Just To The Right Strikes a Nerve -- Too Close To Home?
Interestingly, a few days ago, the "leadership" team of the Francis Howell Education Association (FHEA) (teacher's union) sent out an email to its membership, apparently not very fond of the comments that have been set out before the public on this blog relating to their new-found love affair with board president Mark Lafata and his gang of merry men.
An email was circulated through the school district's internet system degrading this site (by the way, thanks for getting readership up!) and proudly claiming that "all FHEA officers meet with board members on a regular basis to develop a clear understanding of what is needed to improve working conditions and fair treatment for teachers and to ensure that they understand issues that are important to teachers and students."
While this is a factual statement, and nobody can blame the FHEA for wanting to be a part of the upward growth of the district, apparently the FHEA "leadership" team hasn't quite figured out that the question is: why did you allow yourselves to get used like this?
When Lafata was in the minority on the board, he wanted to take away FHEA's slot as a regular agenda item. He wanted to eliminate the leave of absence that has historically been given the president of the FHEA for their two-year term and he wanted the current president, Linda Hess, out of education forever. Lafata also felt as though any member of the board that had been supported in any way by the teacher's union had a conflict of interest in even being on the board. Now he meets with them regularly? Wow!!
But wait! Now that Ms. Hess sees fit to provide Lafata with what he needs (votes) to take the majority, it seems both sides have changed opinions. Suddenly, Lafata is thrust into the presidency and everyone is holding hands singing Kumbayah. He has done their bidding in that he has eliminated 10 of 12 cabinet members in the administrative offices, he has backed off of his desire to break the union and he has rewarded teachers with the very type of multi-year contract that he vehemently opposed while a member of the minority.
The real question is ... when are the members of the FHEA going to realize that they've been sold down the river? When will these members realize that it is only a matter of time before their leadership allows Lafata and the rest of the board to shut down their ability to have a seat at the table?
There is an old story about a boy who finds a wounded rattlesnake. He picks it up and nurses it back to health and they become great friends as they grow together. One day, the rattlesnake lunged at the boy and bit him, injecting its poisonous venom into the boy's leg. As the boy lay there, helpless and short of breath, he asked the rattlesnake, "why did you bite me?" The rattlesnake simply replied, "I'm a rattlesnake. It's what I do!"
Since I know the readership of this blog has picked up, based upon the email sent out via the public system, I can only assume that many of the teachers in the Francis Howell School District are paying attention. To you teachers, I ask this:
Which do you think is the proverbial rattlesnake, here? Your "leadership" team, or the new board majority led by Lafata? Does this new-found admiration set well with you?
It's time for all of you to decide, before it's too late.
Oh, and Ms. Hess ... if you think my use of the word "ass" is FILTHY ... just wait till your members get bitten and you hear what the few followers you have left have to say about you for pulling this stunt!
An email was circulated through the school district's internet system degrading this site (by the way, thanks for getting readership up!) and proudly claiming that "all FHEA officers meet with board members on a regular basis to develop a clear understanding of what is needed to improve working conditions and fair treatment for teachers and to ensure that they understand issues that are important to teachers and students."
While this is a factual statement, and nobody can blame the FHEA for wanting to be a part of the upward growth of the district, apparently the FHEA "leadership" team hasn't quite figured out that the question is: why did you allow yourselves to get used like this?
When Lafata was in the minority on the board, he wanted to take away FHEA's slot as a regular agenda item. He wanted to eliminate the leave of absence that has historically been given the president of the FHEA for their two-year term and he wanted the current president, Linda Hess, out of education forever. Lafata also felt as though any member of the board that had been supported in any way by the teacher's union had a conflict of interest in even being on the board. Now he meets with them regularly? Wow!!
But wait! Now that Ms. Hess sees fit to provide Lafata with what he needs (votes) to take the majority, it seems both sides have changed opinions. Suddenly, Lafata is thrust into the presidency and everyone is holding hands singing Kumbayah. He has done their bidding in that he has eliminated 10 of 12 cabinet members in the administrative offices, he has backed off of his desire to break the union and he has rewarded teachers with the very type of multi-year contract that he vehemently opposed while a member of the minority.
The real question is ... when are the members of the FHEA going to realize that they've been sold down the river? When will these members realize that it is only a matter of time before their leadership allows Lafata and the rest of the board to shut down their ability to have a seat at the table?
There is an old story about a boy who finds a wounded rattlesnake. He picks it up and nurses it back to health and they become great friends as they grow together. One day, the rattlesnake lunged at the boy and bit him, injecting its poisonous venom into the boy's leg. As the boy lay there, helpless and short of breath, he asked the rattlesnake, "why did you bite me?" The rattlesnake simply replied, "I'm a rattlesnake. It's what I do!"
Since I know the readership of this blog has picked up, based upon the email sent out via the public system, I can only assume that many of the teachers in the Francis Howell School District are paying attention. To you teachers, I ask this:
Which do you think is the proverbial rattlesnake, here? Your "leadership" team, or the new board majority led by Lafata? Does this new-found admiration set well with you?
It's time for all of you to decide, before it's too late.
Oh, and Ms. Hess ... if you think my use of the word "ass" is FILTHY ... just wait till your members get bitten and you hear what the few followers you have left have to say about you for pulling this stunt!
posted by Administrator at 5:02 PM
2 comments
