Heh: 'Million Teacher March' Falls 992,000 People Short

ReasonTV was actually at the 'Million Teacher March' that turned out a whopping 8,000 attendees, and as this video clearly demonstrates they were committed socialists: What We Saw at the Save Our Schools Rally in Washington D.C. 

And from Kyle Olson on the epic fail: 'Million Teacher March' Falls About 992,000 People Short

The embarrassing attendance underlined one major truth – there is no mass movement to maintain the status quo in our nation’s public schools. The only people defending the current system are those who profit from it, like the leaders of the nation's teachers unions.

The "Save Our Schools" message was honest in one respect – the union goal is to save public schools as they currently exist. Notice that there was no call to improve the quality of education for students, because that's not what the unions are fighting for.

Their only concern is to maintain a system that has kept unions financially health for decades. The fact that American students are struggling in this system is not on their agenda.

And Democrats are behind the education monopoly because it is a large mechanism for them to launder taxpayer money, in essence forcing all taxpayers to underwrite the Democratic Party. Forget the education of the children. School choice reform is indeed the civil rights issue of our day, and although I disagree with this liberal on most everything else, he mostly right here: Fox News' Juan Williams on School Choice

UPDATE: Some progress being made in Detroit, but it's on the financial side only:

• The Detroit News: DPS's Roberts overrides contract, imposes cuts; union pres. vows fight
• The Detroit Free Press: DPS employees must shoulder $81 million in concessions, including 10% pay cut, Roy Roberts says

I mean, the district is only a few hundred million dollars short every year. More progress on the financial side via MLive: Julie Mack blog: Otsego's move from MESSA will save district about $4,200 per teacher

In most organizations, changing health-insurer carriers isn't headline news.

But in the school community, there's a certain OMG factor to the announcement that teachers at Otsego Public Schools have agreed to switch insurers  from MESSA to Priority Health.

What some view as an act of union disloyalty is being presented by Otsego administration and the Otsego Education Association as a win-win for the district and its teachers.

The district's health-care bill for teachers will drop from about $12,600 to $8,400 per insured employee -- and that's for comparable insurance coverage. The savings are funding a 2 percent raise in teachers' base pay as well as step increase, which are raises associated with longevity.

For many in Michigan schools, MESSA has ranked with summers off and a decent pension plan as one of the expected perks of being a public school teacher. MESSA is renowned for its great benefits and its terrific customer service.

Of course, MESSA is also run by the largest teachers union, the MEA. It costs a lot more which is why we are in this situation: Good news: Michigan's per-employee health benefit is $1,400 more than the average of the Midwest and Northeast states. MESSA is expensive and the MEA pushes it onto school districts during contract negotiations pretty much like the don Corleone gives out his offers you dare not refuse. It's a money maker for the MEA, and by extension the Democratic Party to keep the gravy train going, at taxpayer expense of course.

They're not giving up on one of its financial legs. Just follow the money.

UPDATE #2: Not education, but union shenanigans anyway here in MI: Cop Union Boss Boasts of Beating Lawmakers With Flashlights: If Soldiers Don’t Have Unions, Why Do Police and Teachers? It's that 'new tone' we were promised after the Giffords shooting.

Your tax $$$ hard at work: MI School District illegally uses school alert system to make robocalls to recall Gov Snyder

Yes the school district apologized for it, but the damage is done nonetheless. From Michigan Capitol Confidential: School District Admits 'Big Mistake' Over 'Get Rid of Snyder' Phone Alert

A public school district in Michigan has used its phone alert system to point voters toward the recall effort against Gov. Rick Snyder. In early June, shortly after the Snyder recall reached the petition-gathering phase, the alert system for Lawrence Public Schools sent out the following robocall to residents of the district:

“This is a message from the Lawrence Public Schools (inaudible) alert system. This is an informational item and not directly associated with the school. Concerned parents interested in cuts to education . . . we're here to inform you that there is information about the problem. Also, be advised that there is a petition to recall Governor Snyder. If you want, stop by Chuck Moden's house right by the school June 7th/8th between 3:30 and 4:00 pm. Thank you. Goodbye.”

To listen, click here.

The school alert system is used for special announcements, such as school closings due to snowfall, lock-downs or other school-related information. In such situations, the robocalls go out to “alert” residents of the district about a special circumstance that is taking place. Though it is uncertain without an official investigation, use of the system to advance a political endeavor, such as the Snyder recall, appears to have been a violation of the state’s campaign finance law.

That's putting it as mildly as possible. Behind this is the Michigan Education Association (MEA) that has publicly made it known what everyone knew it was doing privately - pushing for the recall of Gov Rick Snyder. Does it not bother anyone that an organization that is funded by laundered taxpayer money via forced unionization, and subsequently given to the Democratic Party either directly or indirectly, is using their bounty to recall duly elected representatives and the Governor for simply looking out for the taxpayers best interest? Who works for whom exactly? HT: Instapundit

Shocker: NEA endorses Obama for 2012, promises to launder taxpayer money for campaign coffers

The National Education Association and its state affiliates is a Democratic Party taxpayer money laundering operation that does some representation on the side and has a negative net value to student education to boot. Their main effort is in advancing liberalism at all cost and speed. Which is why they are endorsing Obama so early in the 2012 election cycle (was there any doubt?). From the AP: Major teachers union endorses Obama's re-election 

The nation's largest education union has endorsed President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.

Members of the National Education Association voted to support Obama on Monday at their annual convention in Chicago.

In a statement, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel says Obama and the union share a vision and members wanted early and strong support to help his election.

...The association has 3.2 million members and bills itself as the largest labor union nationwide.

And from the day before that: GOP maligns teachers, Biden says. Making teachers contribute pennies on the dollar for unsustainable Cadillac healthcare policies is maligning teachers now? Making teachers contribute pennies on the dollar towards an unsustainably generous pension plan allowing them to retire in their 40s and live comfortably off taxpayer largesse is maligning teachers now? Oh, please already...