The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: Lauri on May 06, 2008, 10:59:48 PM
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Washington state teachers lose huge AP grant over pay issues
Posted by The Associated Press May 06, 2008 12:41PM
Categories: Breaking News
SEATTLE -- Seven Washington high schools won't be getting their share of a $13.2 million grant to enhance the teaching of Advanced Placement courses in math in science.
Washington state won the grant last year, but stakeholders haven't been able to figure out how to embrace the project that would include a financial incentive for teachers who improve test scores and for the time they spend in training.
The Dallas-based National Math & Science Initiative wanted to pay teachers directly. But Washington's collective-bargaining laws require that teacher pay be negotiated between unions and school districts.
"We worked hard to try to find middle ground," said state Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver, who was working with the group implementing Washington's grant. "We got caught in the middle of the grant requirements and the collective-bargaining laws in the state of Washington that have to be followed."
The organization's grants in six other states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Virginia -- are going forward.
Officials at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which provided $10 million for the effort, expressed disappointment that Washington state couldn't find a solution, noting that some of the other states involved have teachers unions, too.
"Honestly, I can't figure out why they couldn't solve this," said Steve Seleznow, the foundation's program director for education.
The pay elements of the program were clear from the beginning, said NMSI spokeswoman Rena Pederson, adding that her group "tried to be as flexible as possible." Pederson said her organization felt direct teacher incentives were essential to the program's success.
Rich Wood, spokesman for the Washington Education Association, said outside groups can't just set up a new system for paying local teachers.
"That's not how it works in our state," Wood said.
The WEA, he said, was particularly concerned about tying teacher pay directly to student test scores.
About 22 percent of the $13.2 million would have been spent on extra pay for teachers, according to the Dallas group.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/washington_state_teachers_lose.html
of course the union was 'particularly concerned' ...! they dont want teachers thinking they could get better pay if they throw off the union shackles..
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The teachers unions suck.
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The teachers unions suck.
So does Jimmah Carters NEA !
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The teachers unions suck.
So does Jimmah Carters NEA !
I agree.
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All govt controlled education sucks too. I'd dismantle it so fast if I could.
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My little sister is a public school vice principal. At age thirty and divorced, she managed to buy a $300k house for herself. While she is not a teacher anymore, one does not simply become a vp, one must be a teacher first. The whole "teachers are underpaid" thing is a crock of shit.
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That's too bad for the teachers. There are probably some really deserving ones in the bunch too. But the union swoops in once again and ruins a good thing.
I agree with DixieBelle. Public schools are a joke. If I ever have children, I'm doing my best to get them into private school or I'll homeschool them myself.
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Teachers work only for 9 out of 12 months. They get 3 month vacation.
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That's too bad for the teachers. There are probably some really deserving ones in the bunch too. But the union swoops in once again and ruins a good thing.
I agree with DixieBelle. Public schools are a joke. If I ever have children, I'm doing my best to get them into private school or I'll homeschool them myself.
The real losers in this case are the students....who would have an opportunity to receive an enhanced education in science and math.....and now will not ,due only to the actions of the UNION.........
Unions suck, but teachers unions are the worst.....
doc
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I had a GF who was involved with the education system in RI. Every time the teachers cried poor mouth she went into a frothing rant. Seems according to her with bennies the average teacher salary, summers off was 78K. They bury it in bonuses and such but you have to be a total screwup to not make it.