I feel compelled to bring the subject of ethics up for scrutiny. I located the word "ethics" in the dictionary. It's not definable, you know. It's like art -- a matter of interpretation. I even looked in my Thesaurus. You guessed it, no definable definition. It's apparent even though most organizations profess operating ethically. If you watch television, or read a newspaper, then you must be painfully aware, that it's not just Washington politics. It's also local politics, sports, and corporations. Lest we not forget academia. A thinking person must shudder realizing the political stranglehold teachers unions have on education. It's a multibillion dollar corporation. That's bigger than that. It's a conglomerate headquarters in Washington, DC.
When the local school boards go through the motions of negotiating a contract, it's not what the taxpayer can afford, it's what the teachers union will accept. We have civic minded citizens on school boards, but unfortunately most accept the status quo -- equating money with excellence.
Majority corporations negotiated labor contracts based on net profit. In Auburn we have hundreds of individuals, office people, police department, fire department, maintenance people, doing what is expected of them -- functioning quite well with a labor contract based on what the taxpayer can afford. My question for the school board: Is your main concern the taxpayer?
Stan Bryant
Auburn
Majority corporations negotiated labor contracts based on net profit. In Auburn we have hundreds of individuals, office people, police department, fire department, maintenance people, doing what is expected of them -- functioning quite well with a labor contract based on what the taxpayer can afford. My question for the school board: Is your main concern the taxpayer?
Stan Bryant
Auburn
The Citizens' Say
There are 2 comment(s)
magicalwoman wrote on Jun 1, 2008 10:10 AM:
Our main concern is making sure that we have quality teachers in our classroom for our children. And paying "them" more money ensures they will be good teachers.
This is how the NEA looks at it and how they govern the decision making of school boards all across the United States.
If you pay a teachers $37K and pay another teacher $70K, the teacher making the higher salary will be a better teacher.
Additonally, they will tell you that the "seasoned" teacher is a better teacher that the recently graduated teacher, you know the one with fresh, new ideas.
They will cry and whine how they have to put up with all the "problem" children that are disruptive inside their classroom. And how many hours they correct papers, plan lessons and work outside the classroom.
Yet look at test scores, well maybe that is tainted too. At any cost the problem will be blamed on parents and children. Teachers fail to take any responsibility for poor test scores, children who have a sense of entitlement and failing test scores. Not to mention we now are looking at the highest numbers of children not graduating or just dropping otu.
Charter Schools are the only way to go. School Districts as a whole should be like any other business. If you go to Sally's Salon and get a hair cut and you are not satisfied, then it is your right not to go back and to seek a salon that will cut your hair the way you are satisfied with. Schools should be no different, educated my child the way they should be or we will go to another school. Charter schools know that they must perform and educate well, if not then we are going to lose business. Our teachers must teach, not let students "self teach", because if we don't we are going to lose business.
The other avenue is to break the NEA and all its local arms, that will never, ever happen. So push charter schools where parents have a real choice and teachers do what they are suppose to do, TEACH. "
anonymous wrote on Jun 1, 2008 8:37 AM: