Union Worker Protests In Wi

[El Guapo 8]

Has she ever considered becoming a detective?

[LimbaughGod 0]

I guess the following fits best here. My wife has been a school psychologist in the Miami public school system for 4 years. She went to one of the top graduate schools for her field and has excelled; I know I am biased but she was elected the President of the Dade County Association of School Psychologists even though she is not yet 30.She resigned from the school system today. The major benefit of the working for the school system was the benefits. But those are gone. Rick Scott and the GOP FL legislature have shredded the school budget (while passing tax cuts for businesses and the rich). My wife has not received a raise since she started work. She was originally a 12 month employee. Now, she would be a 10 month employee (with a corresponding 11% pay cut). Her pension system was gutted and her health insurance was switched to a far crappier plan that has a prohibitive cost if you try and add a spouse.Luckily, she is competent enough and has the educational background to have options. She is taking a job in the disabilities department with University of Miami. She won't have the satisfaction of helping K-5th grade kids who really, really need the help. Instead, she will be coordinating extra time for football players and working on things that have far less of a social impact.We both feel that she has no choice. At the university she is guaranteed a 2-3% raise per year. In the school system, she would be guaranteed to not get a raise for another 4 years and I doubt things will change then. At the university, she will have great benefits and I can join her medical insurance plan for peanuts. In the school system, all benefits have been greatly reduced.I know this story is anecdotal but it is, to me, a microcosm of what will happen as we put the screws to teachers and educators while still somehow finding a way to provide tax cuts for those who need a break the least. I can say with some confidence that the Miami school system lost their best school psychologist under the age of 40 today because they can't provide even a semi-competitive compensation package for a position that requires a bachelor degree and 3 years of graduate school.

No offense but Christie is doing the right thing out there. First of all, you shouldn't be able to suckle off of her teat for health care, why don't you get a job and pay for your own? Also, they want to move to a voucher program and take education out of the hands of the state. The state has failed. Public education is a failed thing. Sorry. The liberals have made public education an indoctrination factory where only liberal dogma is pushed. "Evolution" is just one example of this dogma.Christie is absolutely right, public education needs to be gutted and we need to move to a voucher program, where private schools become the norm. Private schools that don't have to toe the liberal line and can teach reality. Our real history, biblical principles and values that this country was founded upon ect. ect.So I take your story as a good sign.

[CaneBrain 95]

I dont live in NJ, joke account.She would be a good detective though.

[hblask 1]

I guess the following fits best here. My wife has been a school psychologist in the Miami public school system for 4 years. She went to one of the top graduate schools for her field and has excelled; I know I am biased but she was elected the President of the Dade County Association of School Psychologists even though she is not yet 30.She resigned from the school system today. The major benefit of the working for the school system was the benefits. But those are gone. Rick Scott and the GOP FL legislature have shredded the school budget (while passing tax cuts for businesses and the rich). My wife has not received a raise since she started work. She was originally a 12 month employee. Now, she would be a 10 month employee (with a corresponding 11% pay cut). Her pension system was gutted and her health insurance was switched to a far crappier plan that has a prohibitive cost if you try and add a spouse.Luckily, she is competent enough and has the educational background to have options. She is taking a job in the disabilities department with University of Miami. She won't have the satisfaction of helping K-5th grade kids who really, really need the help. Instead, she will be coordinating extra time for football players and working on things that have far less of a social impact.We both feel that she has no choice. At the university she is guaranteed a 2-3% raise per year. In the school system, she would be guaranteed to not get a raise for another 4 years and I doubt things will change then. At the university, she will have great benefits and I can join her medical insurance plan for peanuts. In the school system, all benefits have been greatly reduced.I know this story is anecdotal but it is, to me, a microcosm of what will happen as we put the screws to teachers and educators while still somehow finding a way to provide tax cuts for those who need a break the least. I can say with some confidence that the Miami school system lost their best school psychologist under the age of 40 today because they can't provide even a semi-competitive compensation package for a position that requires a bachelor degree and 3 years of graduate school.

You really should be upset at the unions. School spending has increased at double-digit rates for the last several decades. Teacher pay has increased at below-inflation rates. Where is that money going? If the unions weren't so insistent that every single person ever hired could never be fired even if the work went away, there would be more money for the people like her who do the work.This isn't a spending problem, it's a management problem, and for the last several decades unions have called the shots. Now that that is ending, after an adjustment period, expect teachers to start getting their due again.Oh, and this is going to happen to colleges next, so she probably should've stayed -- the pain is already hitting there. Those guaranteed raises at the university won't be there in 5 years, and K12 will be recovering.

[CaneBrain 95]

UM is a private school. She should be fine. I'm not buying that it's the union's fault that Florida chose new prisons, a baseball stadium, and large business tax cuts over educational funding.

[brvheart 1,752]

UM is a private school. She should be fine. I'm not buying that it's the union's fault that Florida chose new prisons, a baseball stadium, and large business tax cuts over educational funding.

This was the worse decision by FAR and it was made by your democratic city council. What was it... $300 million that Miami give them?

[CaneBrain 95]

This was the worse decision by FAR and it was made by your democratic city council. What was it... $300 million that Miami give them?

I think picking new prisons over education was worse and more ironic. However, the stadium deal was egregious. Are you sure the Miami city council is Dems? It's mostly Cubans and Cubans are overwhelmingly Republican.

[hblask 1]

UM is a private school. She should be fine. I'm not buying that it's the union's fault that Florida chose new prisons, a baseball stadium, and large business tax cuts over educational funding.

By what percent did education funding increase in FL over the last three decades?I don't think it was an either/or choice.

[CaneBrain 95]

By what percent did education funding increase in FL over the last three decades?I don't think it was an either/or choice.

I believe the cost of the new prisons was exactly the same amount as the cut to the education budget.

[Balloon guy 158]

I believe the cost of the new prisons was exactly the same amount as the cut to the education budget.

From deep in liberal lalaland news

Federal stimulus money is running out and that leaves education in a hole. Florida Gov. Rick Scott says it was wrong for the state to accept the funds in the first place, and he's not going to try to replace them in the budget. That immediately cuts more than $2 billion from schools.

So am I to understand that the Federal government gave Florida a bunch of money for the schools, and now Florida is supposed to just make up the amount of money the federal government gave them above their budgeted amount?So this 'cut' is really just a return to the amount the state has for education?I don't think this is a cut, this is another example of Obama having great intentions, with horrible results.BTW California is in 10Xs more trouble dollar wise in education.

[CaneBrain 95]

I found the rest of that article to be on point. Thanks for picking out the bad part for me.

[Balloon guy 158]

I found the rest of that article to be on point. Thanks for picking out the bad part for me.

Its NPR...you expect them to be correct?

[brvheart 1,752]

Are you sure the Miami city council is Dems?

Yes.

[vbnautilus 48]

This was the worse decision by FAR and it was made by your democratic city council. What was it... $300 million that Miami give them?

I think picking new prisons over education was worse and more ironic. However, the stadium deal was egregious. Are you sure the Miami city council is Dems? It's mostly Cubans and Cubans are overwhelmingly Republican.

Yes.

But it was the county that gave most of the money for the stadium ($347 mill). The city of Miami only pitched in $13 million.

[akoff 0]

From deep in liberal lalaland newsSo am I to understand that the Federal government gave Florida a bunch of money for the schools, and now Florida is supposed to just make up the amount of money the federal government gave them above their budgeted amount?So this 'cut' is really just a return to the amount the state has for education?I don't think this is a cut, this is another example of Obama having great intentions, with horrible results.BTW California is in 10Xs more trouble dollar wise in education.

it is what democrats do best...that and blaming others for their problems.

[LimbaughGod 0]

it is what democrats do best...that and blaming others for their problems.

100% correct."oh, let's "help people" by doing communism." So they say, but really they are just taking their lazy views and trying to force them on everyone.Republicans know better. What's that saying, "I was a liberal until I grew up". So true. Once you grow up you realize people should take care of themselves. Socialism only leads to lazy people feeding off of the go-getters. Socialism and liberalism leads to "political correctness" where gays should be able to marry gays (and people should be able to marry horses or marry children...... where does it end), women are as strong and capable as men (except, uh-oh, the Bible says women should not have authority over a man - and wow, what do you know, like the Bible implies women are physically weaker than men and oh..... how do they score on math, engineering and whatnot), and arabs and blacks are "equal" to whites (except, uh oh, who does crime, scores lower on tests, is less civilized and whatnot).Basically, Republicans want reality and liberals want a lazy, Godless fantasy world. You've done enough damage guys. Sorry, Barrack Hussein must go and we need to get a realist who acknowledges God back in charge of the country. So, go away and shut up.

[LongLiveYorke 38]

So, go away and shut up.

[hblask 1]

I believe the cost of the new prisons was exactly the same amount as the cut to the education budget.

So you are saying that the education budget in FL is lower (per student, adjusted for inflation) than it was three decades ago?I'm not sure if you intentionally avoided my question or just spreading BS.

[CaneBrain 95]

So you are saying that the education budget in FL is lower (per student, adjusted for inflation) than it was three decades ago?I'm not sure if you intentionally avoided my question or just spreading BS.

No, I'm saying the legislature had a choice between new prisons or keeping education spending where it was and they chose prisons. I don't find your question relevant because I have no idea if the spending three decades ago was too low or too high. It's comparing it to an arbitrary point. Florida has shown during my lifetime that their priority is NOT education and that's why our public school system is consistently in the bottom five states in the country. Now that they are low-balling their employees as much as possible, everyone with options (i.e.---the best teachers and psychologists) will leave.My wife' best friend Sara just resigned today as well. She is moving to Illinois because she will make significantly more money working there. Of all the psychologists I know in the Miami Dade system, she was probably the 3rd most competent. Too bad.edit: since you like the three decades number:http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=ed...s_incarcerationsince 1980, most states have accelerated prison growth at the expense of education. sad. if only they realized that pinching pennies on education is what leads to exploding prison populations. well, that and stupid laws, misguided sentencing structures, and private prisons. but that's for the Gary Johnson thread.

[hblask 1]

No, I'm saying the legislature had a choice between new prisons or keeping education spending where it was and they chose prisons. I don't find your question relevant because I have no idea if the spending three decades ago was too low or too high. It's comparing it to an arbitrary point. Florida has shown during my lifetime that their priority is NOT education and that's why our public school system is consistently in the bottom five states in the country. Now that they are low-balling their employees as much as possible, everyone with options (i.e.---the best teachers and psychologists) will leave.My wife' best friend Sara just resigned today as well. She is moving to Illinois because she will make significantly more money working there. Of all the psychologists I know in the Miami Dade system, she was probably the 3rd most competent. Too bad.edit: since you like the three decades number:http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=ed...s_incarcerationsince 1980, most states have accelerated prison growth at the expense of education. sad. if only they realized that pinching pennies on education is what leads to exploding prison populations. well, that and stupid laws, misguided sentencing structures, and private prisons. but that's for the Gary Johnson thread.

See, but you are just guessing. It's not that prisons grew at the expense of schools, they've both grown by unreasonable amounts. Per capita inflation-adjusted spending on education nationwide has approximately tripled in the last three decades, with nothing to show for it.In the real world, you get a year or two of no results before your funding is cut and you move on to something else. Only in government is increased funding of three decades of failure considered evidence of that being a low priority.

[brvheart 1,752]

But it was the county that gave most of the money for the stadium ($347 mill). The city of Miami only pitched in $13 million.

Well then I remembered where the money came from incorrectly. I mean, I knew it was democrats. I just forgot that they were from Miami-Dade county. I thought Dan Le Batard was railing the city council, but Miami probably didn't even notice 13 million.

[Balloon guy 158]

No, I'm saying the legislature had a choice between new prisons or keeping education spending where it was and they chose prisons. I don't find your question relevant because I have no idea if the spending three decades ago was too low or too high. It's comparing it to an arbitrary point. Florida has shown during my lifetime that their priority is NOT education and that's why our public school system is consistently in the bottom five states in the country. Now that they are low-balling their employees as much as possible, everyone with options (i.e.---the best teachers and psychologists) will leave.My wife' best friend Sara just resigned today as well. She is moving to Illinois because she will make significantly more money working there. Of all the psychologists I know in the Miami Dade system, she was probably the 3rd most competent. Too bad.edit: since you like the three decades number:http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=ed...s_incarcerationsince 1980, most states have accelerated prison growth at the expense of education. sad. if only they realized that pinching pennies on education is what leads to exploding prison populations. well, that and stupid laws, misguided sentencing structures, and private prisons. but that's for the Gary Johnson thread.

Is Florida reducing the amount that they spent on education last year? Not counting the money the federal government gave them?Because according to NPR, they are maintaining the same levels for education they spent last year. The only 'cut' is in the state not replacing the money the federal government gave them last year.

Mr. SCOTT: No, it's not going back on anything I promised. What I said throughout the campaign and what I'm saying today is we're not cutting any money that came - came out of the state general revenue - we're not cutting that. Any money that they relied on - relied federal bailouts, that was different.

The feds do this all the time, or I should say the dems in the fed. This was a big Clinton scam too. Fund a whole bunch of new policemen...for 2 years. Then leave the state to make up for the money they no longer supply, in republican states. If the republican state government can't find an extra few hundred million dollars, the dems cry about how the republicans are cutting spending on public safety and how 2,000 cops are going to lose their job. This was their response when the Unfunded Mandate bill passed and they could no longer just demand states spend X on Y because they said so.And what else is the evil republican administration doing to those poor unions?

Even so, it's likely to be a tough few years for Florida teachers. Scott is proposing changes to the state retirement system that for the first time would require teachers and other public employees to contribute five percent annually to their pensions. Further, Scott and leaders within the Republican-led state legislature are pushing several other ideas that teachers oppose: bills expanding charter schools and tying pay increases to student performance.

Oh my goodness, teachers might have to kick in 5% of their retirement?They might only get raises when their kids learn something?I can see why democrats find this so horrible.

[Balloon guy 158]

See, but you are just guessing. It's not that prisons grew at the expense of schools, they've both grown by unreasonable amounts. Per capita inflation-adjusted spending on education nationwide has approximately tripled in the last three decades, with nothing to show for it.In the real world, you get a year or two of no results before your funding is cut and you move on to something else. Only in government is increased funding of three decades of failure considered evidence of that being a low priority.

Don't forget that house prices rising for the last decade gave the state large increases in money that allowed them to spend spend spend, now that tax revenues are so anemic from lowering property taxes, there just isn't any money like there was a decade.If the house prices had not gone through the roof, generating record property taxes, the likelihood that they would have increased spending like they did in prisons and education is unlikely.

[CaneBrain 95]

See, but you are just guessing. It's not that prisons grew at the expense of schools, they've both grown by unreasonable amounts. Per capita inflation-adjusted spending on education nationwide has approximately tripled in the last three decades, with nothing to show for it.In the real world, you get a year or two of no results before your funding is cut and you move on to something else. Only in government is increased funding of three decades of failure considered evidence of that being a low priority.

And yet we have decided to slash education spending while continuing to grow prisons. If we were cutting prisons and NOT giving billions in business tax cuts in addition to cutting education spending, I would get it. But we are choosing those two things over education and that is madness.It's like the Ryan plan. In a vacuum, I don't have a problem with cutting Medicare. We need to rein in entitlement costs. But, Ryan's plan is stupid and dangerous. Any good budget deficit reduction plan will make EVERYONE feel the pain. Ryan's plan left SS and defense alone while giving the rich a huge tax break. What the H?Florida should be cutting prisons and raising taxes on businesses if it is going to gut education and enact policies that will drive away the best educators. Also, just because spending more money has not borne good results the last three decades does not mean spending less money going forward will make things better. Most of the charter schools down here are a complete disaster and there are not many private schools to begin with.

[CaneBrain 95]

Oh my goodness, teachers might have to kick in 5% of their retirement?They might only get raises when their kids learn something?I can see why democrats find this so horrible.

Well, when you take this, add in the cuts to her medical insurance, add in the cuts to her salary (12 months to 10 months) and then factor in that she was already being paid WELL below the national average for school psychologists......the picture looks a little different. But nice try.