WASHINGTON, DC — As the wave of teacher protests continues this week with walkouts and strikes in Arizona, Colorado and Puerto Rico, union organizers are increasingly reaching beyond their rank and file to mobilize charter school teachers. Charter schools and the non-union educators serving more than 5 million students in 44 states and DC bringing innovation, opportunity and consistently leading in student achievement, have long been the bane of American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten and pose an existential threat to the future of teacher unions.
Yet a coordinated, politically motivated effort to strengthen the union position and make it appear that they have a groundswell of support is underway. These walkouts threaten to close charter schools and provide a completely artificial “win” for the union.
Education advocates and charter schools are uniting to inform, arm and energize charter school teachers, activists and lawmakers in affected states and nationwide as to the true nature of these protests and ramifications of supporting union-backed rallies, walkouts and strikes.
“We’re taking a clear stand for the dedicated teachers who are delivering quality learning experiences for millions of students, and especially those who choose to work at public charter schools because they afford them the opportunity to do their jobs unfettered from the bureaucracy and mediocrity that union contracts cause,” said Jeanne Allen, Founder & CEO of the Center for Education Reform. “Rather than fight for better education for all children, the AFT and NEA are focused on walk outs and strikes to support their union-building activities, pushing charter school teachers to follow them, while at the same time fighting to limit the growth of charters, impose restrictions and, worst of all, fighting to make sure charters are funded at lower levels than traditional schools. It’s hypocrisy, plain and simple.”
Allen penned an Op-Ed last week pointing out that AFT is, in fact, calling for teachers to strike and leave students without teachers in the classroom.
“If we want teachers to be paid well we must ensure money follows students and doesn’t continue to get wasted on a bloated bureaucracy and top-heavy school districts that have grown dramatically faster than enrollment. This – and closing achievement gaps and rewarding innovation and excellent performance – is the real fight.”
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Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.
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There Are 4 Types Of Expenses,
But Only 1 You Need To Cut
Managing expenses is nearly a full-time – though unpaid – job for many people. From the monthly mortgage, car payment, insurance, groceries and utility bills to family activities, there’s a long list that requires prioritizing and discipline.
The situation can leave people feeling like they will never get ahead as their expenses seem to eat most of the financial pie chart.
But it’s a fallacy to think all expenses are evil, says a successful entrepreneur and angel investor. In fact, he says, nearly all of them are necessary, and if managed correctly, they can even help you win financial freedom.
“It’s critical to understand the difference between debt and liability,” says Nik Halik, also an adventurer, speaker and co-author of 5 Day Weekend: Freedom To Make Your Life And Work Rich With Purpose (www.5dayweekend.com). “The goal isn’t to simply pay off all loans, but to maximize the efficiency and production of cash flow.
“We’re taught to believe that expenses are bad and to cut them as much as possible, but that perspective is simplistic and misguided. In reality, there are four types of expenses, and only one of them needs to be cut.”
• Lifestyle (consumptive) expenses. These include dining out, vacations, concerts – fun expenses that help you build memories. “If you never spend any money, you won’t be fulfilled,” Halik says. “To pay for these expenses, never borrow and always use cash. Lifestyle expenses should be managed wisely.”
• Protective expenses. These are the expenses that protect your property, your life and your health. “This is the financial area that often gets overlooked – especially by the middle class,” Halik says. “Affluent people don’t compromise with their protection.” One example of a protective expense is your liquid savings, which Halik says should be enough to cover a minimum of six months’ expenses. Other protective expenses include life insurance, medical insurance and auto insurance.
• Productive expenses. Essentially these expenses symbolize the adage, “Spend money to make money.” Productive expenses, Halik says, “allow you to build assets, expand your cash flow, and grow your business. This could include purchasing rental property or hiring a great employee. These are expenses that are going to enhance your life now and in the future.”
• Destructive expenses. Halik saves the worst expense category for last. These are the only expenses, he says, that should be eliminated. “They include consumer debt, vices, overdraft fees, the gym membership you don’t use – anything that subtracts value from your life instead of adding it,” he says.
“When you understand the difference between true debt and mere liabilities, you begin to see that in many instances the way to become wealthier is to increase, not decrease, your liabilities,” Halik says. “A liability can come with an asset that can make you more money than it costs. Your goal isn’t simply to get out of debt, but to achieve financial independence.”
About Nik Halik
Nik Halik is an entrepreneur, world-wide adventurer, angel investor, speaker and the co-author, with Garrett B. Gunderson, of 5 Day Weekend: Freedom To Make Your Life And Work Rich With Purpose (www.5dayweekend.com). Nik has dived to the wreck of the Titanic, climbed some of the world’s highest peaks, and is a certified Russian cosmonaut. He has traveled to 149 countries and recently visited North Korea.
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My Fellow Republicans,
Allow me to express my tremendous appreciation to Joni Crane for her service, this past year, as the Vice-Chair of the Utah Republican Party. Her dedication and contribution to this organization has been invaluable.
As Joni has chosen to run for a Uintah County elected office, she has resigned from her position within the Party. As our governing documents require (to fill a vacancy within 90 days, and by an election of the State Central Committee), we will be holding a Vice-Chair election at our next regularly scheduled State Central Committee meeting on May 19th.
If you are a registered Republican and would like to serve as Vice-Chair for the remaining balance of her term, until approximately mid-year 2019, please file your candidacy by emailing the Party at info@utgop.org. The filing deadline is this Friday, April 27th at 5:00 pm.
Per the UTGOP Constitution, the duties of the Vice-Chair are as follows:
The State Party Vice-Chair shall serve, as Vice-Chair of the State Central Committee, and as Vice-Chair of the State Executive Committee. The Vice- Chair shall assist the Chair in his or her duties and perform the Chair’s duties in the Chair’s absence...”
Please contact me if you have any questions. Best of luck to all those who wish to run for this position!
Thank you,
Rob Anderson
Chairman
Utah Republican Party
