AFT joins NEA to call for Arne Duncan to resign. AFT adds conditions to be met.

[madfloridian]

I think he has had every chance to listen to educators and make the changes needed in his destructive policies. So I agree with the NEA....just resign.

Another teachers union ding for Arne Duncan

The American Federation of Teachers approved a resolution this afternoon calling for Education Secretary Arne Duncan to resign if he does not improve under a plan to be implemented by President Barack Obama.

The “improvement plan” would include the requirement that Duncan enact the funding and equity recommendations of the Equity Commission’s “Each and Every Child” report; change the No Child Left Behind and Race To The Top “test-and-punish” accountability system to a “support-and-improve” model; and “promote rather than question” teachers and school staff.

....AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement sent to POLITICO that the amendment “is basically saying, ‘Enough is enough.’ Teachers are evaluated and their future livelihoods are linked to that. And when they fall short, they should have a chance to improve. And that’s what this special order represents.”

The AFT member who introduced the amendment cited Duncan’s response to Hurricane Katrina and the Vergara v. California case, and said Duncan’s programs “blackmailed” cash-strapped districts into accepting Race to the Top. But he also put the onus to correct Duncan on Obama: “He made the choice; he must make the change.”

Yes, indeed, Arne is simply doing the bidding of the president in his attacks on public education.

It is the president who needs to step up now. He should fire Arne Duncan.

[Orlandodem]

1. Exactly. The buck stops with Barack Obama. He has stabbed us in the back one too many times.

We teachers need to put Dems on notice that our vote is never to be taken for granted again and the entire Dem Party can thank Obama for that.

[iemitsu]

2. I'm with you Orlandodem.

Obama needs to fire Duncan and then amend his own attitude toward public education.
He does not want to have as part of his legacy the re-segregation of America's public schools.

[rhett o rick]

4. "We need teachers to put Dems on notice ...." Well said. nm

[Jakes Progress]

23. Have you got a spare million or so to donate?

If not, they don't give a wet eraser what you have to say.

[Ka hrnt]

3. Better late than never, I guess.

Obama & Duncan have not been good for public education in this country.

[femmocrat]

6. I fear the damage has been done.

I think there is no turning back at this point. I hope I'm wrong.

[FloriTexan]

5. Bout time

[TheKentuckian]

7. The foot needed to go down a while ago, now their are more vipers in temple

than there were in the Ark room in Raiders.

I see few good footholds now, much less any beach head.

[roguevalley]

8. as a former aft pres they are a real union. nea where i live sees themselves as an

Association because unions are for working class, not educated people. My blood still boils

[madfloridian]

9. I was PEA (local) FEA (state) NEA (national)

I was as pleased as it was possible to be in a right to work state like Florida.

[roguevalley]

10. i salute your service :D

[Android3.14]

11. You can't take 'em for granted, Mr. Prez.

This is unsurprising. Won't do any good, of course. They'll just pop some other puppet into the job.

[DeSwiss]

12. ''It is the president who needs to step up now. He should fire Arne Duncan.''

- How about a cute 'lil pony instead!? Hmmm, would ya like that!?!? We can do that.

But that other thing.... not so much.

K&R

“The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself…Almost inevitably, he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, and intolerable.” —H.L. Mencken

[betterdemsonly]

16. Cutest tinyest wittle pony! n/t

[Starry Messenger]

13. k&r

[betterdemsonly]

14. Wow this is getting good!

The NEA, The AFT, now it looks like the head of Chicago Teachers Union will run against Rahmbo! All we need after that is for a teacher, possibly Diane Ravitch to toss their hat in against Cuomo. I suspect many other unions will balk against the neoliberal dems after that and it will be a full on revolt. The one that we have needed for a long time, not the stupid teabag version. http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/exclusive-poll-karen-lewis-could-give-rahm-run-his-money/sun-07132014-302pm

[Rex]

15. Seriously the POTUS needs to listen to this one by professional organizations.

It is long past time for his resignation.

[Enthusiast]

17. Kicked and recommended!

It is all about policies. What sort of policy does a prospective candidate support? On education policy the President is wrong.

[progressoid]

18. So much progress could have been made in the last 6 years.

What a waste of that office.

[stillwaiting]

19. Progress has definitely been made in the last 6 years. Tremendous progress.

The problem is that the agenda which is being pursued is not one that the majority of us want.

[sabrina 1]

20. Funny how opposed we were to NCLB, we were OUTRAGED actually. But

Arne has taken NCLB and made it even WORSE. Yet, there is a deafening silence from many on the Left regarding these assaults on what was traditionally a Democratic policy, Public School Education.

Arne never should have been in this position to begin with. He knows NOTHING about 'education'. So it speaks volumes that he was. Listening to Obama speak about Public School Education makes you wonder if he knew anything at all about Duncan, or is even aware NOW of his terribly destructive policies. But yes, he needs to go. Although cleaning up the mess he has made will take a lot of time, sadly.

[madfloridian]

21. And if he goes....will his replacement be worse?

If this is Obama's policy he's enforcing....makes sense that if he goes his replacement could be as bad or worse.

Not only does he know nothing about real learning....he actually manages to smirk at teachers with his words. He condescends to educators.

[Jakes Progress]

22. rhee

That is how "our" president would answer the pleas of teachers.

I think that somewhere in Hawaii, say 8th or 9th grade, a teacher caught Barack smoking in the boys room and gave him detention. Now he's retaliating.