Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Teacher unions undermine classroom achievement

Teachers unions such as Education Minnesota consistently promote practices that undermine excellence in the classroom. Education Minnesota is the second best funded lobbying force in the state, eclipsed only by the National Rifle Association. Having aided the election of Gov. Mark Dayton and a DFL-controlled Legislature, Education Minnesota is vigorously calling in its chips.
With Dayton and Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius as its agents, Education Minnesota has been hugely successful in disassembling the previous system of school accountability. Cassellius sought waivers from requirements that were effectively identifying failing schools, oversaw the establishment of a murky new system to measure school performance, and prevailed upon the 2013 Legislature to eliminate the grade 9 writing and grade 10 reading tests as graduation requirements.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/211123321.html#post_comments 

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