Darren, you often support a "blame-the-teacher" position when it advances your anti-union agenda.
When unions blow back against a piling on of requirements and expectations for teachers, you object. Well, this finding of teacher racism is fruit borne of the same tree. Once again, the teacher is to be blamed.
If CTA comes out with a position that teachers are not racist, can they expect your support? Surely you don't reflexively oppose every union position simply because its a union position.
Actually, long ago I wrote a post pointing out that in California Educator magazine, mouthpiece rag of the CTA, there was an article saying pretty much the same thing that McConnell is saying here.
No, I don't oppose everything the CTA does *just* because the CTA does it. I oppose much of what they do because, IMNSHO, it's *wrong*.
Do you support everything the CTA does just because it's the CTA? Do you oppose everything I support just because *I* support it?
This past summer I wrote a post in which NEA members are identified as homophobes--I hope I'm not confusing that post in my mind with what I wrote above. The link is at http://rightontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2007/07/nea-members-are-homophobes.html
One last thing, anonymous, while I'm on a roll here: do you think the CTA is going to oppose this, or welcome it with open arms? I know where my money is. I'd like to be wrong on this, but I doubt I will be.
I wouldn't expect much from the CTA. Unions exist for the purpose of getting members more money/bennies and keeping members on the payroll. Outside those two purposes the union's effectiveness diminishes sharply.
A professional association might be more effective in addressing the ills of society although no historical examples spring to mind. The less directly mercenary purpose of a professional association might allow for more effective do-gooding but it's still not their raison d'etre.
Of course if these guys were really interested in addressing the achievement gap they'd send investigative teams to those far-flung outposts of civilization where the achievement gap seems to have been addressed. If they were really interested.
As far as CTA's take on this, I confess some fear that they will embrace it. I'll wait and see. And I think we can both giggle a bit over the bind it puts them in...
Darren, you often support a "blame-the-teacher" position when it advances your anti-union agenda.
ReplyDeleteWhen unions blow back against a piling on of requirements and expectations for teachers, you object. Well, this finding of teacher racism is fruit borne of the same tree. Once again, the teacher is to be blamed.
If CTA comes out with a position that teachers are not racist, can they expect your support? Surely you don't reflexively oppose every union position simply because its a union position.
Actually, long ago I wrote a post pointing out that in California Educator magazine, mouthpiece rag of the CTA, there was an article saying pretty much the same thing that McConnell is saying here.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't oppose everything the CTA does *just* because the CTA does it. I oppose much of what they do because, IMNSHO, it's *wrong*.
Do you support everything the CTA does just because it's the CTA? Do you oppose everything I support just because *I* support it?
This past summer I wrote a post in which NEA members are identified as homophobes--I hope I'm not confusing that post in my mind with what I wrote above. The link is at http://rightontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2007/07/nea-members-are-homophobes.html
ReplyDeleteNope, here's the post I referred to in my first comment:
ReplyDeletehttp://rightontheleftcoast.blogspot.com/2006/04/cta-says-im-racist.html
One last thing, anonymous, while I'm on a roll here: do you think the CTA is going to oppose this, or welcome it with open arms? I know where my money is. I'd like to be wrong on this, but I doubt I will be.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't expect much from the CTA. Unions exist for the purpose of getting members more money/bennies and keeping members on the payroll. Outside those two purposes the union's effectiveness diminishes sharply.
ReplyDeleteA professional association might be more effective in addressing the ills of society although no historical examples spring to mind. The less directly mercenary purpose of a professional association might allow for more effective do-gooding but it's still not their raison d'etre.
Of course if these guys were really interested in addressing the achievement gap they'd send investigative teams to those far-flung outposts of civilization where the achievement gap seems to have been addressed. If they were really interested.
As far as CTA's take on this, I confess some fear that they will embrace it. I'll wait and see. And I think we can both giggle a bit over the bind it puts them in...
ReplyDelete