LA Times editorial promotes teacher bashing.

[ColbertWatcher]

From the Los Angeles Times
Editorial
Getting rid of bad teachers
One sensible approach: change the makeup of appeals boards that review teacher firings.
May 5, 2009

(...)

Teachers unions have legitimate gripes of their own. Too many principals don't evaluate teachers properly, or they allow petty personal grievances to interfere with their judgment. But even if the district got it all right, United Teachers Los Angeles would still be vigorously defending the bad apples. That's its job; the public's job is to insist on the best possible teachers.

Striking a balance between students' rights and legitimate job protection can be tricky, but it also is achievable. In coming months, this page will examine workable remedies at the state, local and national levels.

The first solution, though, is so obvious and fair to both sides that there should be no need for debate: The panel that hears all appeals of teacher firings must be altered to reflect the interests of students and parents as well as teachers, and these hearings should take place within a year after a district first moves to fire a teacher. Instead of placing two teachers on the panel with an administrative law judge, there should be a teacher and a representative from an independent parents organization.

The L.A. Unified school board backed off last week from asking the Legislature to fix that problem, but California lawmakers shouldn't need an invitation.

--Los Angeles Times

While the editorial appears to be even-handed, the LA Times has yet to publish an editorial about real problems facing education, such as superstitious beliefs disguised as science and privatization.

Until the LA Times is able to cover public school education objectively, they can go fuck themselves.

[derby378]

1. That's because a teacher who bashed creationism just lost a First Amendment lawsuit

In California, no less. Teacher told a student that creationism was "nonsense." Student told his parents. Parents got an attorney through some right-wing organization. Teacher got served. Now the teacher has lost. I just hope he appeals this all the way.

[ColbertWatcher]

3. I thought the teacher made a comment OUTSIDE the classroom.

Was the quote not published in a newspaper? Or did the teacher actually make the statement in a classroom?

I'm confused.

[Danger Mouse]

2. The media sucks ass.

[Joe Fields]

4. Jesus, even fairly written articles about teachers get bashed here by

the DU "teachers can do no wrong" community.

Give it (this whole sad issue) a fucking rest, will you?

[ColbertWatcher]

5. I welcome your comments and thank you for the kick. n/t

[lib2DaBone]

6. They should Leave the Teachers alone. Quit beating the mule and help load the wagon

.. the media does suck. Gigantic golf balls through tiny garden hoses.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. From the looks of that picture ...

... we'll need help unloading the wagon!

[frustrated_lefty]

8. It isn't bashing teachers

Look, I teach graduate level courses. Some teachers suck ass and need to be kicked out of the system. There are many problems in the educational system. But, in fairness, ONE of those problems is unqualified, inadequate instructors.