The CTA and Me: Chemistry cooling

Oops. I guess the title of this post was rhetoric. I wrote there regarding the altruistic tendencies of the CTA (there pursuit of helping children, widows, etc.) A spokesperson for the venerable organization was bemoaning cuts to education, ostensibly because of the insidious effects these cuts would have on children. One would think then, that such an organization would itself consistently pursue policies and behaviors that are salutary towards children’s “best interests.”

Alas, I had forgotten these posts. And I’m not exactly a prolific poster, a union watchdog, etc. These have come from my personal experience, from the last year or so, and I did not start out with any vitriol, ill will, or general nausea at the mention of unions. I have gradually become more and more disillusioned as I witnessed instance after instance of manipulation, mob-mentality, hypocrisy, and opportunistic exploitation of innocents (kids, children, the young, OUR young, etc.) who are sure to garner a sympathetic ear. I’ve witnessed this at the local (“no classrooms of the future with salaries of the past,” don’t help make calls to support bond measures that would help kids until they address our salary issues, don’t do anything extra beyond contractual obligations, etc.), state, and federal level of my union, and I have simply had it. 

My resignation letters are typed, ready to be printed and sent out. Agency fee payer status is on the way.

Sad and Embarrassing

I’ve heard three different media outlets speaking about the LA Times recent article on how difficult it is to fire tenured teachers. The some of the comments on the online version of the article are particularly appalling (not to mention off topic). Such folks are an embarrassment to the teaching profession, and I am ashamed to be lumped in the same bowl of dough as those suckers.

Also, UTLA head-honchos might need a sturdy pimp-slapping for staging a walkout to protest layoffs when they’re 600m mil. in the hole. They have such a huge public platform, and I’ve yet to see them use it to facilitate informed, rational discussion. Shouting down opponents at board meetings, staging mass publicity stunts, and typically appealing to emotions rather than intellect seems to be the forte of UTLA leadership.

Twin Lips via 7/19/08

In an Education Week article regarding McCain and Obama’s likely different approaches to education funding, I came across these quotes regarding federal spending on education, which induced a moderate degree of mental constipation. I believe the quoted individuals are referring to the same federal government, and the same educational system, so I’m having a bit of trouble reconciling the two. I’ll bold the source of my confusion.

“Dan Lips, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, based in Washington, said that federal education spending has risen by more than 40 percent since the enactment of the No Child Left Behind law more than six years ago, and that the boost hasn’t led to a significant increase in student achievement.”
“Mr. Kealy of the Committee for Education Funding said, though, that Sen. Obama’s proposal could represent a ‘turning point for education funding, which has seen only modest increases in recent years.’ “

Isn’t there a philosophical law of non-contradiction that states something along the lines that a statement cannot be both true and false? So, either “modest” is one of those words I always thought I knew, but turned out to have an entirely different definition, or one of these fools is lying (or shamelessly, shamelessly manipulating, and when someone can’t talk straight, I just so happen to get a little nervous, and a little offended. I’m nervously offended). I always thought modest meant, you know, modest. Apparently, I need to recontextualize.

• Bodybuilder increases lean mass by 40%. (a modest gain).
• Patient loses 40% of blood (a modest flesh wound).
• Diet increases risk of heart attack by 40% (modest risk).
• School suffers from 40% dropout rate (a modest lack of success).
• Man spends 40% of salary on gambling (a modest lapse in judgment. Wife should not be upset).

Now maybe I should go back and give it a second read.