The Ed "reformers" always talk about accountability in terms of "no excuses" for poverty, large class sizes, etc. They are quick to support the billions for bailouts but say they can't waste money on lowering class size because they can't guarantee a quality teacher in every class.
How about not allowing a bank to open until there's a quality banker in each and every one? Are any of teh characters who led us into this crisis truly suffering? Poor guy at BearsStern- wealth fell to 12 million.
Under whose watch were laws passed during the depression to prevent the kinds of abuses we are seeing today repealed? I believe Mr. Clinton. And of course, followed up by the massive giveaway of the institutional protections to corporate interests.
If we had unions that stood up and exposed the practices that end up in bailouts ( Chrysler, savings and loan - one a decade) instead of collaborating, it all wouldn't be as easy for them.
If the UFT/AFT defended its members instead of seeking ways to cooperate in the dismantling of public education, they could have played a role in exposing some of the shams. But how can the UFT play at that level when they can't even defend teachers in their schools?
Not a word from the union about how 200 billion can be found for a bailout or how 2 trillion magically appears for a war. Instead of pointing out where the money is, the UFT/AFT buys into the phony accountability/reform movement and calls for tinkering at the edges.
We will see the UFT lead a rally at Tweed tomorrow begging for a few crumbs to be put back on the table while the Fed throws billions on the table for the financial industry.
The rally to restore the budget cuts would have a much better chance of succeeding if it were held at the Federal Reserve.
2 comments:
You nailed it. Tomorrow's rally does not mean ANYTHING for so many teachers because we are complaining for peanuts, where was/is the UFT when all these changes in the economic and academic system are taking place.
you are right all this economic stuff is nonsense. billions to bail out countrywide,(avoid them at all costs),Citi etc, endless wars, the phony war on terrorism(really the war on the constitution )trillions in black budgets for covert operations and secret weapons etc etc. Check out greg palast's website for spitzer analysis
Post a Comment