https://twitter.com/Kiwigirl58/status/533723912341684224
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, hasn’t given up on her quest for an apology from TIME magazine for its Nov. 3 cover “bashing teachers.” For those who missed it, this is Weingarten’s idea of teacher-bashing:
The fact that TIME made its story on teacher tenure its cover story wasn’t the magazine’s only offense; the publishers moved the article outside the magazine’s paywall to make it available free of charge to the general public.
Regardless of whether it was the image of the gavel and apple or the phrase “bad teacher” that enraged many educators, the article itself revolves around the ruling in Vergara v. California that struck down laws governing teacher tenure on the grounds that they violate California’s constitution, as well as the growing involvement of Silicon Valley tycoons in shaping educational policy.
Nevertheless, Weingarten maintains that TIME’s cover was a personal attack on teachers, which led to exchanges with Michael Brickman, national policy director at the Fordham Institute, and RiShawn Biddle, editor of DropoutNation.net. Here’s just a sample.
.@TIME’s “rotten apples” cover was a personal attack on educators. An Asst Principal explains: http://t.co/Dnz3WTHQNd via @NancyChewning
— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) November 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/BrickM/status/533714816863854593
@BrickM -no other profession is bashed so much – no one wants "bad apples"- the bashing hurts everyone who tries every day to help kids
— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) November 15, 2014
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https://twitter.com/BrickM/status/533716363739951104
@BrickM @TIME – a cover that smashing apples— even those who agreed with the Vegara suit like Rep. George Miller thought it was wrong….
— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) November 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/BrickM/status/533718527052890112
@BrickM @mediamike77 @rweingarten No other profession is "bashed". Talk to lawyers (and you should know, since you are one), car salesmen…
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@BrickM @mediamike77 @rweingarten journalists, politicians. Yet those folks in those professions don't whine about it…
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@BrickM @mediamike77 @rweingarten Those who are ethical, honorable, and high quality in those professions simply work hard to elevate them.
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@BrickM @mediamike77 @rweingarten They accept the criticism of those who don't deserve esteem instead of whining about it…
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@BrickM @mediamike77 @rweingarten And they don't take it personally. They understand that the criticism isn't directed toward them…
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@BrickM @mediamike77 @rweingarten So Randi, stop the sophistry. More importantly, stop defending policies that protect bad apples. #edreform
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/mediamike77/status/533724462567682049
@mediamike77 @BrickM @rweingarten You can't argue with evidence that near-lifetime employment and seniority-based privileges works for kids.
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/mediamike77/status/533725091612606464
@mediamike77 @BrickM @rweingarten Given that half of all new teachers leave in five years, the current model is a burn-out model.
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@mediamike77 @BrickM @rweingarten In fact, because of seniority-based privileges and tenure, burned-out teachers are kept in jobs…
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@mediamike77 @BrickM @rweingarten when they should leave for new ventures outside of classrooms. The current model is indefensible.
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
https://twitter.com/BrickM/status/533726872753160193
@BrickM @rweingarten @mediamike77 Exactly. Neither Mike nor Randi have serious answers because they only care about preserving the old order
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@BrickM @rweingarten @mediamike77 If they were truly serious about elevating the profession and improving quality of teaching for kids…
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014
@BrickM @rweingarten @mediamike77 They wouldn't argue for the same old insanity in policy. #KeepingItReal
— RiShawn Biddle (@dropoutnation) November 15, 2014