“I want to be a teachers’ governor. I want the scapegoating to stop.” The words of Dannel P. Malloy, according to the Connecticut Education Association, when he was running for Governor in 2010.
The CEA said that Mr. Malloy opposed pay for performance, valued collective bargaining, and opposed school vouchers.
At the same time, according to the CEA, Tom Foley, the Republican candidate for governor that same year, said the following: “We need to get rid of things like tenure.”
The CEA also said that Mr. Foley supported pay for performance, wanted to repeal binding arbitration, supported vouchers as a form of choice, and didn’t plan to increase state spending on schools.
Mr. Malloy supported tenure and Mr. Foley did not, the CEA reported. Mr. Malloy supported the State Teachers’ Retirement System while Mr. Foley wanted to abolish it in favor of a defined contribution plan (401k).
Back on November 1, 2010, I wrote about my objections to teachers unions blindly endorsing Democrats. (You can read that by clicking here.)
When the CEA made its endorsements in October 2010, only one Republican got the nod. Now, as the Republicans have been complaining about being locked out of the Education Committee’s meetings where this proposal is proceeding, maybe being on the outside looking in isn’t such a bad thing.
On Saturday, State Representatives Fred Camillo and Livvy Floren, who both represent parts of Greenwich, met with teachers and GEA reps at Greenwich Library to discuss SB 24. According to one person who attended, both seemed responsive to teacher concerns about the bill. In fact, Camillo was described as being “firmly behind the teachers.” Not surprising since he has real experience working in public schools. (I first met Fred when he worked at Greenwich High School.) Both Camillo and Floren are Republicans.
For the past month or so, elected officials throughout the state have been hearing from teachers and their unions about how unfair it is to place all the blame for the ills of public education on the backs of teachers. This is a direct result of the CEA and local unions, so give them credit for that.
It seems to be working. The Hartford Courant is reporting that tenure reform has been delayed until next year, and that other significant changes to the bill will be made.
In its place, I suggest endorsement reform.
Thanks. I appreciate that.
Thanks Charles for your insightful commentary. I’m a fan and enjoy reading all your blogs.
Oh, and that thing about how the Republicans will listen to the teachers union, but not the Democrats? Read this:
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-teacher-unions-got-special-access-20120329,0,1552925.story
Courant.com
EDITORIAL
Teachers Unions Had Insider Access On Education Bill
Lengthy closed-door meeting said loud and clear that they had unusual access
“Teacher unions are trade unions, there to represent the interests of teachers. Schools are supposed to be run for children. Sometimes these interests collide, as when the union must represent an ineffective teacher. That’s why teachers unions should not set public policy.
“Thus it was completely inappropriate for state lawmakers to invite union representatives to a lengthy, closed-door meeting on March 24 in which details of Gov.Dannel P. Malloy’s education reform bill were hashed out.
“Though union people were not present the next day when the education committee’s own version of the bill was drafted, the Saturday meeting said loud and clear that the unions have more access than parents, administrators, school boards and others interested in education.”
So
You’re kidding, right, Charles? You believe that Republicans would pay closer attention to the teachers union than would Democratic governor Malloy and the Democrats in the general assembly? They would actually listen to union members? Any union members? Charles, have you ever heard the name Scott Walker? Know who he is? He’s the Republican governor of Wisconsin. Last year he tried to destroy the rights of unions to collective bargaining. And that includes the teachers union. Did you read anything about that?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/15/wisconsin-state-workers-p_n_823476.html
“‘Denying people’s rights has nothing to do with the budget,” said Michael Uehlein, field director for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Uehlein views Walker’s proposal as ‘an excuse to go after his political enemies’ and ‘the first step that will lead to drastically reduced wages across the state.’ Rick Badger, the executive director of AFSCME’s Wisconsin 40 council…characterized Walker’s proposal as…’really about taking away people’s rights and creating a second class citizen.’”
In fact, Scott Walker fired more municipal employees, including teachers and university employees than all but six other states last year. And five of those states had Republican governors.
http://www.rooseveltinstitute.org/sites/all/files/GOPProjectSlashingPublicWorkforce.pdf
And other Republican governors also tried to destroy the right to collective bargaining by municipal employees. That means people like you, like university professors and administrators, not to mention policemen and fire fighters.
Do you really think Republicans have one iota of respect for collective bargaining rights? For the teachers union, which they’ve demonized for years? Really?
Think again.