Alabama Lawmaker Abandons GOP Over New Law Aimed At Teachers

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Chalk up another Democratic win this week: Alabama State Rep. Daniel Boman, who entered the legislature as a Republican in November, is switching parties to become a Democrat after he says the GOP went too far in attacking teachers in the state.

It's just the latest example of mainline Republicans turning on their party following the November sweep which put them in control of the House. On Tuesday, the solidly-Republican 26th Congressional District in New York rejected the GOP in part over the party's decision to end Medicare in the House budget. A few days before that, the Democrats stunned the Republican city of Jacksonville by electing the first Democratic mayor in 20 years. In New Hampshire Democrats picked up a surprising win in a legislative special election.

Now there's Bowman, who's walking away from the GOP after it took on the state's public school teachers.

From the Tuscaloosa News:

Boman, a 36-year-old lawyer from Sulligent, said Wednesday's vote on a bill to change the state's tenure and fair dismissal laws for educators convinced him he was in the wrong party.

Bowman's switch makes the new makeup of the Alabama state House 65 Republicans and 40 Democrats.

The bill in question makes it much easier for the state to fire teachers and impose what critics say are arbitrary and unclear performance standards to measure teacher performance. Huffington Post's Joy Resmovits wrote a rundown of the bill -- which Gov. Robert Bentley ® is expected to sign -- here.

At a press conference today, Bowman said that the law was just one of many that went too far and eventually forced him out of his Republican home.

"During this current session I have seen this legislative body pass bills that I feel adversely affect what my people back home want, need, and deserve. ... I will never choose the Party over the people again," he said.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/alabama-lawmaker-abandons-gop-over-teacher-rights-stripping-law.php?ref=fpblg

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

In related news, recently elected FL governor Rick "Crook" Scott is down to 29% approval rating with 57% disapproving of his performance. Obama's approval rating in this state, meanwhile, jumped to 51%. Are there lessons to be learned? One would think so. Is the GOP gonna learn them? Most certainly not. And that's a good thing.

Edited May 27, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In related news, recently elected FL governor Rick "Crook" Scott is down to 29% approval rating with 57% disapproving of his performance. Obama's approval rating in this state, meanwhile, jumped to 51%. Are there lessons to be learned? One would think so. Is the GOP gonna learn them? Most certainly not. And that's a good thing.

29%? Wow!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

29%? Wow!

Yep, the election was just 6 months ago and he did win the majority of the vote - however slight a majority - then. Floridians know today that they made a big mistake in November. Not enough realized that back then. When you elect a crook to the highest executive office in the state, the outcome cannot be good. And it isn't.

[Golden Gate 530]

Good for him...coming from a teacher!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Ha, so a loser refuses to allow ####### teachers to be fired like they deserve to be?

Is this anything new?

Fire them all except for those who show they know how to work with kids. Oh wait, the LOSER UNION MEMBERS wouldn't allow that would they? Everyone needs to get theirs.... No matter what the cost (in education or to the taxpayer).

[luckytxn 2,265]

Whoopee. Another RINO shows their true colors like they did up in New York.

[RabailGhazal 0]

well these are the best information which you have share with us especially with the teacher point of view and thanks you have share with all of the community these are nice and useful information for all of us

[Golden Gate 530]

Ha, so a loser refuses to allow ####### teachers to be fired like they deserve to be?

Is this anything new?

Fire them all except for those who show they know how to work with kids. Oh wait, the LOSER UNION MEMBERS wouldn't allow that would they? Everyone needs to get theirs.... No matter what the cost (in education or to the taxpayer).

e

First of all, the majority of teachers work because they love children and have altruistic intentions. They don't work for the money - which is not enough for one parent to support a family! There is a

50% turnover rate in the teaching profession. Most of the ones who quit, do so because they realize they don't like teaching. The so-called '####### teachers' are in a minority. There is way too much focus on this minority of teachers than warrants taking away a teacher's right to negotiate. If teachers have no ability to negotiate, administrators can take advantage of them. And that is what is happening in non-union states.

Secondly, Principals review teachers about 4 - 6 times per year. That means they spend about 6 hours total per year observing a teacher. This is not a significant amount of time to fully diagnose a teacher's performance. The tools for performance review are very abstract and vague - open to interpretation by the principal.

Education seems to be becoming more about business, rather than about teaching children. Performance is becoming too much about whether students are improving based on the tests, rather than whether they are really learning critical thinking skills and social skills. Administrators (principals) are making 4-times what a teacher makes, and get bonuses of up to $20,000 on top of their salary. Yet, teaching staff is being cut to the bare-bones, so that it is getting harder and harder for a teacher because their class-size increases, their high-risk students don't have the resources to assist them, and teachers' aides for the lower grades are being cut, which means younger children aren't getting the reading support they need to succeed at the higher grades. In our district, the superintendent sent out a poll to see if teachers would consider getting their supplement cut to save a teacher's job. Well, a supplement is about $500.00, just before Christmas. This, compared to the $20,000 bonus of the principals who weren't asked to cut their bonuses.

Keep blaming the teachers for the ills of this society!!! Why not try being a teacher and then you will find out how it really is! The system is failing the teachers, not the other way around.

Edited May 27, 2011 by Golden Gate

[Zero Sum 305]

e

First of all, the majority of teachers work because they love children and have altruistic intentions. They don't work for the money - which is not enough for one parent to support a family! There is a

50% turnover rate in the teaching profession. Most of the ones who quit, do so because they realize they don't like teaching. The so-called '####### teachers' are in a minority. There is way too much focus on this minority of teachers than warrants taking away a teacher's right to negotiate. If teachers have no ability to negotiate, administrators can take advantage of them. And that is what is happening in non-union states.

Secondly, Principals review teachers about 4 - 6 times per year. That means they spend about 6 hours total per year observing a teacher. This is not a significant amount of time to fully diagnose a teacher's performance. The tools for performance review are very abstract and vague - open to interpretation by the principal.

Education seems to be becoming more about business, rather than about teaching children. Performance is becoming too much about whether students are improving based on the tests, rather than whether they are really learning critical thinking skills and social skills. Administrators (principals) are making 4-times what a teacher makes, and get bonuses of up to $20,000 on top of their salary. Yet, teaching staff is being cut to the bare-bones, so that it is getting harder and harder for a teacher because their class-size increases, their high-risk students don't have the resources to assist them, and teachers' aides for the lower grades are being cut, which means younger children aren't getting the reading support they need to succeed at the higher grades. In our district, the superintendent sent out a poll to see if teachers would consider getting their supplement cut to save a teacher's job. Well, a supplement is about $500.00, just before Christmas. This, compared to the $20,000 bonus of the principals who weren't asked to cut their bonuses.

Keep blaming the teachers for the ills of this society!!! Why not try being a teacher and then you will find out how it really is! The system is failing the teachers, not the other way around.

All we got was a turkey before Christmas. And all of this before the economy went to the crapper thanks to that characteristic people at the top looking out for people at the top. I loved my time as a teacher, and have progressed into 'bigger (not necessarily better) things,' but the administrative BS was crazy when there were so many kids that needed so much more institutional support beyond the classroom.

Edited May 27, 2011 by Zero Sum

[Golden Gate 530]

Many administrators have spent very little time as teachers in a classroom, because they were more motivated to move up the salary scale. Some admit they were 'crappy teachers'. Therefore, they tend to be more removed from the actual day to day teaching experience that goes on in a classroom. Teaching needs to be respected again. Teachers are the ones who know these children the best, because they see them every day. They are the ones who will have the best intuitive sense about how to help a student progress. Implementing program after program from the top down, because of

supposed research 'data' or testing data only shows that our system is failing. It amazes me how every couple of years, we are supposed to adopt a new program for helping students, and then suddenly that program is no longer valid. Jeez! What happened to it? How can anyone continue to stand on their feet, when the ground is constantly shifting? Yet, I have found that school systems get a kick-back for implementing new programs. Hmmmm, what is the true motivation here?

[Golden Gate 530]

All we got was a turkey before Christmas. And all of this before the economy went to the crapper thanks to that characteristic people at the top looking out for people at the top. I loved my time as a teacher, and have progressed into 'bigger (not necessarily better) things,' but the administrative BS was crazy when there were so many kids that needed so much more institutional support beyond the classroom.

Exactly! Well, when you make $30,000 a year, $500 helps you get a few new clothes for your children for the rest of the year and a turkey.