Spring 1997
Pet Opposes Binding Arbitration
“Binding Arbitration,” the sheer nature of removing citizens from decisions which affect them, adds expense to the bargaining process and generally discourages honest, good faith collective bargaining. According to John C. Bowman, Director of Government Relations for Professional Educators of Tennessee, former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential - nominee Michael S. Dukakis, who himself vetoed compulsory binding arbitration stated: “I do not believe that this broad delegation of local fiscal powers is consistent with any reasonable nation of home rule.” Mario Cuomo, a former governor of New York, who also vetoed binding arbitration legislation, added: “Moreover, the unnamed arbitrators would be given an even greater power to spend tax payers’ dollars than that given the legislature: they could impose an award of any magnitude.”That is why we, Professional Educators of Tennessee, are opposed to “binding arbitration” in public education.
Senator Roscoe Dixon of Shelby County is in the process of introducing two binding arbitration bills into the Tennessee legislature, SB0416 and SB0417. Ulysses Jones, a Representative also from Shelby County, will probably likewise introduce the bill in the Tennessee House.
Binding “interest” arbitration gives the union an upper hand and destroys the ability of the people, through their elected officials, to control the size, cost, and quality of public education. Binding “rights” arbitration allows unions to try to rewrite the contract after it has been negotiated and approved by arbitrating the interpretation of the language. For example, in negotiations a union might insist on some ambiguous language dealing with the rights of the union as the exclusive representative ( something to which most school board negotiators don’t really give much attention because it does not cost any money) , and then after the contract is ratified, go to an arbitrator to try to expand the interpretation of that clause in ways that are detrimental to the interests of teachers who are not union members. In a case like that, the board would not have much reason to defend the contract.
Bowman concluded his report by adding: “I would encourage all citizens, particularly educators, to oppose this legislation by writing to their local papers and by calling their Senator or Representative in the Tennessee General Assembly toll free at 1-800-449-TENN (8366). I implore Senator Dixon to withdraw this bill because this debate must consider truth a higher principle than politics or expediency in raising campaign funds for re-election. If this bill wins, the union’s next tactic will be “fair share” or compulsory union dues.”
Chaplain’s Corner
Have you ever heard of Wes Unseld or Truck Robinson? Probably not. But I am sure that you have heard of Dennis Rodman. The common bond among these three men is their rebounding prowess in the National Basketball Association. What is the difference between Unseld and Robinson as opposed to Rodman? Flamboyance and flash. I do not intend to get into Rodman’s antics and personality. However, in our society, the culture not only worships the winner, but the rebel as well. In our quest for champions the motto is “win at all costs.” Whatever happened to the Golden Rule... the work ethic... the desire for a good name?
The letter to the Philippians expresses to us that Christ humbled Himself. In other words, He gave up everything for us. Philippians 2:6-7 states , “...although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but humbled Himself, taking on the form of a bond servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Are we hearing this? God is calling us to have the attitude of Christ, and it is to be a bond servant.
It is not a popular idea to be a servant. The world is searching for the individual who invincible, dominating, and brash. Servanthood is simple, submissive, and humbling. Maybe the Gospel in this context is too elementary for us?
Jesus loves us in spite of any reason to love us. He loves us regardless. He may not love what we are doing, but He love us. Do you love all the children in your classroom? Even when there appears to be nothing special or spectacular about them? Do you love and serve them?‘
PET President’s Message
Perhaps you remember the classic Flintstone episode where Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty are transported from the Stone Age into the future. You may remember that even George Jetson appeared in that episode. Fred went to the place he used to work, and it still existed. When he checked the archives, he was amazed to learn that a small sum that he had borrowed was now a vast unpayable sum. When he returned to the past, he immediately repayed the owed money. Even children can understand that simple message.
From that cartoon, I want to illustrate two points that we, as educators, must consider. The first is the leap into the future. We must expect and prepare for changes in our personal and professional lives, especially in technology. By the end of the next school year, every single classroom will be wired, and capable of logging onto the internet — “the information highway” — Tennessee will be “the first state in the union to meet the President’s challenge”, according to Governor Don Sundquist’s State of the State Address, February 10, 1997.
Teachers must be willing to be trained to use computers, and a technology plan must be in place. We will also need to incorporate technology into our curriculum and into our classes. This is not a choice; it is a necessity. Some teachers will fight the change, some will welcome it, but change is coming to Tennessee schools, and this time PET will lead the way.
If you are logging on to the internet, I invite you to examine our web site. Dewey Esquinance, our Technology Director, has established an excellent site. You can find it at: http://www.teacherspet.com
Like Fred Flintstone, we must be careful not to leave our next generation in debt. We will have failed our children if we create such a system in public education that nobody can afford the end result. We must examine reform efforts with an open mind and be cognizant of the taxpayer, but with out eyes always on the best interests of students. The total budget for K-12 education is 2 billion 154 million dollars for 1997.
We believe in public education; education is the cornerstone of a free society, but we also believe in limited government and local control of education. It is imperative in the future that those spending the money on education be as close to the classroom as possible. Goals 2000 should have come from the school house, not the White House. Federal mandates and state mandates in education must be accompanied with appropriate funding.
In education, the voice that our legislators need to hear is the voice of teachers expressing what works, or what doesn’t work in their classrooms. The public needs a voice for the student and the teacher alike. We are best able to provide that voice — We are the Professional Educators of Tennessee!
Bob Chase, NEA president, as much as admitted that a new approach is very much needed with his comment in the Washington Times in February of this year: “After much soul searching and self-criticism within NEA, we know that it is time to create a new union - an association with an entirely new approach.” So, like the Flintstones, unions have become “a page right out of history,” and PET continues to grow!
PET Forum....
Bureaucratic Education is On the Wrong Track
In reply to my question about why she wasn’t in school, my granddaughter, Linzi, said, “I’m off track.” I have since found this to be a stock answer given by children who are involved in year-round school in Utah. The expression, “off track” relates to the system of scheduling that allows some students to be on vacation while others are in school.
Now, after spending ten years as a classroom teacher, twenty-six years as an elementary school principal, ten more years doing research for my books and articles on educational reform, and after sending twelve of my own children through public schools, I have come to believe that most state-sponsored systems of education are “off track.” I believe they are off track mainly because our society holds a low view of the teaching profession and treats teachers with great disrespect. The degrading treatment of teachers has been going on so long that many teachers are not even aware of being insulted, but the problem is very serious, and prevents educators from using their professional knowledge and skills to affect vital, needed changes in public education.
The extent of the problem became clear last March when the nation’s governors met in a second “summit” to reform education. In preparation for the summit, each governor was asked to bring along a prominent business executive — not an educator, a business executive! A similar thing happened seven years ago when President Bush called the governors together to mobilize school reform. The organizers of these meetings did not feel that educators were qualified to have any worthwhile ideas about how to improve public education.
Business executives, on the other hand, exerted a major influence on the decisions of the conferences. The business leaders were again successful in getting politicians to continue pushing their factory, assembly-line view of education. Instead of designing a new system of public education, the summit participants settled for another attempt to repair and shore up the old one in the guise of “higher standards.”
The standards movement in education is an extension of a very old practice whereby elected officials set a curriculum and impose it on teachers who, in turn, impose it on students. This makes all government managed systems of education hierarchical in nature. Those at the top dictate to those below, and those at the bottom serve those above. Thus we have a system wherein students serve the needs of teachers, who serve the needs of administrators, who in turn, serve the needs of elected officials while parents watch from the sidelines.
I believe there is only one way to reform education. It is to respect and respond to the needs of learners. The political/corporate, assembly-line system of education is obsolete. In attempting to shape students externally it fails to energize their spirits. In a like manner it crushes the spirit and creativity of teachers. Most teachers know more about teaching than most business executives, legislators, and school board members. Parents know more about the needs of their own children than all of the above. A golden opportunity awaits those teachers who have the courage to join hands with parents to redesign education.
*Lynn Stoddard of Farmington, Utah was our guest Forum contributor. Limited space demanded a shortened version here, however, if the reader wishes to have a copy of the entire script, please write to our PET address and request one.
PET Annual Conference Set
The 1997 Annual conference has been set for June 26, 1997 in Pigeon Forge. Lettters announcing the meeting have already been sent out, and a form for nominations to fill three board of directors positions whose terms expire in June.
Under PET's rules, the positions are open to members who have been professional members for at least two full preceding years. There is a maximum limit of two directors from any one system unless they are currently on the board of directors and are re-elected.
The current members of the board of directors whose terms expire are: President Billie S. Hamilton, Insurance Director H. William Murphy, and Technology Director Dewey Esquinance. These and others may be nominated to serve for the next three years.
Mail your nominations by April 28, 1997 to PET - Nominations -- Suite 234, 1116 West 7th St. -- Columbia, TN 38401.
Editor’s Notes.................
* As teachers we have multiple goals for teaching children to read. In 1852, Horace Greeley summed up succinctly a very compelling reason to teach reading and designated the text to be used. He said: “It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.”
* The largest local PET affiliate is now Knox County, surpassing both Maury County and Bradley County this year. Congratulations Knox County!
* Accomplished! The secular terms “BCE” (before the common era) and “CE” (common era) which had been introduced into the Tennessee Social Studies framework replacing the traditional identifiers “BC” (before Christ) and “AD” ( anno domini - in the year of our Lord) have been rejected by our legislative body. The traditional identifiers have now been reinstated. Both principle and truth were at stake here. The Tennessee Farm Bureau went to bat for us on this one. Thank you!
* Sara Parsons, Special Populations Supervisor, reports to PET on the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. She wrote, “Do you remember that salary increase non-contributing members ‘gave up’ in 1981? Well, guess what — the records show that they, in fact, received a 2% raise in addition to the lifetime non-contributing status. Section 16. Tn Code Annotated, Section 8-34-106, is amended by adding at the end of the section the following:
“The annual earnable compensation received after June 30, 1981 for any member covered by the non-contributing provisions of the retirement system shall be increased by three and six-tenths percent (3.6%) for the purpose of computing the average final compensation. However, such increases shall be discontinued for earnable compensation received after June 30, 1991.”
Many of our current legislators will be embarrassed to learn this. Sara Parsons’ “grass roots” effort to help bring about improved benefits for teachers and other state employees is culminating in a series of proposals to the General Assembly’s Council On Pensions and Insurance this spring. She assures us that, “This Council is the group that can make things happen.” John C. Bowman, PET’s Director of Government Relations, is working with Ms. Parsons, and will update our newsletter.
* Paul Copeland, a former Georgia educator and the ‘guiding hand’ that put together the new PET Member Benefits package similar to the one he built for Georgia’s PAGE, has become a “Sustaining Member” of PET by donating $100 above PET dues. Congratulation’s Mr. Copeland, and thank you for your hard work for PET.