Saturday, March 19, 2011

Teacher's pay, really doesn't matter to Rick Scott

I am trying to understand Florida's new governor, Rick Scott. This past week he was successful in pushing legislation that will change the way teachers are paid in Florida. How many teachers were involved in this process? I am not talking about some paid shills he may have at his disposal. I want to know how many, in the classroom, walking, talking, in front of students teachers that helped draw the new law. How many of these same teachers appeared before the committee that recommended the new pay structure to the state representatives? Another question I have is how they are going to pay the excellent teachers the additional pay if, and Scott's "people" said this, the money is not there to meet the pay structure they are talking about. I am also curious where the money is coming from to pay for the start up of the tests and evaluation system that they have mandated in the new law. We have 800 million as part of the federal funds for, Race to the Top, but according to our illustrious governor the start up funds needed are 1 billion dollars. Now just for clarification, this is the same governor that said we should not have a rapid rail system that would put 23 thousand people to work just to build it, because there were no guarantees that the ridership would support the train and we did not have the money for cost overruns. A side note the companies that were bidding on the job to build the trains said they would cover the cost overruns and any shortfalls in operating costs for 20 years. Scott's response was, what would we do if the companies walked away. Let me see if I understand this, we don't have the money to create 23 thousand jobs even with guarantees, and we don't have the money to start a teachers pay system, that no teachers were involved in. The one that will cost us money we will do and the one that won't cost us money we won't do. Did you follow that? I hope I did. It seems to me that what we have here is a continuation of the policies, being foisted on the American people in other state such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio and they are showing up in Florida. Bust the unions anyway possible. Each Republican controlled Governor and State Legislatures are openly declaring war on the Middle Class. Each state has tried to make teachers and public workers the problem. Each state is then working to cut corporate tax rates and giving the usual BULLSHIT line that this will create new jobs. We need to support our teachers and all public workers. If you don't think this will affect you, you are wrong. Everything the unions have won for these people have helped all of us. They are trying to take from them now. Your job and pay is next. Don't fight just for yourself fight for all middle class America. We all must stand!

1 comment:

  1. #1 thanks for writing BULLSHIT :) awesome!

    #2 Im not making a huge argument for or against anything involving the teachers. I have not researched anything enough to truly understand. I do understand that all public sector workers and their pensions are an expense lines on the state budget, as well as every student etc...

    Did you knwo that Michelle Rhee from "waiting for Superman" actually advised MR. Scott on this. And isn't this what you said you would support... more accountability for the bad teachers?

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