Where's Detroit at?
ooo....oooo....oooo! I just gotta: BEHIND THE PREPOSITION!
Schools_new_math
My preference would be to eliminate all sports and go back to the History, Social Studies, higher math skills, english and a foreign language. I would also encourage mechanical and building classes, computer programming and the sciences. To bolster those you need hands on help I would support after school classes.I would also have all boy or girl schools and uniforms would be required. The school year would consist of 2 breaks for 2 weeks each.
Schools_new_math
Farmer Jim, you wrote, "Don,"
Well, at least this time you addressed me respectfully.
You also wrote, "I didn't read your entire post because it drags on and on"
Yeah, I was just babbling. I'm sure I didn't say anything worth reading. So much for respect. Don't expect me to respond in depth to you ever again.
You also wrote, "you must be UAW to think $57,000 per year is nothing"
I'm a teacher, FJ... MEA! And did I ever say $57.000 per year is "nothing"??? You need to go back and read what I did say about it... and stop putting words in my mouth.
You also said, "And don't assume so much, it makes you sound pompous."
Too bad you leave so much to assume. You're not even proud enough of your thoughts and words to put your own name to it. Actually, the anonymity gives you free reign to be rude and spout whatever comes off the top of your head, including mocking other people's names. I'm through with you and this discussion. It's been totally unenlightening.
dps drug test some students
why dont we drug test the school board they appear to be high on something.
Suit: DPS had little oversight
Why wasn't Yolanda Scott Glover named in the Law Suit? After all she is listed as the President of New Bridge Multimedia Inc.
Check the information out here:
http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_0b69yh
Schools_new_math
Don, I didn't read your entire post because it drags on and on (Composition 101), but you must be UAW to think $57,000 per year is nothing. Do the math, that's a darn good hourly rate for teaching. And don't assume so much, it makes you sound pompous.
Where's Detroit at?
Dr. Noren the new President at Wayne State Univesity should be asking his Physics department and his other departments to aid in developing a plan to bring this new technology center to Tech Town the new incubator for high technology start ups!
If he needs to he could work with Oakland University or any other university including MSU to have two campuses-this would allow about 100-200 of those jobs to come to Detroit. Where is the leadership in Detroit's academic ivory towers!
Management needs to be vetted: Oversight is a management responsibility!
Dr. Calloway should have asked for an audit of all departments prior to taking over. If I am a cashier and I take a register that is already open and being used and I do not count down that drawer to ensure that I am starting with a clean slate-then when the drawer comes up short I am liable for its contents as well.
This is a question of handling the duties correctly. This lady is being paid nearly 300K for what?
Can anyone say receivership! Again!
No one is thinking outside of the box or using any scientific management prinsiples!
Schools_new_math
Well said Don. I'd like to add that some employers would rather not pay employees fair wages if they could get away with it. Unions, not perfect though necessary, can ensure fair wages and treatment. Why aren't more people up in arms over American Axle CEO receiving an $8 mil. bonus???
Public School=Detroit
Will this criminal situation in Detroit ever end. I'm beginning to think there are no honest God fearing citizens living in Detroit. Even the Clergy is bankrupt as they support the Cities dishonesty. The citizens of this crime ridden city should be taken off the dole. It is no longer fair to have the honest hard working people of Michigan and the Country paying taxes that support the worest city in the world. There appears to be no shame.
Detroiters shine again
With a 25% graduation rate, and 37% illiteracy rate, who in there right mind would expect a detroiter to know how to count?
Schools_new_math
Former Naval Person, you wrote, "Mr. Schmittdiel is similar to many UAW members in that they have inflated opinions of their skills"
Are you a former student of mine, FNP? If not, you would have to be psychic to know whether my opinion of my skills is inflated. So unless you are psychic, you are the one with an inflated opinion of your own skills.
And I'm not sure what claim I made in my post that you're reacting to. I list my qualifications pretty much as they would appear on a resume. It's interesting that people who critique teachers often complain that they have no 'real world experience' in their fields. Yet when confronted with a teacher who possesses substantial real world experience in their field, you diminish the value of those qualifications as well. Obviously, there is nothing a teacher can be that would satisfy such people.
You do draw an interesting analogy with teachers and the UAW, however. It is true that teachers, as public employees, would not be where they are economically without the leverage of union membership. And this does account for why teachers are better off than, as you put it, (some) "better-educated people working for less money and fewer benefits" (do consider that there are also less educated people working for more money and better benefits than teachers as well). I consider my union alliance wise, not a sin or something to be ashamed of. I believe collective bargaining is the great leveler between labor and management. Being "better-educated" than teachers doesn't necessarily equate with wisdom, and if these people who are making less than teachers were wise, they too would unionize to realize the true market value of their skills.
My wife works in a private hospital, and week after week she comes home with stories of high-level employees being confronted by security personnel when they arrive at work. Despite 10, 20, even 30 years of responsible, productive service to that instituion, a stuffed shirt tells them to pack up their things, they're being "let go". And why? Because their years of service have made them one of the higher paid employees in their department, and despite their own loyalty and contributions to the success of the hospital, a good salary and benefits gets them booted out the door first when cutbacks come. Hard to become better paid than a teacher when you have no protections against this sort of treatment. And this is the kind of treatment that occurs when the power of management runs roughshod over labor, and when employees have no contractual protections. Other people are watching and seeing it too, and as the behavior of management becomes even more callous and frequent, unions will start looking more and more attractive. Then those people you speak of, who are "better-educated people working for less money and fewer benefits" than teachers, may aspire to what teachers have wisely created and paid for, which is a fair wage and fair benefits, and not to be treated like dirt just because you've been successful at what you do.
I wonder, FNP... do you also really consider a salary of $57,000 per year unreasonable for a seasoned professional, most of whom hold Master's Degrees? If it's looked at from a purely economic standpoint, what value would there be in pursuing a 4, 5, or 6 years degree if you can't look forward to such a salary?
Schools_new_math
Mr. Schmittdiel is similar to many UAW members in that they have inflated opinions of their skills and what they consider an appropriate salary.
Education, ironically, does not attract the best and the brightest into the profession; instead, there are far too many of the dimmest and dullest. Many studies demonstrate that education majors, as a group, score in the lower reaches of the college entrance examinations. The education colleges do not have demanding curricula; an degree in education lacks the intellectual rigor of a good science or arts degree.
Teachers are well-paid, considering the modest qualifications many of them have. There are many better-educated people working for less money and fewer benefits. Teachers, like UAW members, will not receive any sympathy from me for their economic condition.
Schools_new_math
I see why you aren't teaching anymore, Farmer Jim. You lack tact, people skills, and writing ability.
You also seem to misunderstand why teachers are paid as well as they are (and Michigan teachers are well compensated, no argument there), which is interesting because if you are a former teacher, you should understand why you were being paid what you were.
A true teacher brings expertise to the classroom. And it's not just an expertise in how to present a lesson, it's possessing a mastery of your content area. Just as a doctor or lawyer doesn't do tasks that appear all that demanding on the surface, teachers are practicing a skill that took years to develop. I teach Psychology and Sociology, and I spent 15 years providing therapy in a psychiatric hospital after graduating from college to gain my expertise. Do you think the average person possesses the knowlege and depth of understanding that I'm bringing to the classroom? I'm 54 years old and I've spent my entire life studying and working in the field of psychology and education. I happen to KNOW that my students are reaping rewards from my experiences that few other people can offer. It makes me proud that I'm able to do that, it gives me great job satisfaction, and I feel I've done something worthwhile with my life. The people of this state have chosen to compensate me generously, and that is appreciated as well. Perhaps they do it out of their own appreciation for the similarly talented teachers they came to know growing up. I could probably name a dozen who had a profound impact on my own life. And I'm currently surrounded in my building by people who also possess unquestioned expertise in their own content area. If all they made was $57,000 per year, they would be grossly underpaid. Do you really think that is some sort of grand reward for someone with a college degree? You need to get out of the corn field and check out what your neighbors are making.
All of that makes me doubt whether you ever were a teacher, Farmer Jim. If you ever had been, you would know how demanding the job really is, and you wouldn't spout such nonsense.
Schools_new_math
"cutting back on athletics and the arts"
I've always been a stern opponent of 'cutting back' or eliminating the arts in schools. I think that music and art are so crucial in early development.
