It is no secret that politics and education are tied hand-in-hand, but according to the article below $60 million dollars were raised by the NEA and AFT, and of that number $56 million of that went towards backing democratic candidates? I found this incredible. What if you were a part of a union, but did not want to fully fund a candidate? The website below explains how many union bosses, as they call them, have their own agenda and make their own decisions. How can we stop this and what can be done?
http://teachersunionexposed.com/dues.php
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Does it matter what state YOU are in?
Growing up and living in the South, there was not much talk about unions in general. I do not think I knew what a union was until I went to college, but up North unions are very common and successful. I found this website that talks about the strength of unions in varying places, and those in the North rank very high on the list. The whole point of unions is to look out for workers best interests so being part of a union is a great thing, if they work for you and protect you as a professional.
This website shows the list and a detailed record of research:
http://www.edexcellencemedia.net/publications/2012/20121029-How-Strong-Are-US-Teacher-Unions/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report.pdf
This website shows the list and a detailed record of research:
http://www.edexcellencemedia.net/publications/2012/20121029-How-Strong-Are-US-Teacher-Unions/20121029-Union-Strength-Full-Report.pdf
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Christie is a Big Liar
http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-pushes-for-teachers-to-sign-on-to-pension-health-benefit-changes-in-town-hall-meeting-1.1299625
This article just reiterates what my dad was talking about...it might even be the same article. Basically, our (the NJ) governor signed a LAW in 2010 that stated that he PROMISED to deposit money into the pension plan. Has he done it? Nope! He is breaking the law that he signed into action! What a hypocrite!
Aside from the politics, I am grateful that the NJEA (NJ teacher union) has such a strong voice in New Jersey. They are fighting Christie, and they have every reason to! It is not just the president or the leaders of the union either, it is all teachers in the state. They are sticking up for themselves, and I can't wait to become a part of the fight!
This article just reiterates what my dad was talking about...it might even be the same article. Basically, our (the NJ) governor signed a LAW in 2010 that stated that he PROMISED to deposit money into the pension plan. Has he done it? Nope! He is breaking the law that he signed into action! What a hypocrite!
Aside from the politics, I am grateful that the NJEA (NJ teacher union) has such a strong voice in New Jersey. They are fighting Christie, and they have every reason to! It is not just the president or the leaders of the union either, it is all teachers in the state. They are sticking up for themselves, and I can't wait to become a part of the fight!
My Dad Loves to Talk
A few weeks ago I told my dad about this leadership project and asked him a couple questions about things he has read about in our local newspaper in NJ. Today he sent me pictures of a couple articles and explained some things to me. My dad's texts just goes to show you that Governor Christie is not the most likable person, and that my dad has strong feelings about him...
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Teacher Union Rookies
If you know little to nothing about teacher unions, then we are in the same boat. Before this project, I had never done any research or had any extensive knowledge about this topic, which is why I decided to partake in this project. Teacher unions can be so powerful and helpful for educators if used appropriately. As most of you know, Jaki is from New Jersey where successful unions are abundant. However, I am from the South where there are not many successful unions and people are uneducated about the process.
This website is a good resource to use when looking into educational unions:
http://www.aft.org
This website is a good resource to use when looking into educational unions:
http://www.aft.org
Sunday, April 19, 2015
News Around the USA
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/17/3745527/teachers-unions-staging-strikes.html
http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/04/16/unions-need-focus-education-fixes/25893609/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/04/07/california-teachers-unions-face-new-legal-challenge-over-dues/
-This is a very interesting article about the union dues in California, and how teachers feel that the amount of dues is too high and the money is being used for the wrong reasons. I feel like this is a main reason why many teachers do not join their local or state teacher unions...
http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/04/16/unions-need-focus-education-fixes/25893609/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/04/07/california-teachers-unions-face-new-legal-challenge-over-dues/
-This is a very interesting article about the union dues in California, and how teachers feel that the amount of dues is too high and the money is being used for the wrong reasons. I feel like this is a main reason why many teachers do not join their local or state teacher unions...
Educators in Minnesota...
...have a voice in their union! The union is called "Education Minnesota", and it has influence in education reform. This article talks about the fight for Preschool funding, but also mentions the wins and losses this specific union has had in the past. I thought it was very interesting!
http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/300559011.html
http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/300559011.html
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Anti-Union People
http://teachersunionexposed.com/meritpay.php
This website offers some pretty interesting claims against teacher unions. I'm not sure how reliable it is, though. As I read through some of the information they present, my blood started to boil a little bit, specifically with the claims the URL above states. It is talking about merit pay, which is basically paying teachers based on their performance (which I bet means test scores). The website talks about how teacher unions are protecting the "bad teachers" by fighting against merit pay. Sure there are bad teachers out there, and yes they probably are being protected by the union they are members of, but doesn't that happen in other professions too? My dad is a member of a union for his job, and his union has protected my dad and the other workers against the "bad guys" who try to lower his income or decrease his benefits. There are plenty of "bad" workers in his profession too, but they are protected under the union. Nobody hears about those bad workers though, because they aren't teachers...they're just mechanics. Teachers have been in the spot-light for years, and that is why people are attacking the teacher unions. Every profession has good guys and bad guys! It is up to the union to protect those good guys though, even if they end up saving a few bad guys along the way too. Schools still have the power to fire bad employees, and that includes teachers doesn't it? Just like my dad's employer can fire any bad employee, regardless of whether they are a union member. But maybe I'm wrong...
This website offers some pretty interesting claims against teacher unions. I'm not sure how reliable it is, though. As I read through some of the information they present, my blood started to boil a little bit, specifically with the claims the URL above states. It is talking about merit pay, which is basically paying teachers based on their performance (which I bet means test scores). The website talks about how teacher unions are protecting the "bad teachers" by fighting against merit pay. Sure there are bad teachers out there, and yes they probably are being protected by the union they are members of, but doesn't that happen in other professions too? My dad is a member of a union for his job, and his union has protected my dad and the other workers against the "bad guys" who try to lower his income or decrease his benefits. There are plenty of "bad" workers in his profession too, but they are protected under the union. Nobody hears about those bad workers though, because they aren't teachers...they're just mechanics. Teachers have been in the spot-light for years, and that is why people are attacking the teacher unions. Every profession has good guys and bad guys! It is up to the union to protect those good guys though, even if they end up saving a few bad guys along the way too. Schools still have the power to fire bad employees, and that includes teachers doesn't it? Just like my dad's employer can fire any bad employee, regardless of whether they are a union member. But maybe I'm wrong...
What We're Looking For
Mandy and I have created this blog to post and share the information we find about teacher unions. We want to find out whether or not teachers are joining unions, if teacher unions are powerful enough to negotiate contracts, and whether or not these unions have any power in federal, state, and local legislature. We will be looking at the power, or lack there of, of the Tennessee Education Association as well as successful unions in other states. Since I am from New Jersey and will be looking for a teaching job, I will be looking into the power local and state teacher unions have in NJ. We want to know whether or not teachers have a voice in this country, whether or not they are able to fight for their rights, and whether or not joining a union is a way to gain that voice.
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