THE OLD LAWYER RED MEAT TRICK
For years now there has been a philosophical struggle for control of the school board. Oversimplified, it's a debate between self-professed fiscal conservatives/minimalists and a group which probably views itself as more progressive. There was a time it was a meaningful debate.
Now, it probably doesn't make that much difference because our local school district has no money anyhow. What is the difference between a conservative school board and progressive school board when there is no money? Style.
The cons can bash the administration, crow about cuts, celebrate layoffs and look for symbolic things to change. In the meantime the money is what the money is.
The principal symbol of "style" would be the school district's attorney. Not that anybody else would be better, cheaper, smarter or more loyal. It would just be something to show the fellow cons that you were throwing out those rascals.
Besides, it's always easiest to blame the lawyers. One of the first thing I learned about lawyering when in law school was that lawyers were the most abused class of professional. It went something like this "Lawyers have a common experience with laboratory animals in that they are frequently sacrificed for a supposed greater good, have no significant interest group beyond themselves and no one forms any real attachment to them." (Can't say I wasn't warned.).
So take the "change lawyers" gambit from the Budster for what it is: cosmetic and not even very original.
No ad hoc committee will find any lack of effort, diligence, loyalty or creativity among the district's current lawyers. But Bud can't honestly label his gambit as just that (besides, he probably thinks a gambit is a cave dwelling South American rodent). He can't take responsibility for vaguely shifting the issue to counsel. He has to ascribe mischief to the lawyers, precisely because he lacks the stones or intellect to spell out anything untoward they have done. Heck, he could even make the argument that a district oughta change lawyers once every quarter century as a matter of policy. That would be a little arbitrary but not totally lame.
The "Change Lawyers" gambit is nothing more than symbolic. All the ghostwriters, puppetmasters and all the FOIA requests in the world won't change that.
posted by UMRBlog @ 01:53
22 comments
22 Comments:
You cover a lot of ground there, including the "abused" lawyer class, and a good measure of Bud bashing.
The more conservative majority needs a better spokesman I'd guess, but the progressives seem to feel tenured job security, long vacations, nice pensions with all health care ... is the means to better education.
That gives us educators that are advocates for more of the same. Excellence is not rewarded, and entrenched teachers settle in to a lifetime cushy position with little incentive, not only milking the system, but harming the kids with too much boring "indoctrination", instead of stimulating education.
We have to be able to fire teachers that don't get the job done, and move on to adapt to the times.
There are many innovative ideas, but little will happen with a "progressive" and unionized labor force, that feel unconditional tenure to tomb care is their entitlement.
Maybe we don't need teachers repeating the same lessons in front of the blackboard year after year ... that mundane task can be performed on the computer, with interactive quizzing, and the teacher filling in the gaps.
Computers could eliminate teaching to the slowest kid ... and interactive programs, loaded with more full visuals and background info, could be devoured by hungry kids, that are bored stiff with current programs.
Anyway ... that is the direction I'd like to see the school board move ... instead of lawyers looking to rearrange the deck chairs on the unionized ship of entitlement state.
Until we pry the kids out of the hands of this bloated government bureaucracy, it may not matter much where the money is thrown away, and constricting spending may be as good of a blunt tool as any.
I think the level of professionalism Gorman showed during that meeting speaks volumes about him. Dennis was stellar in a really bad event .
Tony-
Although there are many lawyers who deserve a good chuck under the bus, I too agree that this is not the case with the Quincy School Board. A good school board lawyer is an advisor to the board on the law and neutral to politics and policies. Also, to stay neutral to board politics and policies is a way to ensure job security as the board attorney. The law is fairly constant, but board policy and politics change every two years. Bud’s request for a new school board attorney is merely an attempt to rally those who will believe there is a grand conspiracy against him. As demonstrated at the second meeting of the board on Thursday, there was no plan to oust Bud and all of us including the board attorney made sure the Bud did not oust himself inadvertently. Maybe the "they" that Bud is worried about is the same "they" that "knocked off John Kennedy."
CTL
Tony-
Although there are some lawyers who deserve a good chuck under the bus, I too agree that this is not the case with the Quincy School Board attorney. A good school board lawyer is an advisor to the board on the law and neutral to politics and policies. Also, to stay neutral to board politics and policies is a way to ensure job security as the board attorney. The law is fairly constant, but board policy and politics change every two years. Bud’s request for a new school board attorney is merely an attempt to rally those who will believe there is a grand conspiracy against him. As demonstrated at the second meeting of the board on Thursday, there was no plan to oust Bud and all of us including the board attorney made sure the Bud did not oust himself inadvertently. Maybe the "they" that Bud is worried about is the same "they" that "knocked off John Kennedy."
CTL
OK, the "cave-dwelling rodent" thing was gratuitous but the rest of it just what I can see with my own eyes.
The general idea is that it's always real easy for clients to blame lawyers and act as if changing lawyers will be some kind of miracle cure.
TYFCB
What today's students need to learn to just work on the modern assembly line, I have it on good authority, are critical thinking skills, teamwork skills, math skills, and solid writing/speaking communications skills. They also need so-called "soft skills," that is, the ability to get to work on time, dress appropriately and respect hierarchies.
If tenured teachers won't teach these skills, 6:53 a.m., neither will computers. Reducing learning to a video game is not learning. Sorry, but in the end, human beings teach other human beings — and they should be paid well for doing so.
6:53 a.m., Bud and the other tax complainers are even more vague than Barack Obama when they talk about a need for "change." What change, specifically? Where and how and with what educational objective? The world changes every day, so tell us exactly, in detail and upfront, just what you mean by "change." Or does the ability to be precise in explaining what you mean by change in the school system require that you actually know something about educating children as well as managing people?
I heard Eric Holder was going to add lawyers to the list of those protected under the hate crimes law.
OK, I just made that up, but take this little quiz:
Which of these are the most hated by the most people in the USA:
1. Blacks
2. Gays
3. Hispanics
4. Women
5. Lawyers
I rest my case.
Uncle Joe,
TYFCB.
Those "soft skills" are what used to bring employers here. I am not so certain we can still tell folks we have a deep bench of folks who can set an alarm clock, get up for work and learn the specialized skills in today's work place.
Certainly, some of that is family stuff that the schools can't fix but maybe some of it's not.
Appreciate your thoughts.
Tony, a lack of soft skills is, IMHO, mostly the result of family and pop culture, the consequences of which a few hours in a crowded classroom aren't likely to change.
I've long wondered if our affluence doesn't have something to do with a lack of interest in education. When our expectations are low, but it's still easy to buy cheap stuff made by Chinese Commie slave labor at Wal-mart, why bother with learning stuff even if it might get you a few more bucks an hour in some service industry job. Then there's that whole thing about instant gratification in our high-tech society and so on and so on.
Overall, there's still a pretty good work ethic in this part of the world. We spend a lot of time worrying about the folks who don't buy into it. More dangerous for the community, seems to me, are the losses suffered when those with the work ethic, talent and ambition believe there's nothing here for them and they leave for more diverse and challenging places.
Joe,
So you're saying that we have to break the cycle of "work recessionary" attitude by not talking about the sloth we see increasing.
Difficult to put a happy face on our current geist. I'll try. from now on, I'll just recite "Adams County--Life is Good."
TYFCB
yes, let me know where to donate to the abused lawyer fund. As a class perhaps they get abused some, but it may be because there are so many individuals that abuse their position of trust. (eg. most of Congress)
I remember Chem/Phys with Engelmeyer and Ehman. We had packets to work through individually or with a couple other students. Help was one on one with the teacher. That worked great, except they didn't have a lot of packets ready, so some of us did the first dozen packets in the first two weeks, then sat in class and played word games.
Online college classes seem pretty successful and interactive. Maybe we don't even need to bus the whole student body to school every day. Half one day, the other half another day. Or more time at home as a reward to the more responsible. Interaction can easily include video from home as well.
I'd rather put the role of teaching the kid to get to school or work, on the shoulders of the parent. There are already a set of punishments for not obeying those rules/laws.
"Brainwashing" kids for service on an assembly line or teaching them to be submissive to "the machine" seems almost counter to how I perceive education. Are we training an army?
Students should know that if they want to make good money, they have to develop skills and perform the job to get it. It is an agreement ... work for pay. It is not a hierarchy where the boss is king.
Oddly, union bosses handle this for their underlings, and as with GM, benefits are demanded by coercion and purchase of politicians. Who exactly benefits by teaching individuals to submit to these "higher powers"? Tenure teaches entitlement for "obedience". Almost un-American. Leave that for the communists.
Yeah, my black friends have a few unkind things to say about that "Life is ..." slogan, too. But maybe you and I will also start getting ticketed for failing to use our turn signal when we pull from the curb.
stream of consciousness 1117,
I'm sure all that had a point, rather than just a lap-running punchlist. Maybe next time through, you'll learn how to spell "Ehmen".
TYFCB
The point is we have thrown a ton of extra money at education, but it has not improved (except for the retirement benefits). It is time for some out of the box thinking. American productivity improves at some 5% per year, except in education, which seems in regression.
Also, it was a response to Josephus' comment about school as prep for factory work, and training in hierarchy acceptance. Just send the kids to the factory in 9th grade, if that is the goal. For some, some early employment may be best.
And "computerized" education is not video games, but the "wave of the future". (except it may tread on teachers toes as increased productivity reduces need for their less effective orations)
Sorry, I just remember the name "Ehmen" after 30+ years, a long time to remember correct spelling. I guessed on Engelmeyer also. Theirs was an early attempt at a teaching style to let all advance at their own pace, while providing more one on one time, than with the old format ... a productivity breakthrough. I didn't spell that out.
Mehl is easier to spell .. the advanced math class was always half civics lesson. Teachers on a mission. Teachers aren't really hired to train their students in their preferred politics, but it does happen, even in the textbooks now.
Unions protect bad teachers, but harm the students, as I see it. True though, I've strayed from your red meat topic, but I'm trying to get at the root. And you did include the minimalist/progressive debate in your opening paragraph, and asked your only question, though I suppose you also answered it. But I disagree ... money on hand could be better utilized.
Progress would be to do more with less ... not gonna happen with entitlements outranking results.
I'll shut up now .... hoping "productivity" gets more consideration than providing lifetime benefits for every union member, lest they strike.
Whoever he/she is, I enjoy the comments. It's like talking to the crazy person on the bus without the offensive odors.
Tony, stream of consciousness was 6:29, not 1117.
My bad on the time.
Stream, you saying vocational preparation has no place in a public school?
TYFCB
Somewhere in the stream, I said work might be better for some. But factory work requires little voc prep, more on the job training, with monetary reward as an incentive.
But "voc prep" is also coordinated with outside sources, as I understand. If funding is "cut", lean more on outside work programs, and don't drag a kid through three years of classes if he is not motivated, just to collect the check for his presence.
Perhaps a coordinated "work release" program could be effective. (tough now, with unemployment high, unless you get an AmeriCorps type grant)
I'd rather see schools more about education, and less about child care and parenting. Good luck with that.
But computer tech could move the high end student far ahead in college, with low cost. I "tested out" of 8 hours of college calculus after one year of high school calc (no computer though). Imagine the possibilities.
Nationally, we need to promote our best and brightest to maintain our competitiveness.
The stream was about entertaining other possibilities, with the same or less money. Saying it is only about style now seems to close the door on innovations, though I doubt you guys will put an end to government bureaucracy or union dominance at your next meeting.
Where is the sloth increasing?
"You Guys?"
Whoa, Nellie.
you said you see sloth increasing ... student sloth, teacher sloth, board sloth? Or is there a zoo nearby?
Yeah, "you guys" ... yous guys ... at your next meeting ... context ... your board, and you can include others involved if you want. Do you prefer "yawl"?
Why do you want Nellie to halt?
they should change the lawyers. i can see why you don't like the idea because you and the mercantile butt boys are good ole boys.
yeah change out the unjust enrichment pros at shitskomf
9:25 AM, July 05, 2009
Tony knows all about conspiracies...
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