"Bad teachers" & what it really means

Over the last few years we have continually heard caterwauling, mainly from the right, about the abominable state of public education in the United States. What was wrong, they say, is that there are "bad teachers"!!!

BAD TEACHERS  - BAD, BAD, BAD

This term, "bad teachers" has become the usual battle cry from those who insist public schools need major reform and must be fixed or the future is sure to be one of doom, where pestilence will reign over a land of uneducated zombies.

Yet for all the times I have heard the term "bad teachers" tosses out as the REASON we need immediate reform, I have yet to hear one case where "bad teachers" has been defined.

Is the teacher bad when little Johnny refuses to open his book to the correct page, when little Susan comes to school mid term & has to suddenly meld into a new school/classroom, when little Billy comes to school not having had a decent meal in days, or when little Lindsey comes to school after a night of hearing her dysfunctional parents have it out til the wee hours?!?!

Is it a "bad teacher" who is responsible for taking up to 35 or 40 individual kids; who each has a different basis for their being, health, wealth, nutrition, nurturing, clothing; and when these 35 to 40 kids take some standardized cookie cutter test and comes up short on the results that do not meet the assembly line results that are expected?!

Is it a "bad teacher" who has to deal with 3 or 4 ADD/Autistic kids, while also catering to the slower learners so they keep pace, and all the while trying to keep the more gifted learners engaged?!?! 

Is it a "bad teacher" who has to not only deal with the 35 to 40 kids in her classroom, but might also have to deal with the extended families of the students and their over the top expectations that their little genius is just one test score from a full academic scholarship to Harvard?!

I think I get the drift of the real meaning of "bad teachers" when used as the blanket statement to cast the entire teaching profession in a bad light. It's not so much about individual "bad teachers" as it is an all out assault on  driving public opinion that public schools/education are a bane to America and the only solution is to create a "new system" where private schools and charter schools are the answer to all the supposed ills of education in the United States.

A side effect of this move to private and charter schools of course is to eliminate the unions of public education, from administrative staff to the teachers to the support staff.

See, when it's a union represented teacher in a public school..........that is a "bad teacher"..........yet when this same teacher lands at a private or charter school, where that "bad teacher" is cleansed of union representation and benefits beyond some basics and where some "educator" holding the school business license is skimming taxpayer dollars to line his/her pockets, then that "bad teacher" suddenly morphs into a "teacher"!!!

This school reform is nothing more than a union busting, drive wages and benefits down effort to create a hierarchy of schools were we separate kids into categorized levels of economic and racial  compartmentalization all based on a propaganda program disguised as "school reform".

Now that my rant is over, and if you stayed around to read this, please check out this article:

http://www.salon.com/2013/06/03/instead_of_a_war_on_teachers_how_about_one_on_poverty/

Idle thoughts on the Nevada Legislative Session #NVLEG

Well the 77th Session of the Nevada Legislature is in the books and even had a last second "Special Session" tacked on to finalize a few (5) bills that were pending when the clock hit zero.

Here's a few non all encompassing thoughts on the session that was:

The Special Session 

Governor Sandoval was the one who called for the special session (at a cost of about $25,000) when a few of his pet bills were left for dead when the clock ran out at midnight Monday night/Tuesday morning.

I realize there was a captive senate & assembly still around when the special session was first discussed, but why couldn't the special session be scheduled for, say noon on Tuesday, so the senate, assembly & legislative workers could grab some sleep before plowing into the last bit of work?

No reason the Governor couldn't have gotten his required paper work out from 8 am to 11 am and called the session to order at noon or 1 pm Tuesday, rather than keep the entire legislative operation up all night while the paper work was being completed.

Just seems that might have been a bit more friendly way to handle the last few bills on a short special session.

Accomplishments

SJR-13 was the first vote (of two required) to work towards repealing the same sex marriage ban that was placed in the Nevada Constitution back in 2003. Time has moved on, opinions are changing, and more states and countries are coming around to allowing/recognizing same sex marriage and now Nevada has take step one in this 3 step process to grant marriage equality to all in Nevada.

SJR-15 was another landmark vote. This vote was the 2nd of the two votes required to remove the 150 year old protected mining tax cap from the state constitution. This resolution was fought by mining interests and even the Governor opposed it (shocking!), but with the VERY surprising help of GOP Senator Mike Roberson, a long time democratic issue was finally able to get enough support to get a passing vote. Now this issue will be brought before the voters in November 2014, where it should pass with ease. Mining will fight it, but I hear some business folks will jump on board to see this vote passes. Of course the business folks, would rather see mining take the hit so thus the support for the measure. Also, the business folks want to see the mining bill pass so it can squash the modified business tax proposed by the teachers union. But after 150 years and 3 decades of talk, it appears mining is set to lose their constitutional protection, a thing no other Nevada business/industry enjoys, not even the gambling houses!

After thinking the gun sale background check bill (SB 221) was all but dead, the bill rose like the Phoenix from the legislative ashes, even fighting off a watered down GOP version to make it out of committee and see votes in both chambers! The bill passed pretty much along party lines and now will go to the Governor Sandoval. Sandoval has said he will veto the bill, but there is political risk in that move. Background checks are popular with over 70% of Nevadans. So bully to those who stepped up and passed this bill and now puts it squarely in Sandoval's lap - Let's see if this veto or even signing comes back to haunt Sandoval in his re-election run in 2014.

There were other good things that came out of this session, but in the interest of brevity, I will stop at those 3!

Disappointments

One big whammy was the failure of AB 230 (the Sex Education Bill) - This failure really sent the activists into hyperventilation with the heat for the failure being placed directly on Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis & Senator Justin Jones. Emmily Bristol who blogs as the Sin City Siren ( see blog here: http://sincitysiren.wordpress.com/ ) really went off and pulled no punches on her and her fellow activists angst regarding the collapse of the bill. The galling thing was that it didn't even get a vote and died in committee, despite promises and assurances that the bill would seemingly sail to passage. What political fallout from this remains to be seen, but rest assured many democratic supporters were fuming over this bills collapse.

Removing the mining taxation cap from the state constitution. (SJR-15) There is some head scratching over how a issue democrats had embraced and made their cause for the better part of 25 years was hijacked by a suddenly moderate republican Senator Mike Roberson?!?! It wasn't the democrats who really sounded the horn on going after the mining cap this session, it was mining's long time buddies the GOP who turned on them!  When Mike "Benedict Arnold" Roberson (mining's nickname for him) went public he was on board to go after mining, the democrats kind of meekly sat silent and let Roberson steal the spotlight that rightfully should have been on the democrats, as this was supposedly their issue?!?! The democratic leadership should have been out front leading the charge on SJR-15 & making sure the people of Nevada knew that this was a DEMOCRATIC issue. But no, they sat back and let Roberson get all the press, which might help in GOP races in 2014 - Opportunity lost, in my humble opinion, and opportunity the democrats might regret in 2014. 

Strong moments

These were some of the strong moments that stood out to me.

During the debates over same sex marriage (SJR 13) there were more than a few stirring bits of oratory, but a few stood out.

1) Senator Kelvin Atkinson gained national notoriety when he spoke and mentioned he was gay during a floor session. His comments went nationwide, getting Atkinson interviews and appearances on national TV outlets.

2) Senator Justin Jones had to go against his church leanings and mentioned his own family circle when explaining his support of same sex marriage

3) Senator Pat Spearman likened the discrimination of same sex marriage to that of the racial discrimination she has faced over her lifetime.

4) Assemblywoman Michelle Fiore who broke with her own republican party leanings explaining her mother was gay & how this vote was personal in extending equality to all couple who seek marriage.

A strong moment that caused a bit of a stir, started a Twitter hash tag (#FierceFlores) and rallied activists to the cause on the sex ed bill (AB230) was when Assemblywoman Lucy Flores testified that she had had an abortion in her teens. This admission brought admiration from supporters, but also brought hate from others who take the rather intolerant angle to their ideology.

Capable rookies

These freshmen legislators stood out to me.

Senator Aaron Ford - The bow tied one is not one to miss details and questions, and questions thoroughly and thoughtfully, delving deep into the issues leaving no stone unturned.

Senator Pat Spearman - "Pastor Pat" stood out as one of the calmer voices, imparting wisdom, compassion and perspective like few others.

Senator Justin Jones - Jones took on the NRA with his gun bill, and while he was hit from all sides, his background check bill stood the test and got a passing vote.

#nvleg Let Governor Sandoval take the political risk #SB221 #SB322

There's two bills in the Nevada legislature that have (or at least should have) good support in Nevada's largest county: SB 221 The background checks for fire arms purchases and SB 322 which would add more positions to the state transportation board of directors, and is written so that Clark County (home to 70+% of the states population) would be given more seats on the board.

Governor Sandoval has already publicly said he would veto the bill (SB 221) on back ground checks for fire arm purchases and for some unknown reason SB 322 has been buried in committee and might not see the light of day in the waning hours of the legislative session.

So here's an open door for the democratic caucus (at least the southern Nevada contingent) to force the governors hand.

Get SB 221 out and passed and let Governor Sandoval veto it. The public polling suggests that background checks aren't the big threat to "liberty" the overzealous "gun enthusiast's" say it is.

For the sake of Clark County, SB 322 needs to get passed out of committee and also needs to be voted on and sent to the governor. This bill would also make the Clark County republicans make a choice as to, are they going to stand up for Clark County, or will they cave on supporting their home turf.

So let Governor Sandoval veto these bills and let him face the politics of those veto's. Also this gets the Clark County GOPer's on the record as either having supported their home county or allowing the underpopulated northern's have the major say on whether Clark County will get funding for our highways & freeways.

Sack up democrats and play a little hardball !!!!

#NVLEG In a Cage & Reeling over film industry tax break #SB165

There is a bill (SB165) before the legislature to allow tax breaks for the film industry, which is intended to bring more film/movie production to Nevada.

Even Hollywood and new Las Vegas area resident Nick Cage went to Carson City to testify in support of this bill, which isn't surprising since Cage is obviously closely tied to the benefits of this bill.

The state Democratic party has come out with a petition to add support for the bill, but some in the democratic/progressive base are balking and casting aspersions on the bill. Those showing angst are saying why give film makers tax breaks when Nevada is busing mental patients one way out of state (Could be a documentary on this issue) and also Nevada is bringing up the rear in pretty much every negative education related category.

I can see this as a somewhat fair gripe by progressives on the surface.

But let's separate the film bill from the education and mental health issues affecting Nevada.

There is currently some filming done in Nevada, and Las Vegas has been a draw for Hollywood over the years and probably will continue to be (and not always in the best light).

Currently Nevada gets a few movies filmed in Nevada and Nevada reaps some tax benefit from those productions, but that probably is limited to one to four movies a year........so Nevada gets the full tax windfall from the (say) four movies and peripheral production support.

Now imagine with some incentives, perhaps Hollywood might look to the varied Nevada landscapes, locations and unique offerings, so that 10, 15, 20, 30 movies opt to film in Nevada.

With more filming being done in Nevada and with Las Vegas being a short hop from the film industry base in Southern California, would there be incentive to locate some production/post production and other film industry support operations, which brings jobs, diversifies the Nevada economy and also pumps money into the coffers of local and state government.

Right now Nevada might be getting 100% taxation on 4 movies just on the filming side...........where this bill has the potential to bring in 75-80% taxation on 15 to 30 movies, not just in location filming, but also eventually in production, post-production, sound stage operations and all the peripheral jobs that come with movie production.

Sometimes there is bigger money in volume as opposed to limited volume - Think Wal-Mart, they thrive on volume to make billions...............and this bill has the potential to bring volume to Nevada and also expand the film industry in Nevada.

And if this bill does bring in extra taxation revenue above the current levels, then all of Nevada can benefit................and the workforce benefits by an increase in a new industry that helps diversify Nevada's economy.

Why can't teachers just TEACH?!?! #NVLEG

As I perused the Twitter-verse and the pages of Facebook, I came across a bill in the Nevada Legislature that would permit teachers or any other "yahoo" who happens to be employed by the school to administer insulin injections to diabetic students.

First off, there should be no discrimination against diabetic students attending public schools.

In my day we had school nurses who took care of the little ailments, bumps and scrapes and we let the teachers teach!

But there seems a movement today to not only expect teachers to teach (and get impossibly super results) but there is a movement afoot to have teachers become personal armed body guards, dispute arbiters' and now in the Nevada Legislature there is a bill that would allow teachers to act as nurses!!!

What can't teachers do?!?! Might as well get rid of the school bus system and let teachers run a taxi service to get the kids to school (Lord knows they could use the added income!).

SB320 which is being introduced by Democratic Senator Mo Denis would make it so teachers, office staff, administrators and perhaps even janitors to be able to give diabetic kids their insulin injections!

This bill has the potential to be loaded with liabilities and issues that won't end well. Teachers have enough on their plate without having to deal with needles, syringes and bodily fluids. Are teachers to carry a supply of latex gloves at all times in case an injection need be done??

Let's fund education so that each school has a nurse or two. Professionals who are trained to handle the basic medical needs seen in schools. Let's not extend teachers job requirements from teaching to adding armed guard and nurse.

With all the hoo-rah surrounding failing schools, test results, and any other hot topic gripe, let's not add the onus of being nurse to the job of TEACHER.

#NVLeg Song & Dance Tax !!!

Checking in on the Nevada Legislature as the days draw to a close, with 27 days remaining in the 120 day session.

Today the Democrats rolled out a tax plan!

Can't say I'm thrilled with this idea to generate revenue for Nevada, as the Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick has brought up an admissions tax on entertainment! Which means pretty much anything locals & tourists attend will be hit with a 8% tax.

Seems this new tax will replace the existing "live entertainment" tax, with a more wide reaching and easier to navigate simple 8% tax on everything except non-profit gatherings and small 50 seat or less venues.

This is another tax on the local population plain and simple. It hits the very pocketbooks of the citizens' who already pay a hefty sales tax.

Was there any thought of maybe asking the business community to pay a little tax? Year after year Nevada's lawmakers shy away from even thinking of asking the states largest businesses to pay a few taxes. Large retailers in Nevada don't pay a profits tax, and guess what, Nevadans see no benefits from these companies getting the tax break by seeing lower prices at the store. Just like mining, the large retailers take their Nevada based profits and ship them out of state!!

With this bill just being introduced with 27 days left, means a swift flurry of activity will surround the bill and as usual the Democrats have waited to the final buzzer to offer any tax plan.

Why it took 93 days to introduce this bill is a mystery, because on the surface it's far from anything that would take 93 days to conjure up.........it could have been done across the street over a few mugs of beer & a napkin.

It won't be surprising to see Republicans lampoon this bill and Governor Sandoval has already (in mere hours after the big announcement) chimed in as an opponent.

Unless Someone can tell me a reason to like this bill, I as a staunch DEMOCRAT am in full agreement with Nevada's REPUBLICAN Governor. And that shouldn't happen!

Senator Dean Heller fails Nevada, yet again

Today's vote by Senator Dean Heller wasn't the first time he has failed Nevadans.

But his vote against background checks really showed he doesn't give a crap about where the wide majority of his constituents stand on the background check issue in the gun control debate.

Over 80% of Nevadans thought background checks would be a good thing to keep guns from getting into the hands of mentally unstable people.

However Dean Heller doesn't seem to care what his constituents stand on the matter. No Dean Heller is more beholding to the National Rifle Association & the suitcases of money they toss into Heller's campaign coffers. So rather than go with the wishes of the majority of his constituents, Dean Heller opted to take the blood money and vote no on background checks for gun ownership.

Even in the aftermath of a mass shooting in his own home town of Carson City NV, where 4 people died and at least 11 others were wounded in an IHOP restaurant, Dean Heller couldn't muster the courage to say no to the NRA.

http://www.mynews4.com/news/local/story/Carson-City-Shooting/aPyN_Pod3EGjHMqhz0qv1Q.cspx?rss=3298

Even a bi-partisan negotiated agreement on background checks weren't enough to make Dean Heller turn away from the NRA and the money they toss at him.

Dean Heller can rest easy tonight, fully knowing he has left the door wide open for a repeat of another shooting of innocents in Nevada and across America. Even 4 people who died at the hands of a disturbed gunman in his own home town couldn't sway Dean Heller from licking the boots of the NRA.

Thank you, once again Mr. Heller, for failing Nevada and giving us the joy of knowing you will stand up for the NRA before you will stand up for your constituents in Nevada!