Public education defunding drivel

By Larry Sand
10/02/2018
The teachers unions and their allies demand more and more, and still more money for education. In a recent New York Times piece, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten warned us about “The high cost of defunding public education.” Her standard issue whine starts off with the Time Magazine front-page story (which I wrote...

TAGS: Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, American Federation of Teachers, Andrew Coulson, Benjamin Scafidi, Jason Richwine, Just Facts, Larry Sand, Randi Weingarten, teachers union

Kavan-awesome

By Larry Sand
09/04/2018
With the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings underway, the unions are very jumpy.  Did you know that the U.S. Supreme Court is there to protect the little guy and minorities, uphold women’s rights, and destroy school choice? That’s according to the make-it-up-as-you-go-along left, including the teachers unions. In reality, the job of a SCOTUS...

TAGS: American Federation of State, American Federation of Teachers, Betsy DeVos, County and Municipal Employees, Donald Trump, Larry Sand, Lee Saunders, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, Mark Janus, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, school choice, Supreme Court, teachers union, vouchers, Walter Williams, Zelman v. Simmons-Harris

School choice matters

By Larry Sand
08/21/2018
From Puerto Rico to Los Angeles, teachers unions still try to deny parental choice at every turn. In March, six months after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the island’s lawmakers approved a bill that offered parents school choice options, including vouchers and charter schools. Hardly radical, the voucher program was capped at 3 percent of...

TAGS: American Federation for Children, American Federation of Teachers, EdChoice, Larry Sand, National Education Association, Network for Public Education, Randi Weingarten, teacher strike, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles

Why Teachers Unions are the Worst of the Worst

By Edward Ring
08/01/2018
When considering the influence of unions on American society, there are vast differences depending on what type of union one considers. Private sector unions, for all the criticisms they may deserve, have nonetheless played a vital role in securing rights for the American worker. Subject to appropriate regulations, private sector unions have the opportunity to...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, National Education Association, teachers union

The other (left) shoe has dropped

By Larry Sand
07/24/2018
The choice between unions becoming more ecumenical or more radical has been made. In the run-up to the Janus decision, some thought a victory for the plaintiff would lead to the teachers unions becoming more politically balanced by embracing at least some conservative candidates and causes as a way to ensure the uninterrupted flow of...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Bernie Sanders, California Teachers Association, Chicago Teachers Union, Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clinton, Janus v. AFSCME, Jesse Sharkey, Larry Sand, National Education Association, socialism, teachers union

The Janus victory and ongoing whine festival

By Larry Sand
07/03/2018
The Abood decision has been overturned and its mourners are beside themselves.  The hysterical reaction to the recent Supreme Court decision in the Janus v. AFSCME case, which frees public employees in 22 states from having to pay any money to a union as a condition of employment, has Chicken Little nodding in solidarity. As...

TAGS: AFSCME, Alex Caputo-Pearl, American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Chicago Teachers Union, Janus v. AFSCME, Jesse Sharkey, Larry Sand, LAUSD, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Randi Weingarten, seiu, stare decisis, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles

Hillbilly science v. left wing ideology

By Larry Sand
06/26/2018
Parents, not the state, should decide what kind of education their children receive.  The anti-school choice crowd frequently manages to shoot themselves in the foot by making outlandish allegations. Almost a year ago, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten suggested that vouchers are “slightly more polite cousins of segregation.” At the same time, Katherine...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Cultural Marxism, Howard Zinn, Kyle Olson, Lance Izumi, Larry Sand, Neal McCluskey, Randi Weingarten, school choice, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles, vouchers

Uninformed and misinformed teachers

By Larry Sand
06/19/2018
  Too many educators are clueless on issues relating to their profession.  In 2006, I co-founded the California Teachers Empowerment Network, whose mission is to give educators unbiased information and to combat union spin and outright lies. While we have helped a good number of teachers, there are still way too many who are...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, Andrew Coulson, California Teachers Empowerment Network, Educators for Excellence, Fresno Teachers Association, Janus v. AFSCME, Larry Sand, Michael Lovenheim, Mike Petrilli, Randi Weingarten, teachers union

California’s uncompromising teachers unions

By Larry Sand
05/22/2018
With a SCOTUS decision imminent in the Janus case, California’s teachers unions are showing no signs of becoming more politically balanced. In last week’s post, I suggested that if the Janus case was successful in the Supreme Court, the political fallout, generally speaking, would be “somewhat to considerable.” The case, which would make union dues-paying...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, conservative, Democrats, Janus v. AFSCME, Josh Pechthalt, Larry Sand, National Education Association, teachers union

Janus reality check

By Larry Sand
05/15/2018
With a SCOTUS decision just weeks away, a little perspective is in order.  As one who has closely followed the Janus v AFSCME case, I am amazed at the hyperbolic ranting about it from certain quarters that bombards us on a daily basis. If successful, the suit would allow government workers in 22 states the...

TAGS: AB 119, American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Janus v. AFSCME, Larry Sand, Michigan Education Association, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Rob Weil, teachers union