Washington Post Gets Hysterical Over Teachers Union ‘Thuggery’

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Here is the question. It is not why are candidates funding the MCEA's Apple Ballot - the question is - why don't the teachers? A review of the financial disclosures of the MCEA PAC shows NO contributions from teachers. Not one. Ever.
The ONLY funds are coming from the candidates that have been endorsed.
So your statement about raising dues is meaningless. There are NO dues going to the PAC.
This is unlike the Service Employees Union PAC - they have payroll deduction funding their PAC and they collected more for a reporting period than did MCEA.
Here is the question - why don't the teachers support their own PAC? If the PAC is endorsing candidates that the teachers support, why aren't the teachers supporting the PAC?
Please ask your wife.

Apple surprise of MD 12:25AM February 17, 2010

I am sure you are right. I didn’t think otherwise. I should not have stated in ‘absolute.’ Is nearly always wrong thing to do. Thank you for correction
Point was “motivate students to learn..” How tenure and unions hinders getting teachers that do.
There was a program of bringing in outside professional to educate. Program was stopped I believe.
Obama getting rid of that religious school in DC was a step backwards. Performance was up and cost was cheaper. Reason present tenure is set up wrong. We need to facilitate learning in school. Not keep teachers because they play by the rules. But because they do their job effectively.

Bill Hedges of MO 8:43PM February 15, 2010

Tenure is not guaranteed employment for life. It just means that a teacher cannot be fired without just cause. You can't arbitrarily dump a teacher because they become pregnant - marry someone of the wrong religion - or fail the child of some "influential" parent. They can be fired for cause - like declining enrollment - eliminating programs or courses. Teachers also can be let go if a principal documents the following - immorality - incompetency - intemperance - cruelty - persistent negligence in the performance of duties - willful neglect of duties - physical or mental disability which after reasonable accommodation interferes with the employee's ability to perform the essential functions of his or her employment - advocating or participating in un-American or subversive doctrines - conviction for a felony or acceptance of a guilty plea or no contest plea - persistent and willful violation of or failure to comply with school laws of the commonwealth. The principal must provide the teacher with notice and hearing - she can't just march into the classroom and say, "You're fired."

Harry Everhart of FL 6:23PM February 15, 2010

sources european agree www

nowlesbarr of ID 11:52PM February 13, 2010

.…“Minnesota. They even elect clowns to the senate.”
I love it. So true.
Tenure for teachers. How sad. Get enough years in and you have job until you reach retirement age. That sure guarantees all teaches motivate students to learn.
In DC they had a pilot school that showed it provided better education to their students at a cheaper cost. But teacher union backed obama got rid of succeeding program. Yes it was a church school. WE RATHER HAVE DUMBER KIDS THAN CHILDREN TAUGHT IN NON-UNION CHURCH SCHOOL. Right !!
I bet church school does not have tenure.

Bill Hedges of MO 11:46PM February 13, 2010

That of course would be Mr Farrell. John Aloysius to be exact. Teacher unions should not even be allowed since they also live off the private sector taxpaying members of this nation. They earn a living off of the dime I earn. What gives? Maybe government should start reducing the number of bloodsuckers in the system that already exist. They are living off of the forced charity of taxpayers at every level meaning state and federal. As a matter of fact only the governments unions are increasing in employment. Its a good thing the Armed Services of our nation don't unionize. No wonder the unions want to be "Kingmakers"
Oh and there must be something funny in the water of Minnesota. They even elect clowns to the senate.

Jeff of WI 2:18PM February 13, 2010

attributable home security different

stanwicker of ID 1:34AM February 12, 2010

The five Catholic men (Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, Alito and Kennedy)of the Supreme Court just opened all elections to unlimited corporate money and the post is going to carp about unions asking candidates to chip in for campaign materials bearing the union's endorsements? Good grief. Do you think those school teachers have deep pockets? Does the Post think that?
Yes, I always mention the "acting in bloc" Catholicism of the five Supreme Court conservatives. The reason for that is that ordinary Catholics have not yet realized how badly "their" men are hurting American citizens. The whole Church "owns" these guys, ought to be profoundly ashamed of them, and have a duty to rein them in.

Muser of NM 10:48PM February 11, 2010

You might have your thoughts affected by your many teacher connections. Many Montgomery County residents have similar connections as there are 11,000 teachers in the county. However many that I know with direct teacher connections share the Post's editorial views on the MCEA's tactics. Please recognize that the Post is critical of the UNION & not the teachers as individuals. With 80% of the county's outlays going for salaries & benefits, MCEA's tactics are not appreciated by those sensitive to the fiscal realities. A few years back I attended a meeting at which Mr. Gerson & Ms. Cullison (then union chief) were the program. A question & a follow-up on the subject of the "donations" required by those wishing to be listed on the Apple Ballot were answered with gobbledygook. So attendees at that meeting in November 2007 were aware of the MCEA's tactics. I'm really surprised that someone with your background does not appear to understand the situation. But perhaps if I had been a frequent reader of your writings, I would understand why you wrote the aricle above.

Max Bronstein of MD 6:14PM February 11, 2010