As readers of @thechalkface already know, both the NEA‘s Dennis Van Roekel and AFT’s Randi Weingarten support the use of VAMs in teacher evaluations. Of course they will never admit to it and instead typically refer to VAM usage as using student generated “data.” However, out of EdWeek today we learn that the NEA is actually […]
#aft and #nea are wrong on Common Core and VAMs.
March 23, 2013 By 2 Comments
I support teachers’ unions. However, the AFT’s and NEA’s national leaders need to be to openly criticized. At the leadership level they are unable to counter the “adults first” narrative and they are complicit in the corporate takeover of our public schools. First, teachers’ unions have been absolutely horrendous (except in Chicago) in demonstrating […]
Poodle of the Plutocrats: Dennis Van Roekel
January 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Platonist D Coleman Van Roekel has an established record of selling out the membership of NEA (here, here, here, and here), just as Randi Weingarten has done for AFT members. With an uprising imminent over teacher evaluations based on test scores and more high stakes national testing based on a national curriculum written by arrogant […]
#Teachers’ #unions abandon partisanship?
September 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Might this debacle be proof of two things, one promising and the other not so much? One, labor organizations, teachers’ unions, might be downplaying strict partisanship because their expected allies, Democrats, have not been so good for teachers lately? Two, that many leaders in education are still idiots? I mean, really? Pennsylvania state legislator Rep. […]
@mikeklonsky plans for #unions to be a big part of the #SOSMarch convention in DC next week
July 25, 2012 By 2 Comments
Great, Mike. And drafting a resolution no less. Resolutions are fine. Teachers’ unions function in important ways, defending the social safety net and bargaining rights for teachers, which puts them squarely in a category of activism and advocacy along economic lines. This, however, necessitates compromise and collaboration with the State in this process of bargaining, […]
Paul Toner and the TURNcoats
July 24, 2012 By 4 Comments
The other day one of my colleagues here in Massachusetts asked me if I knew that out in Ohio, where they have a Republican governor and legislature, teachers are about to be evaluated based on test scores. When I responded that that was already a reality here in Massachusetts, she said flatly: When did that […]
I’ve too felt the wrath of critique of #NEA and #AFT, it will continue
July 12, 2012 By 2 Comments
EdNotes Online has a piece on the knee jerk reactions from folks defensive of unions when they hear criticism. This site and some other folks went through this recently with critique of the NEA during their 2012 Assembly in Washington, DC. I understand that far right-wing conservatives are after unions. I get that it might […]
Final comments about #neara2012 and #teachers’ #unions before moving on… Thank you!
July 7, 2012 By 7 Comments
Here’s a couple of posts (one and two) from the brothers Klonsky, two huge and unabashed NEA cheerleaders, whom I respect, but I don’t necessarily their respect to criticism of the NEA’s lack of courage in recent years. Both support a tone of reconciliation and cooperation when it comes to the NEA. Sure, they’re not […]
What Dennis and the Prostisuits Won’t Allow NEA Delegates to Say
July 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Posted at UOON: Text of Jonathan Massey’s speech. “Jonathan Massey, Arizona, speaking as an individual in support of this item. Some of you may remember that, in 2009, noted “friend of public education” Newt Gingrich went on a nation-wide speaking tour with Arne Duncan and Al Sharpton to promote Race to the Top. Others may […]
Another very trusted eyewitness account of silence and discrimination at #NEARA2012
July 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
With all of the attacks from right-wing conservatives, both the NEA and AFT are on notice from pro-labor union folks like myself, and all of the authors on this website: discontinue reinforcing traditional power structures and executive, top-down hierarchies and welcome fresh faces, new leadership, and a diversity of views. Read and weep for labor’s, […]
Well, it’s about time, the new #unionism
I keep hearing about this, the new unionism, the new unionism. What the is it? Well, as far as education unionism is concerned, high stakes testing seems to be one of the primary targets of criticism. And we finally have acknowledgement of this very important fact from the CEO of the NEA. By the way, who […]