Blame the Union!
April 17, 2007 10:17 AM
"This is just the money of the Teachers Union at work. If they aren't getting something out of it tear it down. The Dems get money from special interest and they didn't create it, its working so they have to find fault and tear it down..... Our government showing how money works in Washington."
A commenter on USA Today's Web site.
You have to laugh. The comment above is attached to a Greg Toppo article* about the Reading First scandal. There are only a few things wrong with the commenter's reasoning. First, Toppo's article doesn't mention unions. Second, Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Miller, the two Democratic lawmakers cited in the article, did "create it" -- they helped write and pass NCLB, of which Reading First is a part. Third, the AFT thinks Reading First is a pretty good program.
Here's the AFT statement on one of the inspector general's reports (emphasis added).
Reading First is a successful and effective program in the classroom. It is extremely important to teachers and to disadvantaged students. Today's report, however, is a devastating account of mismanagement at all levels of the U.S. Department of Education. Federal officials should not intervene to influence a state's selection of reading programs; such intervention leads to favoritism and could jeopardize the program's success. The department should follow the law and not exclude providers who meet the established criteria.
The Department of Education advocates high standards and accountability for students, schools and teachers; they should be held to the same standards.
Wow! What a blistering critique of Reading First by those anti-reform unionists!
*Alexander Russo's take on the article and the scandal is on target.
UPDATE: A commenter on our blog continues the fact-free anti-union ranting, saying unions oppose NCLB because it is "a Republican proposal" -- despite the role of Sen. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. Miller (D.-Calif) in its creation.
Comments
The anti-union comment is ridiculous, but the AFT's stand on Reading First isn't anything to be proud of. I'm not aware of any studies that show that "Reading First is successful and effective" (i.e. kids are reading better because of it). Yes, there are some surveys that show superindendents and principals like it but that's hardly enough evidence for a claim that it's successful. I'm not even aware of any data on how teachers in Reading First schools feel about it. Maybe there are studies I don't know about.
Posted by: August | April 18, 2007 12:27 PM
NCLB isn't a perfect program but it is at least a start in the right direction. Its too bad that the ultra liberal, left wing of America simply oppose it on the basis it is a Republican proposal. The radical left wing AFT and its counterpart NEA don't have angels hanging off their shoulders either. We really need to divest the union of the political agenda and on with what is best for America and its future.
Posted by: Gary Littlefield | April 21, 2007 12:28 PM
Representative Miller, a co-author of NCLB, has recently stated that Reading First has all the appearances of a "criminal syndicate."
That's NOT why I'm embarrased that AFT stands in support of this central pillar of NCLB.
I'm embarrased because Readinig First embodies all of the worst pedagogy in literacy instruction. Central to the adopted curriculums is scripted instruction. This infantalizes our profession and our members. Reading First is all about the narrowing of curriculum, undermining meaningful instruction, and pumping up meaningless test scores. The icing on this particular bovine "pie" is it also directs large amounts of public dollars to private sector cronies of the Bushies.
Great job, AFT!
Posted by: Gary Ravani | April 23, 2007 05:14 PM