We all know how dangerous the blogosphere can be when it comes to spreading rumor and innuendo. We all can get away with using ‘unnamed sources’ a lot more than mainstream media. And once something enters the blogosphere it has a tendency to take on a life of its own, whether true or not.
On Sunday, Buckeye State Blog, a left-leaning Ohio-centric blog, reported on a story found in the Star Beacon up in Ashtabula. Their complaint centered around this ‘quote.’
“I am convinced (teachers) are a lot more concerned about their own situation rather than the situation of our children,” Kasich said.
Their analysis, if you want to call it that, as written by angryteacher reads as follows:
Really, John? Is that why I don’t get to pee until after school? Is that why I risk bodily injury to break up fights between students, because I care more about my own situation? Perhaps that’s why I come to school early and stay late and give up my lunch period to work with kids that need to pass the state achievement tests that politicians like you mandated? Maybe that’s why I come to school even when I’m sick because I know even if I’m sick, I can teach loops around a healthy substitute. Come shadow me for about two weeks. I can do your job (not that I’d want to), but you can’t do mine. I’m not concerned about my own agenda.
Well, I hate to break it to the BSB writer, but Kasich wasn’t referring to “teachers”, as identified in the Star Beacon. In reality, he was referring to Teacher Unions. (you can look for a correction in the online version of the Star Beacon soon)
Now, we can debate about the political activism and influence of Teacher Unions versus whatever benefits they provide their members, but one thing we can be sure of….Kasich was not saying teachers look out for their own best interests before their students.
Once the Star Beacon makes their correction I’ll look forward to angryteacher’s retraction…but I won’t hold my breath.
