For McKeon, It's All About the Kids
March 3, 2008 03:16 PM
Marc Dean Millot at edbizbuzz writes up last week's annual meeting of the Education Industry Association, which featured the House education committee's ranking member, Howard "Buck" McKeon.
McKeon told the education industry folks how the fall election might affect NCLB authorization: If voters elect a Democrat to the White House and Democrats held majorities in both houses of Congress, "You will be laying off people."
Jobs are just a side concern, I'm sure. Kids are the top priority for McKeon and the education industry, right?
UPDATE: I may have overplayed the archness here as at least one commenter seems to have missed the point. So, yes, let me say that I am aware that some union critics love to play up the kids vs. adults angle. That was kind of the point? Also, Marc Dean Millot asks, "...isn't there a shared economic interest here between teachers and SES providers for preservation of the program?" I can say only that I haven't heard from AFT members or leaders that preserving SES is a priority.
Comments
I don't know if this is impolite, but I'm sure I've read of instances where teachers unions protested the prospect of members being laid off. Fear of job losses and concerns for children are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, in this case many of the people who would be let go would be teachers, in many areas union members, who have part-time employment with an SES provider. Investors have already taken their hits in this business, management will hang on. It's the average k-12 educator who will feel the pain.
There are better grounds for going after SES as a program or as a vehicle for private sector involvement. For example, real value-added to student performance remains to be proved The philosophy that education should remain an entirely government function is at least principled.
However, this argument pretty much amounts to "your mother wears Army boots." All it does is invite the retort "I'm sure "jobs are just a side concern" to the AFT, and won't your members be surprised.
Can't we elevate this debate a bit? At the same time,isn't there a shared economic interest here between teachers and SES providers for preservation of the program?
Posted by: Marc Dean Millot | March 3, 2008 05:29 PM
Excuse me! "Kids are the top priority for McKeon and the education industry". That's rich! I thought it was all about anyone but the kids and (gasp) teachers.
Posted by: Rick Ricketts | March 3, 2008 10:25 PM