tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post113950913960344315..comments2023-12-23T13:25:43.770-08:00Comments on Rob Kremer: Two great examples of the problem in a single issue!Rob Kremerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13842508120324878364noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139855825649492102006-02-13T10:37:00.000-08:002006-02-13T10:37:00.000-08:00Thanks, Bailie, was just going to get to this and ...Thanks, Bailie, was just going to get to this and now I don't have to.<BR/><BR/>Benjamin: Oregon teacher pay is not "lower." Teacher salaries ranked 14th nationally in the Chalkboard study Bailie refers to, and benefits are #1 nationally. Total teacher compensation is 8th nationally. <BR/><BR/>As for your other questions: Why should this study "take into account" the "limited choices" of medical plans which you say "drives up prices?" Districts are free to choose any plan they want for their teachers. Nobody limited their choices except for themselves. <BR/><BR/>Same with your question about the age of teachers. Why on earth do we pay teachers based on age? That is a choice, and an irrational one at that, which is part of the problem. <BR/><BR/>The funny part of this is that you apparently were ignorant of the fact that Oregon is a high teacher pay state. Even with all the publicity and news stories surrounding this issue, somehow you remained in the dark as to teacher compensation, which makes you look very silly with your demand for "come on.... explain your sources, Rob." <BR/><BR/>One minor correction to Bailie - I think they changed the link at Chalkboard. You can find the study at <BR/>http://www.chalkboardproject.org/learn_more/Condition%20K-12.pdf<BR/><BR/>with the summary fo the teacher pay findings on page 11. <BR/><BR/>So, there you have it Benjamin.Rob Kremerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842508120324878364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139854631364111092006-02-13T10:17:00.000-08:002006-02-13T10:17:00.000-08:00Ben,You ask, Is there a source for "highest benefi...Ben,<BR/>You ask, Is there a source for "highest benefits"? Latest source is for 2001-02 school year. Chalkboard Project (ECONorthwest) January 2005. "Benefit expenditures total $17,684 per full time staff member, which ranked 1st nationally and is 11 percent higher than second-place Wisconsin. Taken together, expenditures on the total compensation package average $60,137 per full-time employee, which ranked 8th nationally" <BR/><BR/>Since 2001-02, these numbers have increased and have not been refuted by any organization.<BR/><BR/>www.chalkboardproject.org/learn_more.php<BR/><BR/>scroll down to "Condition of K-12 Education in Oregon", page ixAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139822647452731592006-02-13T01:24:00.000-08:002006-02-13T01:24:00.000-08:00Is there a source for "highest level of teacher be...Is there a source for "highest level of teacher benefits in the nation"?<BR/><BR/>And does that source also take into account lower teacher pay which is sacrificed to get these supposed highest benfits?<BR/><BR/>And does it also account for a very aged teacher workforce which is at the top of the pay scale (and also comparably lower than other state's top scale) and so therefore getting a higher PERS contribution from their respective districts?<BR/><BR/>And does it also take into account the limited choice of medical plans which forces up prices of medical for districts due to lack of competition?<BR/><BR/>And finally, does this completely politicized figure ever account for the fact that current teachers under the age of 40 gain no benefit from these supposed "highest benefits" and are bewildered when they are attacked for having cushy jobs and will most likely not see the benefits when they retire because they will be destroyed by the baby boomers?<BR/><BR/>Come on....explain your Sources, Rob.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139612263927844542006-02-10T14:57:00.000-08:002006-02-10T14:57:00.000-08:00Torrid,What a dishonest sap you are. You obviously...Torrid,<BR/>What a dishonest sap you are. <BR/>You obviously did not spend much time at Publicpurpose.com if you claim Cox's site represents one guy who doesn't back up anything.<BR/>But the dishonesty you display is no surprise. It's right out of the TriMet/Metro play book. <BR/><BR/>Kremer was spot on with the "rapidly growing and very compelling body of research, analysis and opinion?"<BR/><BR/>That body is also conclusive and irrefutable. That is why the O goes there, does not. It's their Car Wars. <BR/><BR/>I see you mentioned a recent report on emissions in Portland.<BR/><BR/>Would that be the Portland Office of Sustainable Development's report which has been shown to be publicly funded fraud?<BR/>Fraud which includes claims of emission measurements which never took place?<BR/><BR/>Kremer's only erred in not adequately labeling the fraud, waste and corruption as this "boo-bird" would.<BR/><BR/>You are without question part of the swindling around here as you help to distribute the many and endless falsehoods. <BR/><BR/>Here'e a test question to prove my point.<BR/>Have millions of school dollars been diverted to help pay for light rail?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139544120799052422006-02-09T20:02:00.000-08:002006-02-09T20:02:00.000-08:00Rob,Thank you for asking the perplexing question, ...Rob,<BR/>Thank you for asking the perplexing question, "why are Oregon's class sizes higher than other states that spend less money than us"? I have yet to receive an answer for that question from "pro-education". The other question is, "what is the value of having among the highest compensated K-12 employees in the U.S., when academic success does not correlate?"<BR/><BR/>Thank you for asking the question, and you are correct, it should be part of every K-12 discussion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139528099862771562006-02-09T15:34:00.000-08:002006-02-09T15:34:00.000-08:00Whatever causes you wish to attribute it to, the f...Whatever causes you wish to attribute it to, the fact is that Cox's premise is not borne out in Portland. I'm also not sure what buses have to do with allocation for light rail. <BR/><BR/>I do not include facts without attribution; I sourced home ownership to Census. I assumed you were conversant with the recent report on PDX pollution; it seems you don't actually argue the truth of that point anyway.<BR/><BR/>I don't work for the O. I'm not attempting to impugn Cox's veracity; I'm impugning Kramer's. He claims there is a large body of research--and then pointed to one guy who writes his own stuff and doesn't show his methodology.Torridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17771589020554233601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139524154114651792006-02-09T14:29:00.000-08:002006-02-09T14:29:00.000-08:00Maybe pollution is THE SAME because auto emissions...Maybe pollution is THE SAME because auto emissions have PLUMMETED - helping to OFFSET the INCREASE caused by your stinkin' BUSES.<BR/><BR/>Even while population and auto use is VASTLY greater.<BR/><BR/>You attempt to impugn the source's veracity with nothing more than CAPITAL LETTERS.<BR/><BR/>Sorry, you do also include FACTS without attribution.<BR/><BR/>The Oregonian is lucky to have you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12596769.post-1139520730056843512006-02-09T13:32:00.000-08:002006-02-09T13:32:00.000-08:00"rapidly growing and very compelling body of resea..."rapidly growing and very compelling body of research, analysis and opinion?"<BR/><BR/>You linked to one guy's advocacy campaign, grounded and predetermined by his stated belief that government should not provide public transit. <BR/><BR/>And on the facts, he's wrong. His Senate testimony in 2002 claimed that transit leads to more air pollution and lower home ownership rates. Then why is pollution THE SAME as it was years ago in Portland, and why is there MORE home ownership according to the Census?<BR/><BR/>Maybe The O isn't publishing counterevidence because they're sensitive to being accused of printing someone's hacktastic, unsupported nonsense.Torridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17771589020554233601noreply@blogger.com