More Unions Bow Out of "Race to Top"

[tonysam]

Maybe some have finally gotten out of bed and smelled the coffee that allowing RTTT would in effect destroy them and public education:

You can tick off a few more state-union squabbles about the second round of the Race to the Top.

Indiana officials are no longer moving forward, citing the state union's opposition to the program as a factor. The Colorado Education Association, a supporter of the state's previous Race to the Top bid, now formally opposes a tenure-reform bill that lawmakers want to pass to improve their chances at winning. Support from Minnesota's state union seems unlikely, given disagreements over the teacher sections of the state's plan.

A lack of "collaboration" is the big term of art for why these unions are bowing out, and again I really wish they'd be more specific about what that term's supposed to mean. Obviously there are substantive policy differences between unions and state leaders. So does collaboration mean splitting the baby? Does it mean, shut up and do what we want? Does it mean, give a little on pay, get a little on evaluation?

Education Week

[LiberalFighter]

1. ISTA (Indiana) stated the reason they didn't support it was because

they weren't consulted about the details until it was too late.

Indiana's Superintendent of Public Education is not qualified to make education decisions. He has had little experience in education except as a school superintendent. Daniels forced out the previous Superintendent who was also a Republican but had much better credentials and was a supporter of education.

[AwakeAtLast]

2. Tony Bennett wanted ISTA to approve of his application without any input whatsoever

Here's the link to his statement: http://www.ista-in.org/blog.aspx?blogid=27468

[starroute]

3. Why does 'race to the top" look so much like a race to the bottom?

Just one more example of black-is-white, up-is-down naming, I guess.

[MichiganVote]

4. Its bad for kids.