NEA immediately upon being hired is asking for trouble. I can’t count the number of teachers who came to me asking to join NEA after they got in trouble with an administrator. By then it’s too late.

    5. People in Kansas have an anti-union bias, but it’s like most everything else in this state–those people are only hurting themselves. Without unions, workers would still be working seven days a week, ten hours a day. They would have no benefits and no control over their working conditions. My father was a union member. It’s fine tradition that I’m proud to carry on.

  53. Posted November 15, 2008 at 12:06 pm | Permalink

    Isn’t it interesting that we have a “private foundation” that’s willing to pay 40K to bust the union?

    How about using those millions to improve public schools directly?

    Nah. They’d rather help destroy the last vestige of worker protections.

  54. Posted November 15, 2008 at 12:09 pm | Permalink

    Lux is exactly correct.

    Teachers can be fired. The union simply insures that there is a standardized process for termination.

    I personally know of three public schoolteachers who have been fired in Kansas, although usually they resign before they’re officially fired.

  55. Posted November 15, 2008 at 12:12 pm | Permalink

    PM–

    “Doctor” can be used as a verb:

    The Chinese have been doctoring their milk products with melamine for years.

    He was doctored back to health with the use of medicinal herbs . . .

  56. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

    My column appears weekly in the local newspaper. Others here have seen it. Give me your address and I’ll mail you a copy.

    Now tell me where YOUR paid writing appears?

    Or are you just trolling?

    nitwit

  57. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 12:17 pm | Permalink

    “You might be interested in knowing that ‘doctor’ is not a verb.”

    Thanks Captain. I’m still laughing. Sounds like the “tow the line” wingnut who also got an ass kicking.

    I think they secretly LIKE to have their butts kicked!

  58. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 12:19 pm | Permalink

    The remnents of the st. ronnie raygun “revolution”, i.e. those who havent sobered up or come to their senses, STILL think destroying workers and their unions is good for america.

    Given the “siht” hole our economy goes into during every republican presidency, it’s kinda hard to take them seriously.

    It’s an article of faith for them that unions are bad. Never mind the facts.

  59. Posted November 15, 2008 at 2:36 pm | Permalink

    Cap’A: That is true that doctor can be used as a verb. The sentence in question is: “I doctor in a neighboring town and continue to live on my farm.” Clearly in order for the word to be used properly KFF would have to be a doctor. So the only way to make the sentence correct would be for her to prove she is a medical professional was performs services in a neighboring town.

    As to the attack machine KFG:
    My column appears weekly in the local newspaper. Others here have seen it. Give me your address and I’ll mail you a copy.

    Now tell me where YOUR paid writing appears?
    ——————
    I never claimed to be a paid ‘writer’. You claim that I am not. If you do not have evidence then you should not be making the claim. Notice once again you focus on attacking the poster, not the positions they support.

  60. Jed
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 3:28 pm | Permalink

    Monk,
    My jr. high English teacher (who was supposed to be sooo good) believed that poetry began with Poe’s “Annabelle Lee” and ended with Kilmer’s “Trees.” I hated both (and her) with a passion! Luckily I got to high school and discovered Spender and Eliot and realized that there might actually be something to poetry. It still took marrying a poet for me to gain a true appreciation of the art form.
    There are a few really good teachers out there who inspire whole classes in a subject, and a few really bad ones who kill off any interest in learning. I’ve had a few of both. Most in the middle just follow the lesson plan and mark time. We need to find more good ones and honor and pay them well, and we need to eliminate the bad ones and the burnt out ones. Tenure is necessary; Several of the best teachers I ever had presented quite cotroversial material (for the times) in class, and taught us to actually think about it and discuss it rather than meekly accept the opinion of society. They would probably been fired without tenure. But it should be earned rather than simply granted, similar to the way colleges do it. The unions should understand that, assuming the proposal is fair.

  61. outlander
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 4:06 pm | Permalink

    “I routinely rub your CONservative noses in the s#it you post.

    I denude your bigotry with simple logic and hard evidence. I put you CONs into virtual fetal positions when your ridiculousness catches up and your parroted RNC talking points contradict your so-called “principles.”

    The other 9th Grade English teacher in my junior high (remember when it was “Junior High?”) made kids memorize “Trees” and convinced them it was good poetry. They were the dumber kids. But, I suspect, you know that.”

    ———–

    Monkey thump chest. Me smart. See? Monkey hate “Trees”.

    Jeesh… Monkey, you are so full of it that it is amazing. You can write some interesting stuff at times, but then have to ruin it with some stupid prejudice remark.

    —————-

    “I was a bit of a rebel and during my Freshman year I wrote a major book review on Phillip Roth’s “Portnoy’s Complaint.” I thought it would shake Mrs. Erickson to the bones as I wrote about a lot of Alexander Portnoy’s, ahem, adventures. Well, she’d read it, too, and the one-on-one conference we had included laughing and and sharing and teaching and learning and, as I recall, the first time a grown-up treated me like an adult.”

    ———–

    Most of us were somewhat rebellious in our youth and we can all tell stories about it. But it appears that your development stopped at that stage while most of us grew up.

  62. Posted November 15, 2008 at 4:21 pm | Permalink

    Yeah . . . when I think of mature, I think of outlander.

  63. JMWalker
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 6:39 pm | Permalink

    #
    ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:48 am | Permalink

    Hey Wink! The moon’s been beautiful this week, no?

    I read somewhere this is a “beaver” moon. It’s time to trap and skin the beavers with their winter coats, but still in time to use the furs during the winter.

    Is that right?

    We miss you when you’re not here!
    =====================================================
    Damn, and here I thought the beaver moon meant I was going to get laid. I hate reality:-)

  64. Mary_Caruso
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 6:49 pm | Permalink

    I agree, the moon has been beautiful…but my mentally ill clients have been out of control….no one will ever be able to convince me that a full moon doesn’t mess with our heads!

  65. mom
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:29 pm | Permalink

    Who is the private foundation with all this money? Follow the money and then we can find out the real motive behind this offer.

    And, Mary, I agree with you about the moon. I’ve worked in nursing homes for 25 years and the residents with dementia seem especially affected by the changes in the moon.

  66. American
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:32 pm | Permalink

    Bottom line on unions is that they encourage the derilict not to work, because he has seniority.

    In the whole picture of CEOs and unions, they both can be influenced by greed.

    I say if you are a good worker, you should get a raise, and not an automatic one.

    Merit pay is a good thing.

    It raises incentive in the workers to be part of the solution and not the problem.

    The NEA in particular, pushes an extreme and radically liberal agenda, that has nothing to do with education, and has not helped improve our standing in the world as far as the abilities of students to compete.

    The NEA pushes teaching acceptance of various sexual orientations to children and that is neither the place nor the time in these kids lives to be learning it.

    The NEA is part of the problem and not the solution in they they block serious reform in education.

    No wonder so many are opting out for other alternatives.

  67. American
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:44 pm | Permalink

    Point in Fact:

    USD School district test scores are significantly lower that the general area’s school districts, that I believe are not controlled by the NEA.

    Even the private and parochial schools in area of Wichita score much better.

    The reason is partly due to the NEAs strangle hold on the schools.

    But the situation is, grant you, much better here than on the coasts, even with USD 259.

  68. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:53 pm | Permalink

    “Beber hates teachers because they stand between him and the children he lusts after. — chicken lady.

    Iti’s my duty chicken lady. I keep them from becoming lezzies by teaching them man love. And I don’t hate teachers. I just think many of them are slugs. Didn’t you ever go to school? My, my: What did they teach you?

  69. mom
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 8:54 pm | Permalink

    American – I have had two kids in public schools and I know many teachers – never have I heard of any teacher pushing acceptance of various sexual orientation to children.

    As for the NEA pushing a radical and liberal agenda – where did you hear this – in your church?

    I agree that our schools are in need of desperate help but I don’t think the No Child Left Behind works either – and that was George W. Bush’s program – not the NEA.

    What good is it to teach kids just to pass some test and not actually learn? What good is it to continually allow illegal immigrant children who do not speak English to come to school and take the bulk of the teacher’s time with them while the other children sit and do nothing?

    There are alot of problems with the schools but to blame just the teachers unions for the problems is pretty narrow-minded – don’t you think?

    As for parents choosing alternative options – that is fine. They have every right to do so but to try to disband all public education is something our country will suffer the consequences. What sets our country apart is the fact that we do want all children to be given an education – not just those fortunate enough to have parents that can choose alternative options.

  70. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:07 pm | Permalink

    “Teachers have a major impact on our most precious commodity, our children. They should be treated with the same respect as a doctor or lawyer.” — xxx

    What I meant was that lawyer is at about the bottom of the list when it comes to being respected. I usually don’t resort to cliche’s, but dumb as a box of rocks comes to mind.

  71. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:07 pm | Permalink

    Hey Walker, if you would EVER come out here and visit, we could hunt and trap beaver together!!!

    heheheh. HAHAHAHHAAH.

    Hell, we could skin and clean the ones we catch.

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA.

    Seriously… I have tons of beaver in the creek near me, about ten dams in one mile. I was fishing last summer and a pair must have had a den near by. They kept swimming around in circles near the other creek bank. They were clearly worried.

    I told them to be bewwy bewwwy quiet. We were hunting bass, not beaver. Not to worry. But they just kept swimming in circles and diving under a log where, I guess the baby beavers were hidden.

    I love Downer Creek!

    The beaver were really cute. And kinda scary. I hear they move pretty fast and can put the hurt on a human. I didnt have my gun (dont like picking pellets out of the bass:) but I suppose a swift swing of a tree branch would have done the trick.

    And in about a month or so, we’ll have Eagles roosting here until March, when they go home, wherever home is.

    Walker, dude, you really need to come here for a visit. All my pals should visit. It’s a cross between Wild Kingdom, Dog Whisperer, Green Acres, The Dukes of Hazzard, and the Beverly Hillbillies.

    With a little Queer as Folk, Harold Ensley, and Emeril Live thrown in!!!

    Back to the subject, I have a feeling the beaver Walker and I would hunt might enjoy the attention. My experience has been they are cheap dates. And between Walker and I, we could offer them a plethora of choices….

    heheheheheheheh!

  72. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:09 pm | Permalink

    “I keep them from becoming lezzies by teaching them man love”

    Yeah. Sure. Keep it up. You keep sending me my best customers.

    I have toaster ovens filling the Quonset shed thanks to their experiences with you.

  73. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:13 pm | Permalink

    Outie? You need to hide a tiny “cereal cam” inside your bowl of Post Toasties.

    Because clearly, from your sourpuss attitude, someone is pissing in them EVERY day.

    Do you want to know who it is?

    Or is it you doing it as penance.

    “Eat wizzed on wheatied, say three hail mary’s, take two asprin and call me in the morning” must be your spiritual healing prescription.

    PSsssst. Outie. It aint working.

  74. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:17 pm | Permalink

    “I never claimed to be a paid ‘writer’. You claim that I am not. If you do not have evidence then you should not be making the claim.”

    So… do you get paid to write?

    I think not.

    Unless… say… did you collaborate with the author of My Pet Goat?

  75. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:18 pm | Permalink

    Westinghouse? General Electric? If so, that wasn’t me. I use puppies.

  76. outlander
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:41 pm | Permalink

    Hmmm… I’m gratified that you are concerned with my “breakfast”, farm grrl. From what I can see, your own cereal may be a little soggy been these days?

    But perhaps you’re right. I try to maintain a balance, not to get too high, nor too low. This board may be a challenge I no longer have use for.

  77. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:45 pm | Permalink

    “This board may be a challenge I no longer have use for.”

    Cool. Then we can expect you to be leaving?

    Let me hand you your hat and open the door and remind you to not let it hit you in the ass on the way out.

    Buh-bye

  78. BlueJay
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:53 pm | Permalink

    You WERE part of furthering that “McCain supporter mutilated!” story Outlander. I never saw your retraction on that.

    Too, the approach and advent and aftermath of an election disappointing to you has degraded the quality of your posts. Politics to come does not favor an improvement in your outlook or most likely your posts.

    It might BE best to leave with some dignity still intact.

  79. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    “A lot of very ignorant people see gay men and lesbians as a threat because they believe that we will “turn” their vulnerable children into gay men and lesbians.
    There is an old joke among gay men and lesbians that goes along the lines of “yes we’re on a recruitment drive, one more and I get a toaster oven” – the idea being that you earn a prize if you meet your “quota”. It’s a joke that is meant to show people who think we’re interested in “turning them gay” how ridiculous that idea is.”

  80. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    that was as easy to find as health risks for gays.

  81. beber
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:56 pm | Permalink

    at least we have similar interests, chicken lady.

  82. beber
    Posted November 16, 2008 at 6:00 am | Permalink

    Wait a minute; those are my toaster ovens then.

  83. outlander
    Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:06 am | Permalink

    BlueJay
    Posted November 15, 2008 at 9:53 pm | Permalink

    You WERE part of furthering that “McCain supporter mutilated!” story Outlander. I never saw your retraction on that.

    ———

    Actually, I wasn’t. I never commented other than to post the a link to the picture when it came out, without accusation. Go on, do your checking so that you can properly apologize.

    But one thing I have noticed about you BlueJay, you have never let the truth get in the way of your pointy-headed opinions.

  84. outlander
    Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:25 am | Permalink

    Speaking of retractions and apologies BJ, when are you going to apologize for being part of the untrue, cowardly, and personal attacks on Sarah Palin? Including your innuendos about an affair etc…?

  85. BlueJay
    Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:43 am | Permalink

    How can we miss you if you won’t go away Outlander?

    It was not I who reported on Palin’s affair with her husband’s best friend. Is there anything to it is a matter for further investigation. SHOULD Palin( I HOPE) pursue a future in politics.

  86. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:47 am | Permalink

    Hmmm. Has outie called out anyone for the “obama is a muslim” lie?

    Probably not. He probably thinks it’s true, just like the republican operative “B” girl story.

    Being a repuke means you never have to say you are sorry.

  87. BlueJay
    Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:52 am | Permalink

    “Go on, do your checking so that you can properly apologize.”

    Maybe I will.

    It was Bawksalot Boxlock who brought that hoax here. As I recall, you outlander did what you could to provide evidence to support him.