HEADLINE: Obama Official Applauds Rhode Island Teacher Firings

[Bluebear]

:mad: You just wait until we have a Democratic President, cabinet and Congress so we can invest in America's future via education!!!


===

Education Secretary Arne Duncan has "applauded" the move to fire every teacher at Rhode Island's Central Falls High School, the Providence Journal reports.

Central Falls, the smallest and poorest city in Rhode Island, is also one of the state's most troubled school districts, with more than half of the students at the high school not making it to graduation.

Union members are fighting for the teachers' jobs, arguing that the move to fire the school's 70-plus teachers will harm students. George Nee, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said at a rally Tuesday that the action was "immoral, illegal, unjust, irresponsible, disgraceful and disrespectful," according to the Journal.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/24/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6239681.shtml

[Tailormyst]

1. The hits just keep coming

Every time I think it can't get worse. That this administration can't get more RW, it does. Fuck em.

[ananda]

2. That is purely evil, yes..

.. but I'm not surprised knowing what a corporate
asshole Duncan is.

[G_j]

3. just think PATCO

and sing the praises of Ronald Reagan.

:thumbsdown:

[readmoreoften]

4. New and Improved Lesser Evil: Now with 50% more evil in every box!

[rfranklin]

5. Soon our corporate prison system will merge seamlessly with charter corporate schools

Cradle to grave incarceration.

[rfranklin]

6. The dreaded duplicate posting!!!!

[QC]

7. But Arne is soooooo dreamy! And he plays basketball with the prez!

Who cares about a bunch of teachers? They probably aren't dreamy and they sure don't play ball at the White House!

[Edweird]

8. Union busting supported by a Dem administration. Disgusting.

[Starry Messenger]

9. People have been applauding it here, too.

What people don't realize is that this is all part of getting the "Race to the Top" money (which also requires states to embrace charters, another subject...). This is NCLB on steroids, as another DUer put it (sorry I can't remember who you are, but it's so true I'm stealing it). Union busting is a part of their strategy, disgusting!!

To get the money, schools must choose one of four paths set under federal law, including mass firings. Gallo has said she initially hoped to avoid layoffs by adopting a plan that would have lengthened the school day and required teachers to get additional training and offer more tutoring.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan applauded the plan, saying students only have one chance for an education.

"When schools continue to struggle we have a collective obligation to take action," he said in a written statement.

The U.S. Department of Education does not play a role in deciding which model schools choose and did not know Wednesday whether Central Falls was the first to opt to get rid of its teachers, said Sandra Abrevaya, a department spokeswoman.

The decision won praise from Republican Gov. Don Carcieri, a former math teacher who supports Gist.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/nation/ri-district-fires-all-educators-at-underperforming-high-school-us-doe-applauds-decision-85198707.html

[chelsea0011]

10. I saw some of these teachers interviewed. Many have stuck with this system

for many years while fighting uphill all the way. One of the solutions the school system has been given is to become a charter school which is a kind way of saying who they can choose to have attend.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. I'm amazed that's not illegal

Surely people can only be fired for their individual failures, not as a government-forced 'fire them all' diktat?

I've thinking the feeling against Arne Duncan on DU was a little OTT, but this policy, and him 'applauding' mass firings, is truly an ideological evil. It's also a sign Duncan is as thick as pig shit.

[tonysam]

14. He IS an idiot

if you have ever watched him in interviews. He's even dumber than GWB.

[seeinfweggos]

12. more than half of the students at the high school not making it to graduation.

and it sounds like they were doing such a great job.

[Bluebear]

13. "They?" All of them? Were any teachers good? Did they get to keep their jobs? Do you know?

[seeinfweggos]

15. apparently people who know more about it than you or i thought not.

look, if you have THAT many kids failing or dropping out, there is no way that isn't some reflection on the teachers. for the record, i think teachers in general are way underpaid and disrespected (by politicians more than kids) people blame teachers for a lot of shit that isn't their fault but there are some crappy ones and it sounds like this place has a cluster of them.

[stray cat]

17. Everyone knows if they read the facts - up to 60% can get rehired if they decide to applaud

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Up to 50%, not 60% - what was that about 'basic math'?

"Duncan has mandated that each state's worst performing schools either be closed, converted to charter or charter-like schools, reorganized around a longer school day, or have the entire teaching staff fired. In the last case, a maximum of 50 percent can be rehired in the fall."

[Bluebear]

20. And "rehired" as what, year one pay?

[Bluebear]

19. 'up to 60% can get rehired if they decide to applaud' - applaud what? WTH are you talking about

[stray cat]

16. Less than 85% of graduates there can do basic math! Progressives support that?

[tkmorris]

21. Yes, but the question becomes, why is that?

Is it really the teachers? It takes a lot more than decent teachers to educate a child.

[Cerridwen]

22. Isn't basic math taught in grade through middle school?

It's been quite some time since I graduated so perhaps it isn't taught until high school now?

You see, if a student doesn't know basic math by high school, why then are the high school teachers being held to account?

As to your question, no, it is not okay to this socialist/Democrat/liberal/progressive/pinko/commie that children are not learning basic math they will need for their every day life. However, this socialist/Democrat/liberal/progressive/pinko/commie wonders what the various reasons are for the children not learning and as a socialist/Democrat/liberal/progressive/pinko/commie I'm not ready to place the blame solely at the feet of their high school teachers, or solely their parents, or solely, well, any one thing.

There are many issues that impact families and their children with regard to school and education. I'd prefer we not make scapegoats of the teachers.

[Bluebear]

23. Thank you!

[hayu_lol]

24. If the students are not prepared by high school in the basics...

there is no way they can catch up(all)and graduate.

These teachers should hold an immediate meeting, discuss a walkout strike, vote yes to strike and walk out--leaving the school full of students and no one to teach them.

This is what walk outs are for.

[Cerridwen]

25. You're welcome! As cynical as I am, I never expected to see such

simple-minded, anti-teacher and anti-union sentiment so predominant among Democrats.

I think our "big tent" is decaying from mold, mildew, and not enough fresh air and sunlight.