California Teachers Union Says Newly-Empowered Parents = "Mob Rule"

Independent Women's Forum ^ | February 11, 2010 | Vicki E. Murray, Ph.D

[Lorianne]

When moms and dads act as boosters for the annual school bake sale, teachers unions applaud their "parental involvement." But empower those same parents to pick or fix their children's schools (what some of us would consider real parental involvement), teachers union leaders in California last month called it "two of the most objectionable ideas developed in this special session on education," likening it to "mob rule," and a "lynch mob" provision.

What put teachers unions, along with the California School Boards Association (CSBA), the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), the California School Employees Association (CSEA), and other members of the public-schooling establishment (p. 6), over the top? Race-to-the Top-specifically two reforms, dubbed "parent triggers," adopted in one bi-partisan bill last month to help make California more competitive for some $700 million in federal funding.

The first reform lets parents pick their children's schools. Parents of children enrolled in low-achieving public schools can transfer them out of their assigned public schools and into other public schools, including (horrors!) those outside their resident district-"a big change in state education policy." As a concession to the ed establishment, this provision was limited to just 1,000 schools. California currently has more than 2,800 schools failing to meet federal standards.

The second reform empowers parents to fix their children's schools. This provision requires low-performing schools to improve by hiring a new principal and staff or inviting in a charter school operator if a majority of parents sign petitions. Opponents lobbied hard against this measure, and some objected that parents of students in low-performing schools just can't be trusted with that kind of power. Ben Austin, founder of the Los Angeles-based Parent Revolution, scoffed at such an idea. Still, a compromise was reached making only 75 schools statewide subject to this provision.

[Lorianne]

Tons of embedded links within the article at source.

[Da Coyote]

Dear teachers - welcome to the real world.

Your degrees are worthless.

Your union leaders should be jailed.

And your politics suck raw goat meat.

Go away and let our kids learn.

[Da Coyote]

Forgot to add...

Let our kids learn - - - in ENGLISH!

[La Lydia]

Who the hell do they think is paying their salaries?

[WallStreetCapitalist]

Until free market solutions are brought into education, and teachers who have underperforming classrooms are fired, we will continue to have a bloated, ineffective education system that puts us further and further behind India, China, and Japan.

Breaking the collective teachers’ unions is one of the most important things we can do for civilization.

[WallStreetCapitalist]

Until free market solutions are brought into education, and teachers who have underperforming classrooms are fired, we will continue to have a bloated, ineffective education system that puts us further and further behind India, China, and Japan.

Breaking the collective teachers’ unions is one of the most important things we can do for civilization.

[cripplecreek]

Sounds like parents taking control is a good thing.

[Clintonfatigued]

No surprise here, but it confirms what we already know.

[dragnet2]

Sounds like parents taking control is a good thing.

In some venues, the corrupt government and it's agents are losing control.

[SteamShovel]

California Teachers Union Says Newly-Empowered Parents = "Mob Rule"

The teacher's union doesn't even recognize the.....

.....irony of their statement.

The teacher's union IS the mob rule in education.

[centurion316]

The Left are the self anointed intellectual elites. They believe that by virtue of their superior intellects and education, they should be allowed to rule without challenge. The peasants, in this case mothers and fathers, should have no say in how children are raised, educated, and governed.

What is really amazing about this attitude in the Education ranks is that the Colleges of Education is where students who are to dumb to work at the Student Union matriculate. If you are really, really stupid, you get a Masters and an EdD and become an Administrator or a Union Leader.

I recognize that there are exceptions to this rule, but those dedicated teachers tend to be Conservatives who are denied any say or power in our lunatic left wing education system.

[kcvl]

The teacher's union is full of idiots. I'm not kidding!
My office is on the same floor as a group of Arkansas Teacher's Union crazies. They don't even speech freaking English most of the time. It's Ebonics with a southern accent. Makes me sick.

They are the laziest bunch of people I have ever seen. They try to borrow supplies from other offices because they don't want to pay for them! They don't get squat from me, except, NO!

They drag their children with them most of the time and let them run the halls! Don't flush the toilets, leave paper towels on the floor, etc. Pure trash!

But, they all have nice cars!

[kcvl]

The teacher's union IS the mob rule in education.

EXACTLY!

[mad puppy]

Well put.

[B-Cause]

HIGH SCHOOL -- 1955 vs. 2010

Scenario 1: Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1955 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack...
2010 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario 2: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1955 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2010 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3: Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1955 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2010 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD... The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1955 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2010 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1955 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock..
2010 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations... His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6: Pedro fails high school English.
1955 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2010 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher.. English is then banned from core curriculum.. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1955 - Ants die.
2010 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism.. The FBI investigates his parents --and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1955 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2010 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy

[wiggen]

They don’t acknowledge the money link from tax payer to government.

[B-Cause]

---

The Enemies Within Our Education system

Education Unions (the N.E.A.), School Administrators and Yes - Even Some Teachers

Worm in the Apple

What is to be Done?

Leave No Teachers Behind!

Lefty Teachers Meet the MP3 Player/REcorder

---

[Uncle Miltie]

Aren’t Libs Pro-Choice?

I am.

For schools, retirement funding, healthcare, etc.

I guess Libs are effectively Anti-Choice. Huh. Who knew?

[Las Vegas Ron]

Good post!

[itsahoot]

I graduated in 1956, so this brings back fond memories for me.

[PapaBear3625]

Until free market solutions are brought into education, and teachers who have underperforming classrooms are fired, we will continue to have a bloated, ineffective education system that puts us further and further behind India, China, and Japan.

It all comes down to the unions. Before the unions, the principal would be held accountable for school performance, and would in turn fire bad teachers and hire the best replacements he could find. If he didn't he would be fired and replaced.

[ArchAngel1983]

"The teacher's union IS the mob rule in education."

Yes and they're damn lucky that the parents haven't formed a lynch mob...yet.

[metmom]

ping

[metmom]

THEY work for US.

[ArchAngel1983]

"But, they all have nice cars!"

LOL... you know every year on 'apply for reduced lunches day' I notice all the really nice cars in the school parking lot. Probably just a coincidence or something I'm sure.

[metmom]

It would be funny if it weren’t true.

[metmom]

ping

[George from New England]

This same crap is happening at Community Colleges in Florida. Government jobs. Students were told to skip this weeks 7 pm (2h40m) class in a 16 week semester. So teacher could watch a special TV show that night. No other explanation. They only meet once a week. Something like a 45 class hour requirement.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

They’re fine ones to talk. Mob rule?

DEMOCRATS — CORRUPT THUG-O-CRATS [Headline Roundup]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2449620/posts?page=17#17

Loony Left and Culture War [Headline Roundup]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2449773/posts?page=2#2
[A lot about loony leftwing education there.]

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I hear comparisons like that all the time. The difference is stark and compelling. Is there a web page or link list anywhere?

[Martel1971]

Dear teachers - welcome to the real world.

Your degrees are worthless.

Your union leaders should be jailed.

And your politics suck raw goat meat.

Go away and let our kids learn.
____________________________________________________

Ok maybe they could start by putting down the PSIII controller, turning off the T.V., doing some homework, not swearing at the teacher, quit getting stoned (at least on weeknights), stop send 1000’s of texts a month and read a book.

There are public schools like that. We call them high performing. The kids at the secondary level aren’t saints, but they keep themselves under control and do most of their work.

I work in a high performing school. Here is a shocker; we don’t want kids from low performing schools. Neither do the private schools, unless you can play ball or are truly gifted. Most of those low performing schools have violent out of control kids. Their parents make all kinds of excuses for their children, or just blame the teacher for their child’s insane behavior.

Where do you think all those welfare mothers, gang banging baby daddies, and drug addled burnouts send their kids? Apples don’t fall far from the tree. Trust me you don’t want these kids sitting next to your daughter in class.

As far as the national union leaders go, jail is too kind. If we send them, send the college professors of education with them. Biggest waste of money I ever spent. I learned all the good techniques from 30 year veterans on the job.

[B-Cause]

I hear comparisons like that all the time. The difference is stark and compelling. Is there a web page or link list anywhere?

---

Arthur Wildfire! March - I don't know of any web sites that can vouch for this, but I grew up in a small town in Minnesota and attended high school there, graduating in 1955, and I can personally tell you that that is the way it really was. It was not un common to bring my 22 rifle to school with me and leave it in my school locker since I was going to go shooting right after school was out for that day.

[Painesright]

This Reason TV video (more like a high quality short movie) shows the REAL mob in CA... it is truly a MUST SEE!!

You will understand why CA is in an unstoppable death spiral and why the rest of us have to resist the same doomed fate with every ounce of strength in our bodies.

http://reason.tv/video/show/hasta-la-vista-arnold

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Thank you so much, B-Cause. That’s good enough for me and many others. You are an original source. =]

[bamahead]

The first reform lets parents pick their children's schools...The second reform empowers parents to fix their children's schools.

Any movement toward more parent/student independence from the Federal Education Monopoly is always bound to draw the ire of the corrupt NEA and their many tentacles. Because they are in on the swindle, wholesale.



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[bamahead]

Thank you :)

[molybdenum]

Worst possible thing was union involvement for civil service employees, and especially the schools. The union is. in effect, a mob, full of bullies &^ lowlifes (community org. types)and ripping off the rank & file plus the taxpayers, big time.

Ronald Reagan wanted to dismantle the fed Dept of Ed, and IMO was persuaded not to.Lobbyists, maybe?

[Danae]

What... you mean PARENTS get a SAY in what their children are TAUGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

NO WAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bend over NEA, WE are running the joint, NOT you. Any questions? No? Good. Sit down and shut up, ring the bell SCHOOL is in session.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Reagan didn’t have the backing of the New Media. There were conservative newsletters and magazines, but they were not able to respond quickly to smears. It’s amazing he achieved what he did.

[molybdenum]

Drivers Ed, and we’re in the Drivers Seat!

[Bhoy]

LOL!! That’s exactly right. The more “experts” the more stupid.

Thanks for that. It’s a copy.

[narses]

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[stephenjohnbanker]

The CTU is to the left of the NEA. Not possible? Oh yes it is.

[tutstar]

Bump

[dsc]

“Until free market solutions are brought into education”

They’re not going to allow free-market solutions. If they are losing in the courts, they’ll use violence.

[dsc]

“Ronald Reagan wanted to dismantle the fed Dept of Ed, and IMO was persuaded not to. Lobbyists, maybe?”

Selling something like that to lobbyists would not be consistent with his character.

Maybe he traded it for something more important.

[molybdenum]

I was thinking underhanded work by lobbyists, influencing Reagan’s close advisors. At least we know he wanted to. Now along with moving toward less government, the abolition of Dept/Ed should be extremely important. nothing in the Constitution gives fed authority over the education of our children. And now for so many years, what iscalled education is antiAmerican, anti-freedom, and immoral (understatement!!)

[kitkat]

Your post 15 = EXCELLENT!

[votemout]

vouchers

[wendy1946]

Sad, but a brilliant analysis.