Thank you, Raul Grijalva: Obama’s Market-Based Policies Endanger Public Education.

[madfloridian]

69. I am going to reply to you point by point.

You said I was ranting here.

"What good is that doing? I wouldn't listen to anything Newt has to say anyway. He's full of hot air, a liar and a cheat. I do believe tenure should not mean teachers can rest on their laurels until they choose to retire. They must adhere to the same protocol as everyone else all the way through. We've ALWAYS had testing. Unfortunately, the teachers are promoting students that should not be promoted."

Agreed about Newt. Perhaps you should tell it to Arne Duncan and President Obama who are putting his policies into play.

Tenure does not mean teachers rest on their laurels. They can be fired for cause. I am not sure what you mean about teachers "must adhere to the same protocol", so I can't address that.

Yes, there has always been standardized testing. BUT..it was always used to evaluate where the student was academically. It was used to make instruction better. Now it is used to hire and fire teachers and take the place of teachers' gradebook, student portfolios, and classroom work.

It is used to fail schools which are then turned into charter schools which usually are owned by private companies.

You said:

"I've met high school grads that can barely spell basic 2nd grade words"

So have I. But if you are only blaming teachers, you are way off base.

You said:

"And like Obama said, "It's not about me...It's about YOU!"

Unfortunately it IS about him now. These are his policies, his goals, his stated plans for public schools. He supports Arne Duncan 100% and seems to have no understanding of the harm being done by these policies.

You said:

By the way...if you're voting Republican, you're helping to put money grubbers in office. What do you expect? We've been trying to tell you....YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST YOUR OWN BEST INTERESTS!

If you ever read any of my posts before, and somehow I don't think you have.....you will know that my late hubby and I were Obama supporters and campaigned for him. Your quote is insulting to me and others who are criticizing his policies and not the man.

You would know I plan to vote Democratic, but that I will not donate as long as such devastating policies are in place.

Any public school teacher who votes Democratic in the fall WILL be voting against their own best interests. That is a fact. Insulting me does not change a thing. The Democrats are promoting the policies of Bush and Newt Gingrich. Arne took him on the road trip, not me.
Arne gave him respect he did not deserve, not me.

So go ahead, continue your insults. I have truth on my side.