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Re: Letter: Parents, education supporters, please help schools » Opinion » Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

Mike2009 — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:22:50 -0000

The town couldn't afford merit pay. Why? In the Merrimack Valley AHS has among the highest SAT scores, the highest MCAS scores, the highest graduation rate, the highest percentage of graduates entering post-secondary education. This is because there is an assembly line of outstanding educators prepping and preparing the students of the town from kindergarten through 12th grade so they are thoughtful, well-prepared, productive citizens. And all this happens while the town only pays the state average per pupil per year. Seems like one hell of deal the town's getting ... a top notch product for mediocre price!

Re: Letter: Parents, education supporters, please help schools » Opinion » Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

Mike2009 — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:53:14 -0000

Teachers' working conditions are learning conditions. Remember that when you want the SC to make cuts to the teachers. The cuts are really cuts in learning and the students are the ones that feel the effect.

Re: Letter: Come to Town Meeting to have a say on contracts

Mike2009 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:08:50 -0000

Great idea, Bobby! Don't pay for town services. That should really help your family and town.

Re: Letter: Chinese courses must remain at Andover High

Mike2009 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:02:46 -0000

What teacher are you going to get to work after school hours?

Re: Letter from teacher: Officer corps abandoning ship

Mike2009 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 20:00:35 -0000

One other thing. Notice that Mr. Powers graduated from AHS in 1983 and now works for the same school. I think he's an expert in the school trends seeing how he's been involved with the school system for multiple decades now.

Re: Letter from teacher: Officer corps abandoning ship

Mike2009 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:58:39 -0000

The job is clearly different. Elementary teachers need time to prepare for lessons to keep the young minds engaged all day. They need to be proficient in multiple subjects at a basic level. Middle school teachers need to plan integrated lessons with a group of teachers. They typically use a team of teachers to plan engaging lessons. Collaborating with colleagues takes considerable time. High school teachers teach in one discipline but often have multiple classes to teach (like a math teacher could teach algebra, geometry and AP calculus). The content is more detailed and the correcting is considerably longer. Critics always argue that high school teachers should teach 6 classes instead of 5. The extra class is a 20% increase in workload with no extra compensation. I'm sure you wouldn't ask to do 20% more work in your job with no increase in compensation. In addition, check with other high schools around and see how many of them teach more than 5 classes per year. You'll have a difficult time find many ... even though you want AHS teachers to do this.

Re: Letter from teacher: Officer corps abandoning ship

Mike2009 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:44:04 -0000

18 candidates. Contact the school system central office. If its public information then they'll share it with you. If not then you're out of luck. Be proactive.

Re: Letter from teacher: Officer corps abandoning ship

Mike2009 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:41:10 -0000

This is not normal turnover. Its not being overly picky its about finding a qualified candidate. In fact, its hard to find qualified candidates in MA because of all the extra nonsense the DOE is mandating ... too long for a post on ET but you can do your own research if you'd like.

Re: Letter: Parents, education supporters, please help schools » Opinion » Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

Mike2009 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:33:12 -0000

Everyone would like to know the school committee's reason for not opting for the GIC. But they don't talk to anyone, union members or their constituent. When the school committee doesn't like something that's offered to them, even if it makes sense or will save the town and school system money, they simply respond with "rejected." The explanation. Not reasoning. No justification. Seriously, email anyone of them and ask for any reason why they won't adopt the GIC. Everyone would like to know.

As for an incentive to opt out of health insurance ... well it would provide a motivation for teachers to use their spouse's insurance ... this would save the town thousands of dollars for each individual that made that choice. Why to you turn this into a negative if it will save tax payers (you included) money? Just because your company doesn't offer an incentive doesn't mean the town shouldn't if it will save the town money. By the way, again the school committee responded with "rejected" to this money saving idea.

Lastly, the town has the money to pay for its public schools. There would be no increase in tax payers money. It just a matter of the town showing what it values ... clearly not education!

Re: Letter: Parents, education supporters, please help schools » Opinion » Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

Mike2009 — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:24:08 -0000

You should know that the teachers recommended many cost saving ideas to the school committee, like joining the GIC or offering incentives to opt out of the town's health insurance plans, but ALL the ideas were met with only silence. You should know that the school committee is not interested in negotiation or collaboration that would have mutual benefits to the town, schools and the teachers. The school committee is only interested in dismantling the school system.

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:32:30 -0000

Are you chasing your tail again? Silly doggy!

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:30:36 -0000

Sit, doggy, sit! Now stay. Want a little treat?

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:27:13 -0000

Go back and read a history book, dummy. The last formal declaration of war by the U.S. Congress was during World War II. According the U.S. Constitution only Congress can declare war.

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:22:19 -0000

My tax idea is one that would bring in real revenue. It sucks (I think that's how you meant to spell it) because it would mean that everyone, including the rich, poor, middle class, etc. would have to share the burden ... and the rape-ublicans could never have that! They have to protect big business. You're a bunch of hypocrites!

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:17:46 -0000

Your reply makes no sense to my post. Try again.

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:31:07 -0000

You're like a little Chihuahua that always has to bark so that the other bigger dogs will notice you.

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:25:22 -0000

Writing numbers without sources isn't research, it's speculation. Any reputable researcher and college educated person knows this. Guess you're neither. Can't wait for your name-calling response!

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:19:43 -0000

If you don't show evidence then it's purely speculation and opinion, not fact.

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:18:04 -0000

The rape-ublicans take from the middle class, give to the rich and blame the poor. The rape-ublicans ensure that the wealthiest, most powerful companies pay little to no taxes but receive free government subsidies even though they net profits in the billions of dollars. You're right, though, it must be the people on welfare that need some assistance that are bankrupting our country. How dare the lower class use government money to pay for food, shelter and other basic necessities! Don't they know that the government's money needs go to bail out the banks, rich CEO's who steal our money, and to wealthy energy companies (like Exxon Mobile) who net quarterly profits in the tens of billions of dollars? I mean, what's wrong with the lower class? Why can't they understand this?

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 01:04:18 -0000

By illegally sending in troops for a war that was never officially declared? You do realize that Congress never officially declared war on any nation or group of people. This means that any president (Bush or Obama) did not have the authority to send troops to invade another country. Seeing how both did, they're also in violation of the Geneva Convention ... but we'll save that for another time, skippy!

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:59:04 -0000

Don't forget to mention that the war with Iraq and the current wars we're fighting on terror are actually illegal according to the U.S. Constitution. Only Congress has the right to declare a war and it hasn't done so since WWII. So the presidents of the United States that have waged war on other countries after the last official declaration have illegally cost this country and its citizens trillions of dollars in war debt and countless American lives!

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:48:16 -0000

And the rape-ublicans gladly take from the middle class, give to the rich and blame the poor. I guess the energy companies that pay little or no taxes yet yield net profits in the tens of billions of dollars are also illegal criminals, too! They receive free government money ... bet they could afford to do without it!

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:43:57 -0000

I guess Exxon Mobile would qualify as one of your illegal criminals as they do not pay any taxes but receive free government money. Does it bother you that the wealthiest energy company on the planet nets tens of billions of dollars in profits per quarter but pays zero dollars in taxes? If I'm to understand you correctly, you would prefer to have one of the wealthiest companies in the history of the planet pay nothing to the government and receive free government money, and have the poorest, most financially unstable, poverty stricken citizens receive zero help from the government? What's wrong with this picture?

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:24:49 -0000

Add a 1/2 of 1% tax on all stock transactions. That would bring in an estimated extra $400 billion per year in tax revenue. Wouldn't be just the rich, but anyone who holds a share of a company. How about eliminating tax subsides and other loopholes that not only exempt the riches, most powerful companies from paying taxes, but also allows them to receive free government money paid by your taxes. Does it bother you that Exxon Mobile, one of the richest companies in the history of the planet, pays zero dollars in taxes and receives free government money? It should! See the rape-ublicans will take from the middle class to fund the rich companies and then blame the poor for the financial crisis of the country. Sure the rich have their money and they have earned it, but the middle class has their money too, which they have also earned. The difference is that no one is looking out for the middle class anymore and they need more of their money just to make ends meet these days. Soon "e plurbis unum" will be replaced with "
de uno divisus."

Re: Letter: Progressives are ruining the country

Mike2009 — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:07:24 -0000

A lot of wasted name calling but still not an ounce of fact in your putrid, poorly written, diarrhea of the mouth.