American Morning
Teachers in upstate N.Y. talk, take pay freeze
Call it the 'tale of two states.' Protests in Wisconsin against Governor Scott Walker's proposed budget cuts continue today, but teachers in another school district in the U.S. are taking a different approach.
Educators in one New York school district are being applauded by New York Governor Cuomo for agreeing to a one year salary freeze, even though they were due a pay raise, to make up for state budget shortfalls during tough economic times. With the pay freeze, the district can keep class sizes small and half as many teachers will lose their jobs.
This morning on "American Morning," TJ Holmes spoke with John Christian, math teacher and president of the West Genesee Teachers Association and Chris Brown, Ph.D., the West Genesee School District Superintendent. He asked why their school district was able to come to a compromise where others haven't.
Kansas mom wants to pay more taxes but state says no
Michelle Trouvé, a Kansas mother of three, is asking to pay more taxes to improve her children's school district.
But the state of Kansas says no; Kansas caps the amount of money raised through property taxes that can go to schools in order to ensure equity among districts. Michelle Trouvé talks to T.J. Holmes today on American Morning.
Teachers’ leader lauds Democrats who hid
Thousands gathered in Madison, Wisconsin Thursday to protest a bill being pushed forward by Governor Scott Walker. If passed, the bill would strip teachers' unions of their collective bargaining rights and would require that they contribute more to their benefits. In response, Democratic state senators skipped town Thursday, stalling a vote on the divisive bill.
Bryan Kennedy, the President of the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin represents about 17,000 workers who would be affected by the bill Governor Walker is proposing. Kennedy speaks to American Morning's T.J. Holmes about the Wisconsin protests.
Sec. Arne Duncan responds to Wisconsin teacher protests
Teachers in Wisconsin called in sick today, protesting Governor Scott Walker's plan to try to take away collective bargaining rights from the teachers' union.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan responds to the protests in Wisconsin and says teachers are "doing probably the most important work in society". Education Secretary Arne Duncan talks to American Morning's T.J. Holmes.
College for all?: Focus on a degree may turn off some students
Should a four-year college degree be the goal for every student in America?
Maybe not, says a recent report by Harvard University.
The report, “Pathways to Prosperity,” says the American education system places too much emphasis on attending and graduating from a four-year college, and should instead emphasize training for jobs that don't require a four-year degree.
Today on American Morning, T.J. Holmes asks Robert B. Schwartz, co-author, and academic dean, Harvard Graduate School of Education, his response to critics who say all students deserve the dream of going to college. Should the American education system change its focus so that all students can thrive?
Read the full report here: http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Prosperity_Feb2011.pdf"
Teachers grading...parents?
If parents thought they were finished getting report cards, they should think again.
Florida State Rep. Kelli Stargel wants teachers to grade parents on their performance. She's introducing a measure that would require elementary school teachers to grade the parents of their students based on their own communication with the school, their child's attendance, as well as their child's academic and physical preparedness for class. Based on these factors, parents would receive a grade of 'satisfactory', 'needs improvement' or 'unsatisfactory'.
State Rep. Stargel says grading parents would hold parents accountable but Steve Perry, CNN Education Contributor and Founder of Capital Preparatory Magnet School, says otherwise. Hear what Perry tells American Morning's T.J. Holmes.
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