" Fortunately, studies have repeatedly shown that there is NO BENEFIT from reducing class sizes.

The whole idea was simply a way for the CTA to force the hiring of more teachers (more dues payers).

It's not like larger class sizes are going to REDUCE California's student achievement scores.

We are already dead last among the States.

But at least our teachers are among the HIGHEST PAID among all the States! "

" Key words: listen... think!

California public school system and the "key words" on the same line?

Ha! "

" make it a requirement to be 5 by September 15th and this wold help out, not only in the short term but long term as well. How many of our young kindergartners have to repeat because they were too young when they started. So, the state ends up paying for 14 years of public education because a child was sent to school too early. We are one of three states that still send 4 year olds to kindergarten. Several states have a July 1st cut off. Wake up California! Headstart programs are cheaper than kindergarten. "

" These days there is very little correlation between spending and education…..the Teachers Unions, redundant Districts/Administrations took care of that problem.


…… ‘never let your education get in the way of your learning.’ Mark Twain "

" Education? What is that? Tree hugging? Algorian foolishness that seems to control certain political mentalities?

What ever happened to Reading, Writing and Arithmetic?? When did you as a parent sit back and allow politics to infect your child’s education? The history and civic responsibility that comes from more than a political indoctrination.
When I was in third grade at the John L. Schearer School, I was forced to dance around a Maypole to music that merely caused me increased suspicion. Aram Khachaturian would understand as Stalin forced a re-write of Khachiaturian’s most wonderful Gayne Ballet.
The original ballet was full with hope where the Stalinist imposition gave that hope a oppressive ending. In its own way, that is the message of communism. Why do our democrats buy into it? Power over the minds of the people as opposed to the lost mentality of The People? "

" jimclark- you have obviously not been in my son's kindergarten class. No hugging of trees... they were reading books, yes books in kindergarten and writing sentences and adding 4+3 yesterday. When I was in school this didn't happen until 2nd grade. Not only do children need to read, write and do math, but recess is also key to a successful future. So, when you begin to speak with some facts behind your antics then I might just swallow some of what you're feeding the public. "

" Clearly our schools are failing our kids. It isn't a school funding issue, it is the careless attitude of the teachers, staff and administrators.
What will be wrong with cutting their budget further and removing the dead wood? Then when the economy turns around we can hire some people who actually will appreciative of having teaching and admin jobs. "

" Jim - All the kids are learning these days is Reading, Writing and Math because they have tests to take. I wish there was more tree hugging and maybe science in the classes.... come on and get real. how long since you have been in a classroom? "

" Kevin-Name three studies you've read on classroom size. Most studies actually say the opposite, that especially in the lower grades, class sizes of 20 or less produce superior learning. In grades beyond elementary, the effect is less clear (which isn't the same as no effect). "

" noblindershere- we chose to start our 4 year old in kindergarten 1 year later. Education starts with the parents. No matter how much money is thrown at the schools, without proper particpation from the parents, it is a waste. "

" NVUSD has wonderful teachers who are passionate about their chosen path and work many hours daily over and above the "contract" the union has negociated for them. And...we have teachers that are tired, burnt out, really should retire, only do the minimum amount of work required, but have "tenure" and apparently, again, because of the union, cannot be laid off. So we're stuck with sub-standard teachers who get to stay, while many good teachers are pink slipped. Teachers join the union because, even though lip service is paid to the effect that they are not required to do so...they are expected to, and will not be treated well if they are not.
We will see more and more of this as the unions are made even more powerful by our current administration. "

" It's not the "union's" fault if there is a teacher who should be laid off but isn't because of tenure.

Teachers teach as probationary teachers for three years. During this time they go through extensive evaluations by their principals.

Permanent status is not given unless the teacher measures up to standards required by the principal.

The principal recommends permanent status and this is given by the board.

The teacher is observed teaching a lesson six times a year by the principal: three times by appointment, three unannounced. A preliminary conference between the teacher and the principal provides a set of goals for the probationary teacher.

Permanent status teachers are evaluated every other year. Temporary teachers are evaluated but do not qualify for permanent status until they become probationary.

All teachers pay dues to the NVEA which you all refer to as the union. Not all are members. All receive NVEA contracted benefits. Teachers are not treated badly if they don't join the NVEA. We respect their decisions and reasons. I've never, in 25 years, seen a teacher mistreated because they aren't members. We don't mistreat each other.

The NVEA works with the administration in contract negotiations using interest based problem solving. The most important stakeholder in these negoiiations are the students.

Get a copy of the NVEA contract handbook and read it. Learn a few things before you write this inflamatory drivel that only points out your lack of information.

These posts sound like a convention of teacher bashers.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. "

" outahere...your child is a rare case...most parents put their children in school early to escape paying for another year of daycare. Every child that I had as a sophmore...no matter what sort of parental involvement...the mental capacity was not there at 14 when they were asked some higher order thinking skills. All of my friends that were younger in my class struggled due to physical difference when they were in high school. When I would see immature young girls and boys in my class you could see that they were mentally struggling. I wish you luck, but I have yet to find a study that states that sending a child that is 4 to kindergarten is a positive experience in the end. To this day, my brother who has an August birthday whishes my parents would have held him back and they too were very involved parents.

bottom line...go work in your childs classroom as many hours as possible..not just for your child, but for our country's future. "

" To Alucawanza: We are all adults so you can tell us like it is. Your explanation of the teacher situation would be fine if you were talking about dog kennel workers, but you are talking about people we entrust our children to, people who influence our children.

You have some really bad teachers but you really can't get rid of them can you? In fact you are required to offer know bad teachers jobs in schools with a teacher shortage before new good enthusiastic teachers can apply. "

" In every professional field there are employees who are not as good as others but that doesn't get them fired. Teaching is no different. I realize there are less than stellar people teaching in Napa but I can attest the total number of teachers who are so bad they should be fired are very few. And when enough documentation is gathered, they do get fired. I've seen it happen several times.

Reality is the majority of the teachers in this valley work longer and harder than those who have time to repeatedly post insults, lies, or misleading comments. Almost all work well beyond paid hours just to cover minimum preparation, paperwork, and grades, not to mention a long list of extras that many take on. I have found very few professions or careers that have such dedicated members as teaching does. Especially when it is such a thankless job. "