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Showing posts with label Teacher tenure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teacher tenure. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Bill to end union contracts passes Senate
The Tennessee General Assembly
Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey
Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey
Bill to end union contracts passes Senate
Measure increases collaboration between local school boards and teachers
(Nashville) – Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R – Blountville) emphasized his ongoing support for Senate Bill 113, a crucial piece of education reform legislation sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) which passed on the floor of the Senate last night by a vote of 18 to 14.Measure increases collaboration between local school boards and teachers
The bill cleared the Senate committee system two times after being amended to make explicit the increased collaboration the bill fosters between teachers and their local school boards.
“Union contracts have hamstrung our local school boards for too long,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “More than a year ago our state raced to the top and planted our flag as a beacon for education reform in the nation -- but our journey is not over.”
“In 1978 the General Assembly gave a monopoly to one government union and allowed that union to strangle the hope of education reform in this state,” said Sen. Jack Johnson. “This bill rectifies that mistake and gives power back to locally-elected school boards and teachers. The passage of this measure is necessary if we mean to continue on the path of education reform we have embarked upon.”
“We have a historic opportunity to make this session of the General Assembly a landmark for the cause of reform. This bill creates a collaborative environment between teachers and their local board which will ultimately result in putting a quality teacher in every classroom.”
“This bill has been debated extensively and amended effectively,” Lt. Governor Ramsey continued. “I’m proud of the Senate for passing this measure and I trust the state House will follow suit.”
The bill as amended will end long term union contracts that local governments and taxpayers cannot afford and provides for a policy manual that would outline how every local school board will set policies on salaries, wages, benefits, including insurance and retirement benefits, leaves of absence, student discipline procedures and working conditions for teachers.
The companion House bill sponsored by Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville) is currently awaiting action in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee.
Comment: I am proud of Lt. Governor Ramsey, Senator Johnson and Rep. Maggart and our Republican State legislators. Elections do have consequences.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Mike Turner: "Gov. Haslam, if you're listening, please stop this terrorism against our teachers."
Mike Turner: "Gov. Haslam, if you're listening, please stop this terrorism against our teachers."
What? Mike, Mike, please tone down the rhetoric. "Terrorism?" That is not helpful. No one is sitting off car bombs outside the teacher's lounge. No one is fire bombing teacher's homes. No one is assassinating teachers. No one is beating up teachers.
Terrorism? We are talking about ending collective bargaining rights for public school teachers and ending guaranteed lifetime employment and such things as that. You may disagree, but is that terrorism against teachers? Most people do not have those benefits. To curtail these privileges so we can have educational innovation and and get rid of bad teachers and advance good teachers is hardly terrorism. Is it?
Here is a common accepting definition of terrorism: The calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear.
Now Mike, Governor Haslam seems like a nice man. If someone was committing terrorism against teachers, I am sure it would not be with the approval of Governor Haslam or within his power to stop it. You are implying that this supposed terrorism you see is being done with Haslam'a approval.
Mike, I am sure that when the adrenaline is flowing and you are speaking to a cheering crowd it is easy to let yourself get carried away and say things that you really did not mean to say. Maybe you wish you would have chosen your words more carefully.
Mike I hope your constituents will help you see the errors of you way and let you know they do not appreciate such inflammatory rhetoric. They can contact you at 301 6th Avenue North Suite 17 Legislative Plaza Nashville, TN 37243, Phone (615) 741-3229, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov and do so.
Mike, what you are doing might incite violence. Now, the teachers at the event on Saturday, while passionate, did not look like they were that prone to violence. Most of them looked like .... Well, they looked like teachers. However, some of those union steelworkers and the pipe fitters looked a little dangerous. Please don't incite them to violence.
Mike, I think you owe Governor Haslam and the people of Tennessee an apology for your use of inflammatory rhetoric. Please, in the future do not further inflame passions. As an elected leader you should act more responsibly.
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Saturday, February 26, 2011
DCRP supports end to public school collective bargaining
On February 22, the Executive Committee of the Davidson County Republican Party passed a resolution supporting Senate Bill 113 which would prohibit collective bargaining between teacher unions and local school boards. Below is the text of the resolution: WHEREAS it is the goal of the Republican Party to increase freedom, reduce government and improve efficiency of the limited but needed services government provides.WHEREAS recent events in Wisconsin have demonstrated the danger of unchecked power by public employee unions.WHEREAS Tennessee faces a budget deficit exceeding one billion dollars.WHEREAS union support for liberal candidates in the legislature has led to increases in pay, benefits and retirement for members of the Tennessee Education Association that hinder the ability of government to seek cost effective reforms that put students first.WHEREAS the TEA is designed around the organizing principle of maintaining union power rather than seeking the input of individual teachers to promote the best methods to educate children.WHEREAS local school boards should have the freedom to refuse to negotiate with unions if they feel it is in the best interest of the student.WHEREAS Tennessee’s teachers are compelled to join the TEA regardless of their agreement with established union policies and positions.BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Davidson County Republican Party commends the Tennessee Senate Education Committee for passage of Senate Bill 113, dissolving mandatory collective bargaining in Tennessee’s public school systems.BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED that the Davidson County Republican Party endorses and strongly urges passage of the House companion bill, HB130, in its current form.BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED that the Davidson County Republican Party expresses gratitude to Senator Jack Johnson and Representative Debra Maggart for their efforts in improving education in Tennessee.BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Davidson County Republican Party directs the Chairman to transmit this statement of support to Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, Speaker Beth Harwell and the leadership of the House and Senate Education Committees.
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Thursday, February 24, 2011
update: Like Scott Walker?
As of 4:53PM Feb 24th, these were the Newsmax poll results:
I wholeheartedly support Governor Walker's attempt to curtail the power of public sector employee's unions. I received the following from Newsmax and responded. If you don't mind giving away your email address, please vote in this poll. Rod
Yes, 171436(93%) No,11389(6%)
I wholeheartedly support Governor Walker's attempt to curtail the power of public sector employee's unions. I received the following from Newsmax and responded. If you don't mind giving away your email address, please vote in this poll. Rod
Dear Reader:
Newsmax.com, one of America's leading online news services, is conducting an urgent national online poll about Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's fight with his state's public employees unions.
The outcome of this battle has implications for many other states, the federal government, President Obama and even the 2012 elections.
Newsmax reports have been cited by major media outlets, including CNN, ABC News, Fox News, CBS, MSNBC, and other major networks.
Don't miss this opportunity to let your voice be heard!
Many media outlets and national leaders are interested in your opinion. Hundreds of media outlets have reported on Newsmax's online polls.
Vote today — Go Here Now!
Newsmax.com
P.S. The major media claims that Scott Walker is trying to destroy the unions. This is a lie. It is urgent Americans vote in this poll. Once you have taken it, please share the poll with as many friends and family as possible. Time is critical. Please Vote Here Now!
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Sunday, February 20, 2011
what is wrong with teacher tenure
I am often critical of The Tennessean for their superficial and biased reporting. Today, I commend The Tennessean and writer Julie Hubbard for an excellent report that illustrates what is wrong with teacher tenure. Below is an excerpt.
Seven years after reports surfaced about a Hendersonville High biology teacher having inappropriate interactions with students and using school computers to surf porn, he was working as a district janitor and collecting his $52,000-a-year teaching paycheck.(link)
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Friday, January 28, 2011
Governor Ramsey: To reform education, we must organize to match TEA.
Last night, Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey spoke to a group of conservative leaders and laid out a conservative agenda. He was speaking to Conservative Groups of Middle Tennessee which is a loose coalition of conservative, Republican, Libertarian, and Tea Party leaders in middle Tennessee. The group has no officers or agenda, but provides a networking opportunity for right-of-center leaders in the area. . Last night’s meeting was at Logan’s Roadhouse on Elliston place and the meeting room was packed.
Governor Ramsey spoke at length about the Republican agenda, including cutting the size of state government and improving education. Ramsey was enthusiastic and energetic. He spoke for about fourty-five minutes and took questions for about as long. He said with a Republican governor and Republicans controlling both houses of the State Legislature, Republicans had a rare opportunity to put Republican ideas into practice and prove we can govern.
He stressed the need to mobilize citizens to counter the lobbing power of the Tennessee Education Association. He said some recently elected good conservatives were already starting to get weak in the knees at the prospect of standing up to the TEA. He said TEA is formidable and can flood the State legislature with phone calls and emails at a moment’s notice. Conservative need to increase their cooperation and create a network that can match TEA in mobilizing citizens to lobby their legislators, said Ramsey. He was critical of teacher tenure and teacher collective bargaining and said TEA stood in the way of real education reform.
Ramsey also spoke about the situation in Memphis, where Memphis city schools which have some of the worst schools in the state are attempting to disband and Shelby County which has some of the best schools in the state does not want to have to have to absorb the Memphis failing schools. The State Constitution requires each county to maintain a public schools system but there is no such requirement for cities. In the case of Memphis, the Memphis school system is much larger than the Shelby County school system. He said this is a perfect opportunity for the state to take over a failing school system and use innovation and reform to improve public education.
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