A Good Read for Teachers

Here's a good riposte to all the false charges filed by Ms. Elia and her ROSSAC goons against teachers in Professional Standards. It's a good comeback to board members who won't set aside a permanent time on the board agenda for teachers and students to speak on issues that concern them. These same board members pretend that the board doesn't know how the superintendent uses Professional Standards with the vile Linda Kipley's carrying out Elia's despicable plots against teachers to make them fear for their jobs.

It's especially apt for April Griffin, who's having her luau campaign kickoff this coming week. Maybe in remarks to her supporters she will explain why she told Professional- Standards-savaged teacher Steve Kemp at a meeting he asked her for to discuss his cooked-up Professional Standards charge that he should "keep quiet" about the meeting she granted him and that "good things were happening behind the scenes"--that is to say out of the sunshine in an atmosphere of closed government that violates the state's open government law.

And Griffin should explain to the luau attendees why she let Carol Kurdell and Candy Olson coerce her into ceasing asking for things to come off the out-of-the-sunshine agenda rolling by the board unexamined dealing with issues that demand board discussion for public enlightenment.

That's how democracy is supposed to work. Griffin let Kurdell and Olson intimidate her into silence by saying that her asking for a no-bid contract to come off the agenda for discussion by the board was "disloyal to the staff."

This Kurdell-Olson attack, which Griffin should have answered with, "I'm working for the voters and the schools, not the staff," Griffin has closed down on asking for the rolling agenda to stop for discussion of other controversial issues. Since the scare Kurdell and Olson gave Griffin, she has given up any sign of working for the schools, teachers, students, and voters." Griffin has let Olson and Kurdell cow her so that subsequent to this board dais attack from two board harpies, she has become one of Elia's most reiable android made-by-Mattel automotans, who pushes the green light for anything Elia says.

One of Griffin's four opponents should challenge her on these issues. They should leaflet her luau. Politics is not a garden party. The winning cadidate often

de Queensbury pattycake civilities. If he or she lacks the guts to leaflet April's luau with opposition information, then that prissiness is indicative that the guy or gal will be too timid to challenge the other board members in discussions and to confront Elia's dictatorship. lee

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.



One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,

"What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in

life was to become a teacher?"



To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Barbara . Be

honest. What do you make?"



Barbara, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to

know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)



"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.



I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.



I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't

make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.



You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every

person at the table)



I make kids wonder.



I make them question.



I make them apologize and mean it.



I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.



I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't

everything.



I make them read, read, read.



I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not

the man-made calculator.



I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know

about English while preserving their unique cultural identity..



I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.



I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in

the United States of America.



Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given,

work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life ( Barbara paused

one last time and then continued.)



Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money

isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because

they are ignorant.



You want to know what I make?



I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.



What do you make Mr.. CEO?



His jaw dropped, he went silent.



THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER, EVERY CEO, EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW.



Even all your personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters,

coaches and your spiritual leaders/teachers.



A profound answer!!!