Education secretary sticks by criticism of teachers union

[teach1st]

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/28/State/Education_secretary_s.shtml

St. Petersburg Times, Published February 28, 2004

Orlando - Education Secretary Rod Paige again apologized Friday for calling a teachers union a "terrorist organization," yet repeated his criticism that the National Education Association obstructs federal education policies.

"In this post 9/11 world, the word I used obviously has a grave and sad meaning," Paige said at a convention of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "I wish I had used different words to express my point, and for the insensitive choice of words, I express my deepest regrets."

Paige touched off the controversy Monday, when he made the "terrorist" remark at a gathering of governors. The Education Department and NEA, which represents 2.7-million teachers and other school workers, have been feuding over President Bush's No Child Left Behind Law.

Paige apologized the next day as NEA officials called for his firing. The White House said his job was safe.

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[CRK7376]

1. Too late Dumbass!

You already called all of us that belong to NEA terrorists...So when can I expect Homeland Security/Brownshirts to come knocking on my door?

[mac2]

3. This government is at war with it's own citizens....

to remove democracy for a theocracy and fascism.

[mac2]

2. Paige's education "reform" in Texas....

was a failure. The voucher system was full of fraud. The children did not "learn better", etc. When they appointed him Education Secretary, it was a sad day for the American public school system.

This administration is out to rob and destroy our institutions in every sector of our society..education being just one. They want the middle class to be powerless under their plan for world domination..fasicsm (not the first time religion has been used to gain power over the people..God's very important. Religious tyranny is what our founding fathers fled from is it not?

Religious organizations have become so powerful, they are trying to steal our tax dollars and control government agenda. Politicians are falling all over them to get their support. For them to have tax exempt status...they are supposed to stay out of politics. Their power keeps even that law from being enforced by both parties.

The Separation clause in the Constitution prohibits government funding or support of any religious organization. Do the Congress and our citizens know their Constitution?

This administration is clearly out to destroy the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They don't want a democracy but a theocracy (they've as much admitted it over and over). Americans have to decide if this is the type of old Europe government for them. It's not my choice.

[lebkuchen]

5. I have it on good authority that educators/administrators in TX....

are calling *'s "The Leave No Child Behind Act" the "Act No Leave The Behind Child." In other words, it's all screwed up.

[mediaman007]

6. Texas' education can only look good

when other states' systems are dumbed down. The Federal government had no business interfering with local education systems. They have continually underfunded Special Education mandates. Now this NCLB creates an even bigger problem for local school budgets.

Public education has always been the "whipping boy" of the Right. When the economy went south in the late 80's, it was because the American education system couldn't compete. (Bull*) But in the 90's when our economy steamrolled the World, not many words reflected that the American education system produced the innovators, and workers, who were so productive.

Face it, when right wing politicians need an issue, the easiest one is to wave the "public education flag."

[Voltaire99]

11. Excellent post

Well said, Mac2.

As the passions of Mel Gibson reveal, theocracy imposed from above is not our only worry. The question before America is, as always, a choice between yesterday and today, or rather the very possibility that tomorrow can evolve into something different, surprising, better. Are we to be religious primitives or secular modernists?

Primitivism or modernism, America? What's it going to be? Mullahs or representatives?

[LeahMira]

4. Absurd.

"My frustration is that the Washington-based union leadership is making no secret of the fact that they are fighting against any real reform of our education system," Paige said.

The NEA isn't supposed to be in the business of reforming the education system. It's supposed to be in the business of providing the best working conditions possible for its membership. That's what unions do.

If Paige is interested in improving education, the first thing he should consider is the message that's being sent by the current resident of the White House. A man who speaks frankly about his mediocre record as a student does not set a good example for today's students to emulate.

[saigon68]

7. His mediocre record as a human being

A thug, liar and murderer

[dbt]

8. Somebody NEEDS to be obstructing federal education policies!

Any Teacher worthy of the title can give you chapter and verse upon verse upon verse about what's wrong with NCLB. If it's so great, Mr. Secretary, why ain't it fully funded? Why do the states get this harebrained directive and then have to find the money to put it into action? Who's the real terrorist here?

NCLB is only about punishing schools that don't "perform." It seeks to replace learning with parroting. How typically Republican.

Socrates was a Teacher. So was that Jesus fellow. Look what they got for all their efforts! Yeah, regimes need and deserve obstruction--and the Teachers can show us all why!

:bounce:
dbt

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. I agree

Paige has done more harm to kids by promoting his unfunded nonsense Nicklelbee than the NEA.

Typical of the bush admins - if you don't agree with them to the letter, you're a traitor or a terrorist.

Unfortunately for gdub and co, teachers loyalties lie with their students, not with a president and his admins who demand loyalty in spite of their stupidity. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Should I stop teaching that part of the constitution?

[0007]

9. Let's see, who exposed Mr. Paige's Texas School frauds?

"yet repeated his criticism that the National Education Association obstructs federal education policies." LOL!!

.....and junior use to say that Texas had the best school system and if other's would just follow Ron Paige . . . yap yap yap yap

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Who did expose his frauds?

Was it NEA?

[0007]

20. Bill Moyers ran an exposition on his "Now" program a few months ago

Check with PBS

[DemBones DemBones]

10. Naturally, the GOP assumes that NEA members vote Democratic,

so "who cares what they think?"

Teachers, whether NEA members or not, are more likely to realize NEA and the Democrats are good for them. The ones who disagree are acting shortsightedly, usually because they are social conservatives who see the GOP as guardians of traditional values. They cut off their noses to spite their faces since the GOP regards teachers just the same as it regards all other working Americans: as the cheap labor classes born to do the hard work they don't want to do and think is beneath them, anyway. Republicans rarely want to lower class size, add teacher's aides to classrooms, much less raise teacher pay -- it's all about accountability and merit pay with them.

What if accountability and merit pay were applied to elected and appointed govt. officials? Many of them would either be constantly having to formulate plans to improve their work, take special courses to improve their skills, or they'd be unemployed, either because they were unwilling to jump through the hoops they're all too glad to force teachers to jump through, or because they were so incompetent that they couldn't meet their own standards.

Where is the demand for accountability for the man occupying the Oval Office since January 2001?

Did you hear Dim Son the other day, scornfully saying that children should not be simply passed along without having learned? The man has no idea what teaching is like, how teachers often have to fight the system to get kids what they need, how little control teachers have over whether students are promoted to another grade or not. And the man who was given a place in the National Guard ahead of others on the waiting list, given a place in officer candidate's school, and given a slot in flight school despite making the bottom grade to qualify, that man has the audacity to say that no one should be "passed along" without passing tests, without "demonstrating learning"?

"Our first M.B.A. president" has certainly made a dog's breakfast of our economy, taking us from huge surplus to huge deficit, with millions of jobs lost on his watch. His supporters try to peddle the idea of a "Clinton recession" but it happened on his watch, after he and Big Dick talked the economy down during the 2000 campaign. When one party's candidates begin talking about how bad the economy is, how a recession seems to be brewing, etc., they are trying to bring those conditions about to suit their own agenda.

:grr: :mad: :grr: :mad: :grr:

[Voltaire99]

12. Were I a teacher...

I'd take this as an incitement to go on strike. It's bad enough that teachers' salaries and working conditions are poor. But when insult is added to injury, well. . remember Montressor and Fortunato. ;-)

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. If we went on strike

every time a stupid politician upset us, the kids would never be in school :]

[Pikku]

18. Thanks to living in a "right to work" state

I can't strike, NEA membership or no.

[w4rma]

16. Bush's Secretary of Education says many teachers are terrorists.

I guess that means the Patriot Act can be use on our nation's teachers and they can be detained in Guantanamo Bay, also.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Cool!

I've always wanted to go to the Caribbean.

[maynard]

19. What? When did I become a terrorist?

This terrorist lives in a state that makes it illegal for teachers to strike. This terrorist also works a second job. This terrorist spent around $2200 of her own money on her classroom. I guess I need to get my priorities straight and start living in a cave.