Comments on: In Which My Head Explodes… http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/ Its not about the hair... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:37:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Vicki http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26558 Vicki Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:47:28 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26558 Unions should be abolished in this country. I believe they were started years and years ago with the best of intentions. The purpose they now serve is to keep un/underqualified employees in their jobs with the highest pay and best benefits possible. One(of many)reasons the US economy is in the toilet is because our manufacturing industry, largely employed with union workers, has killed it. Based on my DH's experience as a sales rep calling on Plants all around the northeast for the past 15 years, union workers go to their jobs, sit around and put in the bare minimum to earn their paycheck while workers with no representation must pick up the slack in order to keep their jobs. Applying this same principal to education, we are taking the right to a high-quality education from ALL of our students. We are cutting teachers who are new, armed with all of the current knowledge pertinent to the 21st century (AND all that we know medically about our children with special needs), and ready to take on the challenges just so that we can keep senior staff b/c the "deserve" it or have somehow earned it by being a teacher for 3 decades? I pray that your school board makes this right and I would encourage all of you to get on the agenda and attend each SB meeting with your children until they do. Good Luck. Unions should be abolished in this country. I believe they were started years and years ago with the best of intentions. The purpose they now serve is to keep un/underqualified employees in their jobs with the highest pay and best benefits possible.

One(of many)reasons the US economy is in the toilet is because our manufacturing industry, largely employed with union workers, has killed it. Based on my DH’s experience as a sales rep calling on Plants all around the northeast for the past 15 years, union workers go to their jobs, sit around and put in the bare minimum to earn their paycheck while workers with no representation must pick up the slack in order to keep their jobs.

Applying this same principal to education, we are taking the right to a high-quality education from ALL of our students. We are cutting teachers who are new, armed with all of the current knowledge pertinent to the 21st century (AND all that we know medically about our children with special needs), and ready to take on the challenges just so that we can keep senior staff b/c the “deserve” it or have somehow earned it by being a teacher for 3 decades?

I pray that your school board makes this right and I would encourage all of you to get on the agenda and attend each SB meeting with your children until they do.

Good Luck.

]]> By: Cathy http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26557 Cathy Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:58:16 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26557 I certainly hope so, Heather. That is just terrible what is happening to the teachers and the children. Those special children need someone who loves them and know how to care for them. Praying for you all ~ <abbr><em><abbr>Cathys last blog post..<a href="http://melodiesandhymnsongs.blogspot.com/2009/06/word-filled-wednesday.html" rel="nofollow">Word Filled Wednesday</a></abbr></abbr></em> I certainly hope so, Heather. That is just terrible what is happening to the teachers and the children. Those special children need someone who loves them and know how to care for them. Praying for you all ~

Cathys last blog post..Word Filled Wednesday

]]> By: Michelle http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26556 Michelle Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:23:02 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26556 I am a new reader of your blog. After reading your whole story though tears I am not infuriated to read this post and the realted one before it. It is such an incredible injustice to all involved when Union and Policies limit doing what's best of the kids - and in this case the teachers too - exceptional students need teachers who are TRAINED - not just $25 certified. I will pray that the teacher who was asked to speak to the Union Rep at the Olive Garden is the first glimmer of hope and that things work out. <abbr><em><abbr>Michelles last blog post..<a href="http://smoochdog.squarespace.com/journal/2009/6/4/getting-ready-for-70.html" rel="nofollow">Getting Ready for 70</a></abbr></abbr></em> I am a new reader of your blog. After reading your whole story though tears I am not infuriated to read this post and the realted one before it. It is such an incredible injustice to all involved when Union and Policies limit doing what’s best of the kids – and in this case the teachers too – exceptional students need teachers who are TRAINED – not just $25 certified.

I will pray that the teacher who was asked to speak to the Union Rep at the Olive Garden is the first glimmer of hope and that things work out.

Michelles last blog post..Getting Ready for 70

]]> By: Erin http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26554 Erin Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:09:23 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26554 And this is just another reason why I am so thankful I am getting a year off from education (hopefully more). I have had enough of the crappy decisions they make! <abbr><em><abbr>Erins last blog post..<a href="http://lifeinthenorthwest.blogspot.com/2009/06/weeks.html" rel="nofollow">Weeks</a></abbr></abbr></em> And this is just another reason why I am so thankful I am getting a year off from education (hopefully more). I have had enough of the crappy decisions they make!

Erins last blog post..Weeks

]]> By: jess http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26553 jess Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:44:22 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26553 oops .. should have left this comment here .. heather, i followed the link you left at my place and made my way here thinking i’d poke about, read a bit, perhaps find out a little something interesting about you and your family. what i found here nearly knocked the wind out of me. i read emma’s story through rolling tears. your account of the fight that your incredible, beautiful little girl has had to endure in her short time on this planet is nothing short of heartbreaking, but it’s also nothing short of divine. the inspiration in her story (and yours) is beyond measure. you never, ever gave up on her. from not signing the dnr to finding the transplant, to finding THE doctor you needed, to getting a hold of the tissue .. and on and on and on (and on). damn woman. jenny, meet an actual warrior. sounds like you’re facing an uphill battle with the school. funny, though .. after reading a little bit about you and emma, i’m not the least bit concerned. doesn’t sound like there’s much that can stop (either of) you. <abbr><em><abbr>jesss last blog post..<a href="http://jesswilson.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/recovery/" rel="nofollow">recovery</a></abbr></abbr></em> oops .. should have left this comment here ..

heather,

i followed the link you left at my place and made my way here thinking i’d poke about, read a bit, perhaps find out a little something interesting about you and your family.

what i found here nearly knocked the wind out of me.

i read emma’s story through rolling tears. your account of the fight that your incredible, beautiful little girl has had to endure in her short time on this planet is nothing short of heartbreaking, but it’s also nothing short of divine. the inspiration in her story (and yours) is beyond measure.

you never, ever gave up on her. from not signing the dnr to finding the transplant, to finding THE doctor you needed, to getting a hold of the tissue .. and on and on and on (and on).

damn woman. jenny, meet an actual warrior.

sounds like you’re facing an uphill battle with the school. funny, though .. after reading a little bit about you and emma, i’m not the least bit concerned. doesn’t sound like there’s much that can stop (either of) you.

jesss last blog post..recovery

]]> By: Kristin http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26551 Kristin Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:08:41 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26551 I'm praying for you and the other families. How frustrating this situation must be! <abbr><em><abbr>Kristins last blog post..<a href="http://nk-boysenblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-heart-faces-im-back.html" rel="nofollow">I Heart Faces, I'M BACK!!!</a></abbr></abbr></em> I’m praying for you and the other families. How frustrating this situation must be!

Kristins last blog post..I Heart Faces, I’M BACK!!!

]]> By: Emily in CA http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26550 Emily in CA Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:51:56 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26550 Oh Heather. What a mess! Good for you for getting out there and getting your voice heard! Have you all considered hiring an advocate? Sometimes districts will "make exceptions" once an advocate is involved. I know because my husband is an assistant principal at a school with 4 classrooms for children with autism. Thankfully, they have been able to keep their teachers in place, with no bumping, because our special ed. dept. is itself a strong advocate for good teachers, no matter what their senority. They will go against the union in any and all cases of "bumping" special ed. teachers. There is always a way around the senority rule it seems, esp with special ed. teachers--the schools just have to know how to do so. Unfortunately, some don't care enought to try. My husband has dealt with many an advocate (some with CRAZY demands) but in this case, it would be warranted. Just a thought :-) Anyway, praying for you and your situation! Oh Heather. What a mess! Good for you for getting out there and getting your voice heard! Have you all considered hiring an advocate? Sometimes districts will “make exceptions” once an advocate is involved. I know because my husband is an assistant principal at a school with 4 classrooms for children with autism. Thankfully, they have been able to keep their teachers in place, with no bumping, because our special ed. dept. is itself a strong advocate for good teachers, no matter what their senority. They will go against the union in any and all cases of “bumping” special ed. teachers. There is always a way around the senority rule it seems, esp with special ed. teachers–the schools just have to know how to do so. Unfortunately, some don’t care enought to try. My husband has dealt with many an advocate (some with CRAZY demands) but in this case, it would be warranted. Just a thought :-)

Anyway, praying for you and your situation!

]]> By: Tina http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26548 Tina Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:36:36 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26548 Oh Heather, what a nightmare. I'll pray that what is best for the kids wins out in all of this. <abbr><em><abbr>Tinas last blog post..<a href="http://tinasgang.blogspot.com/2009/05/pardon-my-construction.html" rel="nofollow">Pardon my construction</a></abbr></abbr></em> Oh Heather, what a nightmare. I’ll pray that what is best for the kids wins out in all of this.

Tinas last blog post..Pardon my construction

]]> By: LOUISE RAMSEY http://especiallyheather.com/2009/06/03/in-which-my-head-explodes/comment-page-1/#comment-26547 LOUISE RAMSEY Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:26:06 +0000 http://especiallyheather.com/?p=1816#comment-26547 Praying for all of you as you battle for the rights of your children to be properly taught and cared for. Love in Him, Louise Praying for all of you as you battle for the rights of your children to be properly taught and cared for.

Love in Him,
Louise

]]>