Teacher attacks citizen at board meeting

In this video, Ken Johnson, the head of the teacher’s union is speaking.  I follow (with the camera) Mr. Johnson back to his seat to film the audience and applause.  A woman sitting next to Mr. Johnson yells something at me.  I got the idea she didn’t like the video when she hid her face behind some papers.  Next,  I’m trying to film the events (the union leader) without getting the woman who doesn’t like being filmed in the frame.   Then Mr. Johnson comes over where I’m sitting and goes back to his seat, next the woman comes over from across the room and starts yelling at me some more and smacking me with her papers/book and her hand!

I apologize for my impolite words, I tend to be a little short when someone chases me across the room to hit me with their papers.  Although you’d think by now I’d be used to that.

Tired of whining teachers and union boss

I stepped into the hallway to get some water and frankly was in no hurry to get back into the school board meeting.  I could hear the whining from here.  With me were a couple of school bus drivers.  They looked just as exasperated.  I delicately inquired and they told me “we took a 5 percent cut, why can’t they (the teachers) take the same cut like all the rest of us?” 

Now we hear “the district is hoarding cash!”  And they are firing teachers just to “put money in the bank.”  They have $12 million in the bank! (or $15 million depending) They scream! 

Readers, you probably know by now I’m not exactly the most uncritical person in the world especially of the school district or any of the government agencies around here.  But in this case, I have looked at the MUSD’s balance sheet and from “back of the envelope” calculations I have to side with the school board.

I don’t know if Chief Union Boss has ever taken math, but “$12 million” is just pocket change, not some “hoarding” or a “fortune.”  Directly from Superintendent Messer: The payroll alone is $13 million each month!  In other words the district needs to write checks for $13 million on one month, every month to keep the schools operating.  Having $12 to 15 million “in the bank” is just common sense, otherwise, as Mr. Messer explained, they would have to borrow and pay interest, costing the district even more.

And frankly, every problem mentioned in the letter from the union boss; from class size to the school bus cutbacks is directly caused by the teacher’s union greed and lack of cooperation. 

I’m sorry to have to say it that harshly, but if you disagree go ahead and tell me where I’m wrong.

Union boss’s letter here: Kids should come before cash reserves in Manteca

Teachers protest own decision to cut jobs.

Manteca teachers protest "job cuts." But here's the mystery: The teachers themselves choose to cut jobs. With the current budget conditions there was sufficient funds for every teacher to remain with only a 3 percent cut in pay for one year. The teachers' union leaders decided to fire several hundred teachers instead. So, what they are protesting? How do you protest your own decision?

Ken Johnson, the teacher's representative, at the school board meeting holds up a flag flown in combat in Iraq given to his class by their soldier/airman pen pal. This was after he spoke in terms of fighting for the teachers' jobs. I'm not sure who the battle is with since he's the one who decides if teachers are fired or not.

School district pay chart

(Courtesy Manteca-Lathrop Sun-Post, 6 Feb 2009, pgs 12-15)

The chart is readable if you click on the image to show it full resolution.

This chart is distributed on a need-to-know basis*.

*Those who have a desire to remain ignorant of how your government works do not have a "need to know."

Honk for communism!

They called it an "informational picket." Members of the teachers' union were out there protesting "the budget cuts." Or what they say are "budget cuts." By the way, how many times in your life have you heard the phrase "budget cuts?" Isn't there always a budget being "cut?" And yet government never seems to spend less or collect less in taxes. For once, I'd like to see some savings from these so called "budget cuts."

Usually, when some group protests the "budget cuts" it means "we want more money." It just sounds better if they are protesting the cuts rather than being out there yelling at passing motorists "You should suffer! You should sacrifice! But not us!" Thank you for that horn of approval, now pull out your wallet. Thank you.



About halfway through the video, check out the guy on the motorcycle. Right after this picture, a car pulled out onto the street right in front of him....