Education Reaction: They Really Do These Things

We’ve noted here before some strong reporting on K-12 follies by the Education Action Group. A recent newsletter from the group was different, sadly, by the volume of news and developments across the country that reinforce the concept that far too many people still put the adults ahead of the students.

Consider the following:

  • A student in Danville, Illinois who made online comments about contract negotiations between the school district and teachers union was reportedly harassed by a teacher
  • In Franklin, New Jersey teachers seeking a larger pay raise picketed outside of the home of the school board president. The volunteer leader was not home, but his daughter was there to witness some of her own teachers "attacking" her father.
  • National Education Association membership is declining as several states have freed teachers from compulsory union membership. While union leaders have verbally (and beyond) assaulted state and local officials for cutting aid and seeking union concessions during difficult economic times, the NEA is now cutting employees and asking its affiliates to do with less.
  • Meaningful education reforms in Washington state were stopped in their tracks by Democratic lawmakers. The reaction from one major Democrat fundraiser:  “It is impossible to escape the painful reality that we Democrats are now on the wrong side of every important education-reform issue. Today, the (teachers union) is literally strangling our public schools to death with an almost infinite number of institutionalized rules that limit change, innovation and excellence." Seattle Times columnist Lynne Varner adds, “People are starting to see the light about the Democrats’ intransigence.” Refusing to stand up to the special interest teacher unions could be “a matter of political life or death” for the Dems, she adds.  
      

Township Bill Boosted, Passed by Senate

In a real victory for reforming Indiana’s township government, the Indiana Chamber and allies worked vigorously to improve SB 512 and successfully passed that revised version. As introduced, SB 512 eliminated townships (which is preferred), but to get the bill passed from the Senate Local Government Committee it was greatly watered down.

The day before the final vote before the full Senate, two favorable amendments were added and one bad amendment was defeated. As the amended bill was up for the final vote, the prospects for victory were not good. During the past few weeks, many township officials and their lobbyists (paid for with taxpayers’ dollars) were at the Statehouse in force to apply pressure on their legislators to oppose the bill. With the Daniels’ administration’s team and members of the Chamber-led coalition, we successfully swayed at least five votes to get to the final tally of 28-22 to pass the bill. 

The Chamber wishes to thank Sen. Lawson for her hard work and leadership on getting this bill passed. Senator David Long (R-Fort Wayne) provided leadership of the Republican caucus, where all of the supporting votes came from. We know there are several Democrat senators who would have supported this bill, but were unfortunately not permitted to vote that way.

Indiana Chamber board members and other citizens who contacted legislators to help swing several crucial votes played a critical role in the outcome. Senate Bill 512 is one of the keystone local government efficiency bills from the Kernan-Shepard Commission recommendations. We will work diligently to keep it moving in the House and bring it to a successful conclusion at the end of the session.