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UEA attacks Referendum 1 in Salt Lake rally

That seals the deal for me; if the UEA is against it, I'm FOR it. Ask Nolan Karras how helpful the UEA endorsement was.

The MAIN thing the teachers did while having their convention was figure out how to benefit themselves. As a side note they also had sessions that taught tips on grammar and politeness. That's nice.

The UEA should keep their mouth shut and stay out of politics. This union is a political union that is more interested in politics than teacher benefits and pay. They would do better to serve and represent the teachers in the union that are paying for their representation. This referendum has nothing to do with the union and union responsibilities. Maybe they fear the loss of teachers moving to private education schools where they can teach without all the politics and inequities in the public education system.

UEA - what are you afraid of? loosing power?

I'm with you Tumbleweed. That is the first clue that something is wrong here. I have studied this a good deal, including reading reports on the Milwaukee voucher program and I am convinced this is something that is worth a try. The Milwaukee program resulted in much higher parental satisfaction with their schools, better test results and lower costs. I am past ready to try this in Utah. We all know there are things that will need some tweaking down the road. Let's not fall for this �fear campaign� by the UEA.

You should be FOR something or AGAINST something because you took the time to study the issue, obtain knowledge of the issue and UNDERSTAND the issue; not because a particular group supports it or opposes it. Let's be clear Utahns....It is your duty and obligation to speak for what you believe in. Be a productive member of society, fulfill your responsibility as a citizen and CAST YOUR VOTE! But do so knowledgably, with good intent! For me, I will be voting against referendum 1.

Hearing Eskelson's comments is almost enough to make me vote for Referendum 1, but not quite. I could support it if we did away with public schools all together, made privately run schools meet certain qualification requirements, and then use current funding to make it possible for truly needy kids to have an equal chance at an education. A plan such as that would truly foster competition and choice, but this plan is nothing short of a joke.

The anti-voucher arguments are so lame, they have no teeth, they do not grab you. Why? because there is no good argument against them. Bottom line? Unions cannot bear the thought of competition, and vouchers create competition for the public schools; which, by the way, is the best thing that could ever happen to public education.

First, you folks who bash unions do not have a clear historical perspective. It is through the efforts of unions that Amaerican workers were able to enter the middle class. Elimination of oppressive business practices like sweat shops, company stores, physical violence against employees, child labor and other such neanderthal activities were nobel. Advocating for 40 hour work weeks, benefit packages and open negotiations with businesses were positive elements in all workers gaining repect and increased opportunities. Unions have advocated for the poor and under priveledged.
Second, UEA is in the business of educating children. They have the right, the obligation, to speak out when education issues arise. Denigrating the UEA for addressing the voucher issue is like objecting when medical organizations of doctors and nurses speak out on health issues. Who is more involved with the process of educating students than are teachers? Who has a better feel for what will help students than the very people who teach them every day? The constant diatribe against teachers and the UEA by many voucher supporters is mean spirited and wrong. Both teachers and the UEA want to see students succeed. They must advocated for programs which facilitate that happening.

Vouchers will be defeated. It's not going to happen. In talking with most people out there they don't believe their money should be used to educate people in institutions beyond the public control and they don't like the idea of anything that does not support public schools. Most people aren't buying the argument that having some students leave will increase funding for public schools - because it won't - funding in most schools is based on head count. I believe that a teacher's union has as much right as anyone to speak their mind about a public issue. If anyone is an expert on this issue I believe it would be the teachers - they are not afraid of competition - they are afraid that vouchers will hurt Utah children because it is a move toward elitism.

The UEA = NEA = Leftists group of secular progressives...the undermining factor of the American heritage and family values. When was the last time the NEA supported a Conservative??

I find it comical that they cry about needing more $$ yet they take two days off to attend a UNION function. This should be done on their time, not on our payroll!! How much does that cost the taxpayers..and 3 million dollars from the NEA to fight choice. Just think of how many supplies and books that would buy for the Kids, if in fact the kids were first. Fact is, their priority is their own little industry.

Yet, 1 in 10 high schools in the US is a dropout factory, student academics are down, SAT's are down, and I just found out that student pregnancies and drug use are up.

Is this what the union has done for us lately? It is a poor state when a political machine are those who influence our kids on a day-to-day basis. Throw in teacher tenure and you have a dysfuntional monopoly. I'm voting for 1

Well said Max!
I'm sure that through the years, as employment has become easy to come by, people forget about the blood, sweat and lives that fell for the rights of the worker. Seems now days, people believe that a 40 hour work week, with benefits such as vacation, sick leave, bereavement leave overtime pay at time and a half (at a wage above minimum wage) are items that were just provided from the kindness of the business owners heart. NOT. People fought, bled and DIED for americans to live in a society where fair wages and hours and benefits are now taken for granted. Unions are America. AMERICA IS A UNION. Remember history........people fled England to come together, UNITE and have rights to believe what and how they wanted. For those of you that do not believe unions are a worthy group.......please, look into the history of your own UNITED States of America. I applaud the UEA for believing and fighting for the rights of OUR Public Education System!!! For those that believe UEA (and other unions) should stay out of politics... Everything is political and such is the need for organizations to speak for the people they represent!

History is also recording the abuse of unions. Maybe MadMax didn't read that for in history!!

Hey MadMax,

Your right, unions did a lot of good things in the past when there was a need for such representation. But that is in the past, where unions belong. They are obsolete. You cannot name one thing that unions have done in the present day. Nice try.

Amen MadMax. Amen. Let's talk about the merits of the proposed voucher program, not who supports it or opposes it.

Hows the union controlled United States Auto industry doing? I dont know if you have been to Detroit lately, but the city is in shambles. The Auto unions have the car companies at their mercy and the unions have been destroying the US auto industry and economy in Michigan for several years. I have family in Michigan who live in a $60,000 house because they were laid of by the auto industry because their costs are to high beause of the UNIONS. So dont tell me about Unions.

I am a public educator for the vouchers... Yes, I did say for the vouchers. I think we need a little competition to help us do more for children. Teachers have no reason to do more because of UEA. (Everything is negotiated; you are paid on a step system, raises are determined by years of experience, not on qualification or approval ratings, even the time you spend at school is negotiated, down to recesses and prep times.) UEA can't stand to see precious money, which by the way is from the general education fund, not even the public education fund goes to help kids or parents. Yes, I have read the bill, and not relied on others for information. Competition is what the education system needs to do better and thrive. It may even get some teachers who no longer like the job or do very little out, and allow people who would love to teach a chance. Vouchers are good for Utah. By the way look when the UEA planned their two-day break, the two days before Halloween and not the two days after Halloween. Sounds like they know what is best for kids, right?

First, GEA backed up my wifes job when evil internal school politics, principal, and adminstration would not.....Second, the only reason that parents want the voucher program is so they can BUY their kids grades at a private school. Make your kids do the work parents, and quit bailing them out. Parents are the problem with education...not the schools.

MadMax: Unions are a proud and vital part of our history and we should honor them as we do each year on Labor Day. But like most organizations, the people who rise to the top are the most passionate and thus the most extreme. Almost all organizations ultimately become victims of their most extreme members and become corrupt.

The ACLU was started by Helen Keller, not as an anti-Christian group but as a genuine civil rights protection organization. But, over a generation or two, extreme factions took over and it has dropped out of the mainstream to become a fringe group.

Same with the NRA, Amnesty International, Sierra Club, and both major political parties. All were started by reasonable people with reasonable, even worthy, objectives. And all have been taken over by the most passionate of their members and have moved out of the mainstream to the fringes.

So even though unions have done good work in the past, they have mostly become fringe elements representing the interests of their most extreme members.

Regarding vouchers: I need more than chants and slogans, something the UEA/NEA seem unable to provide.

James Madison
You are very ill informed!
UEA is not a paid event for teachers. It is an uncompensated event sponosred by UEA where teachers have the opportunity to attend workshops designed to help them become better teachers, to review new teachng materials, to engage in discussions wiht colleagues about education issues. All of these activities are paid by the dues from UEA members, not your tax dollars.
Since when does the resonpsibility for pregnancy and drug use belong to the UEA? Where do parents and churches fit here? Study habits, access to TV and games and leisure time are not the responsibility of teachers, but parents. Dropping out of school is within the control of a parent. Your venon against teachers and UEA is unfortunate.
Advocating for students is a UEA duty and that is what teachers do every day. Yes, that is a political task, but it is one for which they are well qualified and trained. Teachers deserve cudos and a raise for their very difficult job, not scorn and ridicule. Shame on you!