Commemorating Bad Teachers
Only in Madison.
Tonight, in our beloved republic, the unionized teachers are remembering their strike from thirty years ago with a "30th strike anniversary party."
In January, 1976, the teachers refused to do what they are supposed to do: teach children.
Instead, for two weeks, they refused to allow the children in Madison public schools to receive an education, and defiantly "stood up to the school board."
The recollection of this event seems quite different.
Union boss John Matthews said, "It was a good move, and a reasonable response to a board that was out of touch and that had moved too far to the right for Madison.* People like Dick Kopp and Doug Onsager weren't interested in settling a contract. They were determined to show the union who was the boss and who was the employee," Matthews said."
*Just so we're clear, "too far to the right for Madison" is Che Guevara.
Former school board member Nancy Harper says, "It was an illegal strike and I don't think they accomplished very much."
I'm inclined to agree with Harper. Based on the fact that the rest of this Cap Times article is a lovefest for Matthews, I have a feeling he is a symbol for what's wrong with our schools today.
Former mayor Paul Soglin, who was leading Madison at the time, includes a telling quote on how the left feels about education: "All studies have shown us that there are three variables that affect the quality of education. They include money, which translates to classroom size; the quality of the faculty; and parental involvement. John has certainly contributed to not only the well-being of his union members but to advancing those three factors."
Money is first. (Which, by the way does NOT translate to classroom size.)
Not the quality of the teacher, but money. Like I noted here, throwing money at schools does not work.
However, what Soglin and the entire left does not say is that the money they lobby Doyle and the Dems so hard for doesn't go to the schools, or to educating children, but into the control of WEAC.
It's sad to see Madison remember this pathetic event so fondly.
(Cross-posted at Right off the Shore)
Tonight, in our beloved republic, the unionized teachers are remembering their strike from thirty years ago with a "30th strike anniversary party."
In January, 1976, the teachers refused to do what they are supposed to do: teach children.
Instead, for two weeks, they refused to allow the children in Madison public schools to receive an education, and defiantly "stood up to the school board."
The recollection of this event seems quite different.
Union boss John Matthews said, "It was a good move, and a reasonable response to a board that was out of touch and that had moved too far to the right for Madison.* People like Dick Kopp and Doug Onsager weren't interested in settling a contract. They were determined to show the union who was the boss and who was the employee," Matthews said."
*Just so we're clear, "too far to the right for Madison" is Che Guevara.
Former school board member Nancy Harper says, "It was an illegal strike and I don't think they accomplished very much."
I'm inclined to agree with Harper. Based on the fact that the rest of this Cap Times article is a lovefest for Matthews, I have a feeling he is a symbol for what's wrong with our schools today.
Former mayor Paul Soglin, who was leading Madison at the time, includes a telling quote on how the left feels about education: "All studies have shown us that there are three variables that affect the quality of education. They include money, which translates to classroom size; the quality of the faculty; and parental involvement. John has certainly contributed to not only the well-being of his union members but to advancing those three factors."
Money is first. (Which, by the way does NOT translate to classroom size.)
Not the quality of the teacher, but money. Like I noted here, throwing money at schools does not work.
However, what Soglin and the entire left does not say is that the money they lobby Doyle and the Dems so hard for doesn't go to the schools, or to educating children, but into the control of WEAC.
It's sad to see Madison remember this pathetic event so fondly.
(Cross-posted at Right off the Shore)
posted by J @ 8:10 PM
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