Responding to the ridicule of teachers and the teaching profession by politicians and self proclaimed "experts"!
"Where is Albert Shanker now that we need him?" - Walt Sautter

Monday 27 May 2013

Maybe A Better Use of TDS ?

The other day I received an email containing information as shown below. It was the first time I have ever been sent anything about creeps like this who are currently on the loose. 
Then I began to think, "Suppose this email was sent to people nationwide?"
 That surely would increase the chances of a quicker apprehension of him and those like him.
 Why isn't there a reoccurring email chain showing pictures and info about these at-large molesters? The way it stands now the only way to get  the type of info as show below is to go to the FBI website on a regular basis and who does that? I don't and I don't think many people do.
As I continued to muse I decided that maybe my blog could include a better use ( that is besides just continually griping about the treatment of teachers and demise of  public education).
I could send with my blog notification emails a brief portrait of an-on-the run molester or felon and ask that you forward it to others who could then in turn  pass it on and so forth.
What do you think? Good idea or not?





  FBI Headquarters
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
(202) 324-3000

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted

Friday 24 May 2013

Between The Devils and The Deep Blue Sea

Here is an article from March which I copied and saved. Although it pertains to the possible candidacy of Cory Booker (which we now know will not be the case) it makes clear points about the veracity of our present Governor.
Now, it seems certain that in the next election, we will  be presented with a choice between an unknown, sacrificial lamb from the Democrats or a widely known, bold faced liar from the Republicans. 
We are seeing a plethora of Christie advertisements exuding praise for his myriad of accomplishments and feats of grandeur.
Sadly, I see nothing from the NJEA, the CWA or AFT pointing to the deceit and hollow promises offered in his last campaign. Are comments from these groups yet to come or will they remain meekly cowering on the sidelines awaiting the blood bath to come, without uttering so much as a single word of rebuke?

If they remain mute another lie will be revealed. This time it will be the lie that these organizations are willing to stand up and fight for the membership and not just sit back and collect the huge salaries at the top!

PS
My wife insists that I change the name of my blog. She calls it "unbecoming". I disagree of course but she has finally worn me out.
Therefore, I would like to get your suggestions for a more acceptable name change. I would like to change it to a title having the same acronym TDS. 
Will you sent me your suggestion? 

PSS
Don't make it too sappy. Thanks.
Walt 


Please Click Here to Send


Monday 20 May 2013

I Wonder If They Will Be Tough Enough to Face Up to the Trenton Bullies


New leadership elected for NJEA
Steinhauer, Blistan, and Spiller prepare to take the reins
Published on Thursday, May 16, 2013

 NJEA members have elected three educators from among their ranks to serve as officers for two-year terms beginning this September.

Wendell Steinhauer, a high school mathematics teacher from Riverside in Burlington County was elected president of the 200,000-member NJEA.  Steinhauer currently serves as NJEA’s vice president, a position he has held since 2009 following a four-year stint as secretary-treasurer.  Prior to becoming an NJEA officer, Steinhauer held a number of other offices and served as president of the Riverside Education Association and the Burlington County Education Association. 
He will succeed Barbara Keshishian, whose term expires on Aug. 31.


 Steinhauer  
Marie Blistan, a special education resource center teacher from Washington Township in Gloucester County, will be the Association’s next vice president, following four years as secretary-treasurer.  Before her election to NJEA office in 2009, Blistan served as president of the Gloucester County Education Association and held a number of offices in her local association as well.

Blistan  

Sean Spiller, a science teacher at Wayne Valley High School in Passaic County, is the newest addition to the NJEA leadership team after being elected secretary-treasurer.  Spiller is currently the president of the Wayne Education Association, and holds a number of other leadership roles in the Association, including serving on the Delegate Assembly, NJEA’s policy-making body.  Spiller is   also a Councilman in Montclair, where he resides.
The new team of leaders takes office at a critical time for public education in New Jersey.  Steinhauer expressed confidence that he and his fellow officers are up to the challenge. 

Spiller
“I look forward to working with Marie and Sean to keep New Jersey’s public schools the best in the nation,” Steinhauer said.  “We have a tradition of exceptional public schools here, and I intend to make sure we continue it.  

“That starts with respecting the talented and dedicated men and women who work in our schools,” said Steinhauer. “We cannot continue to attack and tear down teachers and support professionals and expect students to thrive.  When we treat educators as the professionals and experts that they are, schools benefit.  I want to rebuild a culture of respect, where educators have a voice in the decisions that affect our profession and our students, and I will be a strong voice for NJEA members whenever the public discussion turns to education.”
Steinhauer also vowed that under his leadership, NJEA would continue to work to promote great public schools for every child in New Jersey. “No one cares more about education than the members of NJEA,” Steinhauer said. “We’ve devoted our lives to making sure our students learn and succeed. I’m committed to carrying on NJEA’s tradition of advocating for great public schools, and that means we must be willing to consider new ideas and try new things when the research points us in that direction. 
“But it also means taking a strong, principled stand against some of the destructive ideas that are being imposed on our schools today,” he added.  “Parents and educators alike are very concerned about things such as the over-emphasis on standardized testing, which is eroding the quality of education children are getting in their classrooms.  I am very open-minded, and I welcome challenging discussions.  But I will not stand by and watch our public schools be sold to the highest bidder.”*
NJEA officers are elected by a vote of the entire membership and serve a maximum of two consecutive  two-year terms in each office.
* Or the most politically connected!!

Monday 6 May 2013