Soxbadger

QUOTE (ptatc @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:59 PM) Imagine the uproar for the cost of this program. Hiring people not connected with the schools to evaluate the individual teachers. It sounds good but it just adds to the administrative costs to the schools. Why take more money away from actual teaching. Just use a team of admin and teachers and be done with it. The problem is that there is too much money going to non-instructional purposes already. Because when you have 2 children who cant agree, you need an adult to supervise. Id rather the school system took care of it themselves, but according to StrangeSox they are currently striking because they cant come to an agreement on how to resolve this. That is inexcusable.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:51 PM) Purdue isn't dropping ND at all. MSU and UM are moving from playing ND every year to 4-6 years of every ten. This has everything to do with the Big Ten going to a 9-game conference schedule and nothing to do with ND. Big 10 isnt going to a 9 game conference schedule. http://www.fbschedules.com/2012/07/big-ten...tball-schedule/ Big 10 wanted more OOC games, Wisconsin tried to schedule Notre Dame but couldnt get it to work.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:48 PM) I disagree completely that "taxpayers" should have any direct input on the evaluation of teachers beyond the normal interactions with teachers and administration. Having non-experts who are not familiar with the field judge your performance seems really unreasonable. Yep, I am completely unfamiliar with teachers. I only spent 21 years of life in schools, spent over $250k on education. I have no experience to say, this teacher is competent and that teacher is not. Im sure that it would be impossible to find 3-5 ex-educators who have no relation to CTU/CPS who live in Chicago, who would be impartial. Right from your proposal: Mentor Teachers will be CPS employees. Why do we need conflicts of interest? Why cant we just get impartial people? You act like Im suggesting to hire a random person off the street. I just want people who are not connected to CPS or CTU.

So being the patient human I am I waited for the iphone to come out before I bought anything. My last samsung (pre-android, galaxy) really annoys the hell out of me, so Im leaning towards Apple. That being said, if an android platform is better, I would prefer it.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:29 PM) Whose merit? Is cost the best metric? Should we really be pursuing policies that allow administrators to fire older, experienced teachers and replace them with younger ones? To get that sort of replacement effect, wouldn't you need to seriously drive down the average wages of teachers? That doesn't seem like the best way to get a competent and capable workforce. I don't know their exact opposition, but I'm guessing that they fear administrators using lay-offs as a way to get around tenure protection. "lay off" a bunch of teachers, then only hire some of them back while replacing them with other people. Its not easy to quantify a good teacher versus a bad teacher, but its like pornography, I know them when I see them. I have dealt with plenty of teacher grievances and I have won for many teachers who I would not trust to teach my cat. I dont know if we should be pursuing policies to allow the administration to fire older teachers and hire new ones. I do know that it seems backwards to simply say more experience is always better. I think that since the taxpayers are footing the bills, that there should be an independent evaluation, not by peers, not by administrators, but by average humans who are actually paying the freight. That doesnt seem to unreasonable to me.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:16 PM) They're not striking over job-entry barriers. Their #1 concern is teacher evaluations, and their #2 concern is to get already-tenured teachers who were laid off due to the numerous school closings re-hired ahead of others. Crab standing on the head of other crab drowning mentality. If Chicago hires back those teachers at their very high salary rate, then Chicago cant hire newer teachers at a lower rate, which means that you have larger class sizes. Why dont we hire people based on merit/cost? Why is that such a bad concept? As for the teacher evaluations, to me, that is just a way to ensure their place in the world. Its like a club, they want a doorman and only a select group to get in, regardless of how many are douches. I want a club with a doorman that doesnt let in douches, regardless of whether they belong to the right group.

Dear Ice Cube and Snoop, please go on a real tour and come to Chicago.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:07 PM) Should point out again, as ptact has said several times now, the main issues aren't even budgetary. However, thanks to the SB 7 law passed earlier this year, it's illegal for CTU to strike for non-economic reasons, so they have to play that aspect up. The main issues of concern are teacher evaluations and the re-hiring of laid-off teachers. lol come on now, you cant have it both ways. You cant tell me the whole system is f***ed and that we are underfunding education. But the main issue is only barriers of entry for our job. Let me just be clear, I hate barriers of entry, I absolutely hate them. My job has them, I think they are unfair and bulls***. If it was up to me, there would be no bar and no accredited law school requirement. But believe me, a thousand lawyers will chime in telling you how its in the interest of the public that lawyers are trained, etc. BULLs***, its in the interest of lawyers who have jobs to prevent others from taking their jobs.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:03 PM) Raises the issues up for discussion? I don't claim to know the CTU's long-term strategy, but I don't know what choice they really have besides signing the offered contract that they strongly disagreed with or striking. Well if I was the head of the union here is what I would do if the real issue is about Illinois not funding education properly. I would say that there is a major problem in Illinois, NOT JUST CHICAGO. I would say that I am going to talk with all the teacher unions in Illinois about a way to make a better education for ALL ILLINOIS. I would say that we are going to keep working during the fall semester. We are then going to present a plan to the people of Illinois and we want it to be voted on in the next election. IF the people reject our plan, then we will have no other option but to strike. That is how you ask the people of Illinois for more money.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 03:02 PM) All great points, but a strike action (much like a protest) can bring broader issues into focus. If this isn't the right time to strike, when would be? Should they work under the previous contract for another year, with none of their issues and concerns addressed? Could they even do that, given all of the changes? How has this strike brought broader focus? I havent heard Karen Lewis one time say: "The real problem here is the state budget not Chicago. And its not Rahms fault that the state of Illinois isnt properly funding the school system. I feel bad for Rahm not getting the right funding."

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 02:58 PM) The CTU proposes a variety of ways to increase educational funding. You may not agree, but they are there. The school budget isn't a zero-sum game. The city and state budgets are, but that's the point: education should receive a higher priority. /points up Who here is saying education shouldnt receive a higher priority? The question that no one wants to answer, how does striking against CPS, make voters in Illinois change their mind about resource distribution?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 02:45 PM) You can look at page 33 of CTU's plan for better schools to see their answers on funding. You can disagree with them policy-wise on raising or shifting taxes in Chicago or on city and state resource allocation, but you can't pretend that the school budget is some fixed, impossible-to-change number. If we want to prioritize education over some other program or service, we can. There is not necessarily a direct trade-off required between classroom and school resources and teachers' wages. Okay great. I agree that we should spend less money on prisons, how about we decriminalize drugs. I think you should then take the tax money made on selling drugs legally and give it to schools. Oh wait, you mean that requires a vote and striking wont fix that? TIF money, well that is a double edged sword. What happens if you lose Boeing, CME, etc? Less money for schools. You have to give a little to get a little. Before I just start taking away TIF money, Id need an accounting to see how much money was put back into the Chicago tax system over the time period the business stays. End corporate loopholes, great, I agree. Progressive taxation, great, I agree. So what part of that does Chicago have control over? Because when I read it, it said "ILLINOIS" should implement. Do you think that the people in Southern Illinois are going to vote for more money for CPS, when CPS strikes and has higher raises than the teachers in their district? Once again, lets call a spade a spade here. They are going after Rahm. Rahm is not in charge of Illinois, Chicago does not have an income tax, Chicago can not implement what they want. If they want Illinois to change, I suggest they start addressing Illinois, instead of Chicago. Because they are different entities.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 02:34 PM) Part of what they are fighting for is more equitable distribution of resources among CPS schools, so "more money" is a realistic option for many of the struggling schools. I believe they could also shift money from other parts of Chicago's budget or even from other parts of the CPS budget (like, say, recent administrator raises). There is nothing that says they only have exactly $x dollars and that this amount is completely inflexible. edit: I'm looking to see if I can find something about proposed budget or funding from CTU. The above is my supposition. If you started college with 1.5 years worth of credit, you definitely benefited. Hell, the fact that you were able to go to college shows that you benefited from better schools. Okay sure, take away the administrator raises, lets be generous and say that is $200k a year. Now what. The problem is that each of these schools, teachers are out for themselves. Do you think that Whitney Young wants to give up money to another school? QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 02:41 PM) I did find this on CTU's daily strike flyer: Not sure about the strategy of telling the public how little you matter will work out... Its a terrible strategy, but thats what CTU is doing right now. Terrible strategy after terrible strategy.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 01:59 PM) It could come from elsewhere in the Chicago budget or from increased or different taxation. Part of the message of the strike would be that the government (Emmanuel, school board) are not best-serving the interests of the public in that they're under-funding education. Farley's point 3 discusses that. Those links are broader discussions than what specifically CTU is striking over, though. Edit: just keep in mind that they're pieces of political rhetoric and they're mainly about some upper-crust liberals not really supporting labor unions. The first two are in response to Yglesias' piece here, which I forgot to link. The solution of: more money is simply not a solution in this economic climate. QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 02:09 PM) The other way to look at it is...if you don't give the kids enough resources to actually get a quality education in the first place, you're taking money away from the future. I agree entirely, the problem is that when you have limited resources, you have stay within your resources. I wish every kid in the US could go to the type of school district I went to. I didnt even benefit from it, I literally would sit in class doing my homework while the teacher would help other kids, or ask me to try and help. But I understand that having access to the best resources does give a pretty unfair advantage. Even if its just that i had access to AP classes which let me start college as a second semester sophomore.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Sep 11, 2012 -> 05:33 PM) LOL, I picked up Stephen Hill. I like Hill, I think he is the top pick up (If Alfred Morris is already gone). Oglretree is a #3 with no hope of surpassing Austin or Dez besides for injury. Hill could be the #1 by the end of the season. Sanchez has always liked big receivers.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 01:47 PM) Texas is the second biggest, second richest kid on the block, and when the two biggest, richest kids get together, they can do some pretty big things. The ND-Texas series isn't going away--neither team is going to throw away that kind of cash. ND is already playing 4 ACC teams this year anyway. USC, Purdue, and Navy will stay as permanent opponents. Stanford, Michigan, and MSU will probably get cut back to part-time opponents, which was probably going to happen anyway since the Pac-12 and Big 10 are switching to 9 game conference schedules. On what planet is Notre Dame the richest school? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colle...es_by_endowment Their endowment isnt near Harvard, its less than Texas and less than Michigan. http://businessofcollegesports.com/2011/06...argest-profits/ And they arent even top 10 in profits or revenue for basketball or football. Im pretty sure Notre Dame has the third highest paying tv contract in their own state (1 & 2 are Purdue/Indiana).

lol Yep, I hate teachers unions because I cant get blood from a stone. Id be glad to give every school air conditioning, Id be glad to give every a brand new shiny computer and every resource imaginable. But where is the money coming from?

Why does Texas want an association with ND? Texas is the biggest, richest kid on the block. What exactly does ND do for them? They wanted an association with ND because they believed they could get ND to come to the Big 12. Now that ND has said no, I wouldnt be surprised to see the Texas/ND series cancelled or postponed indefinitely. As ND now is supposed to play 5 ACC teams a year, and that is going to severely restrict their ability to schedule other teams.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 01:08 PM) Care to wager on that?? Since betting on the internet isnt collectible Ill pass. But Ill wager my signature or something funny. Texas isnt going to move to the ACC after ESPN and the entire world kept the Big 12 together. If they do, all hell breaks lose.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 12:31 PM) FSU might want to wait to see what happens next before they go banging on the Big 12's door. What does it matter what happens next? Is the ACC going to get Texas? No. Is the ACC going to get LSU/Alabama? No. Is the ACC going to get OSU/Michigan/ No. The only big school that even could move is Penn State. And losing their place in the Big 10 would be a fitting punishment.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 12:18 PM) IMO, this kills any major conference expansion unless the Big 12 and it's TV partners suddenly decide to go after Louisville and BYU. It depends, supposedly the ACC football schools arent exactly in love with this deal. If thats true, I could absolutely see FSU calling the Big 12 up and saying "You have 1 year to add us before the new buy out kicks in, do you want us?"

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 12:12 PM) ND isn't joining in football, but the deal calls for ND to play 5 ACC teams per year, with at least one game against each team every 3 years, so it improves the conference's TV exposure, which is important for FSU and Clemson. I'm also hearing that there may be another shoe still to drop. FSU sites have rumors that 4 schools may have voted against the increased buy out to $50mil: FSU, Clemson, NC State, and VT (the 4 football schools) and that the only reason it passed was Pitt and Cuse were allowed to vote. I have no idea the truth or validity, someone on this site is a much bigger FSU fan than me so Im hoping they will chime in. But from my perspective the football schools in the ACC again got the short end for the basketball schools.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 11:56 AM) Except that the ACC has solid footing in the Southeast, which the Big East never really had. ND joining the ACC probably keeps FSU and Clemson from bolting to the Big 12. Uh no its the exact opposite. FSU is a football school and tired of being in a basketball dominated conference. How does adding ND minus ND football, help improve the ACC for FSU's benefit? Or what about a school like VA Tech that SEC, Big 12 would love to get. Who cares about a solid footing in the South East, the SEC (South East Conference) owns it in football. Notre Dame basketball isnt going to make ACC compete with the SEC in football. You have to be a weak conference to let Notre Dame have 1 foot in and 1 foot out. 20 years from now people may look back at this as the move that unraveled the ACC.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 12, 2012 -> 11:32 AM) The biggest surprise from this ACC move: The U is a top 50 academic school Private school with a lot of rich northerners from NY and Chicago. And this seems like a very odd arrangement. ACC is turning itself into the Big East, after watching the Big East get dismantled.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 11, 2012 -> 09:02 PM) Let's stop being crabs in a bucket and fight for better employment protections for everyone instead of no protections for anyone. That is just a terrible meme. Humans are not in some bucket that if we all just work together we will escape to unlimited riches and freedom. You do realize that there are costs to the other crabs escaping. And that if we all escape, there is no one left to do anything. QUOTE (kev211 @ Sep 11, 2012 -> 09:09 PM) You constantly comparing your schedule to a teachers schedule is irrelevant until you compare how much you make to an average teachers salary. I get paid less than many CPS teachers, that is completely irrelevant. But Im pretty sure this was not the answer you were looking for. Right now I can hire a new attorney for less than CPS can hire a new teacher. And those lawyers would be thankful for the opportunity to have a job and get experience. QUOTE (flippedoutpunk @ Sep 11, 2012 -> 09:12 PM) Is it possible for the city to just hire non-union teachers instead of having to deal with the CTU? Rahm could go nuclear and just say they are going to hire replacement teachers. Im sure that CTU would file some sort of lawsuit. There is probably some collective bargaining contract that is thousands of pages long.