A press release from Patriots United explains what happened last Thursday night at its McHenry County forum on education:
Patriots United Education Forum Attracts Concerned Local Citizens
All Sides of Important Issue Discussed with Experts on Each Perspective
WOODSTOCK, IL – Patriots United hosted an Education Forum last night at McHenry County College Conference Center with nearly 60 concerned citizens in attendance.
The event included excerpts from the Cartel Movie followed by a panel discussion.
The Cartel Movie documented serious problems within our public education system as well as proven solutions.
Filmed in New Jersey, the movie showcased the sheer power of teachers unions where as little as 10% of education funding goes into the classroom; most of the funding goes toward administration and pensions for too many administrators.
The Cartel movie also offered compelling evidence to support alternatives such as charter schools as more public education choices ultimately improve the entire public education system.
Following the movie, a panel of local experts answered questions, consisting of
- Bruno Behrend from the Heartland Institute,
- local education reform activist Lennie Jarratt, and
- local [Cary] School Board Member Chris Jenner.
Bruno Behren makes a point as Lennie Jarrett and Chris Jenner listen.
Illinois children rank 37th in education, and some of the problems in our public education system mirror those in New Jersey.
Parents and teachers alike voiced their frustration for over an hour, focusing in on the lack choice in education and the need for more parent involvement in their children’s education.
Although the questions were generally aimed at recurring problems in the system at large, panel members fielded several questions regarding highly contentious issues in local school districts.
Patriots United is thankful to the esteemed panel members and to all those who attended the informative event. Several similar events are being planned for neighboring counties, and will be announced shortly.
About Patriots United:
Patriots United is a conservative organization founded on five pillars:
- pro-family,
- limited government,
- free market economy,
- national defense, and
- choice in education.
Dedicated to uniting all like-minded citizens in order to change public policy, Patriots United is renewing America by changing the present course of government, one community at a time, to one that the founding fathers were divinely inspired to create.
So was Jack Roeser in attendance, or did he just set up this little pow-wow from behind the scenes?
Well I don’t know about that but the educational system in IL makes a lot of people in addition to Jack Roeser upset with their 6% end-of-career salary increases for each of a teachers last four years, a total of 24% over 4 years, none of which is merit based, while non tenured teachers get laid off, and class sizes increase. And the Board paying for some or all of the supposedly teachers portion of teachers pension contribution in many districts, while the State of IL was already set up to be the main contributor to their pension system…again while non tenured teachers let go and class sizes increase.
Dysfunctional.