on January 21, 2020

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Wisconsin’s union recertification requirement represents true workplace democracy

Despite Education Minnesota’s stated “commitment” to “workplace democracy” as one of its core, institutional objectives, teachers have not had the opportunity to vote for, or against, union representation in many generations. In Wisconsin, thanks to Act 10, annual union recertification elections give teachers the right to vote for their representation in the upcoming collective bargaining for the school year. If teachers are not satisfied with the union, they can assess their exclusive representative relationship through a secret-ballot recertification election. ...

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on January 20, 2020

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Finland’s test scores drop, teachers’ union says solution is more funding

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education, Government Unions

Finland, whose education system has been the envy of the world, has had a recent trend of poor student performance and widening achievement gaps. The teachers' union's solution? More funding, of course. ...

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on January 17, 2020

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When the teachers’ union supports school choice

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education, Government Unions

The National Education Association (NEA) has voiced support for the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, introduced in December by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). But what the national union may not realize is that its support of the bill is actually an endorsement of a form of public school choice....

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on January 16, 2020

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Minnesota Teacher’s Stunt to Kneel for National Anthem Near Trump Falls Flat

Written by Tom Steward

in Education

Where would Education Minnesota's teacher of the year Kelly Holstine be without President Trump? The alternative school teacher at Tokata Learning Center in Shakopee first called attention to herself by letting it be known to the media she was skipping a White House ceremony to honor teachers last spring. Holstine told the Shakopee Valley News her opposition to the president's policies precluded her from being anywhere near Trump. Holstine said this diverse group of students at Tokata — many of whom are or are related to undocumented immigrants or are Somali refugees — face discrimination daily and the Trump administration's immigration policies...

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on January 13, 2020

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Charter schools do serve ‘actual students,’ and families choose these schools for a reason

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

I was pleased to read a Star Tribune counterpoint written by a parent who pushed back against the claims by Steve Marchese, a St. Paul school board member, that school choice advocates refuse to examine the effects educational freedom has on “actual students.”...

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on January 11, 2020

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Education needs a mantra for the New Year

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

There is a reason most people fail at keeping their New Year’s resolutions—breaking habits or creating new ones takes time and consistency. But when it comes to our public education system, time and consistency has only resulted in failure. It is time for the public school system to get a character assessment, a reset and it needs a "new year, new me" makeover....

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on January 09, 2020

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Amending MN’s constitution won’t solve the achievement gap, but at least the conversation has started

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

I respect that the conversation on how to solve the gap is at least started by this proposal, but I don't believe it will result in the lasting change our education system needs....

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on January 08, 2020

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Teachers’ union supports bill allowing physical restraint of students

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education, Government Unions

To help teachers when potentially violent situations arise, new legislation (LB 147) in Nebraska would allow educators to “use a reasonable amount of force to physically restrain students” if they become violent or disruptive. And the state's teachers' union supports it. A Minnesota bill proposed in 2016 would have automatically expelled a student who physically assaulted a teacher, but it died in committee after fierce opposition from Minnesota's teachers' union, Education Minnesota. Sixty-nine percent of Minnesotans have said they support a state law requiring expulsion for assaulting a teacher. ...

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on January 07, 2020

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No, education spending hasn’t decreased; and no, more money won’t fix America’s schools

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education

Robert Pianta, the dean of the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education, opined in The Washington Post that education spending has decreased since the 1980s. This claim is inaccurate—spending has actually increased—and the Post had to issue a correction. ...

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on January 02, 2020

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What Education Minnesota’s resolutions reveal about its 2020 priorities

Written by Catrin Wigfall

in Education, Elections, Government Unions

I find it odd that these are the union’s priorities, but I probably shouldn’t be so surprised. I guess I hoped Education Minnesota would set aside its one-sided political agenda and focus on, oh I don’t know, a handful of other non-political areas that teachers have asked for support in....

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