Anonymous wrote:Oh, leave them folks alone. They serve a purpose--you can anonymously leak stuff to them and they'll post it. The salacious stuff they post guarantees an audience.

I agree. Do I think they could be a whole lot more effective, if they toned it down and added even a smidgeon of balance? Yes!

Would I want to spend time with them (her?) over a cup of tea or a glass of wine? Probably not.

Is it possible the PC is blogging for their own ego/revenge/other motives, instead of for your and my personal edification? Yes, very possible.

But they're (or "she") is spending a lot of time to figure out things I have no time to figure out, and that's something for which I'm grateful, whatever the motive.

Oh, leave them folks alone. They serve a purpose--you can anonymously leak stuff to them and they'll post it. The salacious stuff they post guarantees an audience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow! 4 pages of this thread on something a lot of people don't like!
Seems like the PC blog is working as people are talking about it.

YES! Everyone is paying attention!

YESSSSSSSSSSS! And voted based on what we know!!!!

Anonymous wrote:Wow! 4 pages of this thread on something a lot of people don't like!
Seems like the PC blog is working as people are talking about it.

YES! Everyone is paying attention!

Anonymous wrote:Also, I don't think teachers have really taken a big pay cut compared to what they could get in the private sector for their education and skills, particularly in elementary.

Let's face it, someone in the DC area with a master's but no hard/STEM skills will end up working for a nonprofit and, in many cases, stay under $100K with less cushy benefits.

I don't buy the "poor me" argument. I think teachers should be paid well and I think they are.

This is one of the main faults with the whole issue of education. The public wants great education and great teachers for their kids. So the state creates rules about what one needs to do to be a teacher. This includes a 4 year college degree and eventually a masters degree, usually in some type of education.

An individual who goes into education, including "elementary", chooses their degree based on the job requirements.

Then individuals such as the one above state teachers wouldn't ever make the same in the private sector because of their skills/training.

Sort of a Catch-22 isn't it? you want great people to go into teaching then when they major in an "easier" major you don't want to pay them as well as those with similar education levels.

Wow! 4 pages of this thread on something a lot of people don't like!
Seems like the PC blog is working as people are talking about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the Parents Coalition. Best group in Mo Co after Andrea McCarren.

Interestingly, Andrea McCarren is a parent at BCC HS where there are MANY supporters of the Parents Coalition. She should do a piece for TV on that group.

Hopefully, McCarren is smarter The hysterical screeching of the group and behind the scenes backstabbing is why many parents tuned out and voted against everyone of their group who ran for BOE.

This whole thread is also based on a misstatement--you cant join the PC because it is not a real organization. It is a bunch of people who give themselves awards and pat themselves on the back. Did you read the piece by the dude who congratulated himself for being a black man defending white women? Jeez, get a life.

Also, I don't think teachers have really taken a big pay cut compared to what they could get in the private sector for their education and skills, particularly in elementary.

Let's face it, someone in the DC area with a master's but no hard/STEM skills will end up working for a nonprofit and, in many cases, stay under $100K with less cushy benefits.

I don't buy the "poor me" argument. I think teachers should be paid well and I think they are.

Anonymous wrote:I love the Parents Coalition. Best group in Mo Co after Andrea McCarren.

Interestingly, Andrea McCarren is a parent at BCC HS where there are MANY supporters of the Parents Coalition. She should do a piece for TV on that group.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is rare that change comes from the inside and without a struggle or name calling. Anytime someone tells me I should hate, fear or stay away from something I seek more information. Often these people are on the front lines of change.

I think if a school system is considering turf fields during this economy then their budget should be cut. Obviously they have too much money and they do not have any useful projects. I love how I must be anti-teacher because I think that they should have to contribute more towards their benefits or other benefits scaled back so that they are closer aligned to the public taxpayers who do not have benefits nearly as good. Yet the tax payers are asked to pay more for schools and their tax rates continue to increase in the name of good schools. Well eventually the system will crumble and their will be less benefits for everyone as the counties or state go back on their promises because they are not willing to make tough decisions now. I do not advocate for cutting benefits of existing teachers or not keeping promises which is why new teachers benefits should be really different from existing teachers. Companies change benefits everyday on new workers and some do it on existing workers as well.

I welcome anyone who question the establishment because nothing is perfect and everything can be improved. People often say that we shouldn't change things because I schools are the best, well nothing remains the best without constant evaluation and improvement.

A perk of being a public employee is a good benefits package. Why can't you get this through your thick head? Teachers agree to take a smaller salary in exchange for benefits. However, when faced with hostile remarks from people like you, many opt to leave b/c there is no support from taxpayers. And need I remind you that teachers PAY taxes, too? Or are you too dense to understand how that works?

And please work on your grammar.

There was nothing hostile about that post.In fact it was the most balanced approach so far. Just look at the posts from the teacher/union that have been posted here. Once again name calling all over. And that remark o yours "work on your grammar.."is no better.

Anonymous wrote:It is rare that change comes from the inside and without a struggle or name calling. Anytime someone tells me I should hate, fear or stay away from something I seek more information. Often these people are on the front lines of change.

I think if a school system is considering turf fields during this economy then their budget should be cut. Obviously they have too much money and they do not have any useful projects. I love how I must be anti-teacher because I think that they should have to contribute more towards their benefits or other benefits scaled back so that they are closer aligned to the public taxpayers who do not have benefits nearly as good. Yet the tax payers are asked to pay more for schools and their tax rates continue to increase in the name of good schools. Well eventually the system will crumble and their will be less benefits for everyone as the counties or state go back on their promises because they are not willing to make tough decisions now. I do not advocate for cutting benefits of existing teachers or not keeping promises which is why new teachers benefits should be really different from existing teachers. Companies change benefits everyday on new workers and some do it on existing workers as well.

I welcome anyone who question the establishment because nothing is perfect and everything can be improved. People often say that we shouldn't change things because I schools are the best, well nothing remains the best without constant evaluation and improvement.

A perk of being a public employee is a good benefits package. Why can't you get this through your thick head? Teachers agree to take a smaller salary in exchange for benefits. However, when faced with hostile remarks from people like you, many opt to leave b/c there is no support from taxpayers. And need I remind you that teachers PAY taxes, too? Or are you too dense to understand how that works?

And please work on your grammar.

It is rare that change comes from the inside and without a struggle or name calling. Anytime someone tells me I should hate, fear or stay away from something I seek more information. Often these people are on the front lines of change.

I think if a school system is considering turf fields during this economy then their budget should be cut. Obviously they have too much money and they do not have any useful projects. I love how I must be anti-teacher because I think that they should have to contribute more towards their benefits or other benefits scaled back so that they are closer aligned to the public taxpayers who do not have benefits nearly as good. Yet the tax payers are asked to pay more for schools and their tax rates continue to increase in the name of good schools. Well eventually the system will crumble and their will be less benefits for everyone as the counties or state go back on their promises because they are not willing to make tough decisions now. I do not advocate for cutting benefits of existing teachers or not keeping promises which is why new teachers benefits should be really different from existing teachers. Companies change benefits everyday on new workers and some do it on existing workers as well.

I welcome anyone who question the establishment because nothing is perfect and everything can be improved. People often say that we shouldn't change things because I schools are the best, well nothing remains the best without constant evaluation and improvement.

The PC is simply a place for Janus Sartucci to open her pie hole via the blogosphere.

Yes they want the budget to be cut. They posted the testimony of the President of the Montgomery County Taxpayers League to the County Council at their operating budget hearings. Two guesses as to what this person advocated for.

They claim to be "pro-teacher" when in fact they will go out of their way to criticize just about anything MCPS says or does. If you try to comment negatively about their posts, don't expect to see your comment posted. This transparent "group" is anything but!

Take a gander at their blog and look at their posts regarding a concert scheduled to take place at Wootton the end of the month. Janus claims that 2 WEEKS of instruction will be paused, when in fact the letter from Wootton that the PC posted themselves clearly states two DAYS. Very O'Reilly-esque.

In sum, the PC is what it is. A place for its ring leader Janus Sartucci to vent her anger at MCPS. It's comical at best.

I just looked at the blog. Is the Coalition advocating for cuts to the school budget?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not from Moco but the same thing happens in our county. The schools are in love with themselves and can do no wrong. If you asked questions as an individual you are ignored. The only way to get action is to act as a group and cause a stir. The school system tries to discredit the members of this group by calling them trouble makers and extremist. Yet they constantly monitor what is being said and try to squash comments and ideas before they get too much traction.

School Board member Pat O'Neill called them names, openly at a public meeting. That's how much she hates the Parents' Coalition.

What did she call them?