Tag: MEA (page 4)

Senate Bill 619 is the next major piece in the fight to save Michigan kids who are currently trapped in failing schools.  The bill lifts the cap on what are commonly called "cyber charter schools," or virtual education.  Right now in Michigan, the policy makers in their infinite wisdom have created an arbitrary cap on these virtual schools.  Two.  Statewide.

That's created an incredible bottleneck with as many as 5,000 parents and their children turned away and forced to rely on waiting lists for seats that by law rarely become available.

We could go on all day about the importance of lifting the cap, but who better to explain the desperate situation facing Michigan kids than Michigan parents?  What follows is an interview we conducted this week with Brian and Heidi Kevelin, just two of the thousands of Michigan parents looking for options for their kids.

Interview below the break...

This is the underlying message you will hear quite often from those who are a part of, or advocate charter schools.  The message simply stating that more choice means that more parents and children will have more options, and the opportunity to fully engage in the learning process. It means they will be better prepared, and have the best chance to succeed ultimately.

The public schools as mandated currently, are a trap.  With a singular model (for the most part) that relies on the MEA and the NEA and union literature to determine educational materials, and streamline a single path of learning that robs children of their chances to succeed.

And it doesn't have to be that way.

As it was related to me by an operator of a school up here, the teachers in some of the charter schools are actually re-trained from the public school model, and provisioned with the ability to identify particular learning traits in the children.  Some kids respond to different types of education styles both positively and negatively.  As there is no doubt we all have different things that inspire us, it should be no surprise that learning can be enhanced by discovering that which holds the students attention longer.  New Options equal New Opportunities.

For Michigan, there is hope with SB618. It is a bill which allows the creation and operation of new charter schools, and opens the doors to new cyber school possibilities.  It creates new options for both private and public education interests.

Its a chance to move the bar upward, and offer the benefits of competitive advantage to our kids.

The MEA has spent in the six figures going after Paul Scott because they don't like him. Most state rep races around here are about $25-40K, although they are higher in the 51st District. This is still an extremely large amount of money. If the MEA is so "pro-kids," why is it spending $120K+ going after Paul Scott. That money can go towards school districts instead of politics.

We can't let the MEA leadership and their shady tactics have the win. No on the Paul Scott recall.

Close to home in the Brighton School District, the MEA supported candidates are Bill Trombley and unofficially Beth Minert. I say unofficially because Minert is an MEA PAC donor, but does not want their endorsement because she is concerned about a backlash. Trombley wanted it and got it. Nick Fiani and Greg Rassel are the best choices.

However, there's more. There always is with an organization and its local affiliates ripe with Intolerance, questionable mailings, and outright lawbreaking.

How many folks in the Brighton School District got a postcard mailing from the Brighton Education Association? On it, it says "Paid for by Brighton Education Association." However, there is no PAC by that name listed at the County Clerks office, nor the Michigan Secretary of State. The BEA did it again.

Yessiree, ol Paulie is a special target nowadays.

So much so, that the Michigan MEA now 'All In' for the recall effort targeting Scott. So much so, that teachers are reaching for their last ten bucks, and by the looks of it even students are ponying up for the ongoing gig. I mean, $1 donations to the code named "CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT OVERREACH" or 'CAGO,' if you are trying to do finance searches.

The contrast, by the way quite impressive with the MEA cumulative total of $140,000 entered into a fund that has in total collected $146,880.  All to show Lansing that messing with the teachers will get you an F grade, and might get you expelled.

Yep.  I hope you teachers appreciate Ryan and Melissa's milk money.  We all know how much you needed it to leverage this important affair of yours.

Paul Scott promoted and was one of the sponsors to 2009-HB4377 which determined that "No business owner really has the right to decide what environment he or she shall provide."  It was passed in Dec 2009, and enforcement began 2010 preventing any business from allowing smoking inside or in serving areas.  It of course received the support of those legislators who held out for the casino constituencies and wanted to say "to hell with the 14th amendment, those places are exempt."  Scott was a founder of the smoking ban, and it says a lot about his philosophical 'nanny state' view of government.

So yeah, NOT a big supporter of the man, but ..

The MEA put $25,000 right out there for this recall attempt.  It is very targeted, and is designed for maximum effect on both Michigan's population, and to send a message to those who are in marginal districts that efforts perceived as anti-union will not be tolerated. And as the Snyder re-arranging of cheese goes on (yes I know there is some resistance here as well) there is a great deal of that A-U perception, right or wrong.

Let me be clear however, the MEA's political action to hit Scott will have a more chilling effect on those things WE IN THIS forum want.  While we rebuild a conservative base within the GOP ranks in Lansing, it will not help us if the other side of the aisle folks are putting fear of recall into the marginal areas that wind up giving the TRUE power in our houses; the majority.

Northville teachers pay 900% more for health care in new contract

Ya, that ought to get all the public sector goonion slugs revving up their recalls.

Mission accomplished for the "crying" looney Left, Lori.

The MEA would toss them at anyone.

Self serving labor organizations (are there any others?) have no friends outside of their official ranks.  Those high paying union jobs (not those of the teachers, etc) and top management positions require careful farming of available taxpayer provided resources.  In fact, a 2009 report by Paul Kersey at the Mackinac center shows its overhead and operating is TWICE what the bargaining costs:

MEA is a bloated organization. According to our calculations, 25.6 percent of the union's budget went to representation, compared to 57.3 percent for overhead. This is actually an improvement from the 2006-2007 report, which showed just 22 percent going to representation. Nevertheless, MEA still spends more than twice as much on overhead than it does on representing teachers. That's the exact opposite of what one would find in reasonably well-run non-profit.

So they had to respond, and the Tomcat on the fence as I pointed out, stands out in full contrast to the moon's glow.  The worn soles are flying, and the MEA is tossing them. By attempting to recall the majority leader Richardville and others:

The Monroe resident leading the recall drive against Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said the Michigan Education Association notified him today the teachers union will support the effort.

"I was grateful," Ernie Whiteside said. "It certainly will be easier to increase our volunteer group by working officially through the MEA leadership."

Whiteside said Doug Pratt, MEA's director of public affairs, called him today to give him the news.

Except there may be a problem.

I mean maybe not actually enjoy the loud BOOOOOOO given by 75-100 demonstrators with hate filled resolve, but still feel .. umm I'm not sure.  Its just plain strange, but there was a thrill, perhaps even a weird exhilaration that these people took special notice as I walked through taking their pictures with my cell phone going into the governor's breakfast.  It was like they secretly LOVED [to hate] me.

Perhaps it was the realization that this is all they have.  The signs being carried to object to Snyder's budget, or EFM law or what have you, completely forgotten as the entire cadre of hard core lefties in the Grand Traverse region (from several counties I believe) turned to give me their full attention.  I realized the enjoyment of course as I burst out laughing at them, which made it louder.

Most of these folks were not the typical lefties mind you, they were the area's seasoned veterans who aren't afraid to block a sidewalk, lean on people's private vehicles, and generally prove that the maturity of the hyper liberal mind can be questionable.  As I have said before, I have Democrat friends.  And I know of a few who have even supported my efforts.  These folks in front of the venue holding the yearly affair, were the elite.