Walton, Weingarten and Orwell

By Larry Sand
04/29/2014
The Walton Foundation has donated millions to help charter schools prosper, but that’s a bad thing according to the teachers unions. It’s no secret that the Walton Family Foundation is a major donor to charter schools. In 2013, it donated over $70 million to these special public schools and charter management organizations across the country....

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Charter schools, Dennis Van Roekel, Eva Moskowitz, George Orwell, Larry Sand, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, school choice, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers, Whitney Tilson

Government Unions Attack Free-Market Nonprofits via Pension Funds

By Edward Ring
04/08/2014
“The AFT will be looking more closely at those who are supporting the dismantling of defined benefit plans at the state and municipal level.” –  Ranking Asset Managers, A Retirement Security Report on Money Managers for Pension Fund Trustees, March 5, 2014 As reported in a Washington Examiner editorial on April 4th, the American Federation...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Dark money, pension funds, public sector unions

The Teachers Unions’ Supreme Chutzpah

By Larry Sand
04/08/2014
NEA and AFT leaders cavil at Supreme Court decision that eases rules on political funding. Nothing gives me an advanced case of the vapors quicker than the subject of political campaign finance laws. Trying to figure out who can give how much to whom and when, and how many dollars can be donated to a...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Citizens United, Dennis Van Roekel, Larry Sand, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, Supreme Court, teachers union

gRANDIosity

By Larry Sand
03/18/2014
Ms. Weingarten gives her enemies a breather as she jets off to Kiev to “promote democratic values.” American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten has been on a tear lately, working diligently to build up her long and growing enemies list. As reported by The Wall Street Journal’s Allysia Finley, The American Federation of Teachers...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Bill de Blasio, Eva Moskowitz, Larry Sand, Manhattan Institute, Michelle Rhee, Randi Weingarten, StudentsFirst, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers

Cashing in on Hypocrisy

By Larry Sand
03/04/2014
Latest teacher union stunt to discredit charter schools rings hollow. As I have written before – as recently as last Tuesday – the teachers unions have a schizoid relationship with charter schools. Depending on the tides, they either want to kill charters off or unionize them. Last week – in kill mode – Randi Weingarten’s...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Center for Education Reform, George Soros, In the Public Interest, Kara Kerwin, Larry Sand, Randi Weingarten, RiShawn Biddle, teachers union, United Federation of Teachers

School Choice Wars

By Larry Sand
02/18/2014
Though National School Choice Week ended a couple of weeks ago, reactionary rhetoric and political clashes are just heating up. With National School Choice Week behind us, the battle – and it is a battle – to free our children from a monopoly by zip-code public education system is being fought on fronts all over...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Barack Obama, Bill de Blasio, Eva Moskowitz, G.I. Bill, Jason Riley, Joel Klein, Lamar Alexander, Larry Sand, National Education Association, National School Choice Week, Pell Grant, privatization, Randi Weingarten, teachers union, Tim Scott, vouchers

The Department of Justice on Student Suspensions

By Larry Sand
01/21/2014
A recent memo accuses educators of racial discrimination while failing, with a few exceptions, to address the real problems. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a series of guidelines regarding the suspension of students from school. In short, though partially correct, the DOJ report is misguided, misleading, and missing key elements relevant...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, City Journal, Larry Sand, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Education Association, racism, RiShawn Biddle, seniority, teachers union, tenure, Vergara v California, zero tolerance

For Whom the Pell Doles

By Larry Sand
01/07/2014
Why are vouchers okay for college students, but not for K-12ers? Recently, the National Education Association posted an interview with Wes Moore on its website. Two boys are named Wes Moore. Both grow up in fatherless homes in Baltimore. Both struggle in school, and run into trouble with the police. But one Wes Moore wins...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Dennis Van Roekel, Friedman Foundation, G.I. Bill, Larry Sand, National Education Association, opportunity scholarships, Paul Ryan, Pell Grant, Randi Weingarten, school choice, vouchers

Michigan: One Year Later

By Larry Sand
12/03/2013
Teachers union is desperate to hold onto every last unwilling member. A year after Michigan became the country’s 24th right-to-work state, teachers are finding that their union resembles a Roach Motel – it’s real easy to get in, but getting out can be a mother. Just ask Miriam Chanski, a 24 year-old Kindergarten teacher who...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Bob Chanin, collective bargaining, George Orwell, Larry Sand, Mackinac Center, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, National Labor Relations Board, Right to Work, teachers union

Corporate Screed

By Larry Sand
11/26/2013
American Federation of Teachers led “National Day of Action” is a clear indicator that teachers unions are losing clout. On December 9th, we will be treated to the “National Day of Action,” a day cooked up by the American Federation of Teachers and supported by the National Education Association and various fellow travelers. After reading...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Anthony Cody, Bill Gates, Eli Broad, Larry Sand, National Education Association, RiShawn Biddle, teachers unions