If you think teachers unions are the problem when it comes to education reform, this new website is for you. Launched this morning by the Center for Union Facts, which is backed by a D.C. lobbyist who's been called "Dr. Evil" (more on him in a minute), the website "features original, previously unreported research about the union's stranglehold on America's schools" and aims to "educate Americans about how teachers unions protect incompetent teachers, demoralize good teachers, block reform, and ultimately hurt our public education system," according to a press release.
The site doesn't include much info about Florida, but Pinellas union chief Jade Moore gets prominent mention in a section titled, "Blocking Education Reform." The reference is based on a quote from Moore in a 2005 St. Petersburg Times story about merit pay for teachers.
The new site's launch is part of a bigger campaign which includes an ad blitz and a "Ten Worst (union-protected) Teachers" contest (complete with promises of a 7-story billboard going up in Times Square). And it's not going off without a ruckus. The headline on a dueling press release from the pro-union American Rights at Work refers to Dr. Evil, a.k.a. Richard Berman (shown above), and proclaims, "Cynical Attack on America's Teachers from Corporate Hack." Meanwhile, a written statement from the president of the American Federation of Teachers calls Berman "an ethically challenged attack dog" and a "shameless lobbyist who has shilled for pesticide, alcohol and tobacco companies."
- Ron Matus, state education reporter (Photo from USA Today 2006 article)
Get inside the world of Florida education with St. Petersburg Times staff writer Jeffrey S. Solochek and the rest of the Times education reporting team. We'll bring you up-to-date information about the latest education trends, fads and news and dig deep into Tampa Bay area school issues.
These complaints against the teachers' union are nothing new. They've been the cry of union busters in all industries since the beginning of the labor movement. Sure, the union may protect a few bad teachers. It also protects a whole heck of a lot more _good_ teachers. And if you don't think good teachers need protection then you've never been a teacher.
AP
Posted by: Alan Petrillo | March 11, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Teachers unions are a problem in education. They don't represent all and they do choose to go out on a limb for the worst among us. PATHETIC.
Posted by: | March 11, 2008 at 07:46 PM
sound like an interesting guy.
I certainly applaud him for his "anti-political correctness" campaigns and in your face style.
sounds like someone else we all know and love!
Posted by: terminator | March 11, 2008 at 12:20 PM