October 24, 2008
It is the Teachers’ Fault
Yesterday, a study was release that showed nationwide dropout rates are 1 in 4. In 17 of the country’s 50 largest cities, the dropout rate is 50%. In California, 24% of adults cannot read. 47% of the schools in California fail to meet their Academic Performance Index goals as mandated by law. The Teachers are to Blame.
We hire teachers to do a job. The job is to teach students to read and write, to teach them math skills, to teach them science, to teach them history and civics. The teachers of California (and nationwide) are failing in their responsibility. Instead of focusing on core curriculum, the teachers of this state continue to push a radical liberal agenda. Instead of teaching students to read, they want to teach gay marriage. Instead of teaching the scientific method, they want to teach junk science and the cult of global warming. Instead of teaching the historical and philosophical foundations of this country, which make it the best country on the planet, they want to teach that America is to blame for all the world’s problems. I am sick of it.
Think I’m wrong? Yesterday, the California Teachers Association gave $1,000,000 to the campaign against Proposition 8, the Defense of Marriage Act. Why would teachers give so much money to support gay marriage? What does gay marriage have to do with reading, spelling, algebra, chemistry, etc.? Nothing. One could argue it has everything to do with biology, but in that case the teachers should be for Prop 8, not against it.
The teachers oppose Prop 8 because they support a far-left agenda. Gay marriage means new lesson plans, new training, new “in service” paid days off, etc. Out of curiosity, I looked at the CTA’s website to see what their stance is on other legislation, especially legislation that has nothing to do with education. This list is long, varied, and shocking. The CTA supported AB 2567, another attempt to push the gay agenda into the classroom. The CTA opposed AB 9, requiring voters to identify themselves to reduce voter fraud. The CTA opposed AB 143 which would have provided funding for Charter Schools, giving parents more choice in their children’s education.
As to the other Propositions on the ballet this year, the CTA is also against parental notification of underage abortions and against providing victims more rights when they are violated by criminals.
What do these bills have to do with education? Nothing. As Jon Fleischman wrote on his blog, “public employee unions exist really to accomplish two goals, and that anything else that they do is ancillary to these goals. First and foremost to increase salary and benefits for their union members, and second to pursue any state policies that would increase the number of members of their union.”
Our teachers should be focusing on doing their jobs… teaching children. Instead, they are focused on raising their salaries, expanding their union membership, reducing school choice, and pursuing a radical agenda. It is true that California’s per pupil spending is lower than most of the country, but you would expect that when you consider that California has the largest student population in the country.
Economies of scale allow the state to distribute administrative costs across more students, driving the cost per student down. California’s teachers have the highest average salary in the country, so per pupil spending is a red herring provided by the CTA to justify an ever-growing portion of the state budget. California spends 38% more money per year on education than the next closest state New York. We invest $50,000,000,000 every year in our teachers, and we are getting a lousy return on investment.
The teachers are to blame. Either the teachers actively support the activities of their union, or they fail to exercise their Beck Rights to prevent those activities. Either way, they are failing to do the most basic part of their jobs… education our children.
Robert said,
October 24, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
On Prop-8 (Prop-Hate)…
You think it might be that the California public schools – and the teachers themselves – are tired of being used as a scare tactic to further the cause of adding discrimination and hate to the California Constitution??
What’s disgusting is that we’re now seeing the pro-8 groups calling Prop-8 a “parental rights issue”. This has NOTHING to do with parental rights or the education of our children.
There is no requirement in the California education code to teach public school students about marriage.
Let me say that again so there is no confusion… There is NO requirement in the California education code to teach public school students about marriage – period.
The vast majority of the pro-8 ads are couched in the false scenario that 2nd graders are going to be taught that “boys can marry boys, and girls can marry girls” if we don’t add discrimination to the Constitution.
It’s no wonder the teachers association is trying to clear their name, and set the record straight…
bill said,
October 24, 2008 @ 10:47 pm
Robert,
First, how does any of that justify a 25% drop out rate, a 24% illiteracy rate, or 47% of the schools failing to meet their legal obligations. Second, you are factually incorrect when you state “There is NO requirement in the California education code to teach public school students about marriage.”
California’s Education Code, sections 51890(a)(1)(D) and 51933(b)(7) requires that teachers instruct children as young as kindergarteners about marriage. If the marriage amendment fails, teachers will be required to teach young children there is no difference between gay “marriage” and traditional marriage.
“Family health and child development, including the legal and
financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood”
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=edc&group=51001-52000&file=51890-51891
“Instruction and materials shall teach respect for marriage and
committed relationships.”
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=edc&group=51001-52000&file=51933
Please check your facts before you post…
Brett said,
October 26, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
There is NO difference between gay marriage and straight marriage. Marriage is a CIVIL contract between two consenting adults which the STATE has absolutely no right to legislate. That the CHURCH seems to think it has the sole authority to decide who can marry and who can not only once again proves my belief that Organized Religion is merely Organized Hate by another name.
As for the -TEACHERS- being at fault, turn the finger around and look at the lackluster, don’t give a damn, pathetic excuse they have for parents. Just in my neighborhood alone I can watch the Holier than Thou crowd who so talk so loudly about being ‘Good Christians’ while they’re busy screaming epithets at their children (when they bother to pay attention to them at all), sneaking out in the middle of the night and vandalizing other people’s property (Yes, I have a camera, and yes, I know which one of these ‘christians’ tore down my No on Prop Hate signs).
Look inward before you look outward, get rid of your own personal self loathing, and maybe you’ll find that everyone deserves equality in the eyes of the law, not just ‘heterosexual god fearing folk’.
Almost makes me hope there is a God, just so people like you can show up and find the pearly gates closed to you for being such bigoted and hateful fools.
bill said,
October 26, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Brett,
Who’s the one spewing hate? You seem to have a lot of venom for people of faith, however nowhere in this article do I espouse a Christian arguement in favor of Prop 8. I happen to support the proposition because it is grounded in 5,000 years of tradition, common law, natural law, and civil law. But that really is not the point here. Our schools are failing us. The CTA likes to say it is everyone else’s fault, but we hire them to do a job. The CTA should focus on improving education instead of pushing a far-left agenda. Obviously your public school education has prevented you from seeing the point of this article!
Stefan said,
October 30, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
Voting no to Prop 8 infringes upon my right as a parent to decide how, when and where I teach my child what gay is. The teachers should stick to reading, writing and arithmetic.
bill said,
October 30, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
The California Department of Education website backs up my claims above about the instruction of marriage in the schools: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/sexeducation.asp
“Education Code (EC) 51933 (Outside Source) specifies that school districts are not required to provide comprehensive sexual health education, but if they choose to do so, they shall comply with all of the requirements listed below.
Comprehensive sexual health education instruction shall be age-appropriate and bias-free, and all factual information shall be medically accurate and objective. Instruction shall be appropriate for students of all genders, sexual orientations, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and it shall be accessible for English language learner students and students with disabilities. Instruction shall encourage communication between students and their families and shall teach respect for marriage and committed relationships. ”
Also according to the CDE website, 96% of schools do choose to teach comprehensive sexual education.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/faq.asp
“According to Sex Education in California Public Schools (PDF; Outside Source) (survey conducted PB Consulting, 2003), 96 percent of California school districts provide comprehensive sexual health education.”
David said,
December 2, 2008 @ 11:22 pm
I am pretty sure this is not the best country on the planet. We are allies with Israel who just blocked Gaza’s energy plant, and so they have no energy and are using candles to see. What makes this the best country in the world? Please list some reasons as to better clarify your opinions. Since the beginning of the early Americas settlers invaded this land that was already occupied and killed savagely people who did no wrong to them. This country has a history of violence with slavery, how can one justify that anything is good in this country. Sure there are some good things, we can live peacefully here without the fear of dying. But while I am on the topic of violence, if I remember correctly the U.S. did go to war with Iraq right? and for what reason. Oh…wait there was no reasoning behind this, weapons of mass destruction? was that it, then again why did we go into vietnam…for rubber. Millions of children and soldiers, men and women died for nothing. As Simon and Garfunkel said “To fight for a cause” There has never been a cause. You can not deny that this country has been hated around the world for centuries, it is corrupt and will never improve until the people decide enough is enough. Look at our veterans…homeless without jobs and they went and fought in a war and come back to nothing, and the government does nothing, yet year after year hour after hour hundreds of young men and women are sucked into the military with the idea that they are doing right for their country. Killing for peace is like fucking for virginity…how is that every justified. They go over there and fight for their lives, when will it ever stop? This country is not the best country in the world, and I as well as thousands of Americans agree. Oh.. and America is to blame, if you haven’t guessed it yet, for all the world’s problems. Did we intervene with Rwanda, we barely helped the holocaust, Katrina. wow this country did nothing for the katrina victims, they moved them to an area that was contaminated with formaldehyde fumes. Think next time before you speak.
bill said,
December 3, 2008 @ 8:34 am
David,
Your stunning lack of logic, common sense, proper punctuation, and willingness to seperate thoughts into paragraphs merely illustrates my point about poor education in this country. “Oh.. and America is to blame, if you haven’t guessed it yet, for all the world’s problems.” Give me a break. You are a moron.
Anon said,
February 2, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
“We invest $50,000,000,000 every year in our teachers, and we are getting a lousy return on investment.”
50 goddamn Billion dollars. I was wondering where my tax dollars were going…
YOU SIR, ARE A MORON!
bill said,
February 2, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
Anon,
Could you clarify your statement? Are you suggesting we don’t spend $50 Billion/year in California on education? Actually, it is more, but it depends on which numbers you look at. I had a link in the article to the NEA’s website. They have since taken down the data, but you can still find the info in the Internet Archive: http://web.archive.org/web/20071013030028/http://www.nea.org/edstats/RankFull06b.htm. I just dug up California’s 2008 budget at the number was $58 Billion. http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fr/eb/documents/budgetrpt08.pdf
Also, since you posted from Texas, I’m not sure why your opinion on California education is relevant, but next time have the cojones not to post anonymously.
bill said,
October 14, 2009 @ 5:45 am
I found some new NEA stats here: http://sites.nea.org/edstats/images/07rankings.pdf. They have changed how they are reporting some of them, so you have to do some math to get total expenditures.