NCY Teachers Paid to do Nothing

I wrote yesterday about the New York teachers' union wanting to have more influence over charter schools. I worried about this effort on a couple of levels - mostly the unrighteous dominion one.

A story on the AP wire about NY teachers who are under investigation caused me consternation. I recognize that teachers have a right to be heard and to keep their jobs and therefore their salaries whilst under investigation, but can't help but think that their time is better spent in administrative functions, like some 60% of those polled.

It is apparently in their contracts that they keep their jobs, and do nothing else whilst under investigation - even police officer accused of misconduct are assigned to desk jobs - what a colossal waste of taxpayer monies.

Here is the link to the story: http://news.aol.com/article/nyc-teachers-paid-to-do-nothing/538142?icid=mainmaindl1link3http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fnyc-teachers-paid-to-do-nothing%2F538142

Unions seek bigger role in charter schools

I was a parent volunteer for years when my 3 sons were younger. I also taught preschool in Kentucky for two years. As a former educator and school volunteer, education reform has been close to my heart for a very long time. I was blessed to attend St. Luke's - a wonderful parochial school in London - I then attended a private girls' school: Silverthorne. My education made me the person I am today. While I have yet to complete my college education, (I was busy being a full time mum to my 3 sons at the time and then was a single parent raising 3 sons for 10 years) and taught preschool while their dad went to college, I know that a strong foundation in life begins with a good education. My children were blessed to attend a private preschool and my oldest continued in that tradition up until 1st grade.

Charter schools offer parents choices. Schools of choice are a crucial component in parenting of children who learn in a non-traditional way. I have one, perhaps two of those in my 4 sons. Two of them went to alternative high schools and one has since graduated and will attend University in the fall. The other will obtain his GED, a few years later than he should have - keep up the great work, Kyle. Kyle is 21 and is presently reading some 2-4 books a week in order to keep his mind sharp.

I am not against unions, as I have stated previously. I am against the unrighteous dominion that permeates them at times.

An AP story this morning indicates that unions here in New York are seeking a bigger role in charter schools. My question is: Do they seek to improve working conditions of teachers in those schools or are they merely looking for exhorbitant and arbitrary union dues?

Read the story and judge for yourself: http://news.aol.com/article/unions-seek-bigger-role-in-charter/538223

Taxicabs and their unrighteous dominion

I just Skyped with my best friend and youngest sister in Senegal. She is based there with the UN for an assignment longterm.

We just chuckled while sharing experiences with taxi drivers. In her case, as a non-Senegalese, living there, she gets charged the "tourist" price whenever she needs to get to the airport for one of her frequent UN-related trips. She immediately explains in her perfect French that she does not wish to pay that exhorbitant price. Then the negotiation begins - ahhh - Madame, that was not the price, let's negotiate - she then argues that they should not have tried to charge her so much in the first place - and so it goes.

In my case, when I have occasion to take the subway from the city to Woodlawn in the Bronx, I am met by a barrage of "taxi, taxi, miss, casino, casino, only $2." I am not a casino goer and my fare to Hartsdale is about $50 from that particular location. I don't feel the need to share this information with them, but they always want to know where I am going. I am approached each time by every taxi driver at the stand as to my destination - talk about feeling harrassed.

Why do I share this experience? We both experience harrassment/unrighteous dominion and annoying behavior on the part of the taxi cab drivers. On two continents, worlds apart, two strong and independent women experience regular harrassment. What is wrong with this picture?

I am going to write a letter to the Mayor of NYC and complain about the taxi drivers this week - I have had it - I suspect my sister has had it too!