Three Stories I’m Having a Hard Time Getting Worked Up About
1) The New Jersey Education Association death prayer memo. Other than demonstrating that NJEA needs to outsource its comedy writing, I’m not sure why this is all over the New York and New Jersey papers. I read a lot of teacher union memos, and this one is tofu next to the red meat they usually offer up. New Jersey Gov. Christie is no fool, however, and he’ll ride this wave all the way to the shore.
2) The DC teachers contract. Sure, it has some reformy stuff in it, but who didn’t come to a dead stop after reading this paragraph:
“Under a new mutual consent provision that would curtail teachers’ rights to classroom positions based on seniority, no teacher could be placed at a school without the teacher’s and the principal’s agreement. When budget cuts or enrollment declines force school closings, teachers could apply for new jobs at other Washington schools under the mutual consent rule. Teachers whom no school agrees to hire would have three options: a $25,000 buyout, early retirement for those with 20 years of service, or one additional year of employment in an administrative position, before final dismissal.” (emphasis added)
This is like a bad joke. “No one wants you as a teacher; we’ll make you an administrator! Or will you give up your chance at the grand prize and just walk away with $25,000?” Taxpayers, of course, will end up with the blow on the head.
3) Speaking of which, there is a lot of outrage that about 47 percent of American households will pay no federal income taxes at all for 2009. This is a half-empty/half-full situation, in my point of view. While most are complaining about people not contributing to the government coffers, I see it as a small step towards repeal of the 16th Amendment.
