You just lost the state of Florida, President Obama! Look at what our Rs did to the teachers!

[Orlandodem]

And they were embolded by you! They kept referencing YOU!!!

Your only hope is a Charlie Crist veto. 200,000 teachers are VERY angry. We teach. We vote. We've got family. We've got friends, both of whom vote. We worked for your campaignin 2008. Not any more!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-merit-pay-house-vote-04-09-2010-20100408,0,2736075,full.story

[rcrush]

1. Teachers are working on commission now?

[zbdent]

2. I'm surprised they're not "independent contractors" by now ...

[Catshrink]

49. It's coming....

It won't be long before that's the case. Day care wages, no bennies. Who will educate children? The teaching profession is going away.

:cry:

[Mugweed]

3. The whole thing is just bizarre

Back in my school days, the student's grades were used to evaluate the abilities and progress of the STUDENT...not the teacher. Classes had a state-approved curriculum that was tied to a schedule. In a math class, if Johnny Dumbass didn't do his homework or study for his tests, he failed the class. That didn't reflect on the quality of the teacher. That reflected on Johnny and his parents. If Johnny couldn't figure out why 2+2=4, the entire class didn't stop for the next 2 weeks until Johnny finally grasped the concept. The rest of the class was ready to move on to why 2/2=1 and schedule didn't allow for the rest of the class to have to sit there waiting for one or two slow kids to get it. Johnny's parents were supposed to hire a tutor so that Johnny could get back up to normal speed. That never reflected on the quality of the teacher.

[HockeyMom]

4. Private school

not only would fail Johnny, they would kick him out of their school. "You pass, and get at least a B (my school), or you can take your ass to PUBLIC school". This is how they keep their standards up. Teachers didn't get fired. The STUDENTS got fired.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

5. I'm missing something here

why is this Obama's fault? It's the republicans in Florida who are fucking everything up and have done so since Jeb was in office.

[DrDan]

6. because of his continued support of junior's No Child Left Behind

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Because their goal is to get Race to the Top money

That's Arne Duncan's creation. It takes the pot of money schools have been receiving for years to serve low income kids and forces states to compete for the money. In order to meet the criteria, states have to abolish tenure and tie teacher pay to student performance. Hence, this legislation in Florida. Many other states are doing the same thing.

[donco6]

22. He's giving tacit support by releasing RFPs with these requirements.

RTTT grants require states to adopt the same language and policies as the Florida bill. It's not going to end there. Any state that wants RTTT billions will follow suit. And if it can happen in Florida, it can happen in a lot of other places.

[madfloridian]

30. Because it is his policy Florida is following....abolish tenure..

institute merit pay.

Let's be honest here.

[n.michigan]

66. Yes. Education as a "haven or sanctuary" for true learning- not a political con game.

That is why teachers must stand up.

[sabrina 1]

75. And fire every teacher in schools that are not

up to the standards of NCLB testing. This WH supported that. They are imo, going even further than Bush in terms of privatizing the Public Schools.

This is going to make a lot of people very, very angry. Most parents and students do not know these politicians, but they know their children's teachers.

[Fruittree]

74. I think there's a tendency to just blame Obama for everything -

Whether it makes sense or not...It's his fault for what he does or doesn't do - You would think our government consists of one person...

[Stinky The Clown]

76. Its been in all the papers: "Teachers Across America Get Butt Fucked"

Here's the head butt fucker who, so far as I know, was never an actual classroom teacher. But he played minor league pro ball and worked for his mother. He got hired as Chicago Schools CEO (not Supt ...... CEO)

[NotThisTime]

7. Democrats were "bordering on fury," in the words of Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Davie -It went along party

lines....

[Fumesucker]

8. I'm sure the Republicans were trembling at Democratic fury..

Or near fury.. :eyes:

I'm getting really tired of the parties playing good cop bad cop, the head of the Democratic party wants this and they are only fooling those who wish to be fooled.

[stray cat]

9. The GOP just won the teacher's vote! Good choice - I think their ideas for public education rock!

[EFerrari]

17. So does the White House.

[Supersedeas]

18. or so it seems -- there's not much of a distinction. Aggragate Test scores justify everything

or at least it justifies blaming teachers.

[EFerrari]

20. It's absolutely the same business model and now on steroids

and details like outcomes for students don't seem to matter very much.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. So the Florida GOP upends teachers and it's Obama's fault?

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Obama's education dept is setting the standards

States are abolishing tenure and tying teacher pay to student performance to comply with Obama's education dept standards.

[tonysam]

24. You bet your ass it's Obama's fault. There isn't a dime's worth a difference between

him, and for that matter the "Democratic Party," and the Republicans on this issue. Both parties are bought-and-paid-for neoliberals.

The Obama as "liberal" or "progressive" meme needs to be thrown in the garbage can. I blame the media for not vetting him at all during the primaries and not revealing his right-wing tendencies on this and a host of other issues.

[Egnever]

43. Thats just stupid

The vote went down along party lines with every dem opposed but the Dem's are to blame. This board gets dumber by the day.

Its floridians fault for voting for puke reps over and over. Sitting out elections or trying to punish Dem's for this vote will surely improve the situation :eyes:

[alstephenson]

47. Yeah, we'd be much better off if McCain had won the election!

Not.

[walldude]

61. Actually what he said was ON THIS ISSUE there is no difference

Just like on Offshore Drilling and the newly legal DEATH SQUADS... but don't let that get in the way of your.. delusional ranting.

[alstephenson]

62. One sentence is a delusional rant???

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I don't agree with President Obama on everything, but I sure don't wish the Republicans were in power. Perhaps there's a more productive way for you to show your disapproval of THREE of his policies.

[walldude]

73. LMAO.. someone criticizes one of Obama's policies

and you call him out with the usual bullshit.. and you want me to be more "productive".. Do I have that right? Now let me quote you:


"I don't agree with President Obama on everything, but I sure don't wish the Republicans were in power"

Neither do I and neither does he. You want to explain why you felt the need to post that bullshit in the first place?

[alstephenson]

78. Not especially.

Over-react much?

[Bluebear]

68. What a benchmark. "Better than McCain"!

[alstephenson]

77. Was there someone else on the ballot???

[Arkana]

54. Every Florida Democrat voted AGAINST this!

How, how, HOW is it Obama's fault that Florida Republicans voted for it?!

[NNN0LHI]

69. Thats not important to the LaRouchies

Its still President Obama's fault.

We pretty much knew they are nuts.

Don

[n.michigan]

65. Blame Obama- $$Race to the Top - Privatize for corps, bust union contracts, break public schools.

Go educators. Stand and Deliver! Do it to preserve traditional values in education for our children.

Obama and his Education Sec. Duncan are preparing $$$ privatization paths for the likes of Gates and Broad- who appear interested in getting in on it early. Soon "broken" public schools will not exist and you will pay for the education of your child. Corporatized education will surely brainwash our young along with charging for it.


To understand the hyped political pressure on educators- just read the biased Detroit Free Press today for a jarring perspective. Save Michigan on the backs of educators!

Blame the politicians responsible.

[barbiegeek]

11. Isn't this a STATE not Fed problem. Iowa's not firing teachers

All the states that are broke are doing it. My understanding and I may be wrong is that it's the states doing this not Fed. Or am I wrong?

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. They are doing it to be eligible for Race to the Top funding

States that have not abolished tenure or that aren't working at abolishing it are not eligible for Race to the Top funds.

[LWolf]

16. Thank you for explaining this repeatedly to those who

haven't been paying attention.

[Ratty]

46. Really?

I can't find that requirement. Race to the Top requires no tenure for teachers?

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. Yes. States must be working at abolishing it or already done so.

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. There's a good reason you can't find it, BTW.

Arne is keeping the criteria under wraps. And most states are working on their RTTT applications with no input from teachers or local administrators. It's strictly a top down process.

[sabrina 1]

79. Thank you for trying to explain to the willfully blind. I doubt

it will get through though.

[tonysam]

25. The "budgets" have little or nothing to do with it. This is directly tied to

Duncan's blackmail scheme of "Race to the Top," a privatizer's dream.

[suffragette]

37. The competitive manner of funding (which states need to fund education)

is pitting the states against each other to see who can "underbid" in a sense by announcing the most stringent agreements to implement Race to the Top. It's reminding me very much of the way states compete for manufacturing plants by trumpeting so-called "Right-to-work" (read no worker union/power)and top-down management plans.

Iowa is not immune from this. It looks from this article that "local school leaders" have managed to stand together against this so far, but your Governor is trying for these funds so you will want to keep an eye on how this continues there.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100408/NEWS02/4080357/1004/Iowa-may-drop-Race-to-the-Top-school-reform-bid

However, it was the lack of support from local school leaders - 40 percent of Iowa's districts refused to sign on - that was the main reason Iowa lost out the first time around, records show.
New legislation that requires school boards to negotiate reform plans with teacher unions was the deal-breaker for Iowa's seven largest districts and many others. Their leaders predicted the rule would paralyze reforms because unions never would agree to certain changes, such as replacing teachers.
Culver and leaders of the Democrat-controlled Legislature resisted efforts to scrap the rule, which was backed by the state's largest teachers union.
~~~
Erin Seidler, a spokeswoman for Culver, said a second-round application is likely, but the governor needs more time to "re-evaluate" before a final call is made.

[blogslut]

14. Please correct me if I'm wrong

But the word is "emboldened" isn't it?

[Orlandodem]

21. Yes. Typo. Thanks. We teachers are working cyberspace frantically.,

We're begging for help.

Email [email protected] and tell him to veto this. It would actually make the Republicans look bad.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. K&R!

[ecstatic]

23. So the solution is to elect more "Rs?" I guess your fellow citizens

either like the change or aren't as angry as you.

[Orlandodem]

26. I know it may sound illogical but the Obama Administration's ed goals are tied

to this legislation. That's why teachers feel like they've been stabbed in the back.

Many parents do not want this. The Republicans are not listening. They are still controlled by Jeb Bush and merit pay for teachers is their holy grail. We must stop it because this is demoralizing to teachers in Florida. Google "Florida teacher merit pay". Click "news". You'll see how many articles there are.

Please help us defeat this and help all Dems (and save Obama from himself).

email [email protected], type "VETO SB6/HB7189" in the subject line. Click send. It'll take 3 seconds.

[ecstatic]

29. Yes, it does sound illogical nt

[Egnever]

44. So lets elect more R's

The stupid it burns!

[tonysam]

27. What the heck is the difference if BOTH parties support the same thing?

If I wanted a goddamned Republican in the White House, I would have voted for one. Obama is NOT acting like a Democrat on this issue.

[ecstatic]

31. Go for it! nt

[tonysam]

32. Apparently you think this is okay because Obama supports it.

If you don't support public education, you're not a Democrat. It's that basic. In fact, you don't support democracy at all if you don't support public education.

[ecstatic]

33. Is there a link you can provide that shows that Obama supports

what is going on? Thanks

[Orlandodem]

34. The Republicans are using Obama's ed goals as an excuse to

stick it to Florida's teachers because of speeches that he has given in the past. Read this editorial, written by a Republican, which references Obama's initiatives. Obama doesn't necessarily support this legislation verbatim, but it's the overarching goals of Obama's which seem to have emboldened the Florida Reps to bludgeon us to death.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091223/NEWS/912239956

[Orlandodem]

35. The Republicans are using Obama's ed goals as an excuse to

stick it to Florida's teachers because of speeches that he has given in the past. Read this editorial, written by a Republican, which references Obama's initiatives. Obama doesn't necessarily support this legislation verbatim, but it's the overarching goals of Obama's which seem to have emboldened the Florida Reps to bludgeon us to death.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091223/NEWS/912239956

[EFerrari]

36. Here you go:

http://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/duncan.html

And this is double plus good for the Republicans. They got what they wanted ransacking our schools and now an important constituency is pissed at Democrats in Florida of all places.

[laughingliberal]

40. I think there were multiple links here showing his support for the firings of the RI teachers

and there have been multiple posting about the Education Dept's RTTT which, actually, make this type of policy acceptable and even desirable. If you can't connect the dots and you prefer to think Obama' education policy have nothing to do with any of this, then carry on.

[ecstatic]

41. It's already been mentioned that they are twisting policies to fit their goals

That is the republican way. But your solution is to... put more of them in?

[laughingliberal]

42. I have no solutions

My solutions would be in conflict with either party. As I've mentioned before, those of us who lean left actually have nowhere to go. We are in a very effective catch 22 where our choices are now batshit crazy RW policy or kinder, gentler (but not by much) RW policy. Neither parties has an education policy which will improve conditions for students and teachers rather than the vultures looking to profit from it.

[tonysam]

67. It ISN'T "twisting." Obama was yammering about it in the primaries about how good Rs were on

public education.

It's not my fault his ideas are fucked up. Don't shoot the messenger because you don't want to hear the truth.

[alstephenson]

52. "on this issue"...

And some of you, apparently, are single issue voters. I'm sure things would be much better for you had McCain won the election...

[laughingliberal]

39. Thanks for the perfect example of how the country is going further right

Both parties get behind a right wing education policy and those who know it sucks are trapped either voting for the Democrat who is only slightly less RW or staying home and helping an (R) get elected. We're all well aware of the catch 22 we're in. We just don't like it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

64. The solution is to abolish NCLB

and to restore federal funding to schools serving low income kids.

[high density]

28. Glenn Beck keeps referencing Hitler

I guess that makes Obama responsible for the Holocaust as well.

[EFerrari]

38. That would only work if Hitler referenced Obama. n/t

[mdmc]

45. Unions have no where to go

Either suck up to verbally abusive Dems or get beat outright by the GOP..

[n.michigan]

70. Into the streets would be a good start.

[mdmc]

71. sho'nough

welcome to du..
peace and low stress..

[Rabrrrrrr]

48. Teachers each have just two friends?

:shrug:

[Codeine]

51. I think it's two friends total. nt

[Codeine]

50. He lost the state of Florida last time too.

America's Dong wasn't going to vote for him anyway. Now quit trying to blame the actions of the Republicans your state elected on the President your state didn't elect.

ON EDIT: I am an idiot; of course he won Florida in 2008. :dunce: :spank:

[Arkana]

55. Actually he DID win Florida in 2008.

[Codeine]

57. AHAHAHA! Mea culpa!

I am chastised and shamed sir! :dunce: I confoozled my elections.

[Arkana]

53. Wait...what just happened?

[Codeine]

56. Floriduh's Republican legislature just screwed the teacher's unions.

Rather than take responsibility for the fact that they keep putting shitkickers in charge of their pathetic shithole state some Dems have decided that it's Obama's fault.

Yeah, it's pretty stupid.

[harun]

58. Both chambers of the Florida's state legislature have been in Republicans

hands since 1994.

It is your bed, you sleep in it.

[harun]

59. deleted.

double post.

[whatsthebuzz]

72. I believe that this could have been avoided

I might be wrong, but if Obama would have done away with GWB's No Child Left Behind (which JEB! in Florida loved and which made Neil Bush even richer), this might have been avoided. Public schools weren't like this in my years attending them in FL.