Michigan Education Association wants to recall school board members who stand up to union demands
Most teachers are very dedicated and earn their pay. As a former teacher with many family members and friends who teach, I know that it’s not an easy job.
However, isn't the purpose of schools to educate kids? It doesn’t seem that the leadership of the Michigan Association remembers that. Many of these people seem to think that schools were created for the purpose of guaranteeing good paying jobs for adults.
The attitude of the union leadership is summarized best by a quote from former president Albert Shanker of the American Federation of Teachers. “When schoolchildren start paying dues, that's when I'll start representing the interests of schoolchildren."
Shanker’s attitude is similar to that of other teachers who don’t seem to care about the kids. Of course most teachers do not have this attitude. However, those who do, and those who think they are above the law, give all teachers a bad reputation. The examples they give students include illegally striking or calling in sick during crucial negotiations when their pay or benefits are threatened to be cut. For example, see “Redford teachers call in sick and students are sent home.”
Thursday, December 11, 2008 6:17 AM EST
Oakland Press GUEST OPINION – KYLE OLSON
There’s a statewide battle brewing for control of Michigan’s local school boards
and the public schools they govern. The battle is spreading district by district
and soon may haunt your hometown, particularly when the teachers in your
district sit down to negotiate their next collective-bargaining agreement.
When it comes your way, the choice will be yours, voters of Michigan. Will you
maintain your authority over your locally elected school board, or cede your
control to a powerful Lansing-based labor union that’s trying to wrestle control
of public education throughout the state?
In about a dozen school districts so far, the Michigan Education Association,
the state’s largest teachers union, has prompted recall campaigns against school
board members who stood up to the union’s financial demands during contract
negotiations.
In every instance, the school boards in those districts, faced with rising
costs outpacing state aid, have been forced to make tough budget choices to
maintain solvency and quality classroom services.In every instance, the boards
either considered ending their relationship with MESSA, an expensive employee
health insurance administrator that’s operated by the MEA itself, or to
privatize support services such as food preparation, custodial services or
transportation.
In every instance, their difficult decisions saved their schools hundreds of
thousands at a time when every penny counts. And in every instance, the MEA
responded with recall campaigns against the responsible board members.
The union wants to maintain MESSA insurance coverage in every district possible
because MESSA is the MEA’s profitable cash cow.
Regardless of how you feel about expensive teacher health insurance or
privatization, there’s a more fundamental question that will be answered when
the MEA’s recall strategy reaches your town. Who’s going to control your school
board and your local school district? A school board’s membership is chosen by
those of you who care enough to vote in school elections. And its money comes
from just about everyone who pays taxes, buys lottery tickets, drinks or smokes.
Love it, hate it or more likely ignore it, your school board is your property.If
you want to question its performance, go to a board meeting and speak up. If you
want to change its membership, then throw the bums out at the next school
election.
But if you allow an MEA prompted recall attempt to succeed in your school
district, your influence over future boards may be severely crippled. That’s
because the message you will be sending future board members will be chillingly
clear: Support the teachers union and its demands, or risk the humiliation of
recall yourself.
From that point on the drumbeat that board members hear will come from local MEA
representatives, not you or the parent down the street.
Don’t fall for the MEA’s recall strategy when it worms its way into your
community. Say “no” to any petition that comes to your door, and vote “no” if a
recall proposal reaches your ballot box.
Kyle Olson is vice president of Strategy for the Education Action Group Inc.,
based in Muskegon.
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Judge Nixes Email Release
WAYNE, Mich. - A Wayne County judge has blocked the release of teacher union e-mails as requested by a nonprofit organization, ruling that the Wayne-Westland Education Association could face "irreparable harm" by the move.
According to the Michigan Education Report, the organization in question is the Muskegon-based Education Action Group. This group requested the e-mails through the Freedom of Information Act as part of its study of the links between teacher unions and school board recalls in Michigan. The e-mails were written by WWEA President Nancy Strachan using a taxpayer-funded school e-mail account.
The WWEA filed a motion to prevent the release, which Circuit Court Judge Kathleen MacDonald granted on Dec. 3. Another hearing is scheduled Jan. 12. Two board members have been named for recall in the district; the parent who filed the recall petitions said the effort is "parent-based."
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