Gist’s Days Seem Numbered

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Don Roach, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

In the next few weeks we’ll learn something about our new governor. We’ll learn what’s more important, the education of the children of Rhode Island or the teachers' unions that catapulted him to victory. Chafee was the only gubernatorial candidate who did not endorse Education Commissioner Deborah Gist during last year’s campaign and he has yet to endorse her. On a recent airing of "Newsmakers," Gist stated she’d remain in the post so long as she was wanted—meaning that Chafee has not reached out to her and welcomed her and her ideas into his agenda.

And, in all reality, Gist and Chafee diverge on philosophy, specifically charter schools. While Gist has been a champion of charter schools, Chafee has stated, “The debate is ongoing as to whether they’re [charter schools] working. I’d rather focus on public schools and it diverts that focus.” Chafee has also said he likes how Gist has shaken things up and commended her work on creating an education funding formula.

So why no ringing endorsement?

In my opinion, I believe it is due to the fact Gist will not kowtow to teachers' unions to the detriment of children’s education. We saw that in Central Falls and one has to wonder if a Chafee-backed Education Commissioner would have had the intestinal fortitude to do something so few are willing to do in this state—challenge the unions. I highly doubt it.

And that very well may lead to Gist’s undoing but it will also show Rhode Islanders that Chafee is not interested in keeping someone who was instrumental in (finally) producing an education funding formula, has a mountain load of new ideas, isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, and actually wants to stay in Rhode Island the next several years and not just use Rhode Island as a pit stop to higher profile positions.

The decision to publicly support Gist should be easy for the governor but with so many union leaders in his ear I believe Chafee will ultimately support union interests over that of Rhode Island’s children.

Hoping you prove me wrong, Governor.

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Comments:

Malachi Constant

8:46am on Wednesday, January 19, 2011

face it Don, Gist wants out and is using you and other people to save face. Doesn't that feel icky?

Donn Roach

3:37pm on Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Gist wants out? No...I think Chafee is beholden to the teacher's unions but will be held accountable if Gist is 'forced' out and he's seen as the responsible party. She's done some pretty significant things that have angered unions but pushed education forward in RI.

So Chafee is faced with a conundrum.

sources sources

11:23am on Thursday, January 20, 2011

This Governor started with the words "trust me". He forgot to continue that phrase "to cow tow to unions who drive this state, its economy, its education system into the ground and drive its citizens to flee." When we all hped for "fresh ideas", we got union speak!

Now he is going to throw our children's future back into the teacher union's hands. We have had a dismal education system in this state for all the years that the teacher's unions have had control over education reform. If Gist leaves, RI will stay in the "dark ages" of education reform, she has been the only person to confront unions and shake up complacency in our schools.
We NEED competition in our public schools. Charter schools provide that competition. We NEED teachers to feel that their jobs are NOT secure, rather they EARN those jobs because they are the BEST at what they do. And they earn those jobs by continually working to improve their craft, teaching. That, in turn, improves the educational environment for our children. Many good teachers have that attitude, many others don't. Gist was ferreting those out.
Chafee seems to want to return us to the earlier dark days of education in this state, when no change was possible without going through the preening of teacher unions. What a tragedy for our children. If he lets Gist go, he will clearly show his hand to the parents of this state and his intentions to revers the momentum of change that is a breath of fresh air in this cesspool of union control in this state.

P.S. What ever happened to the NEA teacher union official (Liedecker) with the lawyer's degree who was in Walsh's office and impersonated a state rep (Gablinski) to alter the elections? How low can we go in deceiving the people??

John Leahy

12:25pm on Thursday, January 20, 2011

If Chaffee pushes Deborah Gist out, he will face a backlash from nearly every parent in the State of Rhode Island.