Burton Anderson's global warming hoax column was right on
Dear Editor,
Burton Anderson's Jan. 18 Burt's Bits column on global warming is exactly what my husband and I feel, too. We have just moved to California from Denmark and I can tell you that in Europe the environmentalists are doing a great job on the global warming political side, too. Lots of taxes more to pay to contribute to the global warming danger.
I will be clipping and sending the column to my relatives in Europe. We have some lonely fighters over there, one is a former Green Peace president who are speaking the same, your, global warming language and I guess they would be very much interested in reading your article. Unfortunately the press and the TV in Europe and I guess here, too, are not aligned on the fact that what happened with the climate/weather is cyclical.
Thanks for a great and meaningful reading and my very best regards.
Astrid E. Senior, Morgan Hill
Times editorial trivializes serious issue between teachers and district
Dear Editor,
The Public Employees' Relations Board agreement with the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers stating there is merit in the teacher's complaint regarding curriculum and working conditions is not a "childish" issue. Your Jan. 18 editorial on this subject trivializes the serious legal and professional issues. In 30 years of being the exclusive bargaining agent for the teachers, the Federation has never filed a complaint with PERB regarding unfair labor practices. These charges were not entered into lightly nor were they the first step, but rather were the exhausting culmination of a year and a half of rebuffed attempts to resolve the issue with the district.
A violation of labor practices is a violation of the legal process and the aggrieved party has six months (from the violation) to file a complaint if disputes are not resolved between the parties, or they waive their rights and negate sections of their contract. MHFT filed charges in November, 2006 following contractual violations that began in August, 2006.
The Times Editorial Board should not be mystified by the facts surrounding these disputes. If they read their own paper they can chronicle the issues. The filings by the Federation, within the educational community, are analogous to The Times having its First Amendment rights suspended and doing nothing to defend those rights. The teachers have made board presentations, met privately with the district, and at each and every board meeting made appeals to work together.
Further, it is disappointing that the editorial board for Morgan Hill's only paper has chosen the path to downplay the teachers' actions rather than reviewing the merits of the issue at hand. If the merits were reviewed it would be apparent that the primary motivation for these filings is to provide the best education and classroom environment for our students. Because teachers are the ones who interact with the students in the classroom they have unique insight regarding what needs to be done to improve education. The district has stated, in the paper, that curriculum changes have been made to meet state standards. The courses and curriculum within the district have been aligned with the state standards for numerous years and were achieved with the collaboration of teachers. This concept died with the current district administration and the testing scores began to drop at the same time. Is this a coincidence that we should ignore? Is it childish for teachers to be concerned, or to insist on being involved in curriculum decisions?
The board implemented two changes this year that reflect recent curricular changes in statewide curriculum, algebra in eighth grade and biology in ninth grade. This change is to align curriculum with state testing and boost test scores. Certainly the public notes test scores and they are part of the complex measurement of NCLB. But teachers advocate developing curriculum and acquiring necessary resources by planning before implementing a course to insure students can be successful.
The complaint filed by the teachers with PERB focuses on the heart of the classroom. The Times was correct on one point, and that is our "educational system seems to be measuring the wrong indexes with both sides under the gun to meet state standards, teach to the test and leave no child behind." Positive labor relations should be defined by the work we do together so that both sides can meet the goal of quality instruction for our children.
Donna Foster, President, Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers
Vote yes on Proposition 93
Dear Editor,
It's not everyday that fiscal conservatives and environmentalists can agree, but they should agree to vote Yes on Proposition 93.
Our over-restrictive term limits practically eliminate the Legislature's ability to exercise fiscal oversight of state agencies, because legislators are termed out soon after they have mastered the inner workings of the state bureaucracy.
Environmentalists should consider AB 32 - the Global Warming Solutions Act. The experienced green team of legislators who made AB 32 happen won't be around during the critical early years of implementation.
Proposition 93 shortens the maximum time a legislator can serve from 14 years to 12, but allows that time to be spent all in the Assembly or Senate, or any combination. Vote Yes on 93 Feb. 5.
Alex Kennett, Morgan Hill
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