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The self-proclaimed muckraker behind the ACORN sting and a series of other undercover videos has taken a stab at a New Jersey teachers union.
In his "Teachers Unions Gone Wild" videos, James O'Keefe released unflattering comments made by veteran teacher Alissa Ploshnick at a New Jersey Education Association conference.
The Star-Ledger reports,
Alissa Ploshnick's unintentional starring performance in the "Teachers Unions Gone Wild" video included, among other things, using the "N" word and joking about how hard it is for tenured teachers to be fired. It was all caught on tape at a hotel bar during the weeklong conference in August.
Since the video surfaced, Ploshnick has been suspended from her job as a special education teacher and denied a pay raise, according to The Star-Ledger.
At a time when the discussion over education reform is swirling around teachers unions nationwide, the controversy has a distinctly political edge.
Some education reformers have argued that unions hinder progress by safeguarding ineffective teachers. Union representatives meanwhile respond that reformers are unfairly targeting teachers.
Alissa Ploshnick risked her life to save the lives of a dozen Passaic schoolchildren. She threw herself in front of a careening van to protect her students and landed in the hospital with broken ribs, a fractured wrist, a badly bruised pelvis and glass cuts in her eyes. She could have died.
...solid record over a nearly 20-year career during which she was cited by William Paterson University for training student teachers and by Fairleigh Dickinson Universitys dyslexia program for her "fine record of experience...
Alissa Ploshnick wasnt punished, her reputation wasnt destroyed, her professionalism and heroism disregarded, because she repeated a word someone else said. She was sacrificed to a political cause.
What I found very interesting was the "parent" in the second video used the "N-word" just like Alissa did, repeating what someone else said. Should he be punished like she was????The self-proclaimed muckraker behind the ACORN sting and a series of other undercover videos has taken a stab at a New Jersey teachers union.
In his "Teachers Unions Gone Wild" videos, James O'Keefe released unflattering comments made by veteran teacher Alissa Ploshnick at a New Jersey Education Association conference.
The Star-Ledger reports,
Alissa Ploshnick's unintentional starring performance in the "Teachers Unions Gone Wild" video included, among other things, using the "N" word and joking about how hard it is for tenured teachers to be fired. It was all caught on tape at a hotel bar during the weeklong conference in August.
Since the video surfaced, Ploshnick has been suspended from her job as a special education teacher and denied a pay raise, according to The Star-Ledger.
At a time when the discussion over education reform is swirling around teachers unions nationwide, the controversy has a distinctly political edge.
Some education reformers have argued that unions hinder progress by safeguarding ineffective teachers. Union representatives meanwhile respond that reformers are unfairly targeting teachers.
Muckraker James O'Keefe's 'Teachers Unions Gone Wild' Video Stirs N.J. Controversy
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdqQTIQhn5A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdqQTIQhn5A[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yt2SwDuhQ4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yt2SwDuhQ4[/ame]
Ouch.
Your thoughts?
edthecynic wrote:
What I found very interesting was the "parent" in the second video used the "N-word" just like Alissa did, repeating what someone else said. Should he be punished like she was????
Well wasn't Alissa in her "private time" when she quoted the other person exactly as the "parent" did?edthecynic wrote:
What I found very interesting was the "parent" in the second video used the "N-word" just like Alissa did, repeating what someone else said. Should he be punished like she was????
You mean by being suspended at work without pay? I dunno, edthecynic. If the parent is a ditch digger, do I really care if they use racial slurs in their private time? Teachers are role models for students and they deeply affect the children's futures...I'd say overt racism among their ranks is more significant than among the ranks of ditch diggers.
The Teacher's Union, just like all other unions, are nothing more than a safety net for those that want to suck out all the resources they can from the public and protect the jobs of people who should have been fired long ago for poor performance. Thanks to the unions, an automobile, and most of anything else that is union made, cost us more than it's worth.
It's about education. The collateral damage could be millions of children.
It's about education. The collateral damage could be millions of children.
Not when it comes to blood sucking unions...It has always been about getting theirs at the expense of someone else. In this case, the kids. I'm sure the kids will learn just as well if the teachers have to give a little back. If you get yours, then teachers in the future will get a lot less, because states are going bankrupt...But unions think getting bailed out and printing money to make sure its members get more and more will never have an effect on everyone else...
I have a question for union members...Do you keep 1000 jobs if it means cutting your benefits in half?...Or do you sacrifice 500 jobs to keep your benefits the same? Would you be willing to give up your job for the good of the union?
Well wasn't Alissa in her "private time" when she quoted the other person exactly as the "parent" did?edthecynic wrote:
What I found very interesting was the "parent" in the second video used the "N-word" just like Alissa did, repeating what someone else said. Should he be punished like she was????
You mean by being suspended at work without pay? I dunno, edthecynic. If the parent is a ditch digger, do I really care if they use racial slurs in their private time? Teachers are role models for students and they deeply affect the children's futures...I'd say overt racism among their ranks is more significant than among the ranks of ditch diggers.
It's about education. The collateral damage could be millions of children.
Not when it comes to blood sucking unions...It has always been about getting theirs at the expense of someone else. In this case, the kids. I'm sure the kids will learn just as well if the teachers have to give a little back. If you get yours, then teachers in the future will get a lot less, because states are going bankrupt...But unions think getting bailed out and printing money to make sure its members get more and more will never have an effect on everyone else...
I have a question for union members...Do you keep 1000 jobs if it means cutting your benefits in half?...Or do you sacrifice 500 jobs to keep your benefits the same? Would you be willing to give up your job for the good of the union?
It's about education. The collateral damage could be millions of children.
Not when it comes to blood sucking unions...It has always been about getting theirs at the expense of someone else. In this case, the kids. I'm sure the kids will learn just as well if the teachers have to give a little back. If you get yours, then teachers in the future will get a lot less, because states are going bankrupt...But unions think getting bailed out and printing money to make sure its members get more and more will never have an effect on everyone else...
I have a question for union members...Do you keep 1000 jobs if it means cutting your benefits in half?...Or do you sacrifice 500 jobs to keep your benefits the same? Would you be willing to give up your job for the good of the union?
Again, so was the "parent" referring to a specific student! Why is what is acceptable for the "parent" unacceptable for Alissa? If Alissa is unfit to be around children then the "parent" is equally unfit!Well wasn't Alissa in her "private time" when she quoted the other person exactly as the "parent" did?You mean by being suspended at work without pay? I dunno, edthecynic. If the parent is a ditch digger, do I really care if they use racial slurs in their private time? Teachers are role models for students and they deeply affect the children's futures...I'd say overt racism among their ranks is more significant than among the ranks of ditch diggers.
Yes, but she was referring to a specific student, and besides racist attitudes among public school teachers is a threat to the welfare of the student body and community in a way that such attitudes among ditch diggers is not.
This is more akin to watching a video in which the local county judge says the "n" word. Unfit to serve in that capacity any longer.
AGAIN....Not that we paint all workers that belong to Unions with the same brush, do we?
If I were a teacher, I'd accept the cuts...but would ONLY work paid hours and stop spending my own money....and let the parents know if they ask.
The Teacher's Union, just like all other unions, are nothing more than a safety net for those that want to suck out all the resources they can from the public and protect the jobs of people who should have been fired long ago for poor performance. Thanks to the unions, an automobile, and most of anything else that is union made, cost us more than it's worth.
Not that we paint all workers that belong to Unions with the same brush, do we?
Why not say that ALL Union members vote exactly the same way? That they all drive the same car? That they all go to the same church?
In "closed shop" states nearly all of the best jobs are unionized and joining is a condition of employment. Are you saying that you would turn one down if offered?
If I were a teacher, I'd accept the cuts...but would ONLY work paid hours and stop spending my own money....and let the parents know if they ask.
Chris Christie said it best...If you don't like the pay or the hours, then find a job that fits better. Lots of non-union workers are paid salary and expected to work beyond the 9-5 shift. When I was paid salary, some months I earned more per hour and some montths I earned less. Non-union workers that advance in life are the ones willing to put in the extra time and effort to do a good job...In a union setting, doing a good job isn't as important as seniority or tenure. And didn't that right wing kook, Bush 41 start OSHA...Do you really think OSHA is the be all, end all, of safety? Read the handbook sometime...You will scratch your head
Sounds like a real bargain to me!! 
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was started when President Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act into law in 1970. And, according to Federal Law (CFR's) OSHA is the end all and be all of Occupational Safety and Health. Please keep in mind that OSHA Regulations were written in the blood of American workers. And I should know because part of my job is being the plant Safety Coordinator. I have taken both OSHA 10 and 30 Hour courses. So yes, I have read the CFR's (Code of Federal Regulations) and don't have to scratch my head while reading them. They are not "handbooks" either. They are the law.
