On a Thursday, on an insignificant channel that skews to the progressive socialist democrats, and facing a major football game, incumbent Governor Jerry Brown faced his challenger Neel Kashkari in a spirited debate.
On balance, Governor Brown took credit for turning the State around and claimed that long-term solutions were required. He defended his “crazy train” project – in reality a boon to the unions and special interests – against Kashkari’s suggestion that the money would be better spent on improving the State’s water storage infrastructure and educational opportunities.
I could not help but thinking that Governor Brown sounded like a smarter version of Joseph Biden. All meaningless rhetoric grounded in progressive socialist democrat policies. Bigger government, more regulations, more central planning, more Obamacare, and more global warming nonsense.
Both Brown and Biden seem to have the same snarky progressive socialist democrat responses to anyone who challenges them.
Kashkari’s credentials – especially those that saw both democrats and republicans in Washington working together to save the economy from a depression or total collapse speaks volumes to his qualifications to step beyond politics and restore California’s middle class.
Bottom line …
By all measures, objective and subjective, Neel Kashkari won the debate. But then again, Governor Brown’s lead in the polls and his overwhelming support from the special interests and unions who will be seeking a high rate of return on their political investment makes it an almost certainty that the aging Brown will be returned to office where he will continue to wreak progressive socialist democrat policies on all Californians.
Neel Kashkari is the son of an immigrant who made it by virtue of his education and hard work, unlike Brown who was born with a golden spoon and political connections from his father, former Governor Edmund “Pat” Brown – the man who built much of the California infrastructure that his son let decay.
I wish it wasn’t so and that Neel Kashkari would be elected governor – as much as I wish that all of the progressive socialist democrats in the California legislature, especially those with allegiance to illegal aliens – would be thrown out of office.
Governor Brown claimed to have read Kashkari’s plan for California, but couldn’t answer a single question about that plan. Read the plan for yourself and determine if you want the same old progressive socialist democrat claptrap or a man who will stand up for all Californians. A man who would put California’s children first. A man dedicated to returning jobs to California and preventing the continuing outflow of individuals and corporations. A man who would invest in a long-term water solution for California over a crazy-train to nowhere. A man who would reduce the size and scope of government. A reformer – not an Obamacon transformer.
Quick, name another profession that guarantees a life-long job, great salary, and outstanding retirement benefits including cost of living adjustments and paid healthcare AFTER JUST EIGHTEEN MONTHS ON THE JOB?
You would think that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction would fight for a decent education for all Californians … but apparently not the Berkeley-educated progressive socialist democrat Tom Torlakson. Torlakson would rather spend his time and energy fighting for the unions who contribute to his campaign, provide voter support, and tell him how to avoid doing his sworn duties.
Tom Torlakson – the man standing with the fat-cat union leaders to screw children out of an education
Vergara v. State of California …
Vergara v. State of California – Case Summary
With the help of Students Matter, nine California public school children filed the statewide lawsuit Vergara v. California against the State of California in May 2012 to strike down the laws handcuffing schools from doing what’s best for kids when it comes to teachers.
The Court’s historic decision in Vergara v. California reaffirmed the fundamental, Constitutional right of every student to learn from effective teachers and have an equal opportunity to succeed in school.
We think it’s simple: reward and retain excellent teachers and hold those accountable who are failing our children.
By striking down the following laws, Vergara v. California will create an opportunity for lawmakers, teachers, administrators and community leaders to design a system that’s good for both teachers and students. Because Californians shouldn’t have to choose: We can create an education system that gives every child a passionate, motivating and effective teacher and gives effective teachers the respect and rewarding careers they deserve.
Permanent Employment Statute: The permanent employment law forces administrators to either grant or deny permanent employment to teachers after an evaluation period of less than 16 months—before new teachers even complete their beginner teacher induction programs and before administrators are able to assess whether a teacher will be effective long-term.
Dismissal Statutes:The process for dismissing a single ineffective teacher involves a borderline infinite number of steps, requires years of documentation, costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and still, rarely ever works. Out of 275,000 teachers statewide, 2.2 teachers are dismissed for unsatisfactory performance per year on average, which amounts to 0.0008 percent.
“Last-In, First-Out” (“LIFO”) Layoff Statute: The “LIFO” law forces school districts to base layoffs on seniority alone, with no consideration of teachers’ performance in the classroom.
In May 2013, the state’s two largest teachers unions, the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers, intervened in the case to defend these statutes alongside the State.
The two-month trial for Vergara v. California began on January 27, 2014 and concluded on March 27, 2014. <Source>
Leave it to the Teachers’ unions to scream loudly “it’s about the children” and then disadvantage every student with contract terms featuring rules and regulations that benefited the adults and their unions. Unions that will resist anything or anyone that attempts to bring accountability to schools and teachers who are failing to educate our children in spite of ever-increasing funding of education – including the proceeds from the California lottery.
The Court found that the existing rules and regulations were unconstitutional and worked against children …
In the 16-page ruling, the Honorable Judge Rolf M. Treu found:
“…Plaintiffs have met their burden of proof on all issues presented.” (p. 4:8-9)
“All sides to this litigation agree that competent teachers are a critical, if not the most important, component of success of a child’s in-school education experience. All sides also agree that grossly ineffective teachers substantially undermine the ability of that child to succeed in school.” (p. 7:22-26)
“Evidence has been elicited in this trial of the specific effect of grossly ineffective teachers on students. The evidence is compelling. Indeed, it shocks the conscience.” (p. 8:1-3)
“There is also no dispute that there are a significant number of grossly ineffective teachers currently active in California classrooms.” (p. 8:10-11)
“Substantial evidence presented makes it clear to this Court that the Challenged Statutes disproportionately affect poor and/or minority students.” (p. 15:3-4) “All Challenged Statues are found unconstitutional…” (p.15:20)
Permanent Employment Statute: “This court finds that both students and teachers are unfairly, unnecessarily, and for no legally cognizable reason (let alone a compelling one), disadvantaged by the current Permanent Employment Statute.” (p. 10:15-17)
Dismissal Statutes: “…the Dismissal Statutes present the issue of uber due process.” (p. 12:2-3) “This Court heard no evidence that a classified employee’s dismissal process (i.e., a Skelly hearing) violated due process. Why, then, the need for the current torturous process required by the Dismissal Statues for teacher dismissals, which has been decried by both plaintiff and defense witnesses?” (p. 12:23-27)
“This Court is confident that the independent judiciary of this state is no less dedicated to the protection of reasonable due process rights of teachers than it is of protecting the rights of children…” (p. 13:4-6)
LIFO: “The logic of [State Defendants’/Intervenors’] position is unfathomable and therefore constitutionally unsupportable.” (p. 14:12-13) <Source>
Essentially, the Judge found that some of the rules and regulations that govern teachers in the State of California unfairly deprive students of their constitutional rights – in this case the right to an equality of education by qualified and competent teachers.
Enter the Torlakson, the union stooge …
It appears that Tom Torlakson will actually proceed – along with all of his progressive socialist democrat friends like Governor Jerry Brown -- to urge California State Attorney General Kamala Harris, a progressive socialist democrat, to screw California’s children by challenging this repudiation of insane educational policies that do not benefit the children.
In Torlakson’s own twisted words [my comments in blue italic]
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today released the following statement regarding theVergara, et al. vs. State of California, et al. lawsuit:
"The people who dedicate their lives to the teaching profession deserve our admiration and support. Instead, this ruling lays the failings of our education system at their feet.
[Who is responsible? The public for allowing progressive socialist democrats to pursue their socialist agenda? The unions for corrupting politicians to the point of becoming union stooges? The teachers for allowing their unions to corrupt the educational process and clearly disadvantage students. Yes, it is the teachers who are at fault because they failed to stop their unions from screwing California’s children.]
"We do not fault doctors when the emergency room is full. We do not criticize the firefighter whose supply of water runs dry. Yet while we crowd our classrooms and fail to properly equip them with adequate resources, those who filed and support this case shamelessly seek to blame teachers who step forward every day to make a difference for our children.
[We, as a society, do not accept incompetent doctors who threaten their patient’s health. We do not accept firefighters who cannot meet the physical and mental challenges of their profession. And, we certainly have laws and policies that allow for their timely dismissal for incompetence or damage to the public. Teachers – like all other public employees – have chosen their career path and are expected to do their job in a competent and caring manner. There is nothing special about a teacher’s performance of their duties that demands that they be protected from the consequences of their actions, incompetence, criminal activities and guarantees them benefits far exceeding their skills.]
"No teacher is perfect. A very few are not worthy of the job. School districts have always had the power to dismiss those who do not measure up, and this year I helped pass a new law that streamlined the dismissal process, while protecting the rights of both teachers and students. It is disappointing that the Court refused to even consider this important reform.
[I call bullshit. It is the union contract, not the Superintendent’s rulings that govern the dismissal process. Ask the Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest school district in California about their “teacher’s jail.” Where teachers are paid to stay away from children and do whatever they want during school hours. Ask about the millions of dollars paid to teachers to make them go away – even after criminal proceedings.]
"In a cruel irony, this final ruling comes as many California teachers spend countless unpaid hours preparing to start the new school year in hopes of better serving the very students this case purportedly seeks to help.
[Boo Hoo! Unpaid hours? I do not know of any professional who does not spent unpaid hours improving their skills or in preparation for new activities. In the private sector, many workers do uncompensated work at home. This is just more misdirection from the fact that schools and teachers are failing to educate our children – dumbing down testing to hide the fact that they are failing.]
"While the statutes in this case are not under my jurisdiction as state Superintendent, it is clear that the Court's ruling is not supported by the facts or the law. Its vagueness provides no guidance about how the Legislature could successfully alter the challenged statutes to satisfy the Court. Accordingly, I will ask the Attorney General to seek appellate review."
[The Judge was extremely clear that the Court's ruling was supported by the facts as presented. Is Torlakson so stupid that he cannot craft a policy that would satisfy the Court and serve the students?
How about this Tommy boy? …
Any teacher charged with a crime, especially those against students, are immediately placed on unpaid administrative leave until the matter is resolved? The teacher would be reinstated and receive back pay if they were found factually innocent of the charges. We are not speaking about allegations, but of criminal charges brought by the grand jury or district attorney – which means a finding of probable cause.
A teacher’s contract shall be renewed for a five-year period if they continue to demonstrate competency in teaching, competency in subject-matter studies, and show proof of continuing education credits in both teaching and their chosen subject-matter. Any teacher failing a competency test in teaching practice or subject-matter competency shall have their contract renewed for a single year. If the teacher fails a second (or maybe even a third) competency test, their contract is canceled and they leave the school or district.
Should layoffs be necessary, the least competent teachers – as determined by their latest proficiency test scores – are released from their contract, moved to substitute status, again ranked by their proficiency scores.
If I can do this off the top of my head, certainly Torlakson can do the same. That he chooses not to speaks of his being the union’s butt-boy. Tell me that children wouldn’t be helped immeasurably by these provisions.]
We need to remove unions from the educational process …
Mark Berndt's $40,000 Payoff -- Arrested as sex pervert, former LAUSD teacher settles into retirement
Los Angeles Unified School District's often bizarre rules for disciplining teachers were exposed with the recent disclosure that former Miramonte Elementary School teacher Mark Berndt, charged with 23 counts of lewd conduct, including spoon-feeding children his semen, was quietly paid $40,000 to resign last year.
School officials, widely denounced in recent days for handing cash to an alleged sexual pervert, have responded that paying off Berndt to leave his job was far cheaper than firing him.
Initially, the district fired Berndt, but he challenged the decision and ultimately agreed to resign for a cash payout. Berndt, like the vast majority of fired LAUSD teachers, appealed his firing rather than walk away.
Teachers are made well aware by their union, United Teachers Los Angeles, that the district rarely risks the huge legal costs and ongoing teacher-salary costs associated with firing a single teacher. As the Weekly has reported, it costs an average of $500,000 and takes several years to fire a teacher who decides to fight back. In each case, LAUSD must convince a special state panel that is biased toward teachers, and sometimes spends years skirmishing in a courtroom.
Because he fought back, Berndt got to resign rather than be fired. In either case, he retains lifetime health coverage and his pension, totaling $3,891.17 monthly in pretax benefits. If he lives to the average age of a man in California, he'll reap about $1 million. <Source>
What happened to Mark Berndt -- who will be able to spend his newfound wealth in the prison canteen …
Berndt, of Torrance, was charged with 23 counts of committing lewd acts on a child between 2005 and 2011.He pleaded no contest as each charge was read in court before he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. <Source>
If we wanted an entirely fair system that would provide exceptional results for the students …
It would be a simple matter to use a computer algorithm to match qualified teachers to school positions. Each teacher would list their certified qualifications and testing scores along with the preference for a school. The computer would assign a teacher provisionally to a school if space were available. If no space were available, the program would drop the lowest ranked provisional teacher and replace them with one of higher rank. If a teacher did not make the cut, they would be listed, again in order of “goodness” and “availability” to be substitutes or tutors. And, in the final analysis, a teacher without a position would have to move or change careers – just like in the real world known as the private sector. This proven methodology is similar to that used by medical schools to match recent medical school graduates to hospital residency programs.
Bottom line …
Truth-be-told, California’s public employee unions have corrupted state politics and politicians to the point that the public is disadvantaged by their criminal (fraud, extortion, bribery, thuggery, etc.) behavior. These unions have shoved the public away from the bargaining table and corrupted those who sit on the other side of the table, ostensibly to protect the children, the public and the process.
There can be absolutely no excuse for Torlakson to challenge the existing ruling. His time should be spent crafting a new system, one that prohibits union contracts from disadvantaging children, the schools, and the public. And, if he were an honest man, perhaps he should bring transparency and accountability to the system by pointing out the union’s failings to protect children.
If you are a disadvantage minority and have seen your preferred progressive socialist democrat party sell you out time and time again, perhaps it is time for a change. And coincidently, we have the opportunity to throw this union-loving progressive socialist democrat under the bus in November. Simply by voting him out of office.
This is the reason CNN has dropped Buchanan. It's like Newt G. Said, "your're not supposed to bring up uncomfortable Facts." (verified on Buchanans website)
BUCHANAN TO OBAMA Finally.............It is Said Publicly. I have never seen the white side explained better! Pat Buchanan had the guts to say it. It is about time!!
BUCHANAN TO OBAMA By Patrick J. Buchanan
Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America .. Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation.. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to.... This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:
First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.. Jeremiah Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.
Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the '60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream. Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks -- with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants. Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated their time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks. We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude??
Barack talks about new 'ladders of opportunity' for blacks. Let him go to Altoona ? And Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for 'deserving' white kids...? Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America ? Is it really white America's fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?
Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?
As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time?
Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?
We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena . And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.
Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago. This needs to be passed around because, this is a message everyone needs to hear!!!
OK...........will you pass it on ?
YES. I did but will you?
Because I'm for a better America I am Not racist, Not violent,
