The teachers union that's failing California

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 18, 2012 | OP-ED

[Oldeconomybuyer]

California's education tailspin has been blamed on class sizes, on the property tax restrictions enforced by Proposition 13, on an influx of Spanish-speaking students. But no portrait of the schools' downfall would be complete without mention of the California Teachers Assn., or CTA, arguably the state's most powerful union and a political behemoth that has blocked meaningful education reform, protected failing and even criminal educators, and pushed for pay raises and benefits that have reached unsustainable levels.

The CTA's power dates back to September 1975, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed the Rodda Act, which allowed teachers to bargain collectively. Within 18 months, 600 of the 1,000 local CTA chapters had moved to collective bargaining. In the years since Rodda's passage, the CTA has launched more than 170 strikes.

The CTA's most important resource, however, isn't a pool of workers ready to strike; it's a fat bank account fed by mandatory dues that can run to more than $1,000 per member. In 2009, the union's income was more than $186 million, all of it tax exempt.

The CTA's size, financial resources and influence with the state's Democratic Party are enough to kill most pieces of hostile legislation. Nevertheless, there are some encouraging stirrings. Parents in groups such as Parent Revolution are starting to revolt against CTA orthodoxy, and unlike elected officials, parents are hard for the union to demonize. The state's many excellent charter schools have demonstrated that another way is possible, and they are growing in strength by the day.

These efforts have reframed the education question in starkly humanitarian terms: In the California public school system, are anyone's interests more important than the students'? It was a question that the CTA itself might have asked back when teachers entered the classroom to "teach good citizenship."

[SCalGal]

I haven't been in our teacher's union for 35 years. Got fed up with them a long time ago.

Join it. Work your way up. Do a conservative takeover.... It's the only way we'll ever take our country back.

[Em and Brets Mum]

To kingu: Brilliant!

[Osage Orange]

I actually have taught...as an Clinical Instructor for a SoCal college. So I do have some experience.......

My kids were both HS'd K-12...That was started in SoCal...before finishing that up, here in OK.

Both my wife and I have college degree's. We might now be Okie's....but don't piss down our legs...and tell us it's raining, ok?

[Osage Orange]

So, cloudmountain....what say you to kingu’s post?

[cloudmountain]

Sounds good to me.

[cloudmountain]

So, cloudmountain....what say you to kingu’s post?

Like I just wrote to him: Sounds good to me.

[cloudmountain]

I actually have taught...as an Clinical Instructor for a SoCal college. So I do have some experience....... My kids were both HS'd K-12...That was started in SoCal...before finishing that up, here in OK. Both my wife and I have college degree's. We might now be Okie's....but don't piss down our legs...and tell us it's raining, ok?

Hmm, I don't recall "pissing" on you, telling you it's raining; nor do I remember calling you an Okie? Besides, what's WRONG with being an Okie? One of my good friends is from Oklahoma and darned proud of it. Why would I deprecate that? Maybe YOU think I'm something I'm not...just a thought.

Glad your kids got their education. DELIGHTED that you are/were an instructor at SoCal college.

You don't have to scold me for something you THINK I said in the way of an insult. Ok?

[going hot]

The focus must be on reigning in the existing costs of benefits, as well as stepping down the salaries. And honestly, the only way to do this is to put transparency back into the system - everything goes into the paycheck, with the educator able to purchase pension benefits, health care, loan repayments, etc out of pocket. And of course, all of it taxable, just like any average citizen has to do if they were in business for themselves.

That will happen....just as soon as the entire democratically controlled legislature flips to majority republican control.

Wait for it.

The whole purpose of the extra payroll bennies is to ...hide those bennies from the public who pays the freight. Signed into law in 1975 by...tada...gov moonbeam.

50.5% of every dollar, every single one, that is the annual Ca budget, goes to education. Each and every year, year after year.

That is one hell of a lot of money, for what Ca has to show for it.

Oh, and concerning class size? That was made of sheer cloth, sole purpose was to get more births available for teachers, to double the numbers of them, for union dues as well as voting block clout. had nothing to do with student learning improvement, as shown by the history of same.

[Osage Orange]

Sarcasm eludes you.

And apparently...following a long isn't one of your strong points.

BTW, you still argue like a liberal union lackey.

You will have the last word.

[cloudmountain]

Sarcasm eludes you. And apparently...following a long isn't one of your strong points. BTW, you still argue like a liberal union lackey. You will have the last word.'\

Sarcasm? Is that what you call your effort? I see. I stand corrected.

People often insult with what THEY hate the most. I haven't been in the union for 35+ years. Seems to me that YOU have the problem with the unions. For me they've been outta sight and outta mind for a l-o-n-g time.
Apparently you seem to have a problem with reading/understanding simple declarative sentences.

[Osage Orange]

I knew you would.

[cloudmountain]

You said I'd have the last word.
Now I know what YOUR words are worth. Nada.