Nice Try But No

Please this so called "education reform" is a try to capture 250 million taxpayer dollars. What a load of manure. You want real education reform. End tenure, get the teachers unions out of public schools, school choice for all let the money follow the child, pay for performance and move all teacher union pensions from a defined benefit plan to a defind contribution plan. Do you really think they would go for these so called reforms if there was not a 250 million dollar taxpayer funded carrot in front of these people?

The following piece appears in the Boston Globe. Be sure to check out the comments by the WASPs (Whiney Arrogant School People).

Cathy
Spelling and grammar errors as well as typos are left as an exercise for my readers.

Shining Moment For Ed Reform

AS LEGISLATORS worked in recent weeks to forge a major education reform bill, they could have succumbed to outside pressures to weaken the bill. But in the end, they insisted on passing a bill that gives school officials promising opportunities to improve failing classrooms. And that can only help Massachusetts - and not just because the bill will help in the state’s quest for $250 million in federal education funding.



Education reformers couldn’t ask for more, including an opportunity to double the number of charter school seats in underperforming school districts. It’s nearly incredible that pro-labor legislators under the glare of teachers unions would agree to dramatic changes in collective bargaining contracts. But in some cases, nothing short of extending the school day or removing ineffective teachers can save a failed school.

The bill is sound due in large measure to the work of Representative Martha Walz and Senator Robert O’Leary, the co-chairs of the education committee. Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo took great efforts to fashion a compromise. Other legislators showed skill and courage in the crafting or passing of this bill, including Representative Ronald Mariano and Senate Ways and Means Chair Steven Panagiotakos.

The governor will sign the bill Monday. Superintendents in underperforming districts will then receive unprecedented power and flexibility to bring their staffs and students up to standards. It’s a great gift, and a greater challenge.

© Copyright 2010 Globe Newspaper Company.