Why sir, I agree! When we elect public officials who promise to break unions, by gum, those unions must be broken!

We both know that the true spirit of America is PROFIT! When my employees start whining about their lack of heath insurance, I promptly show them the door! Did I complain when I a jai alai incident left me deaf in my right ear? No, sir, I did not!

I went right out and became a renowned veterinarian! And paid every single one of my medical bills!

They can take their "Christian" nonsense about "loving thy neighbor" and "compassion" and go away!

Nowhere does the Bible state that I am responsible to be my brother's keeper! We both know that when Jesus returns, the first people he will richly reward is Charles and David Koch!

Liam "America's Veterinarian"™ Wolfpuncher

You have no clue what you are talking about. When is the last time you were in a classroom or actually spoken to a teacher? We have taken cuts, pay more for health insurance and more for retirement. We have all taken part of the " shared sacrifice". HMMM... those in the lesgislature have yet to do this. Did you know after just 1 term in office they get health insurance for LIFE? We are fighting for fair working conditions which translates to learning conditions for children. I suggest you get a little more informed before you spout off. Teachers care about kids. By the way,do you have any? I bet you wouldn't want them in a classroom of 33 in grade 1. Well guess what? That is the least of what will happen if we don't stop those that are abusing their power in Lansing...Do your research.. 566 laws passed of which 546 were deemed "emergencies".
So, Dale, you are dead wrong when you say that teachers are upset about benefits. Teachers want adequate supplies, a decent class size and support. Is this too much to ask for those of us that care for our most precious resource...children?

Wolfpuncher,

It's too bad that you didn't play Jai Alai in more recent times as many professional players in the U.S. are now represented by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).

I'm sure your medical bills would have been covered by Workman's Compensation Insurance, as bargained by the union. Perhaps they even would have been able to prevent the deafness if treated quickly!

+1 Pat!

Lucky for us that the "other's people money" won't be running out any time soon, as the top 1% controls 43% of the financial wealth in the U.S. This is in stark contrast to the bottom 80%, which control only 7% of the financial wealth.

But, I'm sure you'll argue that the bottom 80% are just lazy do-nothings.

Show me the facts. I've been teaching for 22 years and attended some of the best schools in Michigan, private and public, and did not graduate in the bottom quartile. I really am just curious where this statistic comes from.

These facts you speak of....How did you learn to find them? Thank a teacher. They appreciate your support.

Since you say this is an indisputable fact, please provide the data that shows "most" teachers graduated from the bottom quartile of their high school classes. Remember, data and evidence is the cornerstone of school reform these days! I bet teachers would love to get away with supplying all of their 'FACTS' about student growth with the generic terms "most" and "many". Alas, it seems only people wishing to rant can practice poor science.

Randall - Right ON.

Can you cite any reliable sources for all of these "FACTS"?

Mr. Earlobe states that "pensions suck up around 25% of a school's operating budget..."

According to this Troy School District document (http://www.troy.k12.mi.us/images/2011Personnel.pdf), pensions ("retirement") along with FICA, unmployment, and workers comp. make up less than 15% of the annual budget.

Obviously, 15% is less than 25%, and that 15% isn't made up solely of pension contributions. So there's one "fact" that doesn't seem to be true.

EruditeEarlobe: The voices you hear when you haven't taken your medications are hardly 'indisputable facts.' Teachers must have Masters Degrees and are paid much lower than equivalently educated people in other fields. THAT is an indisputable fact.

Mr. Earlobe writes, "Fact: teachers have their "advanced" degrees mostly in education and not in specific subjects as in universities and colleges. Fact: most teachers, especially those at the elementary school, have the least qualifications in a variety of subjects, yet tend to be the most vociferous about their 'advanced' learning."

Now, I've read these sentences multiple times, but I an unable to ascertain any facts therefrom. Instead, it appears to be several logical fallacies strung together (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy).

But, with that said, what do you mean by "least qualifications in a variety of subjects"? Also, why are you complaining about teachers having Masters degrees in education? Elementary teachers typically teach a variety of subjects (e.g., math, reading, writing, science, social studies), as the students very often stay with the teacher for the entire day. Are you arguing that a second grade teacher should have an advanced degree in math in order to teach addition and subtraction to 7 year old children? Personally, I don't care if my child's elementary school teacher is an expert at Calculus and differential equations. I would rather they have the teaching skills to teach the basic concepts to a wide variety of students with different learning styles.

So Earlobe: With this attitude toward teachers, how do you plan to recruit the talent you claim isn't there? Just curious ...

Calling students 'products" is of the factory assembly line mentality--demeaning and inappropriate..

I --and others oppose charter schools because they take away from public funding of public schools. If parents want private schools, let them pay the tuition--and not drain funding.
Clinton sent his daughter to private school because of security. You have to do some of your own research for the others.

What upper 75% are you referring to?

.....
EruditeEarlobe

5:37 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012

We of the upper 75%, are sick and tired of the bottom 25% (greedy unionist teachers and their allies in the UAW) holding us up for more monies so that they can keep turning out mediocre and inferior products. No wonder they fight when competition is introduced: charter, private, parochial, religious and home schools are treated with disdain. This of course also begs another question: if public schools are so good, why does (did) Obama, Kennedy and even Clinton send their kids to private schools?

It's glaringly obvious the household where you grew up decided to home school the children. BTW every republican president and vice president has sent all their children to private schools. Look it up for yourself. Heck, even GWB who was a recipient of republican affirmative action @ Harvard (he really was in the bottom percentile of his class)