Obviously emboldened by a perceived dislike of teachers among the public, Jane Cunningham, public enemy number one for anyone who cares about public education, is at it again.
In SB 372, which received its first reading Monday, Mrs. Cunningham asks for the following:
-The abolition of tenure, to be replaced by "continuing contracts," which can be two,three, or four years, depending on how well teachers' students perform on standardized tests.
-Abolition of minimum salaries for veteran teachers or those who have earned master's degrees
-Performance pay would become effective in 2013
-Teachers cannot campaign for school board candidates in their district. (It should be noted that Mrs. Cunningham was a one-term member of the Ladue Board of Education and lost her re-election bid after she ticked off school officials, teachers, and students, with her attempts to push a religious organization.)
-All teachers who have already earned tenure lose it as of 2012 and become probationary teachers once again.
It should be noted that the same bill has been submitted in the House, HB 628, by Rep. Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington. One of the co-sponsors of that bill was Speaker of the House Steve Tilley, R-Perryville.
6 comments:
Golly. You speak of SB 372 as if it were a bad thing.
The state of Missouri has employment & labor laws which adequately protect employees. Failing that, there are Federal laws, as well.
What states do not need is this continued extra layer of special interest legislation which insulates a protected class of employees.
This special interest legislation places an undo management burden upon principals and school boards, saddles the taxpayers with ever escalating costs, and shackles states with unmanageable debt.
Teachers are prized professionals and serve a valuable function, but there is no reason these employees should not operate under the same H.R. rules as the private sector.
Unless one is more interested in retaining consolidated political power - garnered through our tax dollars - than education children.
Well then, I guess many of these teachers will be voting Republican again next year huh? I know so many Republican teachers, honestly I've never understood their thinking.
Can we assume that the cops, firemen, and all the other public employees are next on the 'ol Republican agenda? That would seem logical.
You nasty un-American people. Shame on you for wanting health care, living wages, and a decent pension.
Oh, one more thing for many of you ---- you basically GOT what you voted for. Good luck, I'm sure these labor hating, pro lifers will take good care of you in your old age.
You realize this woman's agenda is damned near socialist when compared to our own Roy Blunt's. So, all you folks who strive for a minimum wage job plucking chickens...you got what you wanted at the ballot box.
Just looking at this woman's picture makes me sick.
I think we should not encourage our students to become teachers. A true teacher shortage is what this society deserves. Don't teach, kids; don't do it!
I have spent nearly 20 years as a paralegal in the business world, went back to school -- and am now finishing my 13th year teaching elementary. When working in a law office, if I felt I was being undervalued or underpaid or one of my new attorneys was difficult to work for, I could simply move to another law firm. Education is a different environment. Once you are with a school district, it is financially very difficult to switch districts for any reason. Most districts do not want to hire you in at your current experience level or salary range. Collective bargaining doesn't guarantee anything -- except an open line of communication between administration, board and teachers. I love my job, but - believe me - I work harder now than I ever did as a paralegal even though I worked long, hard hours in a law office. I spend my evenings and early morning and weekend hours with school work - as do most teachers. Are there teachers out there that should be in another profession? Sure, as with most professions. However, tenure does not protect incompetency. There are procedures to deal with same. Do I have a good pension? Sure, but I pay more than twice what the private sector puts into Social Security. And, by the way, although I paid into Social Security for a good twenty years, I will not receive my full benefits (unlike politicians, servicemen and many other public employees) because of my pension. How many others lose their Social Security? Why aren't we talking about the politicians who receive a full pension after only serving one term? Because right now slamming education is a politicians ticket to re-election and attention. Of course, we all want our children to be well educated. Then why aren't we addressing the real issues?
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