Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on March 22, 2011

Click here to view bill details.

 Excellent, it is about time!!! You go Rep. Scott!!

I am hoping and praying all the teachers will go on strike.

Maybe then the taxpayers will finally see what the teachers really think of 'the children'.

I am fed up with their arrogance and greed.

 

Yeah! If teachers really care about the children, they should work for free and they don't need healthcare or retirement benefits. Nobody should be allowed to strike. They need to shut up and do their work, even if they lose their pension and healthcare. Teachers also need to teach my kids morals and how to behave because I sure as hell don't want to do it.

The MI education system needs reform, NOT the abolition of unions.  Nobody likes to hear about lazy teachers who just show up for a paycheck, regardless of party affiliation.  That's not what this is about.  Making striking illegal (and this now adding additional fines) gives the government the ability to rake teachers over the coals, regardless if they deserve it or not.

Don't be fooled by the propaganda the Republicans are spreading.  The union problems they shout about do not have to be handled by screwing every teacher in the state.  They can pass laws that make it easier to fire bad teachers!  They can negotiate with unions to put salaries more in line with state and national averages!  It's not like teachers are willing to strike at the drop of a hat.  It seems to me that our state government would rather skip the negotiation and bend them over a table.

Keep in mind people, this is about the education of our children.  We should want our teachers to make a decent living wage!  I'm not saying they should be paid as high as our state legistaure but enough for any normal human being to live decently.  Teachers deal with all the problems parents do, except they have a much higher chance of having to deal with kids who treat them like crap.  Why should we allow the government to do the same?

REFORM THE UNIONS, DON'T ABOLISH THEM!

 

 

In my years in the profession of education, I have found teachers come from all walks of life; to count all our differences would be to count the stars in the night sky.  It is this diversity that allows such a rich environment for our Michigan youth to gain the knowledge and proper behaviors to become a respectable citizen.  With all our differences; however, there is one common bond that is very much spoken, "We love our kids."   We wake in the morning planning out our days with our students in mind and we fall asleep at night thinking about how to amend any struggles our students are facing.  We spend money from our pockets to buy teaching materials and fun extras to cultivate their spirits and mind.  We cry with kids struggling at home and smile when they share exciting stories of accomplishments.  We live for these kids!

Knowing this, it is easy to see why Rep. Paul Scott is proposing House Bill 4466.  Unfortunately Rep. Paul Scott has the forethought to understand that educators in Michigan are being targeted as a means to amend a faltering state budget created through the misuse of funds (a responsiblility of our state senators and representatives).  Rep. Paul Scott understands that with these new bills proposed that any group of people would be upset, so upset that they would be willing to go to such extremes as a strike.  This of course would be devasting to an already fragile state.  Rep. Paul Scott and others are trying to negate this from happening and not by fixing any problems, but by making a group of loving people unable to stand up for themselves without being involved in an illegal action.

I would ask that you contact your representatives and tell them this bill is not acceptable and not vote for any senators or representatives in the future that do not have our childrens' best interests in mind.

OligarchyRules:

The MI education system needs reform, NOT the abolition of unions.

I agree.  All these laws to limit the power of unions are simply bandages covering up the real problem.  We should reform the MI education system by allowing the money spent on individual children's education to follow the child to whatever school the parents choose.  This should include any private or parochial schools.  This should be done either with vouchers or educational tax credits.  Once that is done we will no longer have to worry about unions.

Great idea OligarchyRules!

 

Other than the constitutional problem of mixing tax dollars with religion, private schools could be organized by unions just as public schools are. I agree we shouldn't worry about unions, we should join one.

gypsy:

Other than the constitutional problem of mixing tax dollars with religion

What constitutional problem are you referring to?

 

 Why is there the need to punish the people who often work the hardest? Punish the teachers; punish the children. Until we address the real problems as to why children don't learn (not can't) blame the people closest to them. (Let's see a real effort to fixing poverty, broken homes, transiency, drug addiction, parents who can't or won't help their children, etc, and you will see an improvement in children's ability to learn).

All this standardized testing is insane as well. Do the same thing over and over and get the same results. Idiocy. Proves only that those who "make" and "correct" the tests make money. Not effective. Picture this: special ed students who cannot read being forced to take the MEAP. Crying at their incompetence they go through and make a pattern of answers (a, b, c, a, b, c, d) and finish the test in five minutes. No surprise to see they don't do well, and it confirms to them that they are not "normal". Sad. 

I am a retired teacher and I feel nothing but sadness for the state of education in Michigan today. Who in their right mind would "choose" to become a teacher in today's teaching environment? It appears to be easier to "blame" than move to action.

Tenure is not the problem. It does not protect poor teachers; administrators do. And there are reasons for this too.

I am always amazed at "who" controls education (and budgets); they are the very people who know so little about it. That is why NCLB is/was so ineffective. Sad really.

From "It's a Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" .... let's all move to Australia!

 

 I fear Rep. Scott wouldn't last a day in a classroom ... yet he knows it is better to punish teachers than to address the real problems in education. Maybe, because he loves Michigan so much, he should give up his salary and benefits.

changeagent:

What constitutional problem are you referring to?

 

The first amendment.

 Gypsy , maybe we all should just become socalists. Or if we all just join unions nobody will have to be accountable , I went all these years thinking I should try to responsible when all i needed to do was join a union.

I'm sure you are responsible oldvet. Well, so am I. I paid my taxes, raised a family, contributed to charities, served my community, and followed the laws, along with joining a union and paying my dues, and spending many a long, cold day on the picket line to insure myself and fellow union members could support our families, send our kids to college, and work in a safe environment. All this time my employer made a profit. I think that's fair. There is nothing socialistic about a union, nor more than there is with a company trade organization. Businesses make their money selling a product or providing a service. Workers make their money by selling their labor and skills. It is the essence of free enterprise they should organize to get the most benefit they can for that labor and skill.

Teachers have an immense responsibility in teaching our children, our future. They should be able to get a decent salary for such an important skill. They are already subject to fines for striking, they don't need more fines.

 Teachers are held highly accountable.  Even more so than any other job I can think of.  As far as a union protecting you.....nothing is going to protect any of us from what is looking more and more like a fascist government here in Michigan.  Isn't that the more appropriate term to use when our goveror is acting as a dictator instituting his Emergency Financial Manager law and removing power from our locally elected officials?  Other types of employees are allowed to collectively bargain, why not teachers?  Other employees are allowed to strike, why not teachers?  When government starts silencing citizens' right to protest unfair labor practices, and punishes it with extreme measures, that sounds more like fascism to me. 

We do not need more fines for striking teachers.  We need equitable treatment of teachers as with all workers. 

This was so very interesting and fun to read. I have really enjoyed reading all of this valuable and fun information. quickbooks hosting

I used to be more than happy to seek out this internet-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this glorious read!! I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post. college essays

Philadelphia public teachers Unions are corrupt and are now going to be investigated with possible firings and possible indictments. It is time for Michigan to do the same and here is why: ................... http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/06/Philadelphia-Teachers-Claim-3122-Jury-Duty-Days-in-2010-11

Teaching socialism to our kids while getting paid with taxpayers money........................ http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/13/teachers-union-activist-socialist-ideas-as-american-as-apple-pie

If we want our opinions to be valued we need to see the both sides of the story. Teacher have plenty reasons to go on strike, we need to see that part too and then draw the conclusions. As far as I am concerned I just hope that they will realize that an illegal strike won't bring anyone any good. I am now studying for my online management degree and as far as I can tell things are heading for better, our education system is already very competitive, it doesn't all depends on the teachers...

This bill is definitely not fair to the teachers at all. So much needs to be done to change this. The teachers have the right to strike if they want. bankruptcy trustee north york

Teachers should NOT have the right to strike since they are being paid (wages and benefits) with taxpayers dollars. If they want to strike, become a private entity, don't use pubic funds and have a good time with your picket signs. You're NOT striking on my dime.

Michigan citizens. We need to protect ourselves from the greed of Unions being forced upon us by their demands for legislation change to Michigan's Constitution. We can not let this happen. 1. http://protectingmichigantaxpayers.com/about-ubbi 2. https://www.facebook.com/ProtectingMichiganTaxpayers

Already the state has experienced a significant loss of public school teachers getting special education degree. With the majority of the schools’ budget going to pay professionals, short-changing school budgets means direct cuts to teacher pay and benefits. This new round of cuts comes on the heels of many years of stagnant salaries and recent big cuts in benefits.

Public school teachers, members of public Unions are the highest paid state workers: http://cnsnews**.*com/news/article/dept-labor-public-school-teachers-are-highest-paid-state-workers-compensation-doubles Union Boss's pay is the highest it has ever been: http://www.independentsentinel**.*com/2012/07/union-bosses-make-500k-while-the-average-teacher-makes-44k/ Salaries of Union Representatives in the U.S.: www.UnionFacts**.*com

Maintaining solidarity among the ranks is another union strike method. This generally refers to morale among the project manager. The strike simply won't work if disgruntled unionists return to work before a contract settlement is reached. For example, management can undermine solidarity by offering a better deal to some workers than others.

A provision in state law that says if a college teacher strike is or has become a clear and present danger to the health or safety of the public, the mayor can seek a court injunction to stop it. However, this option seems unlikely, because the provision does not cover public welfare, which would be more germane for the strike.