School Board Wars

By Larry Sand
02/19/2013
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg donates $1 million to reform candidates in Los Angeles school board race. School boards are powerful entities. Within the confines of state law, they typically adopt budgets, collectively bargain with the local teachers union, monitor student achievement and pick the local school superintendent. In California, there are more than...

TAGS: Alexander Russo, American Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Dennis Van Roekel, John Deasy, Joy Resmovits, Larry Sand, Michael Bloomberg, Mike Antonucci, Mike Petrilli, National Education Association, school board, teachers union, United Teachers of Los Angeles

Letting Schools Compete: A Boon to the Economy

By Larry Sand
02/05/2013
The National Education Association continues to throw out stale bromides in an attempt to salvage a failing and very costly education enterprise. National School Choice Week has just ended and what a week it was! It spanned the country with 3,600 events in all 50 states and D.C., with proclamations and endorsements from 29 governors,...

TAGS: Ben DeGrow, Benjamin Scafidi, Indiana State Teachers Association, Larry Sand, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, National School Choice Week, Patrick Wolf, school choice, vouchers

Unraveling What Happened in Michigan

By Larry Sand
12/18/2012
Now that the dust has settled, there are still some loose ends that need to be addressed in the Wolverine State’s right-to-work battle. Last Tuesday, Michigan became the nation’s 24th right-to-work state. Much has been written about this and yet there still is much misinformation in circulation – mostly being spread by the unions, of...

TAGS: collective bargaining, James Sherk, Larry Sand, Michigan, Mike Antonucci, Right to Work, Unions

Forced Unionism Is Rearing Its Ugly Head in D.C.

By Larry Sand
11/19/2012
Not content with forcing traditional D.C. public school teachers to join the Washington Teachers Union, the rapacious WTU is now trying to get its hooks into charter schools. Last week, Nathan Saunders, president of the Washington Teachers Union, announced his intention to push for legislation that would force charter school teachers in the nation’s capital...

TAGS: California Charter School Association, Charter schools, Forced Unionism, Mike Antonucci, Washington Teachers Union

Small Class-Size Balloon Punctured Again

By Larry Sand
10/17/2012
It’s time to “just say no” to the small class-size pushers and eliminate seniority as a staffing mechanism. Small class size means less work for teachers. Parents seem to think that their child will be better educated in a room with fewer classmates. Unions love fewer kids in a class because it equates to a...

TAGS: Andrew Coulson, Eric Hanushek, Jay Greene, last in first out, Mike Antonucci, seniority, small class size, teacher shortage

Union Hooey on Display

By Larry Sand
09/25/2012
Even with a “victory” in Chicago, teachers unions are still under attack, and their buzz words, doublespeak and bunkum are becoming ever so transparent. After striking Chicago teachers went back to work last Wednesday following cialis super active a seven day walk-out, their union declared a victory. While the school district did get some concessions,...

TAGS: California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, Chicago Teachers Union, Mike Antonucci, Students Matter

Don’t Buy NEA Snake Oil

By Larry Sand
07/24/2012
The teachers union uses bogus numbers to con the public into believing that education needs more funding. The National Education Association is relentless in its quest to raise taxes. In its latest gambit — “Massive Budget Cuts Threaten America’s Children” — the union claims that “…America’s schools have added 5.4 million students since 2003.” The...

TAGS: Andrew Coulson, education spending, Eric Hanushek, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, teachers union

National Education Association Admits Things Will Never Be the Same

By Larry Sand
07/10/2012
The nation’s biggest union finds itself in a big hole and keeps digging. In his excellent book, Special Interest: Teachers Unions and Americas Public Schools, published a little more than a year ago, Terry Moe posited that the teachers unions would meet their end via two routes – Democrats joining Republicans, thus making education reform...

TAGS: California Teachers Association, Citizens United, D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, Dennis Van Roekel, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, SB 1530, teachers union, Terry Moe, vouchers

The Battle of Wisconsin

By Larry Sand
06/12/2012
Governor Walker’s victory on June 5th was crucial, but the war is far from over. Just a week ago, Scott Walker survived a recall, beating back the rapacious efforts of the National Education Association and its state affiliate, the Wisconsin Education Association (WEAC) to recall the Wisconsin governor who had the moxie to work with...

TAGS: Act 10, collective bargaining, Dennis Van Roekel, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Scott Walker, teachers union, Wisconsin Education Association Council

NEA Greed Machine is in Overdrive

By Larry Sand
04/17/2012
Tax Freedom Day is April 17th. Freedom from teacher union extortion? To be announced. The National Education Association has thrown itself full force into the “corporate loophole” demagoguery campaign. According to the NEA, children are being victimized by avaricious corporate types who don’t pay their fair share of taxes. The NEA exhorts the American people...

TAGS: American Federation of Teachers, corporate greed, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, RiShawn Biddle, teachers unions