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

Tuesday 25 August 2015

This Guy's Got Big Ones (Besides the Belly)


When it comes to a “bad deal” Chris Christie should be an authority. He’s engaged New Jersey in so many.

·      *   Lost $400M Federal Education grant due to shoddy paperwork (and then of course blamed the Education Commissioner)
·       *  Rejected the Arc  Tunnel Project (about $240M which would have helped to cure the transportation morass in NJ and would have provided thousands of jobs) and then stole the money to balance the budget.
·         * Spent $24M for a “special election” to bolster his political standing in the upcoming governor’s race
·        *  Ballyhooed a Pension Reform deal and then backed out  when the time came to make good
·        *  Spent $7M for a lawyer pal to write him an excuse in the Bridgate Scandal
·       *   Settled (is trying) to settle with Exxon Mobil for a pittance while accepting large contributions to the RNC
·        *  Used Sandy funds for advertisements including his political promos
·         * Hired an inept company to oversee Sandy funding and then fired  them with a $33M payout

Yes - when it comes to making shitty deals for New Jersey citizens  - he does know his stuff!

Now “The Governor” is holding a press conference (and actually in NJ for a change)  to “advise” Booker about the Iran Deal. He must be kidding!!

Sunday 16 August 2015

Friday 14 August 2015

Is Anybody Looking Down the Tracks?


  A collision between robotization and student loan debt is inevitability on course. Tens of thousands of students are now being prepared for jobs that will soon be replaced by robots and A.I.(owned by corporations and the wealthy). An even sadder part is that they are incurring trillions of dollars of debt to become eligible for the non-existent jobs of the future. (See my post  - http://teachersdontsuck.blogspot.com/2015/07/i-robots.html). 
Not only will they have the prospect of few available jobs but also the burden of huge debt which they will have no means to repay. 
How will the housing market endure? Who will buy the new "driver-less" cars? Will the middle classes' disappearing act finally be  completed?
Might these be bigger problems than even terrorism for the capitalist system in the not too distant future?
Even less encouraging is that I have heard few it any politicians addressing the likelihood of these probable circumstances and how they should be addressed?



Monday 10 August 2015

Christie Sees A Soft "Punching" Bag - Women


In the recent furor over “The Donald’s” comments about women on the GOP debate platform the comments of “The Governor” have been overlooked and ignored. The “Punch in the face” comment has been barely remarked upon by the media and I am sure that is to the dismay of our attention seeking Governor.
After reading about the hubbub regarding Trump’s insulting women I began to wonder if there might be a relationship between his comments and those of Christie. Then it occurred to me. Why are Christie’s vicious attacks always aimed at teachers and teacher’s unions and rarely against other public sector unions (police, firemen, etc.)?
Why does he feel that he can be as aggressive and insulting as he pleases when it comes to teachers?  I may have discovered the answer.
Could it be that he feels free to attack a predominately female organization and expects little retaliation? Could it be that he has little respect for the profession because it is largely composed of women?
Could it be that his reserve in criticizing and debasing the police and fire unions is because in it mostly comprised of males?
Bullies generally do pick on the ones they perceive as weakest and unwilling or incapable of effectively fighting back. Could this be the case with “The Governor”?

PS- If he wants to “punch someone in the face” he is welcome to stop over at any time (without his police escort) and he better make his first punch count !!


If he sends me an email I will eagerly reply with my address and time!

Friday 7 August 2015

A Stand Up Teacher is Laid to Rest


Teachers can learn some valuable lessons from this man's obit on how to effectively respond to the bullying and bashing by today's politicians.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------