Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA” - California Teachers Association

Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA” - California Teachers Association:

Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA”



Contact: CFT - Fred Glass, 510-579-3343, fglass@cft.org; CTA - Jonathan Goldman, 415-509-1654, jgoldman@cta.org

Unions’ right to determine membership withstands corporate legal assault
Los Angeles—U.S. District Court judge Stephen V. Wilson today announced the dismissal of “April Bain et al v. California Teachers Association et al,” the latest example of corporate interests reinterpreting the First Amendment to silence the collective voice of the Nation’s working men and women and undermine the democratic process within unions. 
In the suit’s convoluted argument, filed earlier this year, four union members alleged they were compelled to relinquish first amendment rights because they couldn’t vote in union matters without paying dues.  In his ruling Judge Wilson sided with the defendants’ argument to dismiss, which stated that if plaintiffs prevailed, the unions’ first amendment right to freedom of association through self-governance would be abrogated.   
The California Teachers Association and California Federation of Teachers are pleased that the Court has reaffirmed the unions’ right to advocate effectively on behalf of students, members and public education. 
“The Bain lawsuit rests on sensational and entirely incorrect claims,” said California Teachers Association President Eric Heins. “The truth in this case is, no California teacher is required to join a union and every educator is entirely free to decline membership.  Members of CTA also have the option of not having any of their dues money spent for political candidates.  It’s as simple as checking a box on their membership form.” 
“We welcome the quick and early decision by Judge Wilson,” said Joshua Pechthalt, president of the California Federation of Teachers.  “What the Bain plaintiffs were asking for would have represented a significant and unprecedented violation of teachers’ First Amendment rights to democratically associate in a labor union.  It’s no surprise that every court that previously considered such claims has roundly rejected them.” 
### 
The 325,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3.2 million-member National Education Association.  The California Federation of Teachers is the statewide affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, and represents faculty and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education.  Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA” - California Teachers Association:

ALSO SEESuit to limit use of teacher union dues for political purposes is tossed - LA Times http://lat.ms/1VrBIce

Fair does not Equal Equal | GoingPublic

Fair does not Equal Equal | GoingPublic:

Fair does not Equal Equal



ap


When my children were younger, their operative word was “FAIR,” as in: “It’s NOT fair!.”
“It’s not fair. Liz can stay up later than I can.”
“It’s not fair. Jeff doesn’t have a curfew, and I did.”
Most parents hear it. And most say, “I will give you what you need. You and Jeff are different and need different things. That’s what’s fair.” 
It seems so obvious that those who believe “fair is the same as equal” are about three years old. Or 15. But not older, more mature adults. Not those who demand we all take-and are judged by-the same standardized tests. Not the feds who compare all apples [children and their teachers] to all oranges. Oh, wait!
Either we’re all the same or we’re not. Either we each need the same time, love, access, information.. OR WE DON’T.
Is there an adult who honestly believes it’s fair to compare students in Scarsdale with students in East LA and that they both need to be compared with kids in Kansas City? Who is the adult who refuses to acknowledge the irrefutable fact that where you live determines how well you’ll do on standardized tests?
It is an abuse of power to hold all students and their teachers accountable to the same tests. It is an abuse of children to treat them all as if they are a variation of the same child. It is an abuse of intellect to tell what children DO NOT know instead of showing us what they CAN do.
Some flexed their parent power and decided they had the right to opt their children out of their states’ standardized tests. They believed that our democracy depends on a healthy, diverse public education system. They know that teachers are being judged unfairly when the data and the theory are unreliable and invalid. These parents believe that an educational experience should be challenging, focused, and child-centered. It should not be dependent on hours of test prep and drills. No one who ever went to school would put up with hours and hours of test prep! Fill in the bubbles, answer the correct question. Do it again and again. Faster. Faster. Paper airplanes would be sailing through the air at my elementary school. (Do you hear me, graduates of Bell Avenue Elementary in Yeadon, Pa?)
Americans who continue to believe that public education has produced the most innovative and savvy students in the world have begun to recognize the Kool Aid offered in the guise of “choice,” charters, vouchers. They are taking a stand the only way they can by removing their children from abuse.
Fair does not equal equal. And here’s what not fair:
  • It is not fair that 20% of our children live in food insecure households (read: they come to school hungry). Hungry kids do not think about solving math problems, so those kids will never…. you know
Think it’s not your problem because: your kids are in ‘good’ schools, or because you don’t even have kids in school, or maybe you think it’s the problem of those in poverty to pick themselves up and get a job? Think our democracy can continue to survive when our public schools are left to pick up our pieces?
It is our problem because when the human race neglects its weaker members, when the family neglects its weakest one – it’s the first blow in a suicidal movement (Maya Angelou)
What is fair? Here are some ideas:Fair does not Equal Equal | GoingPublic:

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/30/15




CORPORATE ED REFORM





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Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 9/29/15
CORPORATE ED REFORMCalifornia denied renewal of federal funding for charter schools | EdSourceCalifornia denied renewal of federal funding for charter schools | EdSource: California denied renewal of federal funding for charter schoolsCalifornia, which received $250 million in federal money over the last five years to foster the growth of charter schools, will get none of the $125 million that wil