Government

Teachers Union Pres.: ‘Let Us Police Our Own Profession’

In yet another eye-opening appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, AFT President Randi Weingarten revealed her long-standing desire for politicians and citizens to get out of the way and let teachers police themselves.  The discussion of the day was centered around pending teacher layoffs in the wake of the national budget problems.

In New York City where Weingarten ruled the local teachers union before taking on the national role she now occupies, past contract negotiations managed to protect bad or underperforming teachers with a ‘last in, first out’ layoff policy.  Polls show that the people want layoffs based on performance and not seniority, and while it appears that Ms. Weingarten agrees with the public, she prefers to be the arbiter of what determines a good teacher from a bad teacher.  Weingarten also has a small problem in her core beliefs, by her own admission on live television, the union president does not want ANY teacher laid off.

In this next clip, Ms. Weingarten also reinforces her position by reminding the panel that she has been against outsiders meddling with the operations of the teachers union for years.

‘I said to the chancellor and to the mayor, stop it already, let us police our own profession.’

Some might defend the right of teachers to monitor themselves and set standards for what is considered to be a good educator or an expendable one.  That argument sounds similar to one bankers and mortgage companies made as Senators and Congressmen talked about adding more government regulation to their businesses.  The position taken by the lawmakers in the argument with the overhaul of the financial industry had much to do with not trusting an industry to monitor itself.  We have heard similar arguments from police departments when communities demand that civilians are a part of local review boards. The transparency imposed by outside opinions included in any review process naturally removes some elements distrust and only serves to improve the outcome of the review.

Allowing only teachers to determine who is a good teacher and who is a bad teacher is akin to handing the students a blank report card and telling them to grade themselves.

Comments (169)

  • smithclar3nc3
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:33pm

    Let’s see since the establishment of the D.O.E. our average students are losing ground in all areas. Critical and independent thought as slowly be replaced with collective,and opressive ideologies,as well an entitlement philosophy. Our system is producing subpar student all at a cost of 5-20 times the amount it cost other countries to produce better students. I sure the media driven culture palys some role but in the end it’s up to teachers to push through this to get students to learn. Remember when teachers were strict authoritarian figures and the class idiot was joked upon well now teachers want to be kids freinds and the smartest kids in class are the jokes. It’s like effing bizzaro world.

    Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:31pm

    The problem with policing your own profession when you are teaching our children is that it presupposes we agree with your moral and ethical codes. From what I see in the school system these days — not so much.

    Public Unions are counter to the public interest.

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
  • publiuswarmac9999
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:30pm

    Only solution is for public education money to follow the child. What we now have is a system where the schools boards and the teachers unions work in collusion with each other, and the children are merely little pawns worth $10 to $15 thousand each. American citizens have to say enough is enough.

    Report Post »  
  • franknshadow
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:24pm

    NEA Union presidents have all openly maintained the same agenda stating many times that they, the Union, have no interest in students or schools, only power.. It is all they care about.. How many classrooms could be enhanced with the money the union donates to democrats, and pays their leadership..

    Report Post » PrfctlyFrank  
  • dmforman
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:16pm

    Why I’ll never go back to teaching and my children will never go to public school.

    Report Post »  
  • kraphtsman
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:16pm

    This broad is delusional if she thinks taxpayers would ever buy off on her idiotic “suggestion”. America‘s teachers’ unions are nothing more than a political fundraising wing of the Democrat party, and to suggest that any thinking citizen is stupid enough to believe anything coming out of her loud, piggish mouth is an insult !

    Ostensibly, the political storms raging in states like Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio are about the crippling costs public-sector unions (teachers’ unions, in particularly) are saddling taxpayers with. But in actuality, the squealing and thuggery being exhibited by union members and their elected Democrat stooges is about doing away with FORCED UNION MEMBERSHIP.

    Report Post »  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:12pm

    ****** to cops: let us police our own profession. Sounds right to me??

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:21pm

      Nick

      Remember the Teacher/****** from KY? (Pun intended) ISLAM could have Policed Herself. (Pun Intended)

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • wolverine
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:12pm

    If you can call teachers professionals it would be the only profession that can police itself

    Report Post » wolverine  
  • nfbailey
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:10pm

    Unionizing a profession, which is what it used to be, was wrong when it began. Tenure, which is part of collective bargaining, spelled the death of good teaching in too may instances. Lamebrains babysitting our kids because they can’t teach is a travesty. Rewriting our history and dumbing out kids down, has brought us to a terrible place. I say start by abolishing the NEA…..kick the feds out of the picture, and then let the local folks, clean up the ranks after they declare tenure illegal. Common sense needs to be in control again,.

    Report Post » nfbailey  
    • jeckelmyhyde
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:25pm

      1966 is significant, that is the year that teaching went from being a labor of love and pride for community and country and self worth to the selfish agenda driven propagandizing indoctrinating money sucking lobbying machine that we have today. That was the year that the NEA and the American Teachers Associatiion merged, and it has been down hill ever since.

      Report Post »  
  • jeckelmyhyde
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:08pm

    The fox wants to guard the hen house, while our educational system has gone to hell in a handbasket thanks to these unions. We have bad teachers that we can‘t get rid of and a significant number that don’t even understand what they are teaching. They have fought vouchers and private schools almost into nonexistence, and therefore eliminating any competition. As I see it, if they are getting taxpayer money, which they are, then absolutely no on policing themselves. It funny how libs want regulation and oversight over almost all private industry but feel that those standards should not apply to themselves,

    Report Post »  
  • alienguns
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:06pm

    Ya, policing yourselves has worked really good so far…….

    Report Post » alienguns  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:15pm

      And while we’re at it, lets let the inmates run the assylum.

      Report Post »  
  • Whostolemypig
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:59pm

    I think convicts show police the prisons too. As Col. Allen West said, “don’t blow sunshine up my butt”.

    Report Post »  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:58pm

    she no doubt wants a blank check from every taxpayers checking account as well….

    Trust
    ME!
    ( so sayest the teacher

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Rob_M
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:58pm

    Yes, there are no examples of unions policing themselves going bad. *waves my hand jedi style*

    Report Post » Rob_M  
  • 912always
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:56pm

    No, let the parents monitor teachers. Every parent should be asked every year to fill out a review form on a teacher’s performance and then these should be evaluated

    Report Post »  
  • Ken
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:56pm

    The Union police it’s own????? I think it would be easier to get Hamas to accept the Israeli people than to get the Union to police their own.

    Report Post »  
  • WILLIAM E.
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:48pm

    Dumb & Dumber. If she thinks it is working I‘d hate to see her explanation of it isn’t working !!

    Report Post »  
  • Marcobob69
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:48pm

    These teachers are losing sight of the most important thing in all of this union protests, THEIR STUDENTS! What kind of “lessons” are the kids learning from watching this? Hell, they don’t have a clue that they are being USED as negotiating pawns by the union organizers! If I was a parent and had a kid in the Wisconsin school system, I would be “mad-as-hell” at ALL of the crap going on in Madison!!! And where are the Democratic Senators in all of this, you may ask? Hiding in another STATE like a bunch of WUSSES! It‘s time to start IMPEACHMENT proceedings against them if they don’t want to do the JOB they were elected for!!! The nation is watching what happens in Madison, 45 or 46 other states are in the same kind of situation as Wisconsin, and what happens there will have a huge bearing on what happens in those states! I sure hope they get it right for EVERYONE involved.

    Report Post »  
    • TTRR
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:54pm

      Unfortunately, these teachers will have the kids back in class for a good part of the day, five days a week and they will spin this to their one sided, shortsighted, self promoting agenda. Most of the kids will not know what hit them and will be well on their way to indoctrination.

      Report Post » TTRR  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:56pm

      They “forgot” about the kids .. a long long time ago .. it hasn’t been about the STUDENTS for decades.

      Report Post »  
  • TTRR
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:48pm

    Oh, Really?? Just who’s children do you think you are teaching, anyway?

    Report Post » TTRR  
  • Pyx
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:47pm

    Teachers Union Pres.: ‘Let Us Police Our Own Profession’

    Not with my kids, you don’t !

    Report Post » Pyx  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:27pm

      Not as long as we the people are paying your salaries.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • mickey16
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:35pm

      @texascommonsense
      There’s the answer. If they want to police themselves, then they can pay themselves.

      Report Post »  
    • ilovethiscountry
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:58pm

      @TEXAS COMMON SENSE

      I agree, Let them start their own schools and have people who want to send their children go there pay. We would get a voucher system very fast that way.

      Report Post »  
  • Stonewall_Jackson
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:45pm

    Ya and people in hell want ice water too. Sure they want this but will they keep it? Only our fine elected officials will determine so. Call you local rep today and demand they take a anti-union view. While they most likely received a huge campaign donation from they local union time to step away from a huge part of what has been helping keep unqualified worked in position for so many years. Too many good people looking for work to carry the free loaded of past years.

    The unions have not yet realized their time is very limited. Instead of seeking compromise they still take the stand that they are untouchable. That will be their death IMHO.

    Report Post » My Hero-Allen West-click my name  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:43pm

    Good Edgumacator

    One that toes the union line, uses all 15 sick days per year, fudges on students grades so that the test scores are skewed up, attends all union rally‘s with Hitler sign’s of the Target of Dujour, teaches all the skulls full of mush that Republican(BAD), Conservative(BAD), self reliance(BAD), taxpayers (BAD),
    soooo easy

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • uisignorant
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:42pm

    Teachers unions policing themselves, is like politicians writing there own bills. They both will put it to the people.

    Report Post »  
    • KenInIL
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 12:22am

      The only this begins to work is if it has financial consequences. For example, if the graduation rate doesn’t improve -2% raise or stay above 95% otherwise +2% raise. Same stuff for achievement of grade level proficiency. Teachers would cull out their lazy colleagues if their raises depended on it. Let’s see a contract like that !!!

      Privatization would probably get it done faster tho.

      Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:42pm

    how in the world do idiots like this get in any position of authority????? it boggles my mind

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • hauschild
    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:37pm

    These criminals would be behind bars in another era of America.

    The shame and embarrassment of them all.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:43pm

      Let PARENTS have VOUCHERS .. and send their children to school where THEY choose.

      Report Post »  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:43pm

      Public Education is a monopoly protected by the government’s monopoly on force. Monopolies exist for the benefit of the proprietor at the detriment of the oppressed. In Public Education the proprietors are the teacher unions and the oppressed are the students and the taxpayers. Why would you expect the tyrants to aid the education of the masses? Ignorant citizens are the tyrant’s greatest resource!
      http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:44pm

      And thisfox shall preside over the hen-house! http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • Obama Bin Lying
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:52pm

      Let them police their own? Like skip their jobs, get phony doctor notes. Drag their students into the middle of it, break trespassing laws….Yes, lot of good policing there

      Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:52pm

      If this nation is to survive, we MUST dismantle the public school system.

      PRIVATIZE
      PRIVATIZE
      PRIVATIZE

      Therightsofbilly  
    • DashRipRock
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:56pm

      Ill make a deal with RANDI

      you can have a say in your profession

      if I can decide where my tax money goes….

      Report Post »  
    • cnsrvtvj
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:57pm

      Let them police themselves? Is she crazy? This comes from a woman who protects the worst of the worst in the classroom. Just look at what’s happening in Wisconsin and it is plain to see that the teachers could care less about the kids. I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know that teachers’ judging themselves is not the answer.

      http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the liberal mindset video

      Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • Fletch
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 12:59pm

      PAALLEEEZZE …….

      Since 1997, NLPC has become a high-profile and credible source for information about America’s labor unions through our publication Union Corruption Update.

      Union Corruption Update
      http://nlpc.org/union-corruption-update

      Report Post » Fletch  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:03pm

      I just heard Obama tell the Governors to quit “picking on” the Union people ..the people who this weekend were assaulting TEA Party and members of the PRESS….. ! God that man is delusional! I guess UNION VIOLENCE is OKY DOKY WITH BO.

      Report Post »  
    • Rogue
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:05pm

      As far as I can tell, teachers have been “policing” themselves for decades now. Other than job losses due to budget cutbacks, the unions have final say in who is fired, retained or promoted.

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • jakartaman
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Thanks teachers Union for get overpaid over benefited and grossly under performing

      Do you really believe the American people believe you – that you can police yourself.

      Take a memo – we have woken up and the party is over

      Report Post »  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Education and the unions that control everything from performance evaluation to curriculum are not interested in the true education of children as an institution (even though many individual teachers are). As an institution it is a vehicle to establish politicians in positions that promote their liberal agendas as well as instilling these same agendas with the bias and slanted curriculum. Case in point Global warming is taught as a fact that man has caused it when the truth is far from that being established in any scientific area anywhere (except in the mind of liberals). I counseled my daughter to not choose the answers provided on a multiple guess question that assumed this to be fact be instead write the accurate answer in the margin. When her teacher questioned her and she explained why she did not answer with one of the given choices the teacher admitted she was right and did not count her answer wrong. But, it was taught as fact to all the other kids regardless. NEA and its incestuous and deceptive ties to politicians to achieve a greater agenda needs to be exposed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • REDPILLREADY
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:30pm

      This is the “Charlie Sheen” of education. You can tell how long they have lived in an alternate reality when they ramble with conviction on positions that are absurd to the normal person. This has gone on way to long and I just hope the American people finally sweep this nonsense away in the near future. Competition is the only true and reliable mechanism for assuring performance and innovation. VOUCHERS NOW!

      Report Post » REDPILLREADY  
    • 123gone
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:35pm

      Hauschild – You are so right on. Too many teachers have looked the other way instead of blowing the whistle on the ones that are corrupting the system and our children. They no longer deserve our trust.

      Report Post »  
    • hifi74
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:44pm

      Ok I’ll grant the premise that it is the same argument made by bankers and morgatge brokers, however there is one major flaw in that comparison. The teachers are paid by the taxpayers unlike the bankers and brokers.

      Report Post » hifi74  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:48pm

      Seeing as how everything they do effects my children going through their system I think I will maintain quite a little say in what goes on thank you very much !!!!!!! i.e. public employees who don’t want to be answerable to the public. What a nice piece of liberal reasoning !!!!!!

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • Creestof
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 1:52pm

      The only good thing about this woman? She makes Pelosi look attractive.

      Report Post »  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:01pm

      @CATB… Amen!!

      Report Post »  
    • NotaLemming
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:05pm

      And from the lips of the teachers this is what we will get under them self policing.. http://yourdaddy.net/2010/06/09/bill-ayers-favors-the-marxist-school-system-in-venezuela/

      Schools need to be run by business not bureaucratic gov. This is why even with k-12 grades in the USA on the bottom. Then take Higher education where profit matters and you see grades matter too. That is until you are tenured then you don’t have to know how to teach or even show up for that matter.

      Report Post » NotaLemming  
    • avenger
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:15pm

      hahahahaha… sure let the vampires run the blood bank…

      Report Post »  
    • drbage
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:17pm

      Isn‘t this what the teachers’ unions have been doing ever since they were allowed to be unionized? They have ruled and education has gone by the wayside. IF they could prove results, they might get some sympathy, but the results are not there and have not been for many years.

      Report Post »  
    • Sinista Mace
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:24pm

      This lady is nuts.

      Sure…let’s let the fox guard the henhouse.

      pfft

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • ISeeDanger.com
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:28pm

      Sharia law isn’t sounding so bad after all…. after listening to her. Shut up, put on your burka, and give all your property to your husband.

      Report Post » ISeeDanger.com  
    • drphil69
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:31pm

      So the inmates should run the asylum? Makes perfect sense, if you’re a complete moron, or an anarchist, socialist, communist.

      Report Post »  
    • upstateny
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:51pm

      All we can do is continue to work towards the elimination of ALL unions.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:55pm

      Tenure is a JOKE! This woman is a progressive schill and has no credibility with me.

      Report Post »  
    • obfuscatenot
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 3:52pm

      Only when one has “skin in the game” is there a positive outcome! Always. So, therefore teachers who have no fear of being fired because of tenure-where’s the skin? A “free” education for each and every child-where’s the skin? Parents don’t appreciate the value of a “free” education. We should each pay for our own children’s education. A retiree, on a fixed income should not have to pay for my kids. If it takes me 30 years I should pay for my choice to have a child and I should reap the benefits of my labor. Me. I take care of me and mine and you take care of you and yours.

      Report Post »  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 5:11pm

      Yea, right. ANY agency that is permitted to ‘police themselves’ reverts to a protected society. Such a practice NEVER works. For example, the police forces recognize that FACT,,,,that’s why internal affairs is a separate entity.

      Besides, the teachers unions have PROVEN ineffective at policing themselves,,,,look at their past. And if they are so intent at doing so,,,,,why have they waited until now.

      Report Post »  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 5:15pm

      “she has been against outsiders meddling with the operations of the teachers union”

      Meddlers? you calling the taxpayers meddlers? the ones who are paying for the education system are meddlers? Sounds like you and yours believe you are BIGGER THAN LIFE.

      Truth is, you and yours are about the get cut down at the knees. Let us know how the view is when that happens.

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 5:54pm

      Have you ever noticed the faces of the women dems, the libs, the commies,etc…They Must be fighting for UGLY rights….They sure pick the good ones….

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • crolic9
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 6:04pm

      Pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all! I grew up reciting this every morning in school with my hand on my heart. We no longer do that for fear of offending someone!! Let’s see how many americans will re-post this & not care about offending.

      Report Post »  
    • DisillusionedDaily
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 6:35pm

      What incentive does a teacher have to work hard and be exceptional when she or he will be held to the same wage increases as the worst of them? I was union, for three years. I got tired of waiting for the annual contract and the promise of another twenty-five cents an hour, which usually coincided with a twenty dollar monthly union dues increase. My net gain, after raised union dues and taxes amounted to less than two dollars a week. Big deal! I left the union and went to a company that paid based on merit and gave production bonuses. My pay doubled in less than a year. The unions have driven more American jobs to other countries than have left for any other reason.

      Report Post » DisillusionedDaily  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 6:40pm

      If Wall Street suggests that it can – and wants to – police itself (as it has been allowed to for the last decade), WHY NOT TEACHERS??

      How did the Wall St. thingy work for the USA??

      Report Post »  
    • independentvoteril
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 7:31pm

      I will let the teachers unions police themselves when the government starts allowing me to police where they spend my tax dollars..

      Report Post » independentvoteril  
    • nptden
      Posted on February 28, 2011 at 10:33pm

      What a joke…they really do think people are stupid…Unfortunately most are. They are busy working and don’t keep track of the abuses by these blood sucking unions….example teacher making over 100K year, teaches one class and takes off to do union work where he’s paid over 50K a year. Meanwhile a substitute teacher has to be hired….Thanks to corrupt ‘collective bargaining’ by politicians and unions who lie in the same bed….Who get’s screwed? The tax-payer.

      Report Post » nptden  
    • Miguelito
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:08am

      Teachers policing themselves, what a joke! Like the medical association policing themselves. I worked in the medical profession in a hospital and community health setting and saw bad doctors just move to another agency or open up a practice in another state. Our education system from elementary schools to colleges is in a mess!

      Report Post »  
    • DirectlyUnPCman
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 12:49pm

      Does anyone think they would reduce any of their benefits on their own? Thats like expecting congress to pass term limit legislation without being forced to do so by the people.

      Report Post » DirectlyUnPCman  
    • Scorchem
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 9:50pm

      Aesop’s Fables all over again! What a joke. If they wanted to do better there would be no law standing in their way. Police themselves? What a joke. Fire them all! Eliminate their union. The kids, parents and nation would be better off, not to mention state budgets.

      Report Post » Toastery  

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