Jon Pelto has placed an order for a comfortable pair of walking shoes for President Obama, so he can walk alongside the striking teachers in Chicago.
He even paid for priority shipment from L.L. Bean.
Mr. President, remember when you said that “workers deserve to know that somebody is standing in their corner”?
So far, President Obama has had no comment. Like Mitt Romney, he is on the side of the students.
President Obama, the teachers are on the side of the students. They want the students to have smaller classes, art classes, access to a social worker, a library, and the help they need to succeed.
Mr. President, please join CTU on the picket line to show your support for the students and teachers of Chicago.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I quickly looked up the average salary for a Chicago police officer this morning. I found that they make 65K on average. Teachers are at 71K. I’d say that’s acceptable, a bit high, but acceptable.
I’ve often said that, in general, if you want to have an idea of what the cost of living is like in a particular area, check the teacher salary.
FYI
http://preaprez.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/disgruntled/
You need to take into consideration that 71K salary is only for only 9 months of work for the majority of teachers. Based on that fact and the fact that they don;t seem to be getting the job done in regards to actually educating the children they are definitely overpaid.
Do you not read this blog’s posts? You have no idea how many hours go into teaching beyond the school day or year. You need to research this topic more before you talk about what “getting the job done” entails, what our shortcomings are, and Who sets the criteria for school success and failure.
I appreciate the intended humor, but Mr. Obama has shown repeatedly that what he says during campaign season bears little resemblance to what he does in office. I wouldn’t advise anyone to look for him, or hold a spot for him on the picket line. Obama supports the very “reforms” the Chicago Teachers’ Union is pushing back against. Nice choice of shoes though.
Agree, He can’t– one main issue…The method of tying teacher evaluations to standardized test scores is because of a 4.85 billion grant his administration/ 2nd Stimulus in 2009 created /called Race to the Top.. Dems underfunded NCLB Legl. and then made their own toxic bill. Illinois took their portion of the grant (43 mil) in exchange for school districts (24 applied /not all) and CPS was one. In order for CPS to get the cash ( about 2 mil) they must implement the Teacher to Student test score eval in 2013 and be fully functional by 2016. If CPS or IL didn’t take the handout like TX and VA and IN then this bull about one test, one eval, would not be an issue. Mind you Rahm wanted the cash as he was still working as Obama chief at that time/ getting ready to move to Chi-town and Quin was broke and needed the bailout. Also G Chicco, the opponent of Rahm for Mayor slid into the ISBE Supt. position so Rahm had no opponents when he ran for mayor. Some conservative school districts didn’t take the Obama “Race to the Top” bailout/ and will not have angry Union teachers.
Agree! Very nice shoes.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/09/10/the-democratic-party-is-a-big-fraud/
“Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is basically run by and in the interest of large corporate interests, but since those interests don’t bring many votes to the table on election day, has to keep pretending to be the party of the people, so that it can send its deeply compromised or outright bought-and-owned candidates back to Washington to do the bidding of those corporate interests.”
Obama merely pays lip service to the unions, he offers no actual tangible support. He would never undercut or go against his bud, Rahm. It is the main job of the union to advocate for the teachers and to represent and defend the rights and due process of the teachers. The unions don’t control the schools, the curriculums, the budgets; they do not hire or fire the teachers, all those things are the purview of the school boards and administrators.
Good Morning- I’m just a little confused. I believe there is an election coming up. Do we still vote in this country? I plan on emailing those that are up for re-election and asking them what their stand is on this ridiculous teacher evaluation system that is based on student test scores. Maybe if we all inundate those running for public office, they will hear our collective voice. Where is Susan B. Anthony when you really need her?! The teachers’ unions historically vote democratic. We put democrats in office, and they support this ridiculous notion and standardized test scores that help the rich get richer?? This smacks of insider trading. It’s just WRONG!!!
Cowgirl.
Ugh I don’t even want to hear anything that comes out of Romney’s mouth, I can’t believe he thought this strike was a shame!! I hope Obama joins them!!
Obama has “no opinion” on the issue. Honestly, I don’t know which is worse – Romney who’s blatantly open about his intention to dismantle public education, or Obama who praises teachers and claims to support public education while increasing charter schools and test-based teacher “merit” pay.
Romney’s worse. However, that doesn’t mean Obama shouldn’t strive for more than “not Romney.”
Are you saying Romney’s worse solely on the issue of education, or only if you take the whole package (economic and social issues too)? If the former, please explain to me how Romney is worse on education than Obama?
As far as I can tell, the only difference between them is the means they favor to privatize education. Romney wants vouchers, Obama likes charters.
Is everyone seriously not concerned about the fact that this strike has the potential for putting Mitt Romney in the presidency? Teachers have to start seeing the larger picture. I am a retired public school teacher, and I agree with all of your points about the proliferation of standardized testing and charter schools and the so-called reform movement. I am also from Wisconsin, and I know how all that picketing, shouting and screaming turned out for the teachers here. After the recall, Scott Walker was re-elected by an even bigger margin than before, and we have lost collective bargaining in this state for the foreseeable future. That’s what is going to happen on a national level, if we choose to make the public school fight an election issue. Concentrate on getting Obama elected and then we will be able to take our case to him, and he will be able to take a stand. You can’t lead a strike against Rahm (Obama’s fund raiser), Duncan and the corporate interests, and expect President Obama to come out and make some kind of affirmation for teachers’ unions or join them on the picket line before the election. All this talk of voting for the Green Party or not voting is handing the election to Romney. And Diane, with all due respect for all you do, it may not matter in New York, but if people follow your lead in the swing state of Wisconsin and other swing states, we have no hope for ever turning this thing around.
I meant it both ways. Obama has at least put some effort toward investment in early childhood education http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/early-childhood (skip past the Race to the top rubbish), which is more than Romney will do. But as I said, he has a long way to go before his education policies become even mildly progressive.
Sorry, this was meant for Dienne above, not Kathy.
“Concentrate on getting Obama elected and then we will be able to take our case to him, and he will be able to take a stand.”
Really? After what you’ve seen for the last three and a half years, you can honestly say that with a straight face? When has Obama EVER taken a stand? Well, okay, let me rephrase that: when has Obama EVER taken a stand for the middle or working class? What makes you think he will take a stand for you once he’s safely elected?
Remind me again of the definition of insanity?
I agree with you. I am very disappointed in Obama’s stance on education and other things, but in our political system, you can do very little until your second term. The first term is all about being re-elected. You can’t irritate the independence or energize the Tea Party . Teachers need to be smart about this, because if Romney gets elected, there will be NO HOPE!
Sorry, I meant independents.
Diane, I wish you would offer to go on Chris Matthews’ show. His unawareness of what Michelle Rhee is pulling off is breathtaking. He needs to learn what the real situation is for teachers.
I second that idea. Also the shows hosted by Chris Hayes, Melissa Harris Perry, Ed Shultz, Al Sharpton, and Rachel Maddow. These hosts are liberal/progressive on so many issues, but often do not focus clearly or well on what is really going on in the name of education “reform”.
The old joke about “Everybody can be bought…some folks just have a higher price”, applies to 99.5% of politicians. They need money to be what they are. The disgustingly rich have left us with almost no choice in this election.
Washington D.C. is their fiefdom, and they are exercising their rights of concierge.
We can lie still and count our change, or take a stand with the Chicago teachers.
The President has entangled himself in the attempt to destroy public education, and he hasn’t the guts to admit his incompetence.
If we can’t go there and walk with them…we should at least send some money to help them pay their bills during what looks like a protracted time on the picket lines.
Regards to you, Marge. You are doing a great job in W.S. I wouldn’t mind being evaluated by you…thanks for supporting your teachers. 🙂
Good Evening– Please take the time to watch this video. I hope it goes viral!
Cowgirl
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=JVAhr4hZDJE&vq=medium#t=19*
These are the times that try men’s soles …
Strictly speaking, the Chicago teachers are not being denied the right to bargain, though one might argue that the State’s failure to meet its contractual obligations and then renege after the fact amounts to the same thing.
The Bucks Stop Here
I sent an email to the President for him to get on the right side of this. I don’t want the President to loose the vote of teachers because the alternative is unacceptable. He is in a precarious situation with his ties to the mayor of Chicago. I support The President in most things and have been a big supporter of his; he disappoints me on this.
Considering Romney’s and Obama’s “visions”‘ both fall far short of what I want for our schools. Obama is a bitter disappointment. The more I read about Jill Stein, the more I’m inclined to vote for her.
LL Bean shoes are a creative idea, but the president should consider walking a mile or more in OUR shoes.