This convoluted headline brought to you by Republican Logic: fouling up rhetoric and K-12 education for decades!
On Wednesday, February 29, during his arguments in favor of Governor Daugaard's education reform packafge, Rep. Thomas Brunner (R-29/Nisland) complained that we teachers are a bunch of ingrates for sending him all sorts of cranky e-mails opposing HB 1234 while not thanking him for the millions of dollars in one-time money that other legislation was providing to the schools.
It is worth noting that the funding legislation to which Rep. Brunner referred, HB 1137, was essentially a carcass that didn't mention education funding until late Tuesday, when the Senate hoghoused it to send $8.689 million in unexpected revenues to our public schools. And it would have been inappropriate to send Rep. Brunner any thanks prior to Wednesday's debate, since the House didn't vote for this one-time funding until Thursday. So really, the earliest time that most working folks could have reasonably sent Rep. Brunner thanks for HB 1137 was 24 hours after he grumbled about not getting any thanks for something he hadn't done yet.
Nonetheless, I wanted to rectify my grievous ingratitude by sending Rep. Brunner a polite thank-you... for one-time money... which is less than a fifth of what Rep. Brunner cut from our schools last year. For one-time money... which none of the schools can use to build a foundation for permanent improvements in our schools. One-time money... which Governor Daugaard himself told us last year was to be used sparingly if at all.
But then Rep. Brunner saved me and thousands of other teachers some ink. When that one-time money came to the House floor Thursday, Rep. Brunner voted against it.
So let's recap: in Rep. Tom Brunner's world, we are not entitled to complain about the bad policies he's voting for unless we thank him for the tolerable policies that he hasn't voted for.
When the Legislature's in session, this stuff writes itself.
It leaves one at a loss for words.
By the look on his face I doubt if he's had time to read the flood of thanks for nothing e-mails anyway because he's probably been to busy with repetitive self congratulations. Make sure Rep. Brunner washes his hands before you shake them.
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity (MLK).
Channeling Seth and Amy: REALLY!?! You want us to thank you for a paltry $8.7 million in one-time money when education funding has been slashed by $75 million since 2009. REALLY!?!
Erin, throw in the $150 million 2012 budget surplus. They could fix the state aid problem, but that would mean too much local control. HB1234 is not about money, it is about control...state control.
You nailed it, Steve. Our leaders in state government likes to advocate local control when it suits their purpose, but HB 1234 was clear and convincing proof that THEY want to control education from Pierre. It was an arrogant power play. They did it -- not because their constituents wanted it -- but simply because they CAN.
Brunner's pouty rant betrayed the thought process behind last year's severe cuts. The master plan was to slash education funding sharply and then make the schools grovel for any future funding (no matter how small) the state distributes. Or else!
I believe this attack on education is nothing more than petty revenge against the teachers because the teacher's union endorsed Heideprim over Daugaard in 2010. If that is the case, it makes for very poor leadership. Elected officials are supposed to represent the greater good of ALL of their constituents -- not just those who voted for them.
The irony is that I know many teachers who voted for Daugaard because they liked his "story." I doubt many of them will repeat that mistake. They have learned who he REALLY is.
We have above-average test scores, excellent graduation rates, etc., etc. We spend the least on education in the United States. What is the problem here?
There are times when it is embarrassing to be a South Dakotan.
OH. MY. GOD.
I agree with Sibson: "HB1234 is not about money, it is about control…state control."
I am afraid. I am very afraid.
@DE :-) I agree with Sibby and your Sibby comment, on HB 1234
I agree with Mr. Sibby indeed. But Mr. Bruner's remarks about schools being grumbubblers is absolutely correct. Quit your grumbubbling, slackards!!!!
Grudz, your anti-teacher, anti-First Amendment attitude troubles me. And you still haven't produced any evidence that our K-12 system is suffering a plague of "slackards". What's your profession? How many "slackards" surround you in your ranks? Is the percentage of slackards in teaching greater than the percentage in your profession, or in the population as a whole? And just how does HB 1234 do anything to reduce slackardliness?
...and Sue, D.E., and even Sibby are far more on point: Brunner and his colleagues are twisting themselves into rhetorical knots to avoid the ugly truth: they have forsaken their stated principles to favor of the power agenda of the Governor and various self-serving legislative "leaders."
I have to share the email I received from Rep Sly on Thursday. Clearly we are not thankful enough for the one time funds.
From:
Date: March 1, 2012 5:34:49 PM CST
Ms. Peil,
The only part of the bill that goes into effect in 2012 is the Advisory Council which will include a large number of stakeholders. The next implementation date is 2013-2014 for the critical needs scholarship program for juniors and seniors in college. There are legislative sessions before any other parts are implemented. The recommendations from the Advisory Council and others can be addressed as consensus is reached on any points that need changes.
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I have had contact with many people in education. When I asked which parts were not acceptable (setting aside the funding formula and the way it was handled through the Governor's office), there were seldom any specific things that had not been addressed through the amendment process. I have concerns about the state mandated evaluation tool and the 50% quantitative and qualitative parts of the evaluation. Those will be open for discussion to make changes through the various workgroups and council..
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HB 1137 was passed out of the House which would give almost $9 million dollars for the 2012 year to schools (one time money). Unfortunately, I have not heard one positive comment or word of thanks from stakeholders in education for those additional dollars that would go directly to the schools.
Kind regards,
Rep. Sly
Sam, I guess you are supposed to say, through gritted teeth: "Thank you sir! May I have another?!"
...and the fact that we put off really turning the screws for a year or two makes that turning perfectly acceptable.
And my thank you note to Rep Sly:
To: ""
Subject: Re: HB1234
Dear Representative Sly,
Thank you for your response regarding HB 1234. I have a few questions for you. Why was it so important to pass this bill when only the Advisory Council is implemented this year? The recommendations from the summer task force that I discussed in my first letter to you could have been used to craft legislation for the 2013 session.Â
My concerns and the concerns of many other South Dakotans were certainly not addressed through the amendment process. In my original letter, I asked you the following questions that remain unanswered: What evidence has suggested that phasing out continuing contracts will improve student performance? Have you studied the evidence that says merit pay for teachers improves student performance? Have you also studied the evidence that disputes this claim? Why aren't Career and Technical educators included [in the bonuses for math and science teachers]? Don't the teachers of technology play a role in educating our future computer scientists? And, again, how will paying bonuses to an exclusive group of teachers improve student performance?
If you are willing to share the evidence with me, I would really appreciate a chance to study this support for HB 1234. As a teacher yourself, I assume you value evidence-based support of important decisions. I expect my students to evaluate resources and use reliable evidence to support their work. South Dakotans expect the same of our legislators and Governor Daugaard.Â
Regarding HB 1137 which you brought up in your letter to me, I think most South Dakotans expect the legislature to fund education. I thanked you before and I thank you now or your service to South Dakota and the work you do. Can you guess how many legislators that I have exchanged e-mails with have thanked me for educating our SD students? Zero. I thought nothing of this until you brought up the lack of thanks you have received for passing the one time money out of the house. I realize that you are all busy and much of your work goes without gratitude expressed by your constituents. I know how you feel. We should all probably take time to thank one another more often. However, in this situation, I would appreciate answers to my specific questions more than thanks for doing the job I am expected to do.Â
A final idea for you to consider today--I have two high school seniors in my English IV class who have expressed frustration with HB 1234. I invite you to contact our state's students for their input on education in South Dakota. Our future teachers, engineers, veterinarians, politicians, farmers, mechanics, and nurses have important ideas to share.Â
Thank you again.Â
Sincerely,
Samantha Peil
Where are the the thanks from legislators to teachers? Excellent response, Sam! You're right: we don't need thanks: we need legislators to answer our questions and do their jobs the way we answer students' questions and do our jobs every day.
'they have forsaken their stated principles to favor of the power agenda of the Governor and various self-serving legislative “leaders.â€'
Actually the Governor's agenda is a globalist agenda that he obtains via the National Governors Association. Many other states are passing the very same thing. And Obama is on record pushing it. Watch the SDGOP ask conservatives for campaign money in order to defeat Obama. Hypocrisy watch? Or are both party leaderships on the same page, we are manipulated into fighting among ourselves as a distraction?
Rep Sly's response to my questions and an apology:
Ms. Peil,
I realized after I had sent my initial reply that those of us working in the Capitol live and breathe the funding part, along with the bills that we have to make decisions on daily. I do apologize if it felt as though I was too brash in expressing my thoughts. People were quick to send emails of disapproval and dispute very soon after the vote on HB 1234. Consequently, I was probably oversensitive when I responded to the many emails soon after the vote.
When the $12 million extra in revenues became known, immediately there was discussion for additional money for education. Some recipients have felt it was not enough. It was unexpected one time money we felt could be helpful to schools. I know that one time is not as good as putting it into the funding formula. It was not anticipated that a lot of additional money above the 3% this year would be put into the funding formula until the outcome from the one cent sales tax is determined.
I did spend a lot of time doing research, questioning the Governor and the Department of Education as to the research. The initial messaging was inaccurate, in my opinion. If questions would not have been asked, it could easily have ended up as the original bill, which I did not support. All critical needs area teachers can be paid additional money if it is incorporated into their local plan, which is a local determination of needs.
If you are interested in becoming part of the discussion, there are several work groups that will be set up. It is my understanding that there will be an application form on the Department of Education website. Thanks for the work you do, touching the lives of students in SD.
Rep. Sly
Same response I got! I am volunteering for the Critical Needs Scholarship Board (appointed by the Governor), the Local Teacher Reward Plan Advisory Council (appointed by the Secretary of Education), and (my top preference) the South Dakota Education Reform Advisory Council (appt. by Senate President pro-tem and House Speaker). How about you? (Assuming, of course, the referendum doesn't put this all on hold.)
Not that I will complain much about getting the same message; Rep. Sly got the same message that I sent to a fair number of her colleagues!
Oh, yes. My initial letter to Rep Sly was sent to all of the representatives as well, so I guess it is expected. I still haven't seen that research! I am interested in the South Dakota Education Reform Advisory Council, the Critical Teaching Needs Scholarship Board, the Local Teacher Reward Plan Advisory Council, and/or the Principal rating system work group. I haven't seen an application posted yet. Have you? Â
I will first be joining the petition circulation. What a fun springtime activity!Â