We've all heard about the campaign for President since way back in 2007. Delegates to the NEA RA last summer in Philadelphia heard from all of the Democratic candidates and one Republican, Mike Huckaby. Huckaby was the first Republican candidate for President to EVER address the RA.
In Texas, it's almost time for all of the talking to end. Tuesday, February 19 the early voting period begins and runs through February 29. If you miss early voting, then the real action occurs on Tuesday, March 4.
Let me, right now, urge all of you to vote early! I know most of you will be in your schools or driving your bus routes until late in the day on March 4. This election is TOO IMPORTANT for any excuses on your part as to why you didn't vote. YOU must make your voice heard in this important election! The only way to do that is to VOTE!
If you want a list of early voting locations and times and/or to look at a sample ballot, please just click the link to left on this site for the Dallas County Elections office. Or, you can just go to www.dalcoelections.org. Whichever is easiest for you.
As you prepare to go vote, I have some recommendations for you on races other than the Presidential race. On the Presidential race, NEA is staying neutral.
Here's what I have on other races in Dallas County:
State Representative District 104 - Roberto Alonzo: Rep. Alonzo has been a friend to educators in Austin and will continue to be. The TSTA PAC has officially endorsed Rep. Alonzo and has asked all of us to help his campaign in any way we can. Especially, voting for him if we live in his district.
County Tax Assessor/Collector - Diana Lackey: I want to personally recommend Ms. Lackey to you. She has the experience and the drive to be a great Tax Assessor/Collector. She has been to many meetings at the NEA-Dallas building in the last year and has spoken to many of you. If you would like additional information on her and her campaign, please visit www.dianalackey.com or call me at the office.
District Judge, 14th Judicial District - Eric V. Moye': I know some of you will hold the fact against him that he worked for the Dallas ISD. In fact, Judge Moye' represented the DISD when we faced off against them in the Edision lawsuit. However, Judge Moye' did a great job representing the Board of Trustees and will do a great job as a District Judge.
He did come to our February Membership/AR meeting and answered questions, some of them pretty tough. So, I recommend Judge Moye' to you.
Other candidates that I have spoken with, but who haven't been to NEA-Dallas, and I feel comfortable recommending are:
Criminal District Judge, Place 2 - Don Adams
Justice, Supreme Court-Place 7: Sam Houston
U. S. Representative, District 32 - Steve Love
If you would like to help out in the campaigns for Rep. Alonzo, Diana Lackey, and/or Judge Moye', please feel free to contact me at the office. We will be looking to staff ALL of the early voting locations on Saturday, February 23 (7:00am-7:00pm) and Sunday, February 24 (1:00pm-6:00pm).
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Beating Up On Teachers
This week's story on Channel 8 about another DISD teacher getting beaten up was just sickening. I watched the story in horror as this teacher was grabbed by her hair from behind and then pummelled again by this student.
It all began over some money pinned to the student's blouse(shirt) for her birthday. According to accounts, the student kept playing with the money and was trying to make change when the teacher (who had asked her to stop playing with the money on several occassions) tried to get her to comply with her request.
The rest is video history. Appalling as the scene may be, it's even more appalling that not one of the students tried to help this teacher. To add insult to injury, the reporter stated that the DISD said they would not ask the teacher to come back and teach at Skyline again. Like she would want to come back! Duh!
There is never any excuse for a student to assault a teacher. Especially in this vicious a manner. I can only surmise that this incident is just one in a long line of incidents that have, at least some, of its roots in the programming our children see.
I have two sons, seven and five, and have watched the Cartoon Network and other popular cartoon shows with them. Almost every time that teachers are shown, they are shown as bumbling old fools to be gotten over on. Almost every other show on tv and at the the theaters show teachers in a negative light.
Maybe it's time that all of us teachers, and our friends and family, start boycotting these shows and the companies that advertise on them. If enough of us would do it, then the producers of this stuff would realize that what we already know. That if it weren't for teachers, they wouldn't have a job because they would be just another uneducated bumbling fool to be gotten over on!
It all began over some money pinned to the student's blouse(shirt) for her birthday. According to accounts, the student kept playing with the money and was trying to make change when the teacher (who had asked her to stop playing with the money on several occassions) tried to get her to comply with her request.
The rest is video history. Appalling as the scene may be, it's even more appalling that not one of the students tried to help this teacher. To add insult to injury, the reporter stated that the DISD said they would not ask the teacher to come back and teach at Skyline again. Like she would want to come back! Duh!
There is never any excuse for a student to assault a teacher. Especially in this vicious a manner. I can only surmise that this incident is just one in a long line of incidents that have, at least some, of its roots in the programming our children see.
I have two sons, seven and five, and have watched the Cartoon Network and other popular cartoon shows with them. Almost every time that teachers are shown, they are shown as bumbling old fools to be gotten over on. Almost every other show on tv and at the the theaters show teachers in a negative light.
Maybe it's time that all of us teachers, and our friends and family, start boycotting these shows and the companies that advertise on them. If enough of us would do it, then the producers of this stuff would realize that what we already know. That if it weren't for teachers, they wouldn't have a job because they would be just another uneducated bumbling fool to be gotten over on!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Welcome
I would like to welcome you to my new blog. Many of our members have encouraged me to start this so that we can get our story out about issues in education.
You will get a lot of information on the Dallas ISD and the Dallas County Schools as our members come from these two school districts in Texas. I will also comment regularly on issues statewide and nationwide as we are the local affiliate of the 3.2 million member National Education Association.
If you have comments, please feel free to add them and we will take a good, honest look at all viewpoints.
You will get a lot of information on the Dallas ISD and the Dallas County Schools as our members come from these two school districts in Texas. I will also comment regularly on issues statewide and nationwide as we are the local affiliate of the 3.2 million member National Education Association.
If you have comments, please feel free to add them and we will take a good, honest look at all viewpoints.
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