[StBernard] Business Report: The enemies of change

[Westley Annis]

The enemies of change


Baton Rouge Business Report
By Rolfe McCollister
2/20/12

"Embracing change is a bit like taking your small child to the doctor when
she is very sick and then having to watch her scream as she gets a shot. You
cringe knowing it is best for her and will heal your baby, but it is painful
to endure for both of you. She hated it and so did you-but in the end,
everyone is better off.

This is how I view the upcoming legislative session and Gov. Bobby Jindal's
plans regarding education and pension reform. We all know that the patient
is sick and needs treatment-and the system is like the child who screams,
'No, Mommy, I don't want to go to the doctor. I feel better. Pleeeeease
don't let him give me a shot.' But you go, because it is the right and
responsible thing to do. It is your job as a parent. And the Legislature has
to assume that role as the responsible adult in charge this session.

Across the country, wherever school reform is attempted, the unions are
there. While some still call themselves 'teachers unions,' I am told by a
teacher who is a member of one that more than half of the members are not
teachers. Of course it sounds good to appear you are speaking for all
teachers-because who doesn't love teachers? But the way these unions conduct
themselves usually does little to elevate the 'profession' of teachers. It
is no secret to anyone who has fought them that protecting the jobs of their
dues-paying members (good or bad, bus driver or classroom teacher) is the
top priority-not the education of children. The monopoly of government-run
education is their domain, and they aim to protect that turf at all costs.
They declare war on change and their methods are the same in every state.
They have the same old playbook and arguments-and end up pointing the finger
and asking for 'more time and more money.' .


 
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But the unions have their liberal friends and groups that support their
status quo position and repeat their misguided rhetoric in public speeches,
which the liberal press prints without even questioning.

Melissa Flournoy, a former Democratic legislator who now heads the liberal
advocacy group Louisiana Progress, spoke at the Baton Rouge Press Club
recently, criticizing Jindal's scholarship program and using bogus arguments
straight out of the union playbook. 

Flournoy also told the Press Club that 'vouchers would divert money from
public schools.' Let me be clear. The taxpayer dollars shouldn't be
dedicated to prop up some failing, government-run monopoly system that
employs adults. It is the people's money, designated to educate children,
and it makes perfect sense to let parents have the choice to decide who best
can do that for their child. To force a child to remain in a bad school and
sacrifice his future based on his address or parents' income-now that is
cruel. The money should follow the child, and the parents should make the
choice.

I was also a bit surprised to see the attack on Jindal's scholarship plan
from the Louisiana Budget Project. (Of course, this group was started by
Flournoy when she headed the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit
Organizations.) At the top of its list of 'funders' is George Soros' Open
Society Institute. Soros also gave $2.5 million to start Moveon.org and
other liberal groups geared at helping elect Democrats, including President
Barack Obama. Again, the media failed to share any details on this source
(or money) behind the Louisiana Budget Project.

Listening to these nonsensical half-truths and outright lies reminds me of
the quote, 'Everyone is for change, as long as nothing changes.' ."

Read more in the Baton Rouge Business Report:
http://www.businessreport.com/article/20120220/BUSINESSREPORT0201/302209981/
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