So here's the deal, fair and balanced as possible at this point. John and Ken of KFI AM 640 radio (aka the highest rated talk radio show in the COUNTRY) started the 3 o'clock by announcing that they had just received the best email in the history of the show. That's 20 plus years.
Listen here
The basics of the email were: (this is one side of the story filtered through radio show hosts) Parent of kindergarten teacher tells students to wear pink on "Pink Friday" or they won't get a toy to play with at school. Child worries about pink clothes. Mom dresses child in pink so kid can get a toy. Mom complains to Principal (TY Tibbi) who agrees that bribe kids is not a good idea. Mom tells principal that complaint should be anonymous so as to not incur retribution from teacher to student. Principal tells teacher of complaint and tells teacher the name. Teacher tells class in front of Parent and other parents that because parent (teacher identifies our hero) no one gets a toy. Parent complains to principal that it should have been anonymous. Principal takes teachers side.
Again, this is one side of the story and there may be a perfectly reasonable explanations for all of this. My questions still are...Why is the teachers union using kids to get attention? It looks foolish. For one, I would have worn a Berka to school if I thought I would gain favor with a teacher. Two, kids know nothing about the topic. Teachers should have told there students not to wear pink and that protesting was the teachers job and the kids should stay out of it. If the teacher gets laid off, have the kids failed? Also, I may get laid off soon so if the teachers can have the students wear green next Friday for me that would be great. Green for money right? It's better than pink for pink slips.
So, any Upland teachers want to give me their side of the story...leave a comment.
Edit, to add a little more balance I will says this, even if all of this is true, the principal and teacher are not the devils that J&K would have you believe. It's pretty standard for a boss to tell a subordinate who complains about them. It's kind of up to the subordinate to not let on that they know and just fix the issue. Also, I imagine when belong to a union as strong as the Teacher's Union, going against the union will cause problems so a class with kids with no pink shirts would have been looked upon harshly by the Union.
For more stories concerning Upland, see the Topic links over on the right---->
23 comments:
*principal*
it's sucks that spell checks only go so far. why can't computer's recognize context yet. that would be better than flying cars!!!
Good post. Ridiculous People!!!
keep 'em comin' man.
(laughing)
where the hell did "it's" come from
sorry-
"it*"
I thought grammar was just grampar's wife...
Glad you posted this so more in town are aware. Unbelievable. Thanks.
I think the wearing of pink was supposed to be for teachers only and this particular teacher made a mistake in asking her students to participate. No need to slap down the teacher's union for individual member's actions.
I have two children in Upland schools & neither of them heard anything about the "wear pink" campaign. Nor did I see and abundant number of kids wearing the color when I was at the school (my usual volunteer day).
Thanks for the comment Dena.
I can't speak for Upland but on my drive home last Friday I saw a lot of kids wearing pink in RC.
10/1 for kids wearing pink Friday vs. green today.
Also, I never take it easy on Unions, Big Business or Gov't.
I can assure you that the union in Upland did not advocate the wearing of pink by students.
Did they have to advocate Joe? They knew what was going to happen and if you're not part of the solution. The least they could have done was advise the kids not to get involved. Thanks for reading my blog fellow citizen.
Considering it only happened at one Upland school, you are overreaching to say that "they knew what was going to happen."
Seems as if you are jumping to conclusions without all the facts....seems to me that Dena's point is more balanced and valid than yours.
But then I never take it easy on bloggers that are biased.
Thanks for your comments Joe. I value your opinion.
Where's the bias? And what makes Dena's observations anymore balanced or valid than mine? What facts am I missing? Did the Union discourage students from wearing pink either directly or indirectly?
I am confident that I covered both sides of the issue.
If you would like to write a post about how well this was handled by the Union/Teacher/School, I would be pleased to post it.
How's that for fair and balanced?
Boy, has this Kindergarten story gotten so blown out of proportion.
The teacher sent home a note that was given to her about "What is Pink Friday?" A large number of her parents had asked her what it was and why the wearing of pink? This teacher has a very good communication and respect from most all of her parents. She sent home that note only for the purpose of them understanding about "Pink Friday". The children was told that a note was going home to the parents about "Pink Friday?" They ask what that was.
The teacher told them that people were going to wear pink to support school education. They ask if they could wear pink and she told them to ask their moms. They wear camoflaged pinks, greens, blues on fridays to show school spirit anyways.
She then went on to say that whoever brought back their homework folder would get to pick from the treasure box. Come on John and Ken and that one disgruntled parent!!!! Thats a 5 or 6 year olds understanding and
evidently the little kindergarter hear that if they wore pink, they could pick out of the teasure box. I am a PTA member and I know that teacher. There was no politics or union cohersion on her part when she sent home that note ( looking back, evidently not such a good idea). I wish the people that got so upset about it could of just went to her and ask her before getting all irrate and contacting this radio forum with inaccurate information.
Again, I can assure you that the union did not discourage or encourage kids to wear pink. In Upland, all communication from the union was directed at teachers about teachers. Students were not mentioned at all--not once.
The bias occurs when you assume that a member of the union speaks for the union.....that is fallacious reasoning. You also stated that they "knew what was going to happen." That is an assumption, and it is an incorrect assumption. Dena's observations are more valid because they are not based on false reasoning.
And, I think that Anonymous stated the situation well enough....no need for me to submit a post.
Quite frankly, I truly think that the final sentence of that comment says it all....the spreading of inaccurate information is a dangerous thing.
I can't believe that John and Ken would even air something that was SOOOOOOOOOO far from the truth. This parent that sent in the email to John and Ken is a trouble maker at this school. She had NO right to email them a bunch of lies. I am a parent in that classroom and this teacher is THE BEST IN UPLAND!! To bad this parent NEVER comes into the classroom to see that. I hope this parent feels very small right about now.
Its offensive that any group ask tax payers to sympathise with protest to save their jobs over others. Add to that it would mean higher taxes or cut other state jobs/benefits. ALL layoffs are sad, none more than another. Their union wastes tax money & we resent it. Teachers too need to cut & stop waste of tax dollars.
That story is NOT over blown. At Magnolia they "bribe" kids for PTA membership too. WE ARE TAPPED OUT! The AVG teacher sal in Upland for 07/08 was 71k per year (per district publication)from our tax dollars, which includes many consecutive WEEKS of vacation time. They get parents helping them do their job most days (I don't know anyone else who does. So, "pink" protesting to protect their jobs while their neighbors are losing jobs is something to shout about on the radio. People need to realize they are basically saying "pay more taxes or cut some one else's budget so we don't lose our jobs or have a wage freeze even if you might lose yours."
Whoa!!! Better watch out about bribing those children in their schools to get a better PTA membership drive. Hmmmm, lets see, what does the top class get if they get the most memberships?
Maybe a pizza party???And not only that it brings parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles into the PTA (PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION) in case you didnt know, which I doubt that you belong. And I think its wonderful that those loyal and dedicated moms, dads & grandparents help out in the classroom to help my child and yes, even yours!!!! Maybe you could put yourself out there to help out once in a while in the classroom. If you went to college for 5 years, you might also draw a wage of $71k and do you know how long that takes to get you to the top of that pay scale to earn that?? You sound so miserable and why don't you put your child in private school if you think our teachers are overpaid and has the parent helpers doing all their work? Maybe, just maybe, there is more to your dissatisfaction of
the PTA & Classroom teachers. Ask yourself, what have you done lately to help your child's education?
I agree!! Maybe private school is best for some parents. Those parents that come in on a weekly basis are dedicated parents. They want to help out and give some of their time to help in the classroom. If only all schools had parents like Pepper Tree. What bugs me is that it is parents like (YOU), that want EVERYONE else to support the classroom needs but YOURSELF. Get off your BUTT and come into the classroom once in awhile and see what really goes on. Some people just don't even know!!! The Upland School District is "One of the best" with loyal and dedicated teachers. It is those teachers that are educating YOUR child for goodness sake. GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE about what teachers make a year!!! Try to step into their shoes for ONE day. Bet you can't handle it!! Some teachers in Upland deal with dicipline problems all day long. Teachers are counselors, nurtures, nurses. You name it- they have to do it. So YES they should get paid well!!
Parent helpers are fabulous and as asset to any classroom, but they, by no stretch of the imagination, do not do all the work of a classroom teacher.
I agree with Emily. My child's teacher is so well organized and is so kind and fun. I don't think I could do that all day with 5 year olds. God Bless our teachers!!! And for those that come down on teachers so hard- try walking in their shoes. I have much respect for all teachers. Maybe some of us should teach our own children to respect ALL instead of replying on the teachers so much!!
You so missed the point. I've have my BA. I DO work in the class, but ONLY tutoring kids in need. I will never support PTA because of their liberal stance. Teaching itself is a fabulous, vaulable profession. The union, whiny mantality of entitlement that now prevails is beyond offensive. You want to cater to it fine, but don't be surprised when people "shout" out when their kids are manipulated and guilted to follow their ajenda.
Counselors, nurturers? get real. I sit at dinner parties with them. They mock you and disparage your neediness. The bemone going back after 8 weeks (who gets 8 weeks off and complains?), and readily admit the weekly "planning" minimum day is rediculous. It is not a hallowed profession, just a chosen one, and valuable, but not special, just like the rest of us. You keep helping them with their job that you pay for and feel good about yourself, nothing wrong with charity work. But like all charity, to each his own, everyone has their own.
This is comment is to one of the last two anonymous replys. If you have your BA, why can't you spell mentality and agenda? I wouldn't brag about my education with spelling like yours! As far as the PTA goes, next time your child
is able to have music or art, it maybe that same PTA, that you so dislike, is helping to fund some of these programs in your childs school. Remember PTA is made up of PARENTS and teachers. Have you ever involved yourself on the behalf of your child?
I agree with anonymous regarding anonymous #1 needing to learn to spell. BUT it's a slippery slope assuming they don't have a college degree. It's a spell check generation out there. I'm far more concerned that teachers have a grasp on the English language..."me and her will go over his test this week and I'll get back to you." That was a direct quote from my son's teacher. "He did good. I was really encouraged." Was the follow-up. The slippery slope of which I was speaking! There's your college educated elementary school teacher. The lack of respect, in this case, is well earned.
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