DO YOU THINK HAVING PUBLIC UNIONS IN EDUCATION IS HELPFUL; IF SO, FOR WHOM, AND IN WHAT WAYS? WHO BENEFITS? WHO, IF ANYONE, IS PENALIZED?

[N'Zinga Shani]

 A GOOD PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE UNDERGIRDER OF AMERICA'S FUTURE.  DO YOU AGREE? WHY?  OR WHY NOT?  THE QUESTIONS BELOW ARE POSED FOR EACH READER TO ASK AND ANSWER.  AS A RESIDENT IN THESE UNITED STATES, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM?

• IS A GOOD PUBLIC EDUCATION THE UNDERGIRDER OF AMERICA'S FUTURE?
• IS IT WORTH FIGHTING FOR? IF SO, WHO IS FIGHTING WHOM?
• WHEN YOU WATCHED THE TV  NEWS  COVERAGE OF THE RECENT TEACHERS' STRIKE IN CHICAGO, WHAT DID YOU THINK?
• CONNECTICUT NOW HAS A PARENT UNION.  MORE SUCH UNIONS ARE POPPING UP ELSEWHERE BECAUSE MANY PARENTS ARE FEELING MARGINALIZED BY SCHOOLS.
• DO YOU THINK HAVING PUBLIC UNIONS IN EDUCATION IS HELPFUL; IF SO FOR WHOM? AND IN WHAT WAYS? WHO BENEFITS AND WHO, IF ANYONE, IS PENALIZED?
• WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF THE KEY PLAYERS AS SHOWN ON THE TV NEWS SCREEN?
• WHETHER WE CAN AFFORD TO SEND OUR OWN CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR NOT, DO WE HAVE A PERSONAL INVESTMENT IN THE EDUCATION OF ALL AMERICA'S CHILDREN?
• IF WE HAVE 20-30 PERCENT OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN NOT GETTING A GOOD PUBLIC EDUCATION, HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND OUR FUTURE AS A SOCIETY? 
• HOW WILL THIS LACK OF EDUCATION AFFECT AMERICA'S COMPETITIVENESS?
• WITHOUT A 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION, CAN CHILDREN DEVELOP GOOD TECHNICAL SKILLS AND THE INTELLECTUAL ACUMEN THEY NEED TO COMPETE AND HAVE SUCCESSFUL LIVES?

OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN MANY EDUCATION DOCUMENTARIES; SOME ARE MORE PROMINENT AND HAVE RECEIVED WIDER COVERAGE THAN OTHERS.  EACH ONE BRINGS SOME VALUE TO THE TABLE OF UNDERSTANDING. BECAUSE EDUCATION HAS BECOME A POLITICAL LIGHTENING ROD SOME DOCUMENTARIES ARE WIDELY PUBLICIZED, OTHERS LESS SO. THE TITLES BELOW INCLUDE SOME OF THE MORE VISIBLE ONES AND SOME THAT HAVE RECEIVED VERY LITTLE COVERAGE. WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THE PREMISE OF THESE FILMS OR NOT, EACH HAS SOME VALUE:    

• Waiting for "Superman"
• The War on Kids
• Race to Nowhere
• The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman
• The Lottery (2010 film)
• Wings Of Evolution - The very inspiring 2007 documentary film about the revolutionary educational system of the Siragu Montessori School for homeless and underprivileged children in India. This film challenges many of the claims and excuses made in the USA about the failure of some of our public schools located in disparate communities.
• The Forbidden Education -  (Spanish: La Educación Prohibida) is an independent documentary released in 2012 (this is a Spanish Language film); it documents some unconventional methods and practices of education in Latin American and Spain. Very informative.
• The Cartel - A 2009 American documentary out of New Jersey that has effectively gotten buried, but is a worthwhile effort to inform us.
• Two Million Minutes A series of films released in chapters; the series takes a look at how children in China, india and the USA spend their 2 million minutes in high school.  More chapters to come.

“I DON’T THINK THERE SHOULD BE PUBLIC UNIONS, PERIOD” Former Florida Governor Praises CT’s Education Reform Efforts –

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, the issue of public school education and our children’s welfare and best interest should know no party affiliation.  The interest of our children, their future well-being, and the economic and competitive future of this country must be the priorities.  Given what just happened in Chicago we must pause and truly evaluate exactly what is happening with teachers unions across the country and the conduct of those leading those unions.   In CT we are extremely fortunate to have the enlightened leadership of David Cicarella at the New Haven Federation of Teachers.  David is more the exception than the rule.  Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, has come some distance in the past year; it seems that she still has a long way to go to put the best interest of children first, and to be reasonable and realistic in her demands.   The article below is in CT News Junkie.  Click the link at the end to read the entire article.

FAIRFIELD—Following a speech on education, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush praised Connecticut’s recent education reform package as a success. But comments during his half-hour talk revealed stark ideological differences between him and Gov. Dannel Malloy on the place of labor unions in our schools.

“I don’t think there should be public unions, period. There’s a conflict of interest here,” Bush said Wednesday.

The comment drew applause from the audience in a small auditorium at the General Electric complex, which hosted the event sponsored by the Connecticut Policy Institute. The institute was founded by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley, who spoke briefly before Bush.

Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush, was invited to speak about the education reform his state passed while he was governor. Those changes have seen drastic improvements in Florida’s nationwide standing on education. Bush now serves as the chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education’s board of directors.

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/former_florida_governor_praises_cts_education_reform_efforts/

Learn more about Jeb Bush’s Education Foundation here: Home / Foundation for Excellence in Education www.excelined.org/ 

Learn about Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst organization here:   StudentsFirst.org    www.studentsfirst.org/

 ► Trailer► Trailer  Watch the trailer for the upcoming movie: Won't Back Down

www.fandango.com/wontbackdown - Will be in theaters Sept. 28, 2012-

EDUCATION FIRST - IT IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. We are all invested.

Learn about OneWorld Progressive’s work in education at:  http://www.oneworldpi.org/education

See OneWorld’s highly praised Teacher-Parent facilitated program with 14 parents & teachers at:

http://youtu.be/b_vjtSflhe0  OneWorld’s Parents & Teachers Team-Building Benefits All Students