Some News (Very OT)

[andrewaters]

As you guys all know I live in Overland Park, KS which is a suburb of Kansas City. We have had a rough couple of years in our school district Shawnee Mission. I was approached and asked to run for the school board and accepted. It is funny because I am a pretty moderate Republican/Libertarian and was up front with that with those folks they had me talk to before I registered to run. After I registered I started fielding phone calls from Johnson County Republican leadership and some were telling me I wasn't Conservative enough for them and they were maybe going to find another candidate. I stuck to my guns and told them I would drop out if I didn't get any support from them and I'd do it publicly because nothing was going to make me change my Moderate positions. Anyway, they finally saw the light.

I'm on the ballot in November boys. Wish me luck.

Fly Eagles Fly still though. I hope there aren't any Cowboys fans in my district.

[kyfred]

Totally respect your desire to serve, but politics; especially involving kids, is a goat rodeo. buckle up

[Eagle60]

As you guys all know I live in Overland Park, KS which is a suburb of Kansas City. We have had a rough couple of years in our school district Shawnee Mission. I was approached and asked to run for the school board and accepted. It is funny because I am a pretty moderate Republican/Libertarian and was up front with that with those folks they had me talk to before I registered to run. After I registered I started fielding phone calls from Johnson County Republican leadership and some were telling me I wasn't Conservative enough for them and they were maybe going to find another candidate. I stuck to my guns and told them I would drop out if I didn't get any support from them and I'd do it publicly because nothing was going to make me change my Moderate positions. Anyway, they finally saw the light.

I'm on the ballot in November boys. Wish me luck.

Fly Eagles Fly still though. I hope there aren't any Cowboys fans in my district.

Heaven knows that we couldn't have an independent guy who can think for himself.

[flyered]

We now live in a country where the extremes of both “bases” want to ban certain (different) books. Nothing good has ever come of civilizations where book banning / burning was a thing, and I am very concerned about ours.

[andrewaters]

I dug in pretty good really and said I wasn't changing my philosophy or positions regarding personal liberty, choice, etc. and that I was a fiscally responsible person that would carry those ideas into the position. But that I also felt it was important to figure out a way to pay quality teachers and staff at a rate that ensures they want to stay. That is what businesses do with employees I believe. Some of the folks that were vetting me didn't like that but I said I didn't care and if they didn't like me they could find another candidate. I live in a very "Purple" area of town but I am also widely known as a reasonable guy and a good parent. I like my chances.

[taz]

We now live in a country where the extremes of both “bases” want to ban certain (different) books. Nothing good has ever come of civilizations where book banning / burning was a thing, and I am very concerned about ours.

Spot on my friend. Book banning, opinions instead of news, no facts just lies (from both sides btw). I have never really identified with one party. I always looked at what each candidate brings to the table and voted on what I thought was best for me and my family. I don't think in all my years I have seen such a divide in this country in all way left or right. It has infiltrated every piece of society. From to sports to everything. I am so tired of it. I stopped watching the NBA because to me its just a political add. The NFL I never told you guys this but I didn't watch the first two games of last year because I didn't want politics I wanted football. Once they toned it down I came back. Its tainted me though. I turned if off when I see anything political.

[taz]

I dug in pretty good really and said I wasn't changing my philosophy or positions regarding personal liberty, choice, etc. and that I was a fiscally responsible person that would carry those ideas into the position. But that I also felt it was important to figure out a way to pay quality teachers and staff at a rate that ensures they want to stay. That is what businesses do with employees I believe. Some of the folks that were vetting me didn't like that but I said I didn't care and if they didn't like me they could find another candidate. I live in a very "Purple" area of town but I am also widely known as a reasonable guy and a good parent. I like my chances.

AW I think its great you are stepping up and running in November. Outstanding in my opinion. Your values are the same as mine. I believe in paying quality teachers well but also vetting out and either improving or terminating the bad teachers Don't be fooled there are bad teachers. In every job there are good and bad workers. The rub here is that the Teachers unions won't go for that. That is why they have a teachers union to "defend" those teachers.

[Eagle60]

AW I think its great you are stepping up and running in November. Outstanding in my opinion. Your values are the same as mine. I believe in paying quality teachers well but also vetting out and either improving or terminating the bad teachers Don't be fooled there are bad teachers. In every job there are good and bad workers. The rub here is that the Teachers unions won't go for that. That is why they have a teachers union to "defend" those teachers.

Actually there were quite a few teachers in our system that were fired over the years when I taught school taz. We were also evaluated twice a year and those teachers that weren't performing up to snuff were put on probation whether they were tenured or not and eventually fired if they didn't shapen up. Tenure might as well not exist anymore. I think it's different in the big cities though. All that they want there is a body and hope he stays alive. It's the worst job in the world in many of those schools. Yes there is union protection, but if the school gives a teacher due process there's really isn't anything that they can do about it. That's how it is up here in Mass. anyway.

[NoDakIggle]

The sad, sad thing is that politics should have ANY place in school is an absolute crime. I don't care if it is the teachers, the unions, the school board, the PTA or whoever. My grandson graduated and will start teaching elementary (1-3 grade) next year. I just shake my head. I admire the hell out of him for doing that when there are so many other things to do to make money money and have less headaches. He cares about kids, especially those who come from families that are less than desirable. I hope he doesn't get jaded.
As for the country...... you're smart if you avoid taxes. Right. And schools go to hell because you don't want to pay taxes. And the other guy gets to unless he also has a scam. There is a reason they are called the greatest generation----they actually cared about the country as opposed to caring about themselves and gave to make it a better community. If you say schools misuse taxes, and there is ample evidence that that is true IMO, then get involved and call them on it. Don't walk away and abandon the kids.
End of rant. aw admire that you are willing to step up. If you can push politics out of the decsion-making and make it about what is best for the school, and the kids especially, you will be lauded as a hell of a man.

[andrewaters]

Appreciate all the good thoughts and wishes guys... if you are on Facebook my campaign site is Sean Claycamp for SMSD.

I thought about this for a while. I have been recruited before to run for stuff but just never did it. Now was the right time. I won't bring it up again but wanted you guys to know because I consider all of you my online family.

[flyered]

Nothing wrong with avoiding taxes if you are doing it legally. Cheating (evading taxes) is different and should be policed and punished. As for bad teachers being forced out, ya, really bad teachers eventually get forced out. A teacher in my daughter’s middle school who was convicted of statutory rape and who fondled scores of middle school girls was eventually let go - but not until he was “reassigned to home” for 18 months while due proces was grinding slowly. Not a good deal for the taxpayer. Pay good teachers better. Get rid of bad teachers promptly. Unfortunately the unions will not allow it and will pay purely based on “seniority”.

[taz]

Actually there were quite a few teachers in our system that were fired over the years when I taught school taz. We were also evaluated twice a year and those teachers that weren't performing up to snuff were put on probation whether they were tenured or not and eventually fired if they didn't shapen up. Tenure might as well not exist anymore. I think it's different in the big cities though. All that they want there is a body and hope he stays alive. It's the worst job in the world in many of those schools. Yes there is union protection, but if the school gives a teacher due process there's really isn't anything that they can do about it. That's how it is up here in Mass. anyway.

Tenure still exists. Firing any employee should always be a last resort. The point I was trying to make is we don't invest enough into making our teachers better. They put them on a performance plan but still don't help them. The problem I see with the state of teaching is the teacher goes to school for 12 years, graduates goes to college for 4 years and then goes right into teaching. No real world experience. Now that is fine but they still need to understand that in Microsoft word there are more than one way to cut and paste an item. I had quite the email with one of my son's teachers a few years back when she told me I had no idea what I was talking about. I threw out that at that point I was in IT for 20 years and there are several ways to cut and paste and all of them are acceptable in the real world. I finally went to the principal who did little but agree with me. My son got a zero on a project because he demonstrated cut and paste wrong. The more I thought about it the more I saw that this teacher simply didn't know and was too arrogate to care. Those are the teachers that need to be moved on. I indeed taught her something she didn't know. The correct response should have been, thank you for informing me of this and you are correct that is another way of cutting and pasting. I didn't ask her to change the grade. Instead she choose to show her ignorance. She did give my son "a chance for extra credit" to make up for the zero. He got 100 on that and for the rest of the class.

The other thing I would like to say straight out. Get politics out of the classroom unless the child is taking a pollical class. I listened in on a few of my daughters zoom calls around the time of the election, to hear some of the teacher talk the one candidate walked on water the other was the second coming of worst football player ever (insert who you may). No facts just opinions. That was two of the three teachers, the third teacher did a great job of just presenting what each candidate stood for, no opinion just let the kids talk through the pros and cons each candidate. It was actually a very good conversation. The other two were a bashing session with words like cult, dictator etc used. Also the last teacher never gave their opinion to as not to sway the kids.

I live in a pretty good school district, the teachers are paid some of the highest in the state. But money does not equal performance. To me I would love to pay teachers more. Yes more but not as its presently constructed,

[taz]

Nothing wrong with avoiding taxes if you are doing it legally. Cheating (evading taxes) is different and should be policed and punished. As for bad teachers being forced out, ya, really bad teachers eventually get forced out. A teacher in my daughter’s middle school who was convicted of statutory rape and who fondled scores of middle school girls was eventually let go - but not until he was “reassigned to home” for 18 months while due proces was grinding slowly. Not a good deal for the taxpayer. Pay good teachers better. Get rid of bad teachers promptly. Unfortunately the unions will not allow it and will pay purely based on “seniority”.

Again spot on Flyered. Unions are the reason for the 18 month due process. Unions are big business and won't be going away anytime soon. In some instances unions are good, in some instances they are bad. I am not pro or anti union. Just think in some cases the union is best to step aside, when its the case of statutory rape they should be right out in front instead of protecting.

[NoDakIggle]

"Nothing wrong with avoiding taxes if you are doing it legally." Eh, we will disagree on that. Many years ago there was a guy named Forbes who advocated for a flat tax. Don't recall the percentage but no ifs ands or buts. Your income is X you pay .5% (or whatever). No scams, no crying, no nothing. People, businesses, companies, etc. all pay. There would be plenty of money.

But we have gone far off topic of aw so I will walk away from the discussion

[Eagle60]

Tenure still exists. Firing any employee should always be a last resort. The point I was trying to make is we don't invest enough into making our teachers better. They put them on a performance plan but still don't help them. The problem I see with the state of teaching is the teacher goes to school for 12 years, graduates goes to college for 4 years and then goes right into teaching. No real world experience. Now that is fine but they still need to understand that in Microsoft word there are more than one way to cut and paste an item. I had quite the email with one of my son's teachers a few years back when she told me I had no idea what I was talking about. I threw out that at that point I was in IT for 20 years and there are several ways to cut and paste and all of them are acceptable in the real world. I finally went to the principal who did little but agree with me. My son got a zero on a project because he demonstrated cut and paste wrong. The more I thought about it the more I saw that this teacher simply didn't know and was too arrogate to care. Those are the teachers that need to be moved on. I indeed taught her something she didn't know. The correct response should have been, thank you for informing me of this and you are correct that is another way of cutting and pasting. I didn't ask her to change the grade. Instead she choose to show her ignorance. She did give my son "a chance for extra credit" to make up for the zero. He got 100 on that and for the rest of the class.

The other thing I would like to say straight out. Get politics out of the classroom unless the child is taking a pollical class. I listened in on a few of my daughters zoom calls around the time of the election, to hear some of the teacher talk the one candidate walked on water the other was the second coming of worst football player ever (insert who you may). No facts just opinions. That was two of the three teachers, the third teacher did a great job of just presenting what each candidate stood for, no opinion just let the kids talk through the pros and cons each candidate. It was actually a very good conversation. The other two were a bashing session with words like cult, dictator etc used. Also the last teacher never gave their opinion to as not to sway the kids.

I live in a pretty good school district, the teachers are paid some of the highest in the state. But money does not equal performance. To me I would love to pay teachers more. Yes more but not as its presently constructed,

Again spot on Flyered. Unions are the reason for the 18 month due process. Unions are big business and won't be going away anytime soon. In some instances unions are good, in some instances they are bad. I am not pro or anti union. Just think in some cases the union is best to step aside, when its the case of statutory rape they should be right out in front instead of protecting. [/QUOTE]

Come on taz, there are good, mediocre and bad people in any profession. College students go through many observation classes along with a rigorous 12 week student teacher program before they get into the classroom. Educators also go to workshops many times during the school year. You also need a masters degree to teach school. I'm really sick of people banging on us .BTW, if they just paid us baby sitter money we'd have a decent salary. I love how the same people that shit on us can't wait for summer to end so their kids can get back to school and get out of their hair.