Disqus - Latest Comments for ds77vm86

Re: Strike-affected Kent school calendar means shorter vacations - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:11:46 -0000

Im not happy that not only did we as parents have to prepare to move around our scheduled plans and vacations, not we have to cancel them all together. 2 days for spring break. 2 days for Presidents week. I would rather add more days to the end of the year.

Re: KENT SCHOOL TEACHERS' STRIKE IS OVER - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:28:30 -0000

Its about time!!

I did not support the strike, but I am extremely happy that the teachers have an agreement worth settling for! Congratulations!

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:22:57 -0000

Thank you for the facts! Like you said, its not that we're trying to be cynical, but we have to be realistic here. A new contract that benefits the teachers, shouldnt have a huge effect on the education our children receive. "A really strong teacher is going to be successful with twenty-five or thirty." (kenttaxpayer) I support the teachers that are on the line for our students. But I do not support this strike and want our children back in school ASAP!

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:16:17 -0000

No. Youre right in that our children are not cattle and classrooms are not stockyards, however, this isnt about the students anymore which the teachers made perfectly clear when they said they assume they will not have to pay King County the fines the court ordered if they do not return to school Monday. If teachers have been aware that it is illegal for them to strike and dont like it, why didnt they do something about it before they went on strike? They stand up for what they believe in and yet the teachers of Washington state didnt do anything to change that law! I can tell you why . . . they havent done anything about it because when their contracts come up and they decide to strike, they need the sympathy of the community behind them. Which they can only get in the vast number that they do because of the law that it is illegal for them to strike. I do not pity these teachers. I supported them when they stood for something to support.

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:37:35 -0000

"Many teachers have said they will remain on strike despite the court order and do not expect to have to pay the fines because any agreement will contain some sort of amnesty clause."

Great. Now there's one more thing the teachers are expecting in their new contract. They are really giving the impression that they dont think any of these laws apply to them! It may not be fair in your opinion, but life isnt fair, get over it. Tax payers pay the District, who in turn pay the teachers. So who's paying for these fines exactly? Plus, they're owed to King County, not the District. I do hope that once an agreement is reached, and theteachers go to the court to have the fines waived, King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvas tells them no, they need to pay the fines, which I believe she will do. Darvas isnt falling for all the finger pointing made by both sides. Her hands are tied and I believe the only reason teachers havent done something to change the law that teachers can not strike, is because if they did, they wouldnt have the sympathy vote on their side. This may have started out as a good idea, but it has been exaggerated and drawn out way too long! We are drawing near to a month. My kids want to go to school!

Also, there have been previous statements about the kids who support the teachers are strong willed and know what it means to do whats right. That may be true. But I applaud my child and all those that share his feelings in wanting to go to school, receive a good education, and better themselves and their lives. If the teachers are allowing a contract to effect our children's education that much, then maybe they shouldnt be teachers.

Re: District moves first day of school to Tuesday; Union says it won't return without an agreement - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:23:44 -0000

If the District does not reimburse you for the classes you take for your job, you can claim them on your taxes and get the money back that way.

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:15:48 -0000

As I said, I do believe the teachers should have the right to strike. I dont think they are solely "at fault" for the strike taking place. The district has a long way to go to meet at the half-way point, in my opinion. Maybe it is niave for me to think there is a better way to handle this. My children's education is extremely important to me. Of course I dont want them in a class where the teacher is forced to push them aside, but it kills me not having a school to take them to. I have a lot of faith in the teachers of Kent. I support them, but not the strike. I applaud them for standing up for what they believe is right . . . as a parent of very observant young children, I cant help but wonder what they will take away from this in all aspects.

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:00:15 -0000

Maybe I was unclear in my previous statement. I do believe the teachers should have the right the strike and I do believe that our education system should be focused around the teaching of our children rather than the salaries of the District. I dont however, believe that lowering classroom sizes by one child is enough to justify a strike. I think the teachers are being a little over dramatic.

Standingup, in regards to your comment, are the meetings are have after school an requirement as this court order is? If you stand up and do what you believe is right, why would you turn the child needing help away in order to go to your meeting? Thats sounds a bit hypocritical.

When my children ask why the teachers wont go back to school after the court tells them too, its hypocritical of me to say they are doing what they believe right, while doing something we are teaching is wrong.

For my statement to be twisted to sound discriminating, or compared to racisism, is again, dramatic. I just dont understand how the well educated teachers of our community couldnt find a better way to handle this. To get alittle, you need to give alittle. Im not saying teachers deserve to work under poor conditions, but do you honestly believe the District is going to treat you any better after this is over?

Re: KENT STRIKE: Big rally Friday; no contract yet - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:51:39 -0000

I dont understand why the teachers seem to be playing games here. They had their meeting Thursday evening to decide what to do. Whether they have an agreement by Monday or not, I have no doubt the teachers have already decided on their next move and I have a feeling the only people it is going to hurt are our children. Im tired of having to check the news every night to see if my son will start school the next day. You're forcing our children to start this year off on a bad note and it will effect them all year.
On a similar note, please explain to me how ignoring a court order is teaching our children the traits and responsibilties of being a law abiding citizen and valuable contribution to our society! 90% of communication is non-verbal. Actions drown the wisper of words. What is it exactly you're trying to teach our children?

Re: See the video: What teachers union says about Kent School District taking them to court - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:43:52 -0000

I agree that classroom shouldnt be as large as they are and teachers should be giving the best education they can, no matter the pay. But please explain to me how my son is getting the best education by staying at home. I wasnt aware I was going to be homeschooling this year. Ironic that the only way supposedly well educated teachers can prove their point, is by keeping our children out of school and showing through their actions that the rules dont apply to them. Nice teaching.

Also, there was an article on here the other day about how KSD got audited last year for how many moble classrooms were being used. Yes that shows an abundance of students that the district should have been more prepared for, but adding more isnt the answer. And even if the district agreed and somehow found the money to shrink class sizes, how do you suggest they do that without keeping our kids out of school even longer?

Re: Judge orders Kent teachers back to school; union to decide on action this afternoon - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:06:25 -0000

Yes there was an overwhelming 86.4% vote to strike, but that also means that 13.6% of teachers who voted, do not agree with this strike. That of course isnt counting the teachers who did not participate in the vote.

I was not expecting to homeschool my son who is to start K in KSD this year. Teachers want one less student per class!? All this over one less student!? As far as I'm concerned, they're raping my son of the education they are obligated to provide. They are keeping my child from going to school and causing me to lose respect and trust in the teachers who voted for this strike.
The KSD website has a link to view the class size of every class in every KSD school. From the ones I viewed, the only classes with 30+ kids where high school gym classes. I do believe classes with 24+ students should be limited, however, I also understand the expense that would go into it.

As far as the teachers that would come here if the current KSD teacher left . . . I believe there are a lot of well educated, deserving teachers out there that would love to have the oppertunity to teach our children! A teacher who would just up and quit, at the beginning of the school year when our children expect them to be there everyday teaching them, does not deserve to have the honor of teaching our children, or any child for that matter. There are better ways to see that they receive the contract they deserve.

Re: DEVELOPING STORY: Legal decision on Kent teachers' strike is imminent - Kent Reporter

dvs030309 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:24:08 -0000

Its nice to have reliable source to get information as to what is going on. I have been checking in on your website religiously for the past week to see what is going on. Its nice to finally find someone with answers!