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Sweeping lawsuit would create a general mess

An activist court ruling. Metrowide racial balancing of schools. An end to local control. Sum total? 

This Sunday Cover Op-ed appeared in the Star Tribune on October 7, 2018.

On July 25, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a ruling with far-reaching and troubling consequences for K-12…

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Teachers Pensions far from fixed, says Star Tribune

We are pleased that the paper reported that rating agencies continue to warn Minnesota that it has much more work to do on pensions, and that if it does not reform pensions, Minnesotans will pay more to borrow money for building schools and building roads. But it would be better if reporters did not rely on biased sources for articles, especially union officials and politicians who cut the deal.

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Supreme Court Rules Public Employees Are Not Required to Fund Unions in Big Win for First Amendment Rights

In a landmark decision for First Amendment rights, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that public employees cannot be compelled to pay union fees as a condition of employment. The 5-4 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME restores the First Amendment rights of freedom of association and free speech to more…

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Chicago Tribune: How AFSCME’s demands invited the Janus case

I was in my office again this morning waiting for the High Court to issue opinions starting at 10:00 AM EST; the Court did not release the Janus opinion this morning. We will, however, hear sometime this week.

I got a sweet note from Mark Janus this morning. He is…

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Crockett Column: The Teacher Pension Problem Will Return, Again

The pension bill, which Gov. Mark Dayton supports, is expected to become law though some lawmakers are stunned at the growing expense. Pensions are supposed to be covered by employer and employee contributions that are then invested by the state, but Minnesota stopped paying the full cost of pensions in the early 2000s. Imagine if you did that with your mortgage and then tried to catch up to avoid foreclosure.

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Educated Teachers Project Launches Statewide Information Campaign

A new project being launched on National Teacher Appreciation Day, Educated Teachers MN aims to inform and empower Minnesota K-12 educators by raising awareness of a U.S. Supreme Court case widely expected to end the forced payment of union dues and fees by teachers and other government employees as a condition of employment. Informed and empowered teachers are better suited to serve the needs of students and deserve the freedom to choose who represents them and how.

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Remembering Dr. King: What would he say about K-12 “restorative justice” discipline policies?

What would Dr. King think of the state of public education today? What would he have experienced as a young man if he was in school today? We are asking these questions because in Minnesota, and around the country, school districts, under pressure from the Obama administration, have adopted new student discipline policies. How are the new policies working out for students and teachers?

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St. Paul Teacher Betrayed by Union Brings Message to DC

St. Paul, Minnesota teacher, Aaron Benner, will not sit down.  For years, the 23-year veteran teacher – turned Dean of Students – stood up for what he saw as a flawed school discipline policy which deteriorated his classroom before his eyes.

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Janus Union Fee Case Already Having a Good Effect, Except at AFT

The Wall Street Journal published a revealing story about the Janus case before the U.S. Supreme Court that challenges the payment of forced-fees to unions by public employees.

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