| Posted: Tue May 18th, 2010 07:12 am |
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Fisher 2009
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How does anyone make the school system accountable?
In Pinal County there's a new watchdog organization called CARTM. It stands for Citizens for Accountability and Responsible Treatment of Minors. It's very new and not yet statewide. I'm proud to be associated with this upstanding organization.
cartm33@yahoo.com
We are against this Prop. 100.
Main reason: Pedophilia. NOTHING has been done about this statewide epidemic.
Why should the schools be rewarded for poor management and unsafe positions?
EF
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| Posted: Tue May 4th, 2010 12:10 am |
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woody1940
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I think the 5.6% is the rate for Arizona
now add on:2.2 for surprise thats up to 7.8 before the new tax is added.
City Sales Tax Rates in Maricopa County, Arizona
Apache Junction sales tax: 2.2%
Avondale sales tax: 2.5%
Buckeye sales tax: 2.0%
Carefree sales tax: 3.0%
Cave Creek sales tax: 3.0%
Chandler sales tax: 1.5%
El Mirage sales tax: 3.0%
Fountain Hills sales tax: 2.6%
Gila Bend sales tax: 3.0%
Gilbert sales tax: 1.5%
Glendale sales tax: 2.2%
Goodyear sales tax: 2.5%
Guadalupe sales tax: 3.0%
Litchfield Park sales tax: 2.8%
Maricopa sales tax: 2.0%
Mesa sales tax: 1.75%
Paradise Valley sales tax: 1.65%
Peoria sales tax: 1.8%
Phoenix sales tax: 2.0%
Queen Creek sales tax: 2.25%
Scottsdale sales tax: 1.65%
Surprise sales tax: 2.2%
Tempe sales tax: 1.8%
Tolleson sales tax: 2.5%
Wickenburg sales tax: 2.2%
Youngtown sales tax: 3.0%
Last edited on Tue May 4th, 2010 12:11 am by woody1940
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29th, 2010 08:26 pm |
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Coffeecup
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lotfotl & woody,
I think the correct answer is about 17.857% increase... not quite 20% but still way too high.
1% divided by 5.6% = 17.857% or 5.6% X 1.17857 = 6.59999%
Have you all noticed the full-court press the unions are exerting to get this so called "1%" increase passed? I've received mailings and seen TV ads along with posters and road signs. I guess the teachers need more money so they can teach our kids to read, write and do some basic math. More $$$ won't educate one more child. What is needed is less unions and a little more "taking of teacher's names & kicking some teacher's a-s." If that doesn't work start firing the bad, uncaring and inept teachers that the unions protects!
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29th, 2010 05:51 pm |
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lotfotl
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woody1940 wrote: Question!
Are we having a 1% sales tax increase or is it a 1 cent tax increase?
A tax increase of 1 cent on the existing 5.6% tax = ?%
1% increase on 5.6% = ?%
a need to understand what we are talking about
woody, the current tax rate is 5.6 %--the increase would bring the tax rate up to 6.6%. do the math and you'll see thats a 20% increase in the state sales tax. when was the last time you got a 20% increase? I guess the supporters of this tax feel that since it's the taxpayers money, who the he.. cares?
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| Posted: Sat Apr 24th, 2010 08:16 pm |
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Coffeecup
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Taxes have never been allowed to expire!
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| Posted: Thu Apr 22nd, 2010 07:04 pm |
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Here365
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Does anyone think a one cent increase to the county tax rate will ever expire? Have any tax increases put in place for whatever so-called noble purpose ever been allowed to expire?
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21st, 2010 09:07 pm |
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woody1940
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Question!
Are we having a 1% sales tax increase or is it a 1 cent tax increase?
A tax increase of 1 cent on the existing 5.6% tax = ?%
1% increase on 5.6% = ?%
a need to understand what we are talking about
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17th, 2010 01:38 am |
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HELLO LOGIC
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Speaking of this being a "state of arizona issue," doesn't SCW have any polling places. The pamphlet I got in the mail has my polling place in Surprise, on the Ave of the Arts. Whats with that?
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16th, 2010 03:58 am |
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DBuell
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DBuell: Okay, you can use the bold and "making text bigger" buttons. We get it.
Good! $7000.00 That is how much we spend on education each year in Arizona. This was a news topic of discussion on KTAR 92.3 FM. And the question still has not been answered. How could we spend this much putting us in the top 12 of states education expenditures and still be at 49th place?
Sorry if this is a bit too bold for you........................
I've helped tutor a kid in my neighborhood when he needs it if he will ask me and how do these kids get advanced if they are not getting the skills? There is no reward for coming in 18th place! I'm sorry if it hurts their feeeling to fail a grade but life is tough and it will not get any better.
I cringe when I read on internet blogs and forums "dolers" (dollars) "wunceuponna" (once upon a) "iconome" (economy) "finanse" (finance) "serfice" (surface) "mantinence" (maintenance, This was in an online job resume) "czechoslovikien" (czechoslovakian) "consintration" (concentration) "receptonist" (receptionist) "engineears" (engineers, that was a beaut) "human resorse" (human resource) "manufachiring" (manufacturing) "bisniss" (business, this was in a resume from a business management graduate at an Arizona college) "guvermint" (government) "misselanius" (miscellaneous, this post was so incoherent I had no idea what this person was talking about) "pencilvannia" (pennsylvania, honest to god!) "matireals" (materials, an ad on Craigslist selling building materials)
Oh, somebody stop me! I was in depressed mood when I started this, but these examples are just too funny! I almost fell on the floor laughing if it wasn't so pathetic........................and these were in state, or so they claim, posts on Digg, Craigslist, Stumbleupon, Yahoo answers and right here on newszap!
"instrumints" (instruments, supposedly musical instruments from what I could get) "helth" (health, from an online healthcare debate right here in Phoenix, which was also spelled incorrectly by the way, more than once) "bords" (boards) "insentove" (incentive)
The following were taken from Actual Resume's on Monster dot com.............. "hazardus rifrigirants" (hazardous refrigerants) "experianse" (experience) "edjucation" (education, this person wants a job as a teachers aide!) "beveridge" (beverage, as in beverage server) "talant" (talent) "botes" "deizel"(boats, a diesel mechanic looking for work) "softwear" (software, computers) "clasafides" (classifieds, as in a technical writer) "trancelater" ( translator, summer job wanted by a multi language person! Wouldn't you love to figure that translation out) "profeshinall" (professional) "miticulus" (meticulous) "fitniss" (fitness, she's looking for work as a fitness instructor) "voluntears" ( volunteers, so he says, on a lot of projects and community services)
"Growshry" (grocery, this person applied for a summer position at the local supermarket as a GROWSHRY clerc!) "offace maniger" ( office manager, does that need explaining?) "chainge" (change, quick, I just gave you a twenty after spending $17.48. How much "chainge" do I give back to the customer? $2.52) "servace" (customer service? I don't really know. None of these sentences make any sense)
I have other things to do today, but I hope you get the idea. this is what we are paying $7000.00 per student for.
Honest to god, I found most of these postings on Monster and Craigslist since Christmas. Lord help the company that hires an AC service Technician to "handel hazardus rifrigirants" and hope he does not get someone killed including himself......and this is a high school graduate right out of a Refrigeration school last year who applied with a company I worked for.
I couldn't make this up if I tried. How are we supposed to believe that if after 40 years of throwing money at the problem, we will get better results than this? As a parent myself, I haven't been able to justify throwing the money we already have tossed at the public school system, nevermind stopping the tailspin!
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14th, 2010 06:58 pm |
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lotfotl
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Regarding the 1% sales tax increase, if the money is used for the overall good of the people of the state and not directed to "pet projects" of the politicians and "do gooders", I normally would not have a problem with a "temporary" tax increase. The problem is, as soon as they get the money you never know how it's being spent and the word "temporary" quickly changes to "necessary" when it comes time to expire.
I would think people would learn from the .80 cents tobacco tax which, a little over three years ago, the "do gooders" convinced the people to fleece from a certain segment of the population. And, of course, the majority of the voters happily voted for the tax figuring as long as it didn't cost them anything, why not? you know the old saying, "every tax is a good tax except the one I have to pay".
The "do gooders" came up with a program which they named "Early Childhood Education"and convinced everyone that there was a dire need for these funds to ensure that kids were properly prepared to enter all day kindergarten (which, by the way, is another unfunded program given to us by napelatano and, after once implemented, is like pulling teeth to get rid of).
After all the "do gooders" whining about the dire needs of "early childhood education" and after fleecing $482 million from tobacco users over the past three years, it turns out they didn't have a clue as to why they needed the money or how it should be spent. Instead they now need to call in "outside experts" for advice on how to get rid of the $325 million they haven't been able to spend.
But never fear, they did manage to spend $157 million by hiring 125 employees and giving $30 million to Valley of the Sun United Way. VOTSU must have been gushing with excitement after receiving such a huge influx of cash and I'm certain they happily managed to spend the money (less, of course, their overhead costs). Most of the remaining $137 million that was spent went to organizations which were represented by, (guess who?) people on the board responsible for giving out the grants.
Now that lawmakers have decided that since the money that was fleeced from tobacco users for what was supposed to be such a worthwhile cause was actually being used for niceties and not necessities, they want the remaining $325 million swept into the general fund to be used to help offset the deficit. They also want to disband the "Early Childhood Education" program and have all future revenues derived from the tobacco tax to be dumped into the general fund to be used as they see fit. apparently they plan on putting this idea on the ballot in the next election.
I have a better idea. if they don't need the money for the purpose for which it was intended, why not refund the remaining $325 million to the taxpayers and put a measure on the ballot to rescind the tax? Yeah, right.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24th, 2010 07:39 pm |
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doggielover
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kisskisskiss kiss I loveyouI loveyou lioveyou
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| Posted: Tue Mar 23rd, 2010 08:48 pm |
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Bambi
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I agree to all of your statements. Good to know you think and speak with reason.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 23rd, 2010 05:23 pm |
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Coffeecup
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I attended the 9th grade at the Army & Navy Academy in Carlsbad CA. I learned more during that year than in the following three years of public HS. I also favor uniforms for all students and an end to tenure and liked the idea of students having the same teacher all day. Failing students would help identify failing teachers.
I also enjoyed our conversation. It's refreshing not to listen to the rants and raving of uninformed opinions based on feelings rather than evidence, facts and experience.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 22nd, 2010 01:02 am |
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Bambi
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Most of my grandchildren attend a charter school, so I agree with your statements concerning more control and demand for excellence and parent cooperation from these charter schools. This is especially true for jr. high students who challenge control from 7 to 7. I begin teaching in 1966. I've taught every grade, including special education, and felt "control" slipping away every year. Laws against this; laws against that; less cooperation with parents; lack of follow-up; don't touch the student; don't be this way; don't be that way; lack of supplies; low pay. As those teacher rights diminished and the students rights increased, classrooms grew in size and consequently discipline became a major issue. When I compared the public schools against the charter schools, I perceived a prison environment vs. a real learning environment. That has to change. There has to be reform. But until that time, we need to keep that educational engine running and keep our teachers and support staff employed with the right teaching tools and environment. That requires parent participation, instilling rules and regs at home and a demand for excellent from everyone.
I no longer believe in tenure. I did when I was younger, but soon realized some teachers just weren't cuttiing becoming empowered and some lazy by the sense of perpetuance until retirement, I believe a teacher needs to demonstrate that he/she can be mentors as well as instructors. They need to show results that indicate learning is taking place. By raising the pay and qualifications, you will get an individual who would be willing to leave his well paying job in his industry and teach our kids math and science while mentoring and inspiring. This goes up the ladder all the way to the top.
You sound like a very reasonable and understanding person. I enjoyed conversing with you. I'm also in favor of military charter schools for jr. high boys.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21st, 2010 05:39 am |
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Coffeecup
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Bambi,
Much of what you say I agree with. Problems in our society, home situations, the media and other cultural realities all share responsibility for the plight in our educational system. Unions only add to the problems by protecting bad teachers. I don't doubt that they also protect good teachers from bad administrators. More money won't improve the performance of a bad teacher or administrator! The following is an editorial I wrote several years ago.
Charter versus Public Schools
A visitor to a school classroom noted that the students didn’t gawk at him, were sitting straight, wore uniforms, kept their eyes on the teacher, had no makeup, jewelry, cell phones, ipods, computers, or calculators. Their school had 20 minutes for lunch, a 196-day school year, three hours of homework every night and three weeks of summer math instructions. Students had the same teacher all day, an extra seventy minutes of instructions every day by eliminating the ten-minute trek between classes.
Sounds like some intolerable dictatorial far or middle east country. Perhaps northern Europe, Russia, Germany or Japan. Nope… Fortunately it’s in Oakland California. The American Indian Public Charter School (AIPCS).
From their website Mission Statement, “AIPCS serves 200 inner-city students in sixth through ninth grade. The focus of AIPCS is excellent student attendance (99%), which helps to ensure the academic needs of American Indian students and other interested in attending our school. We will provide them with an education to enhance their academic skills in reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, science, social science, business, and humanities in order to compete and be productive members in a capitalistic society.”
AIPCS received a Blue Ribbon award given to the top 200 schools in the nation. More than 98% of the students are minorities and more than 75% qualify for free lunches.
AIPCS was founded in 1996 and swiftly became a multiculturalists' playground where much was tolerated and little was learned. Dr. Ben Chavis, the Chief arrived in 2000 and reversed that condition. Charter schools are not yet unionized so he was able to eliminate all the dead wood, which included all but one staff member.
The Chief’s website also listed 16 useful commonsense ingredients to successful learning. I will list only four. The remainder can be found at http://www.aipcs.org/commonsense.php
The staff of AIPCS does not preach or subscribe to the demagoguery of tolerance. Anyone who does not follow our rules will be sent packing.
Squawkers, multicultural specialists, self-esteem experts, who refuse to put forth their best effort will be booted out.
We do not believe that standardized tests discriminate against students because of their color. Perhaps failing students weren’t taught to begin with.
Our staff does not subscribe to the logic of minority students as victims. We will plow through such philosophy with common sense and hard work!
Curriculum includes responsible behaviors such as self-discipline and cooperativeness. APICS is Oakland’s highest-performing middle school and stresses obligation, not self-expression.
In contrast, David Whitman, in his book "Sweating the Small Stuff: Inner City Schools and the New Paternalism" reports that in Chicago from 2003 through 2006, just three of every 1,000 teachers received an "unsatisfactory" rating in annual evaluations; of 87 "failing schools" - with below-average and declining test scores - 67 had no teachers rated unsatisfactory; in all of Chicago, just nine teachers received more than one unsatisfactory rating, and none were dismissed.
The significant difference between Oakland’s inner-city AIPCS and Chicago’s inner-city schools is the non-union charter school has the ability to terminate teachers that are not performing versus the unionized, paternalist and elitist educational system that protects’ teachers at all costs. Teacher unions constantly whine about needing more money to improve the quality of our schools. They complain about standardized testing that can identify poor teachers, schools and districts. They campaign for more holidays, longer vacations, shorter hours and more help. None of this whining or complaints will help students learn their 3R’s. Sadly, many students have lost their opportunity to learn and may never reach their full potential. Unions and their liberal fellow travelers are responsible for this disgraceful state of our public schools.
Teachers who want to teach flee the public school system for private schools usually with considerably less pay.
The editorial continued with suggestions to improve our public educational system.
I won't be supporting Proposition 100 without some significant changes to the current system.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21st, 2010 01:28 am |
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Bambi
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Arizona Education Network PUBLIC EDUCATION KEEPS THE AMERICAN DREAM ALIVE
Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase which automatically will repeal on May 31, 2013. The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase–Your Questions Answered!. The Arizona Legislature is asking voters to temporarily raise the sales tax by 1%, until May 31, 2013. To see the transmitted bill, click here. The election will take place on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The following is information that will explain the proposition’s potential impact. .
What are the specifics of Proposition 100?
Proposition 100 proposes a 1% increase in the Arizona state sales tax. Two-thirds of the revenues generated would fund education and the other one-third would fund health and human services and public safety. The sales tax would automatically repeal on May 31, 2013.
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Will it really repeal automatically?
Yes, it will repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place.
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Why didn’t the legislature just pass the sales tax increase?
Governor Brewer asked legislators to pass it but it failed. In Arizona it takes a two-thirds vote to raise revenues and there are 31 legislators who have signed an oath to Washington special interest lobbyist Grover Norquist, promising to never raise taxes in Arizona–no matter what the situation. To read more about the Norquist Pledge, click here.
What is the state of education funding now?
Arizona per-pupil funding is currently among the lowest in the nation. In addition, Arizona schools have already absorbed several rounds of cuts in 2009. Due to these cuts, Arizona schools are experiencing increased class sizes; cuts to extra-curricular activities and athletics; and the loss of PE, music, librarians, books and even paper.
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What happens to education funding if Proposition 100 does not pass?
If the temporary 1% sales tax does not pass, as much as one-quarter of all public education funding could be cut! This could mean 1.5 to 2 of out of every 10 teacher positions may be eliminated.
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Will there be additional cuts to public schools even if Prop 100 passes?
YES. Even if Proposition 100 passes the revenue raised is not enough to close the budget gap. Additional cuts to education proposed includes: - Reduction of state funding per-student from current levels to FY2005-06 funding levels.
- Elimination of state funding for Gifted Programs, Teacher Training, Adult Education and GED, and the Early Eduction Block Grant.
- The elimination of the Full-Day Kindergarten funding rate ($218 million)
- Reduced funding for Charter Schools ($10 million)
- No funding for regular School Building and Maintenance. Only $5 million for emergency maintenance state-wide.
- Reduction of support for Community Colleges and Universities to FY 2005-06 levels. Per-pupil support would drop for universities from $9,480 to $7,100 per student.
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For more information on the Governor’s budget proposal, see Governor Brewer Releases FY 2011 Budget Proposal – the Highlights and Governor’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Proposal. It is expected that the legislature will follow the outline of the Governor’s plan in their proposal. .
Since the election isn’t until May 18th, will there be a budget before then?
It looks like there may even be two budgets coming from the legislature. Indications are that in order to recess and not return for a special session while legislators are campaigning for the November election, the legislature will vote on two budgets. The first budget, which would trigger if Prop 100 fails, will encompass drastic budget cuts to education to balance the budget. The other budget will contain the cuts noted above and the revenue from the 1% temporary sales tax. We will keep you updated on budget progress in the legislature.
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What does Proposition 100 mean for the economy of Arizona?
The Governor’s budget director, John Arnold, confirmed that economists view Proposition 100 as job neutral (any jobs lost by an increase in the sales tax would be equivalent to jobs lost as a result of the cuts made if the measure fails). Education is inextricably linked to a healthy Arizona economy. In order to attract businesses to Arizona, the state must provide a strong public education system. If these drastic cuts are made, companies may not only fail to relocate to Arizona–they may leave. They may also imperil Arizona’s military bases. Many civilian jobs already remain unfilled at bases due to the lack of qualified workers. In addition, military families may choose to avoid a state with diminished funding for education. See Presidents of DM-50, Ft. Huachuca-50 & Fighter County Partnership Pen Letter to Gov. Brewer about Education Cuts.
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Why is Proposition 100 important to our senior population?
Arizona seniors have a stake in education too. The link between education and economic growth is key to the future of our state and no one understands that better than our seniors who have seen the economic benefits of education throughout their lives. Moreover, if Arizona fails to fund quality public education, our professionals–doctors, lawyers and accountants–may leave for states that provide better educational opportunities for their families. High-quality education also correlates to higher property values and lower crime rates. Seniors will also benefit from the one-third of the temporary sales tax devoted to public health and safety. No one wants to see the early release of convicted criminals.
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Who supports Proposition 100:
This proposition has a broad spectrum of bi-partisan support throughout Arizona. For a list of corporations, businesses, advisory groups and citizens showing their support, visit here.
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What can you do?- Register to VOTE and apply to receive a permanent early ballot. Click here for links to your county board of elections.
- The last day to register to vote is April 19, 2010. Early voting begins on April 22, 2010; the last day to request an early ballot is May 7, 2010.
- Talk to your family, friends and neighbors about Proposition 100 and its importance to the economic future of Arizona. To download a version for distribution, click here.
- Stay informed: Sign up for our newsletter.
Vote Yes on Prop. 100.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21st, 2010 01:23 am |
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Bambi
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I support you Jrenae. I'm a retired teacher and I support Prop. 100. I've been in the trenches like yourself. Raise the bar by raising the pay and expecting excellence in the teachers. Read about Obama's progress for our Educational success in America. http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education .
People say the Asians succeed at what they do much better than American students.
Here's why...........
The Asian culture is completely different from our American one. In Asian countries, including South Korea, success is expected (i.e. CEO’s commit suicide for fear of being recognized for failure). Fifteen year old girls are not running around unsupervised, having babies that the taxpayers are supporting financially. The American CULTURE needs to change; teachers cannot change the children of the world if their parents do not keep the momentum going and cooperate with the program.
In an analysis of contemporary data published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they found that the primary cause for the disparity in math performance at all levels is culture, not biology. It's what is happening in the home, that is brought eventually to the classroom. The teacher should not be expected to be the parent and the teacher, yet many of them are filling that role in the US. What we need is reform. Our US school year is based an an incredibly irrelevant system related to the necessity of farm work and it is well-beyond time this changed. Secondly, we are not adequately prepared to compete with other nations and studies confirm that. Asians come here to the US and ceaselessly attain scholarships, higher educations, and great jobs due to the importance of education in their home countries. It just doesn't seem that important anymore in the US. And why? Families are working one and two and three jobs now to make ends meet and to keep food on the table." And if If your parents are high school dropouts with low literacy levels and reading for pleasure is not hard-wired, it's hard to be a good role model for your children, even if you really want to be. More parent involvement perhaps with parenting classes offered, enforceable rules backed by a value system that kids will abide by both at home and at school and the reduction of time spent on video games and unsupervised activities, would be a good way to demonstrate our commitment to educational excellence.
Average Number of Instructional Days in School Year - Time and ...
VOTE YES ON PROP. 100
Protect and Prepare our Children To Compete in this World Economy. Don't leave them behind or turn your backs on them because of a small increase in a sales tax for their Education, or because you dislike their teachers level of expertise. Solve that problem, but don't put them at a disadvantage with other students around the World.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 11:56 pm |
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jrenae
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Your defense of the unions lead me to believe that you may also be part of the educational problem.
Please. You obviously only know about the bad part of the unions. The unions are so much about education. They are also so much about improving education. If I had to put it to a ratio, I would say 7:3 that the union does more good than harm. FUnny how only the downside gets any attention.
There are also different area union districts, like school districts. Some unions are wonderful and some are less than stellar (just like school districts!)
Unions also defend and fight for good teachers that are receiving a bad rap due to a biased administrator. I'll give you an example (and for one anecdote are hundreds others!) One of my co-workers is a special education teacher for physically handicalpped children - some that couldn't even feed themselves. The principal evaluating her was evaluating her as if she was a mainstream teacher and wouldn't take any of the special needs of the students into account and made that detrimental to the teacher's evaluation because she was judgeing her as if she should have been teaching like a mainstream classroom teacher should have been! Because of the union, a wonderful special education cohort came in to evaluate her and challenged the principal on the problems with the evaluation and it turned out the principal had an unfair bias towards special education. If it wasn't for the union, the principal would still be doing these types of evaluations for special education! Does that seem right? I didn't think so.
I teach a special area (not special education, but a special area) that some administrators don't quite understand and I've seen that problem show itself on some of my evaluations. When there is a bad mark against me, I can tell right away if it's an item that is something I genuinely need to change and improve on, or if it's an incorrect and unfair judgment to the subject I teach, and not something that should be a reflection on me (but rather a hit on what I teach and not how I teach).
I had a much better and more fair evaluation recent time because I brought up these biased and incorrect judgments on my eval. And I still continue to improve on areas I need to improve on. The union has been wonderful letting biased administrators know how special areas and subjects are just as important to well rounded education than the main areas. My subject brings all the subjects together: math, science, history, geography, etc, but if an administrator is going to be unfair and biased, we good teachers need support on our end to fight for our right to educate and inspire America's future.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 08:57 pm |
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19th Post |
Coffeecup
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jrenae,
Surely your not going to ask me to believe that the teacher's union is in business to help kids get an education. Unions are in business to help the unions. Education just happens to be the teacher's union game.
Look around and see what the unions has done to our kids. I worked in a large corporation and had to send college graduate new hires to remedial writing class so they could write a simple memo inviting staff members to a meeting. Indian, Iranian, Japanese, Korean and other foreign workers arrived at the work site equipped with technical and communication skills that we couldn't find in Southern California.
Your defense of the unions lead me to believe that you may also be part of the educational problem. If you are a skilled and dedicated teacher you are being held back by the unions reliance on an unjust system of advancement based on time rather than merit. The real losers are our kids that are not being taught by lazy, incompetent and uncaring teachers that cannot be fired.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 07:39 pm |
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20th Post |
Bambi
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doggielover wrote: I stopped reading your rant at "pure ignorance". For it is pure ignorance for you to assume that people who spend their lives in a career other than education do not do the same thing that you are doing--that's why it's a "career". That is, a person with a career spends quantitive amounts of "free time" planning, plotting, memorizing, or whatever you feel you do that is so special and only for you to do. Most people reading this forum had "important" jobs too, so we're on to you.
Most people reading this forum had "important" jobs too, so we're on to you.
What's this mean doggielover? On to her for what? Please explain this statement.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 06:51 pm |
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21st Post |
jrenae
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I stopped reading your rant at "pure ignorance". For it is pure ignorance for you to assume that people who spend their lives in a career other than education do not do the same thing that you are doing--that's why it's a "career"
You missed my point. I never said other careers and hard workers isn't as important. I'm tired of people thinking a teacher's job isn't important and I'm tired of people believing we have a million breaks and sit around and complain. It's simply not the case. I work so hard and put so much of my own funds into what I do. I'm also tired of the mentality and ignorance that we don't do any good for the future generations to lead the world. I'm tired of the whole attitude.
Yes, the union isn't perfect. But in a state like AZ with legislatures who don't give a wit about education, thank goodness for the union!
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 05:45 pm |
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22nd Post |
Coffeecup
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Jrenae,
My problem is not with the teachers that take their job seriously. My problem is with the unions that protect bad teachers. I have a granddaughter that's a HS teacher in LA. The stories she tells me of the waste in $$$ and time in her school district is appalling. Good teacher cannot be rewarded and bad teacher cannot be fired. The unions protect all members, good and bad.
When a teacher's union strike, they claim the strike for the good of the kids and then settle for a pay increase for their members.
I've always felt that successful school Superintendents should be paid like CEO's, Principals' paid like small business owner's and teachers paid like engineers, but only if we the parents can fire them without years of litigation and interference from unions.
My granddaughter says that the first year of teaching is tough with the preparation of lessons plans and other teaching aids. Following years all that is needed is a minor tuneup of last years material.
I also agree with doggielover. Kids need to spend more time in the classroom learning the three R's. Today they cannot compete with foreign workers in technical fields.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 05:36 pm |
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23rd Post |
doggielover
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I stopped reading your rant at "pure ignorance". For it is pure ignorance for you to assume that people who spend their lives in a career other than education do not do the same thing that you are doing--that's why it's a "career". That is, a person with a career spends quantitive amounts of "free time" planning, plotting, memorizing, or whatever you feel you do that is so special and only for you to do. Most people reading this forum had "important" jobs too, so we're on to you.
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20th, 2010 04:45 pm |
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24th Post |
jrenae
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This time the lack of money is increasing classroom sizes and cutting off materials and other resources. Students packed into a classroom are not going to be engaged and learn as much than when the smaller more productive amount were in the classroom. AZ is already low on the totem pole of the country for edu. You want it to be buried further? Then keep up the same ignorant attitude.
I invite you to observe some classrooms and see what goes on.
And doggielover: Ass in the chair is what I do, so to speak. I spend nights working on lesson plans and prep. I spend breaks doing it. Next week is Spring Break for the district I work for and 2 of those days I'll be up at a HS in Scottsdale collaborating and getting additional ideas and solutions from a legendary veteran teacher up there (they don't have Spring Break next week). I don't ask for overtime for this nor do I expect it. I know what I signed up for. But for you to make these assumptions is pure ignorance.
Teachers do not have 3 months off during the summer. it's 8 weeks at the most and we're not paid for that. I signed up for that arrangement. I am fine with that even though I'm working to prepare for the upcoming year. What angers me are ignorant assumptions from people like you that just don't know nor get it. In fact, I feel GUILTY when I take a break when it's technically a "break" because there is so much work to do, but I'll burn out if I don't. So don't assume until you've been there and you know. You just don't.
Last edited on Sat Mar 20th, 2010 04:48 pm by jrenae
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| Posted: Fri Mar 19th, 2010 04:35 pm |
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Coffeecup
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Why is the solution to all educational problems a lack of money? We spend more dollars per students than most of the world and we still have to import engineers, mathematicians, programmers and... from third world countries. We graduate HS students that can't fill out an employment application or balance a checkbook. Raising the teacher's salary or hiring more counsellors, superintendents or administers won't help our kids be successful in life. Our school are filled with skilled and caring teachers that are dismayed by the unions that protect the lazy, incompetent and uncaring. NYC pays bad/dangerous teachers full pay to sit in a room day in and day out to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. All protected by the unions.
If you can read this thank a teacher... If not, thank the teachers union...
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| Posted: Fri Mar 19th, 2010 11:47 am |
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26th Post |
doggielover
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Everyone who works does that. I'm saying the school needs to be in session, ass in the chair, 11 months of the 12.
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| Posted: Fri Mar 19th, 2010 06:01 am |
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27th Post |
jrenae
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doggielover: Teachers work about 11 months out of the 12. Believe me, we do. My husband has to convince me late at night to stop working and just relax! We're constantly working...even if we're not "on the clock".
If you can't, thank the teacher's union...
Oh please. :eyeroll:
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17th, 2010 08:46 pm |
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28th Post |
Coffeecup
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If you can read this thank a teacher...
If you can't, thank the teacher's union...
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17th, 2010 10:13 am |
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29th Post |
doggielover
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I'm in favor of schools remaining open 11 months out of 12.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16th, 2010 02:53 pm |
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30th Post |
jrenae
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Sun City West folks don't vote on Queen Creek issues.
This is a STATE issue. I happen to live in Queen Creek, but the issue I wrote about is an ARIZONA issue.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 16th, 2010 06:06 am |
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31st Post |
Manatee
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Sun City West folks don't vote on Queen Creek issues.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15th, 2010 05:17 pm |
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32nd Post |
jrenae
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As a parent and teacher, to say I am deeply concerned where education is going in Arizona and the ramifications for the future in education for generations to come here in Arizona is a gross understatement.
It’s not enough that when there is a shortfall, the Legislature and our Governor has gone after education. Oh no. Last Fall they made it even worse by removing even more of the rights of teachers, adding further insult to injury.
Now we as voters have a chance to stop the hemorrhaging to education and further damage by voting yes on the 1 cent sales tax.
I’ve heard the arguments against the sales tax increase: “I’m taxed enough!” “No more taxes!” “Politicians misuse our money! Why give them more to misuse?” That may all be true. I receive a teachers’ salary, so I know what it’s like to not feel like there is enough money as it is and Uncle Sam already reaching into our pockets enough. But my experience as a native Arizonan and teacher has taught me over and over that the politicians cause more damage when there is a shortfall and they make the wrong cuts, then when there are more funds to “misuse”. When there are cuts to be made, they go after education like a wounded gazelle on the Serengeti. That alone is an outrage.
Until the voters wise up and vote these predators to education out of office, we have to make our voices heard to do what we can to save education. In this case, it’s voting yes on the one cent sales tax increase. We need to keep demanding that these Legislators take a HANDS OFF approach to Arizona’s education, which is already coming in last in the nation!
How much out of pocket will a sales tax increase affect you? We all have different incomes and consumer habits, but the average appears to be $12/month. I don’t know about you, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make if it means two-thirds of the sales tax revenue would go to K-12 public education: $695 million to Primary Ed and $203 million to Secondary Education.
Will the sales tax increase solve the state’s deficit? No, but it is very important to stop the tailspin. If the sales tax initiative fails, K - 12 Education would be looking at a 20% reduction in state support for school district operating budgets – 85-90% of the M&O budget is personnel costs. This would be tragic as education is already suffering.
Other critics say money doesn’t solve the problem. Sure, there is more to effective teaching and education than “money”. But to these critics, I invite them to observe our K-12 classrooms and be down in the trenches with us to see exactly how crucial funding is to education. On that note, our legislature should be required to teach K-12 for 13 weeks (one level grade per week) before touching another penny of education’s funding. The experience alone, I am certain, will open their eyes.
Do the right thing by Arizona’s children, future and the teachers that will lead them there. Vote YES on May 18th.
Oh, and if you were able to read this, thank a teacher.
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