massive wrote:
<quoted text>
so dumb! First off, you think teachers got a pay raise because they agreed to be drug tested? Wow, and I thought teachers were getting a raise because they are a necessary and valued part of society. Turns out it, from your perception, they were only worth a pay increase if they agreed to be drug tested. Maybe if they agree to cavity searches they'll get even MORE money.
Teachers agreed to drug testing, demanded at the last minute by the administration (if it was SUCH an important issue, why wasn't it suggested earlier during the 6 months of negotions). Not to argue it is a reasonable request, but why at the last hour? Once agreed to, the administration told the teachers to pay for it...nice! Now, it is a constitutional question, not much teachers can do until it's settled in the courts. So where, in this whole situation, is it the teachers as a whole who are challenging the drug testing? Further, drug testing reflects the disastrous genius of the two Lindas (Lingle and Smith): suggest a policy without thinking the consequences through. Drug testing was proposed without a clear suggestion of how it would be implemented or who would pay for it...vote for a policy that isn't determined yet. Furloughs were offered to the teachers as an alternative to lay-offs, the dates were not identified. Mysteriously they had the days the next day AFTER the vote, conveniently allocated to impose the most inconvenience to the public and garner the most outcry(DOE/BOE strategy to get $ restored).
Lastly, teachers keep showing up to work. I fail to see how this represents dishonesty or deceit. Increasing teacher pay is an important component in recruiting and retaining quality individuals, continually expecting teachers to keep sucking it up because they care about their kids will is a policy that needs to change.
Please push for real change: merit based pay, restructuring the DOE, and understand the challenges facing public education. Compare apples and oranges, compare Assets school that costs $20,000 to send their kid to school. Last time I checked St. Louis didn't have IEP for their kids, or pay for aides for their special needs children as required by LAW in the DOE. You have a right to want a better education system, but you should become educated on what the numbers and statistics really mean. Get involved and work for change, it's the only way the system will evolve, but come to the table with commitment (which teachers have) to understand the real problems and the effort to fix it.
Perhaps you can get off your high horse long enough and look up a couple articles in the SB dated 9-15-2007, When the teachers agreed to drug testing after 6 teachers were arrested in 6 months for using and dealing, including meth. The testing was only going to be random and under reasonable suspicion. The teachers agreed to ratify the contract and received a 4% raise. Then they started having 2nd thoughts and got the ACLU involved. Now they agreed to a furlough and are repeating what happened in 2007.
By statute, the Governor has to balance the budget before it can be presented and since you have the unions so entrenced with the Dems, the governor has had a very hard job.

With 6 arrests in 6 months, the students deserve to be protected and the taxpayers deserve a safe environment for their children.