From CNN:
"I'm
declaring to you that by the end of my first term, we will have improved teachers'
salaries so that we close the pay gap," the California Democrat said in
Houston to a group of supporters. "Because right now, teachers are making
over 10% less than other college educated graduates and that gap is about
$13,000 a year, and I am pledging to you that through the federal resources
that are available, we will close that gap."
There is support from Obama Secretary of education Arne Duncan on Twitter:
Radical idea: pay the professionals we entrust to teach, nurture and mentor our children a better salary!
There is support from Obama Secretary of education Arne Duncan on Twitter:
Radical idea: pay the professionals we entrust to teach, nurture and mentor our children a better salary!
An enthusiastic response from AFT President Randi Weingarten's Twitter:
THIS is incredible!! @KamalaHarris is putting attracting & retaining teachers front and center. This would make a huge difference in the lives of educators, our students and our communities. #AFTVotes #FundOurFuture https://t.co/gwg8PysGNm
Some reaction to Randi from TrekkerTeach that our friend Reality Based Educator retweeted:
What we're seeing is AFT president Randi Weingarten and DFER Arne Duncan making a coordinated push of Kamala's sudden stated support for teachers & unions.
That's an alliance I do not trust.
Seems they've figured out how they're going to try to placate #RedForEd in 2020.
Smdh
Further reaction from Christine Langhoff on Twitter in response to Randi's Tweet:
Yet another red flag.
Please go to the NPE site to see Kemala Harris getting a D grade for who her donors are. As they said during the Watergate era: Follow the money.
9 comments:
If anybody is stupid enough to vote for this clown thinking that she is going to give every teacher a $13,000 raise, well, I have a bridge to sell ya' in Brooklyn.
Where in Brooklyn? North? South? East? Or West? I just may be interested. And by the way, I can certainly appreciate someone acknowledging the need for more monetary compensation. She has my ear
FELT ANY CHANGES?
The state of the union — as in the United Federation of Teachers — is good, UFT President Michael Mulgrew reported to the Delegate Assembly on Feb. 13.
The reason? The new Department of Education-UFT contract that was ratified by members last fall.
It’s a contract that locks in salary increases — including a 2 percent raise that took effect on Feb. 14 — at a time when the city is discussing budget shortfalls.
“We chose the right timing for our contract agreement,” Mulgrew said to the delegates gathered at Shanker Hall in Manhattan.
It’s also a contract that gives UFT members, as Mulgrew put it, “more voice than ever before.”
Mulgrew stressed the importance of implementing the elements of the new contract that give members new ways to tackle workplace issues at the school level. He used a PowerPoint to walk through the new process with the delegates.
“These are your rights,” he said. “If you don’t use them, what are they worth?”
Mulgrew asked chapter leaders to use a new online form on the UFT website to submit their monthly consultation notes to the union.
“We want all consultation, good and bad,” he said. “Consultation works in the majority of schools, and we need to be able to show what’s working and offer help when it’s not.”
Man speaks into microphone
Jonathan Fickies
Chapter Leader Antonio Jacobs of PS 87, the Bronx, asks a question about the new A+ courses that can be used toward the MA+30 differential.
Man with beard and glasses speaking into microphone
Jonathan Fickies
Bryan Finnegan of Forsyth Satellite Academy in Manhattan asks a question about community-based organizations in schools.
Chapter leaders now have a new process to address violations of the new systemwide standards governing the following workplace issues: paperwork, curriculum, professional development, basic instructional supplies, workload, space and safety. They should first attempt to resolve the issue with their principal through a one-on-one conversation, an email or their UFT consultation committee. If the issue remains unresolved, Mulgrew said chapter leaders should notify their principals that they have five school days to resolve it; meanwhile, chapter leaders should immediately fill out the online form on the UFT website.
“Once it’s online, the clock starts ticking,” Mulgrew said. “That’s your protection.”
Mulgrew urged chapter leaders to begin exercising this new contractual right as issues come up at their schools.
“When it comes to the day-to-day operation of the school,” he said, “you need to file a complaint if the contract is not being followed.”
If you think that money is coming without huge strings attached (think Boomberg raises), then you need to think again.
I liked Kamala Harris before she made teacher's pay a focus of her campaign. She is smart and a world away from Trump. This is very positive news. Why complain about more money? Talk about not knowing which way is up!
Look at who her donor are and follow the money. Do you think they are giving out of the goodness of their hearts?
Maybe I am too cynical. Right winger Mike Antonucci is freaking out over the Kamala Harris proposal to pay teachers more. He is also a bit skeptical. Read his view for yourself that Norm Scott sent out.
Sen. Kamala Harris of California, vying for the Democratic nomination for President, proposed a 10-year, $315 billion plan to boost teacher pay across the country. According to her estimate, this would increase the average teacher salary by $13,500.
Her campaign admits that even this 56 percent increase in federal spending on education won’t cover the plan’s cost. The feds will provide 3-to-1 matching funds to states to chip in their share.
Just a few thoughts:
1) According to NEA, there are 3,126,000 classroom teachers in the U.S. Giving them an average increase of $13,500 would cost $42.2 billion a year.
2) The National Center for Education Statistics estimates the teacher workforce will grow to 3.4 million by 2027. That gradually increases the costs until it reaches an additional $3.7 billion by 2027.
3) Of course, the increased cost of new teachers may lead to less hiring, reducing the overall cost but also making the goals of class size reduction much more difficult to reach.
4) Classroom teachers make up roughly half of the public education workforce. Are support employees and administrators included in this grand plan? If not, what happens to their pay?
5) Most teacher pensions are based on average salary over a period of time. Here in California it is the three highest earning consecutive years. This will increase obligations to already stressed pension systems.
6) Harris says this will be paid for by “strengthening the estate tax on America’s wealthy citizens.” Total revenues from the estate tax amounted to $19.9 billion in 2017, paid by 12,711 households. The estate tax would have to be nearly doubled, or the number of households subject to it would have to be substantially increased.
“People are going to say, you’re going to hear them say after today, ‘Well, how’s she gonna pay for it?’ Well, here’s the thing,” Harris said. “The question is what’s the return on the investment. And on this, the investment will be our future.”
The proposal is an investment. It is banking on the national teacher unions endorsing Harris for the nomination. Teachers expecting a $13,500 raise should also expect it to be wrapped in rainbows and delivered by unicorns.
Left winger Lois Weiner commented on FB:
The Kamala Harris plan to increase teacher pay "is one of the most thoughtful initiatives we have seen in years,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who enthusiastically embraced the proposal." Another big fan is Arne Duncan. Also the Center for American Progress, started by John Podesta. Meaning the Democratic DFER crowd is alive, well, and kicking. Discuss the implications of this. Better still, write a commentary that explains what this proposal should be DOA.
I enjoyed the EdNotes piece on this Norm. Same old union.
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