From publicopiniononline.com
Pennsylvania bill to ban strikes by teachers stalls
By RICHARD FELLINGER Public Opinion Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG -- Teachers in three Pennsylvania school districts have hit the picket line so far this school year, but that won't be enough to convince state lawmakers that school strikes should be banned.
Bills to prohibit teacher strikes remain stuck in the Legislature with no apparent plans to move them.
Supporters of a ban say it's because teachers' unions exert too much control over lawmakers.
Critics of a ban say the bills languish because a majority of lawmakers realize teachers need a last resort to negotiate fair pay and benefits.
The only teachers to strike this year in central Pennsylvania were in Franklin County's Tuscarora School District. They began striking Sept. 2, but a tentative deal struck on Sunday will send them back to work today.
Teachers in Montgomery County's Souderton Area School District walked out last week and remain on strike. Teachers in Allegheny County's Duquesne City School District struck for three days last week before settling and heading back to work.
Rep. Todd Rock, R-Mont Alto, authored a bill to ban school strikes and said dozens of people contacted him inquiring about the status of it during the Tuscarora strike. He blames the power wielded by teachers' unions.
"It's not an easy fight to win, but I think it's the right thing to do for the schoolchildren," Rock said.
His bill is expected to die when the legislative term ends in November, but he promised to re-introduce it in the new term that begins in January.
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, said they have as much of a right to participate in the legislative process as anyone, and the legislation to ban strikes "fails a basic test of fairness."
PSEA spokesman Wythe Keever said banning strikes would give school boards the advantage when negotiating teacher contracts.
"It's in the interest of all Pennsylvanians to have adequately paid, fairly paid teachers," Keever said.
Rock's bill would ban strikes and settle contract disputes through a process involving public disclosure of contract proposals, non-binding arbitrations and regular town hall meetings.
Rep. Bob Bastion, R-Somerset, has introduced companion legislation that would put language banning strikes in the state constitution.
Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, D-Lackawanna, has sponsored a bill that would ban strikes but calls for a different process for settling disputes.
Mellow's plan would require both sides to submit their last best offer to a county Common Pleas judge, who would pick one of the two plans.
Teacher strikes this year in Pa.
- Tuscarora School District, Franklin County. Teachers due back today after striking last week.
- Souderton Area School District, Montgomery County. Teachers still on strike.
- Duquesne City School District, Allegheny County. Teachers back at work after striking last week.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The teacher sucks!
Just like Labor Day is followed by opening day at the education emporium, the plaintive cry of "the teacher sucks!" is soon to be heard. It's usually after the first quiz or test is provided to the student and is spawned by a grade lower than expected.
Just like everywhere else, there are good teachers and bad, as well as good and bad parents, and good and bad school board members. Sometimes "good" and "bad" are a matter of incontrovertible fact; sometimes they're a matter of perspective.
"The cop gave me a ticket!" Yeah, sometimes you're on the losing side of that speed trap argument, and sometimes you're pedal-to-the-metal bat-out-of-hell speeding too.
"The boss gave me a bad review!" Yeah, sometimes personalities just don't mix and even Mother Theresa would be rated as needing to work on her people skills, and sometimes a quiet introspective moment would reveal that, yeah, you're not doing it right.
The comic strip Frazz reminds us this morning that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it's darkest before the dawn, and education is the responsibility of the RECEIVER to obtain the education they need.
Channeling our intrepid lyric quoters for a moment, think about this snip from "Nothing", part of the "A Chorus Line" soundtrack. It's OK to say "the teacher sucks". Maybe they do. Would someone looking in from the outside say "the student sucks!"?
And Karp kept saying,
"Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's High,
You'll never be an actress, Never!" Jesus Christ!
Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,
Send me guidance, send me guidance,"
On my knees.
Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,
Help me feel it, help me feel it.
Pretty please!"
And a voice from down at the bottom of my soul
Came up to the top of my head.
And the voice from down at the bottom of my soul,
Here is what it said:
"This man is nothing!
This course is nothing!
If you want something,
Go find another class.
And when you find one
You'll be an actress."
And I assure you that's what
Fin'lly came to pass.
It's a two way street, between the educator and the student and both of them need to be doing their part.
Just like everywhere else, there are good teachers and bad, as well as good and bad parents, and good and bad school board members. Sometimes "good" and "bad" are a matter of incontrovertible fact; sometimes they're a matter of perspective.
"The cop gave me a ticket!" Yeah, sometimes you're on the losing side of that speed trap argument, and sometimes you're pedal-to-the-metal bat-out-of-hell speeding too.
"The boss gave me a bad review!" Yeah, sometimes personalities just don't mix and even Mother Theresa would be rated as needing to work on her people skills, and sometimes a quiet introspective moment would reveal that, yeah, you're not doing it right.
The comic strip Frazz reminds us this morning that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it's darkest before the dawn, and education is the responsibility of the RECEIVER to obtain the education they need.
Channeling our intrepid lyric quoters for a moment, think about this snip from "Nothing", part of the "A Chorus Line" soundtrack. It's OK to say "the teacher sucks". Maybe they do. Would someone looking in from the outside say "the student sucks!"?
And Karp kept saying,
"Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's High,
You'll never be an actress, Never!" Jesus Christ!
Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,
Send me guidance, send me guidance,"
On my knees.
Went to church, praying, "Santa Maria,
Help me feel it, help me feel it.
Pretty please!"
And a voice from down at the bottom of my soul
Came up to the top of my head.
And the voice from down at the bottom of my soul,
Here is what it said:
"This man is nothing!
This course is nothing!
If you want something,
Go find another class.
And when you find one
You'll be an actress."
And I assure you that's what
Fin'lly came to pass.
It's a two way street, between the educator and the student and both of them need to be doing their part.
PSBE Seats Two Students
Meet the new members of the state board of education: two students.
High School Students to Advise State Board of Education
Last update: 1:00 p.m. EDT Sept. 8, 2008
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept 08, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Two Pennsylvania high school students have been selected to advise the State Board of Education by serving a one-year term as non-voting student representatives.
"We are thrilled about having real student voices on the State Board of Education," Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said. "The board's decisions have direct implications on students across the commonwealth; therefore it makes perfect sense to have representation from these young people."
The addition of student representatives to the board is a historic step for Pennsylvania. The students will serve as diplomats from the student community, gathering concerns from students across the state and sharing them with the board.
Elizabeth Williams, a senior from Pocono Mountain West High School, who is active in student government, was selected to serve as the high school student member. Additionally, Gardiner Kreglow, a junior from Bethlehem Area School District, will serve as the high school student member-elect. Kreglow will shadow Williams, with plans to be her successor next year.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for the students to impact the policies that directly affect what happens in their classrooms and those of their fellow classmates," State Board of Education Chairman Joseph Torsella said. "I have no doubt that their participation will add valuable perspective to the board's deliberations and the views of the other board members."
The student representatives' first meeting will be at the State Board of Education's Sept. 17 meeting. The representatives were selected from a pool of nearly 50 applicants. Additionally, the board is in the process of appointing a college student member and college student member-elect to the board. The announcement of these candidates will be made in the fall.
This opportunity was made possible through a grant provided by the National Association of State Boards of Education and funded by the MetLife Foundation.
High School Students to Advise State Board of Education
Last update: 1:00 p.m. EDT Sept. 8, 2008
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept 08, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Two Pennsylvania high school students have been selected to advise the State Board of Education by serving a one-year term as non-voting student representatives.
"We are thrilled about having real student voices on the State Board of Education," Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said. "The board's decisions have direct implications on students across the commonwealth; therefore it makes perfect sense to have representation from these young people."
The addition of student representatives to the board is a historic step for Pennsylvania. The students will serve as diplomats from the student community, gathering concerns from students across the state and sharing them with the board.
Elizabeth Williams, a senior from Pocono Mountain West High School, who is active in student government, was selected to serve as the high school student member. Additionally, Gardiner Kreglow, a junior from Bethlehem Area School District, will serve as the high school student member-elect. Kreglow will shadow Williams, with plans to be her successor next year.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for the students to impact the policies that directly affect what happens in their classrooms and those of their fellow classmates," State Board of Education Chairman Joseph Torsella said. "I have no doubt that their participation will add valuable perspective to the board's deliberations and the views of the other board members."
The student representatives' first meeting will be at the State Board of Education's Sept. 17 meeting. The representatives were selected from a pool of nearly 50 applicants. Additionally, the board is in the process of appointing a college student member and college student member-elect to the board. The announcement of these candidates will be made in the fall.
This opportunity was made possible through a grant provided by the National Association of State Boards of Education and funded by the MetLife Foundation.
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