With state budgets collapsing around the nation, an increasingly bright spotlight has been focused on the activities of many public sector unions, perhaps none more so than the teachers unions. Since most of the news is rather alarming to say the least, here at Hot Air we feel obliged to bring you a true feel-good story of union activity to brighten your winter days. With that in mind, I invite you to look over this CNN video journal by reporter Steve Perry. (Video available at the end of this column.)
The story focuses on Central Falls school in Rhode Island, an educational institute in such a sorry state of affairs that their drop-out rates were staggering and many students didn’t even log enough classroom time to receive a grade. Last year, in an apparent sign of throwing up their hands in despair, the school board took the drastic measure of firing all 88 of Central Falls’ teachers.
UPDATE: I’ve been reminded that Ed covered the firing of the teachers last year with full details of just how badly the school was performing.
Now, I already know what you’re thinking here. “But Jazz, what about those poor, unemployed teachers? Couldn’t anyone do anything to help them?”
Fear not! In charged the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers, who not only got all of their jobs back… they landed them a raise. And all of this is taking place in a community which wouldn’t even qualify as “working class” by most standards. The average wages in the Central Falls region are very low. Steve Perry sat down with Supervisor of Schools Frances Gallo to ask her about it.
CNN: So did you wind up paying them more?
Gallo: Yes
CNN: Central Falls is a poor community. Where did you get the money?
Gallo: Through the School Improvement Grant dollars. We had promised that if we secured those dollars, there would be a $3,000 stipend per teacher.
He then questions union representative James Parisi, who also seems to be put off by the pay situation.
CNN: So in this town where the average income is $22,000 the average teacher is now making $76,000. What are the community members paying for?
James Parisi: The highest paid teachers are making about $76,000, which frankly I don’t think is enough for the committed professionals that are in that school district.
CNN: You had a 93% fail rate. That’s undeniable.
JP: And you think that’s caused by teacher’s actions?
CNN: Absolutely.
JP: I don’t think the teachers are responsible.
We should note that the teachers didn’t just walk away with more cash without making some concessions. They had to agree to a number changes including making each class a few minutes longer and being forced to eat lunch with the students.
And how did that work out? Not so well, apparently, as 93% of the students are still failing to meet minimum standards in math and reading, with large numbers once again not even receiving a grade of any sort.
The teacher’s aren’t taking all of this unwanted attention lying down, though. This fall they staged a “sick out” in protest of the increasing demands for improved performance. Also, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten visited the area to demand that everyone “stop playing the blame game,” and focus on the real needs of the students. (These needs apparently don’t include new, better teachers in the opinion of Ms. Weingarten.)
So there you have it. The feel good story of the week. See? And you thought the unions weren’t out there doing anything productive. The video of CNN’s report follows. Enjoy.
Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on how to have a successful yard sale, uses for plastic grocery bags, and making money online doing simple tasks.
Top 5 Articles
Turning Trash Into Cash: 5 Tips For a Successful Yard Sale — Make your yard sale a success by promoting it before it happens. [MintLife]
36 Amazing Uses for the Lowly Plastic Grocery Bag — Use plastic bags on your cars side mirrors and wiper blades to keep them free of freezing rain or snow. [Len Penzo]
Make Money in Your Spare Time Doing Simple Online Tasks — Make some extra money by going online and being a user tester. [Lifehacker]
4 Expenses You Must Negotiate — Always negotiate loan fees and interest. [Bargaineering]
3 Questions You Should Ask Yourself To Assess Your Financial Fitness — Assess your financial fitness by asking yourself if you have restocked your emergency fund. [Buy Like Buffett]
Other Essential Reading
5 Things You Must Do In March — Daylight savings time begins in March, so don't forget to enjoy the natural light! [Savvy Sugar]
10 Ways to Encourage Family Meal Time — Encourage family meal time by having different themes for different nights. [Parenting Squad]
Moving - for real or pretend - as a way to reduce kitchen clutter — If your kitchen is cluttered, pretend you are moving and throw out everything you wouldn't pay professional movers to move. [Simplifried]
8 Reasons to Use Your Credit Card — Make sure to use your credit card so you can take advantage of cash back programs. [The Wisdom Journal]
6 Strategies to Stop Wasting Your Raises — Next time you get a raise, don't waste it. Instead, invest it in your job. [Fiscal Fizzle]
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
bench craft company
Robert Reich: The Real <b>News</b> on Jobs
On our current trajectory, the unemployment rate will continue to decline. But so will the pay and benefits of most Americans. The real story isn't about jobs, it's about the ever decreasing standard of living for the middle class.
New York Times - Bill Keller - Fox <b>News</b> | Mediaite
The seemingly organic feud between the New York Times and Fox News took the forefront once more this week when the newspaper's Executive Editor Bill Keller called Fox viewers among the most cynical people on planet earth and blamed ...
Florida's Teacher Union Fight: the Next Wisconsin? - FoxNews.com
Florida is becoming a potential new battleground for union rights. New Republican Governor Rick Scott is proposing that teachers in his state contribute five percent to their pensions. Florida teachers rank 47th in the country in salary ...
No comments:
Post a Comment