Satire alert: Norman Scott, a retired teacher turned film-maker (producer of “The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman) has decided that the NFL referee fiasco presented a golden opportunity.
The golden opportunity was a chance to rib the New Teacher Project, which is quick to demand the ouster of experienced teachers and to replace them with inexperienced teachers.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I responded to an Anonymous comment excoriating unions posted on Fred Klonsky’s blog like this:
I wonder how Anonymous feels about the NFL referee strike or for that matter, the NFL strike. I know here in Louisiana where football is revered – the moniker SAINTS ain’t no misnomer – the vocal right wing citizenry felt their wings had been clipped BUT not by the standoff by players or referees (unions) but by greedy unreasonable management as personified in Mr. Goodall himself.
When “Referees for America” showed up they were quickly recognized as unskilled, inexperienced, incompetent bubblers. It was noted that one should be expected to pay a high price for capable officials charged with this most essential American enterprise – Professional football. Of course the officials who preside over it should be Professionals. And shouldn’t the compensation for those with even more Power than, say, Drew Brees who recently successfully negotiated his own contract for $100 million, be sufficiently obscene so as to bring some credibility anyway to their authority? At least until they make a “bad” call against one of OUR players.
Likewise, ya’ll can rightfully expect those fans who pay $3,000 plus for season tickets, if they can get them, to be pissed when they learn the cost of a public education for their kid in Louisiana ranges from $5,400 to $11,000 depending on their geographic location relative to the Superdome. That leaves little in their piggy bank for lavish tailgate parties or the required official NFL attire boasting the number of their favorite player. Damn those teachers (who in Louisiana are prohibited from striking) for thinking the should be paid based on degree or years of experience. Damn those teachers who send homework home on game nights. Damn those schools for requiring uniforms that limit my child’s ability to express him/herself. I paid good money for that licensed NFL jersey and want mug kid to wear it.
You get the picture….Teach for America, low pay and union busting are good for our public schools but DON’T MESS WIT DEM SAINTS! GEAUX SAINTS!
See my blog at (what else) http://www.geauxteacher.net
Amazing how much people support the referee’s union which gets $150K per year for 6 months of part time work when we make $50K for 10 months of work.
Did you know that JC Penny’s is asking customers to round up their bill (this month) to the nearest dollar to donate to TFA? The person at the counter didn’t even know what TFA was. She was shocked when she got an earful from my spouse about letting people into the classroom with 5 weeks of training. JC Penney is evidently anti-teacher union and doesn’t believe teachers should have a degree in education, What if all teachers stopped shopping there?
Found these two links on the subject.
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20120830-907922.html
http://beforeitsnews.com/tea-party/2012/09/pay-attention-when-checking-out-at-jcpenney-2453882.html
Interestingly enough, THAT strike was settled in a flash! Now the refs will be getting their $205K, plus some other perks. Yes, folks, sports & entertainment are FAR more important in America than a good education. A teachable moment, for sure.
As for J.C. Penney: I guess we should all be writing to Ellen now.