Democrats SUCK!!

[Nighthawk]

Lets just say they did so, and 2 to 3 years down the line, (after appeals etc.), the courts decide the democrats are right, and they now owe these state workers and teachers MILLIONS in backpay. How well are you going to like it when that pushes these states right back into insolvency?

They should just LAY OFF like private industry does.

I used to think that way when I did not live in a state that was an "at will" state. That status stacks the deck in favor of the employers; and unfairly does so. It fosters an environment that nurtures and supports abuse of workers by the employers. The ONLY protection a worker has in an at will state is the refuge of the unions and collective bargaining agreement. Even with the union's history of less than admirable use of membership funding, the benefits outweigh this abuse in an at will state.

It would not take 2 or 3 years. You request an expedited hearing and they could get a judgement in a few weeks. Look at what happened in Arizona with their immigration law.

[Bo D]

We want those who "teach" to get paid what they are worth, and those who are only teaching because they are getting paid very well, but no longer have the heart to do what is best for the kids, go away.

I want our schools to get back to basics.  Quit worring about teaching multiculturalism and political correctness.  Return our public schools to the control of the communities that our children and parents live in.  In a nutshell, I don't mind a "teachers union", I want the NEA to go away. THEY are agenda driven, and do not, in my opinion, have the best interest in my children.

Six years ago, my county was under the control of an ultra-conservative school board and had been that way for eight years. That school board had an agenda to "Quit worring about teaching multiculturalism and political correctness" that included getting rid of "Black History Month," not celebrating MLK's birthday, banning certain books, etc., etc.

Our schools suffered mightily during their tenure. They slipped from one of the best systems in the state to one of the worst. I worked with other parents in the county and we waged a campaign to remove them from office. We did! Every one of the ultra-conservatives were defeated in the election.

Since then our schools have regained their lead in the state. And under Martin O'Malley our state now has the best schools in the entire country. For the last two years in a row!

The teachers haven't changed much at all during this period.

What does that tell you about what may be the cause of the deteriorating quality of education?

[Palehorse]

It would not take 2 or 3 years. You request an expedited hearing and they could get a judgement in a few weeks. Look at what happened in Arizona with their immigration law.

Yeah. . . riggggght! 

[Henry Hawk]

Six years ago, my county was under the control of an ultra-conservative school board and had been that way for eight years. That school board had an agenda to "Quit worring about teaching multiculturalism and political correctness" that included getting rid of "Black History Month," not celebrating MLK's birthday, banning certain books, etc., etc.

Our schools suffered mightily during their tenure. They slipped from one of the best systems in the state to one of the worst. I worked with other parents in the county and we waged a campaign to remove them from office. We did! Every one of the ultra-conservatives were defeated in the election.

Since then our schools have regained their lead in the state. And under Martin O'Malley our state now has the best schools in the entire country. For the last two years in a row!

The teachers haven't changed much at all during this period.

What does that tell you about what may be the cause of the deteriorating quality of education?

and THAT is why it should be left up to local communities to decide what is best.  I can tell you stories on how conservative controlled school system dramatically improved a system.  There should be more choices with vouchers for those who want private, charter, or to home school.  imo.

[Bo D]

and THAT is why it should be left up to local communities to decide what is best. I can tell you stories on how conservative controlled school system dramatically improved a system.  There should be more choices with vouchers for those who want private, charter, or to home school.  imo.

Then give me an example. BTW, we are talking about public school systems here, not private ones. And to add to the irony, those ultra-conservatives we kicked out ... they home-schooled their own children.

[Henry Hawk]

And to add to the irony, those ultra-conservatives we kicked out ... they home-schooled their own children.

then why and how did they get voted to the board?

South Madison Community School corp. (where I live) was as one time pretty staunchly controlled by democrats, and it was pushing all of the NEA agenda to the tilt....pushing the "self-esteem" programs, and became critical on teachers enforcing punishments.  The student grade average was dropping and was having trouble with drugs.  A more conservative board took over and supported a stricter and tighter governing of the students and teachers ability to do what is right and wrong, without repercussions.  It got back to more of the basics of reading, writing and arithmatic, and we have seen an improvement in student grade averages, and attitudes.

[Bo D]

then why and how did they get voted to the board?

School Board members are elected to office in the general election. Those members rode the coattails of GW Bush in his first election. What surprises me is that they lasted as long as they did.

South Madison Community School corp. (where I live) was as one time pretty staunchly controlled by democrats, and it was pushing all of the NEA agenda to the tilt....pushing the "self-esteem" programs, and became critical on teachers enforcing punishments.  The student grade average was dropping and was having trouble with drugs.  A more conservative board took over and supported a stricter and tighter governing of the students and teachers ability to do what is right and wrong, without repercussions.  It got back to more of the basics of reading, writing and arithmatic, and we have seen an improvement in student grade averages, and attitudes.

Sounds to me like things aren't all that great ....

"Another $300K gone from the ACSC because of its failure to make changes to the school system that our ISTEP performance has 'emanded'for years. The blame and excuses by the ACSC continue while our student base erodes. We won't have to worry about school consolidation. We'll be concerned with the bids received for school demolition.


so now smcsc will reduce credits needed thereby bringing our educational levels down. we used to be a great system with a good high school a lot of people wanted their kids in. now we'll just be another building and no longer stand apart in educational excellence from anyone else. how sad, truly sad for the incoming kids"

http://heraldbulletin.com/breakingnews/x1612530578/South-Madison-OKs-taking-in-52-transfer-students

[Henry Hawk]

Sounds to me like things aren't all that great ....

"Another $300K gone from the ACSC because of its failure to make changes to the school system that our ISTEP performance has 'emanded'for years. The blame and excuses by the ACSC continue while our student base erodes. We won't have to worry about school consolidation. We'll be concerned with the bids received for school demolition.


so now smcsc will reduce credits needed thereby bringing our educational levels down. we used to be a great system with a good high school a lot of people wanted their kids in. now we'll just be another building and no longer stand apart in educational excellence from anyone else. how sad, truly sad for the incoming kids"

http://heraldbulletin.com/breakingnews/x1612530578/South-Madison-OKs-taking-in-52-transfer-students

THAT (ACSC) is a completely different school system (SMCS).....NO relation what-so-ever. 

those 52 students was allowed into SM because of the closing of Highland High School (ACS).

I think this will shake out when these kids (freshman from Highland graduate)

Plus, I did not say it was a GREAT system, I just said it has made vast improvements.

[The Troll]

Ummm, yes I do know about unions. I have worked in two union shops and both are closed now. The first one I was a supplemental worker who payed union dues and was told that the union would NOT represent me in any matter. This was in direct contradiction to their own constitution.

the second took my union dues and all I got was a silly pocket calendar. The only people that union helped at all were the dregs who couldn't hold a job any other way.

Both of these places are closed now because the workers there knew that they didn't have to do a good job because the unions would protect their jobs no matter what. They could screw off, show up drunk or just plain rip off the company and know they were safe.

  Wow, with all of your union activity and experience, you must be an union genius.    These two union shops that closed down weren't out sourced and sent out of the country.  There has sure been a lot of high paying jobs gone and your know it.  It sure isn't the unions fault.  It all started with NAFTA.

  But then again I've seen a whole lot of scab shops closes down because of low pay, bad working conditions and low quality workers, because no one wants to work hard and good for scab wages.   I bet your present job doesn't pay scab wages or have scab working conditions.

  Who in hell do you think got you 40 hour work week.  Over time pay.  Paid vacations and medical care.  The corporations and business sure didn't bring it up.

  But it's people like you who wants to bring back the working conditions of the 1800's and early 1900's  where the Robber Barons treated the workers like slaves.  I have no idea how old you are, but if things keep going the way they have and they destroy the unions.  If you are young, you're going to pay for it, BIG TIME. 

[Palehorse]

You know, this whole controversy about education in Anderson is clearly the result of political posturing on both sides of the fence.

When parents of these children step up to the plate and accept the fact that they are letting things like pride and nostalgia trump the absolute imperative of educating their children, only then will those in leadership cease to play these games.

This town's leadership closed a high school because it could not afford to keep it open, and yet totally ignored the fact that an underused and very costly facility, the Wigwam, represented a rather large piece of low hanging fruit begging to be picked. Instead, they chose to close Highland and in the process lost 900+ students to adjoining counties, which equates to the loss of 5.8 million dollars in revenue. And still that Wigwam remains open? Why?

And even today the leadership of the system is holding town hall hearings to debate whether or not that same facility should be closed? It's clearly a no brainer and why it continues to be a subject of debate is a clear indication of the games being played at the expense of the children in this city!

It is apparent that the previous decision to close Highland was not a well thought out one, but rather one undertaken as a knee jerk reaction in order to put a band aid on a bone deep gash; and that gash is still bleeding profusely. And it has been exacerbated by the resulting flight of students to other municipalities; a potential ramification that was clearly overlooked previously. And while it is true that all of this is now water over the dam, to me it accentuates the fact that current leadership has an incumbent responsibility to enact changes and to drive reorganization into the system that make fiscal sense, but more importantly, makes clear to everyone that the priority of our educational system is to educate our children in a way that arms them with the tools necessary to be successful in today's society. And all within the current means of this city school system, and with detailed forethought and planning.

It means that big changes need to take place, and these changes will not necessarily be viewed as positives within a nostalgic or political environment, but changes that are necessary and critical to the improvement of the education of the children in this city.

Some of these changes may well force additional families to flee this city, as closing Highland did. For that reason is is imperative that the school leadership take this possibility into account in constructing their plans for improvement and change. While it may mean the initial elimination of programs that our children and their parents enjoy, each of us must remember that education is the goal that must be achieved, and sacrifices are going to have to be made today in order to assure the future of the education of our children.

Clearly those in opposition to these changes, such as the closing of the Wigwam, have lost sight of the fact that this city's school system is in dire straights, that the quality of the education our children are receiving is totally unacceptable and leaves them at a disadvantage in life, and that, much like our own personal budgets, the revenue stream presently being generated by the tax base within this city will not support "business as usual" in our school system nor its city government.

Several high schools are nice to have, but cannot be supported by the revenue stream without further negatively impacting a school system that desperately needs to improve. An old Gym is also a nice to have, but what sense does it make to keep a nice to have when it puts at risk the goal of assuring our children's future? None!

Stop engaging in emotional trips down memory lane and snap out of it!

[The Troll]

  Tell me about Anderson schools losing students.  They have filled the Lapel High School.  With Lapel being the second highest rated school in the state they all want to go there.

  Thank god Lapel is only taking the cream of the students.  Guess what that leaves Anderson.  I guess that what all of the schools are doing around Anderson, taking the cream.

  I just guess they will have to kill the teacher's union.  Cut pay, cut pensions and cut health care.  I wonder how many good teachers will stay.  But we got to save the Wigwam. 

[Sandy Eggo]

Six years ago, my county was under the control of an ultra-conservative school board and had been that way for eight years. That school board had an agenda to "Quit worring about teaching multiculturalism and political correctness" that included getting rid of "Black History Month," not celebrating MLK's birthday, banning certain books, etc., etc.

Our schools suffered mightily during their tenure. They slipped from one of the best systems in the state to one of the worst. I worked with other parents in the county and we waged a campaign to remove them from office. We did! Every one of the ultra-conservatives were defeated in the election.

Since then our schools have regained their lead in the state. And under Martin O'Malley our state now has the best schools in the entire country. For the last two years in a row!

The teachers haven't changed much at all during this period.

What does that tell you about what may be the cause of the deteriorating quality of education?

Well not to answer your question, but just an observation that I made years ago... Martin O'Malley will be president some day.

[Nighthawk]

  Wow, with all of your union activity and experience, you must be an union genius.    These two union shops that closed down weren't out sourced and sent out of the country.  There has sure been a lot of high paying jobs gone and your know it.  It sure isn't the unions fault.  It all started with NAFTA.

I never said I was a union genious. Never pretended to be. Just stating my experience with unions. No, these shops were not closed down and outsourced they were closed down because they could not produce a quality product. Another case of union thugs forcing a plant closure is the GM stamping plant in Indy. The company that bought the place wanted to lower the starting wages. This would only effect the new hires from that point on. The union refused to agree so the plant was closed and now the wages are zero. Who won in this situation? And if this is the type of great protection the unions provide then no thanks.

  But then again I've seen a whole lot of scab shops closes down because of low pay, bad working conditions and low quality workers, because no one wants to work hard and good for scab wages.   I bet your present job doesn't pay scab wages or have scab working conditions.

And how long ago was this? There are labor laws and other agencies that ensure safe working conditions and there is a fair minimum wage on the books.

Who in hell do you think got you 40 hour work week.  Over time pay.  Paid vacations and medical care.  The corporations and business sure didn't bring it up.

Yes, the unions did do a lot for the working class. I do not dispute that. However, since then there are laws, minimum wages and other agencies to take care of the things the unions got implemented. Now days, if a company wants to stay in business and be competitive in the world marketplace then they must offer just as good as or better compensation packages to their employees than the competition. Otherwise they lose their better employees to the compitetion.

  But it's people like you who wants to bring back the working conditions of the 1800's and early 1900's  where the Robber Barons treated the workers like slaves.  I have no idea how old you are, but if things keep going the way they have and they destroy the unions.  If you are young, you're going to pay for it, BIG TIME. 

Again, you are wrong. For the reasons I stated above, we will never see a return to those working conditions.

Unions have simply outlived their usefullness. When they started they worked hard to protect the workers. But now they have become corrupt and greedy and are no longer needed nor do the majority want them.

[Henry Hawk]

Nighthawk,  THAT was said excellent!!!...Nice Job!  I have not been able to say what you have stated, so elequently.

[Nighthawk]

Yeah. . . riggggght! 

So, you don't think a case can be filed and a stay be issued in a very short time??

Arizona's immigration law was signed into law on April 23. 2010 and on Juy 28, 2010 a court issued an injuction that effectively stopped the bill from going into effect.

What is that? About 3 months?? A far cry from 2 to 3 years.