Education

Philadelphia’s Education Crisis Worsens

  • December 19, 2013

More than 80 percent of 4th and 8th grade students in the School District of Philadelphia didn’t reach proficiency in math and reading, according to the Nation’s Report Card. When…

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I Retired Early: Here’s Why

  • December 18, 2013

It’s no secret to fellow educators that I do not agree with much of the Pennsylvania State Education Association’s dogma. I especially disliked the Union frequently wanting me to…

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Taxes & Economy

More Than Their Fair Share

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 17, 2013

A fair and sound tax policy requires that people or businesses pay for the government they use, including the cost of extracting natural gas.  Yet despite the passage of a…

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Health Care

“Healthy PA:” What’s It All Mean?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • December 13, 2013

Last Friday, Gov. Corbett released full details of his Healthy PA initiative, which seeks to expand government-funded health insurance under Obamacare (using Medicaid expansion funds to pay private insurance…

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Education

Outdated Seniority Rules Harm Pittsburgh Students

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 12, 2013

Yesterday, we reported that the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers is trying to lower evaluation standards for teachers it had previously helped craft. Under Pittsburgh’s new system, which goes into…

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Teachers on Union Exploitation – Part 2

  • December 12, 2013

Julie Raab and Keith Williams are speaking out about how union influence affects their teaching jobs. They, and many teachers across the state, are fed up with Pennsylvania’s…

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Education

Teachers’ Union Wants Lower Teacher Standards

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 11, 2013

Four years ago, Pittsburgh School District, the second-largest in Pennsylvania, embarked on an innovative effort to evaluate teachers. Administrators and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) collaborated to create…

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Public Union Democracy

PSEA Pours $3.8 Million Into Politics

  • Priya Brannick
  • December 9, 2013

In the last year, the Pennsylvania State Education Association poured $3.8 million of its members’ dues into “political activities and lobbying,” according to its 2013 financial disclosure report. That’s an…

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Your Union Dues Pay for PSEA Politics

  • December 5, 2013

As a teacher, you love being told what to think, right? That’s unlikely, but it’s exactly what the PSEA has been doing with union members across the state…

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