There are 30 schools in Illinois where not a single student is reading proficient. If a student can’t read in the 3rd-grade, they’ll struggle for the rest of their life. – Wirepoints on the Annie Frey Show

Ted joined the Annie Frey show to talk about the fact that there are 30 schools in Illinois where not a single student can read at grade level, the terrible act of simply pushing unprepared students up and out of the system, why education is the key to fixing wealth gaps and unemployment, and why Illinoisans have to stand up and challenge the actions of their local school districts and demand school choice.

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ExChiGuy
1 year ago

Welcome to your Illiterate , government supported future work force Illinois!

On2Wheels
1 year ago

I believe parents bear the responsibility to ensure their children are exposed to books, being read to, visiting the library, etc. at an early age. It’s easy to blame the schools, but education starts at home.

ProzacPlease
1 year ago
Reply to  On2Wheels

It’s even easier to blame the parents.

K6
1 year ago

Your missing the point. Children are Not being educated. You mopes are in adult world. Our Americian kids can not do school work to support themselves for later in life. Stop with the union crap

Coach
1 year ago

The teachers union protects unqualified employees in turn the students suffer and then they extort tax payer money and reward themselves financially!!!

Tom Paine's Ghost
1 year ago

Bust all teachers unions. School vouchers for all.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago

Nope. The teachers can unionize and collectively bargain as is their constitutional right. Quit hating on the constitution.

Old Joe
1 year ago

Actually PPF, public employe unions were illegal back in the day. Even a progressive like FDR was against them and for good reason.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  Old Joe

Look here whippersnapper. Joining or forming a union is a constitutional right. Stop hating America and its great constitutional republic.

ProzacPlease
1 year ago

The U.S. Constitution does not contain any right to form a union. That is the pathetic IL constitution, which has nothing to do with making America a great republic.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  ProzacPlease

Looks at 10th amendment of the US constitution. Sees that powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution are reserved for the states or people. Realizes 10th amendment of the Constitution provides states their own power and checks Illinois Constitution. Yup, there it is, Article 1 section 25, a constitutional right to organize and collectively bargain.

So you see the 10th amendment of our great nation provides for states to rule and gives that power to the people of each state to decide. Just don’t understand people like you that hate on our great Republic.

ProzacPlease
1 year ago

My original point stands. The pathetic IL constitution has nothing to do with making America a great republic. It is a constitution for public unions, by public unions, and of public unions. Nothing could be further from producing a great republic.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  ProzacPlease

Our great Republic is built on limiting the federal governments powers and allowing individual states to live by their own laws. The 10th amendment is one of the best things for the US Constitution. If you don’t like that states have rights then you don’t value the US Constitution. Illinois constitutional changes are done by ALL the people not just unions. You just don’t like that the majority of the state doesn’t agree with you.

debtsor
1 year ago

He’s in the 49.9% over voters that disagrees with the amendment LOL

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

Only 42% of the people that voted chose no. 58% that voted wanted it. Facts matter.

debtsor
1 year ago

Couldn’t even reach 60% … so they backdoored it in. The unions somehow knew it had passed before all the votes were even counted and final calucation was complete.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

Haha. They didn’t back door it. Changes to the constitution can be made with EITHER 60% OR more than 50% of all ballots cast. That is not a back door. Low information voters may not have understood how amendments are added to the constitution but it certainly isn’t some back door.

More whiny baby complaining when the rules are spelled out for all to see. Pathetic.

debtsor
1 year ago

It’s a back door in alright, just not in the way you’re interpreting it…

ProzacPlease
1 year ago

Better go back to gloating about your steaks. The righteous civic posturing isn’t working.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  ProzacPlease

I’m able to do both.

ProzacPlease
1 year ago

You’re good at gloating, gotta give you that.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  ProzacPlease

I don’t just eat prime steaks. Need to ensure I exercise and eat healthy. Want to collect those checks for as long as possible. Great healthcare, exercise and healthy fine food is also key. It’s all about balance.

Some ahi grade tuna is on the menu tonight. Seared about 45 seconds on each side. Melts in your mouth. Fresh ceviche as an appetizer. All fresh seafood. None of that frozen stuff. yuck.

ExChiGuy
1 year ago

It might be an Illinois constitutional right but it sure is not a National constitutional right.
Dissolve the teachers unions contracts for non performance of basic duties.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  ExChiGuy

Might be a constitutional right in Illinois? No sir, it IS a constitutional right in Illinois.

Also, you can’t “dissolve” the contracts either as those are covered by the US and Illinois constitution. They have performed their duties according to their contract and as such will be paid. Most likely 5% per year minimum raises will be coming. I’m thinking a 5 year contract for CTU members in the 25-27% range.

Stewie the Roof Baby
1 year ago

The children won’t survive if teachers unions aren’t busted

Poor Taxpayer
1 year ago

Headline news would be they found 1 student that could read at grade level. That would be incredible.

Old Joe
1 year ago
Reply to  Poor Taxpayer

If he had a job an knew his father, that would be incredible!

JackBolly
1 year ago

I feel sorry for the kids and families who can’t escape the cesspool of public education in Chicago and IL.

Illinois is dead
1 year ago

I doubt that the majority of teachers can pass a basic skills test and God knows the majority can’t pass a drug test.

Willowglen
1 year ago

In my large district in a very well off county, principals are very concerned about third grade performance, knowing how crucial it is to a student’s future. There are pockets of poverty in the county, and while performance is not where it should be, principals throw their best teachers and extra resources at third grade. This leads to burnout in the best teachers – so the best principals are not unlike my high tech clients – they must always identify, hire and develop talent. There is no teachers union, which helps significantly in terms of flexibility. What happens in the… Read more »

jajujon
1 year ago
Reply to  Willowglen

I’m wondering how the teacher-principal dynamic changes when principals unionize because of Amendment 1’s passage. Are they now allies or are they still across the table from each other? Who’s on the other side if they’re sitting on the same side of the table? When teachers strike, do principals join them? One thing is certain: the school children and their parents will be last on any agenda.

Yet another of so many reasons to put Illinois in your rear view mirror.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  jajujon

Are they now allies or are they still across the table from each other?”

You think they weren’t allies before? Principals never had anything to do with contract negotiations with teachers. They don’t sit and have never sat on the “other side” of the table. It’s not nor has it ever been part of their job. Clearly you have no idea about teacher contract negotiations.

debtsor
1 year ago

I think you’re missing the point he’s trying to make. Principals have always been considered management and were not unionized like the labor, the teachers. Principals were on the City’s ‘side’ so to speak even if they were not directly part of the negotiations with labor. But now, since they will become unionized, it’s not clear whether they will be on the city’s management’s side, or, if they are now labor. They’re standing in the labor/management dynamic is now far muddier.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

They were never on managements side when it came to contract negotiations. Principals know that the better the teachers do on their contract negotiation the more leverage they have for better pay and benefits themselves. They are first line managers and as such are much closer to a worker bee than upper management. This changes nothing other than making principals able to better negotiate their own compensation and working conditions.

Clutching your pearls about Illinois and its pro-union status is ridiculous. Time to get over it people.

debtsor
1 year ago

“This changes nothing other than making principals able to better negotiate their own compensation and working conditions.”

How can you say that? Right now, we are in an entirely new era where the future is wide open for unions. I believe there will be all sorts of unintended consequences now that management aka school principals, can go back and forth between both sides of the table.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

You believe that because you constantly believe the sky is falling. You thrive on doom and gloom and constantly look for it. Last year you kept pointing out that the real estate market was going to collapse. Yet it went up another 7%. During the pandemic you believed the state would go insolvent within 2 years. It didn’t happen. You just live and breathe negative thoughts and constantly believe horrible things will happen. Your life must be exhausting.

Last edited 1 year ago by Pensions Paid First
debtsor
1 year ago

What you smokin’, boy? The real estate market is crashing everywhere. Major metros around the country are going negative YOY and fast too. The Bay Area is down 35% from the peak and is crashing faster than 2007. Chicago will be next, I guarantee. The chart from Fortune shows that in January 2023, almost half of all markets experienced MOM declines. That blood red spike on the far right side of the chart is coming to a housing market near us! The collapse is just beginning….

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Last edited 1 year ago by debtsor
Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

Yet the Chicago market is up 7.7% for the year in the Case-Shiller November report. You told me it would decline

Thanks for proving my point. Chicago real estate prices continue to rise but you focus on the negative news of real estate elsewhere. You just love being miserable.

debtsor
1 year ago

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index uses a 3-month average and is published with a 2-month lag. The data too old to reflect the MOM and YOY collapsing happening almost everywhere right now, all at the same time. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/chicago-house-prices-dropped-january-2023 February 17, 2023 05:50 AM updated 6 hours ago City house prices dropped 10% in January The price of a house in Chicago took a big step down in January, a time when it’s usually rising. The median price of houses sold in the city was $261,000 in January, down 10% from the same time a year earlier. That’s according to data… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by debtsor
debtsor
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

DuPage went negative for the first time, city condos went negative also. The only bright spot is Lake County that went up 7%, but that’s to be expected. It’ll flip negative soon too and LOOK OUT BELOW!

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

You told me it would collapse a year ago as well. You were predicting a 20% decline. You need it to decline 7.7% just to get it back to where it was. The Chicago real estate market didn’t collapse. You consistently cry that the sky is falling and eventually bad news happens and you pat yourself on the back thinking you have so much insight. If you had any real insight you would be making a profit off of your so called knowledge. Yet you complain about affording a middle class lifestyle. Also, the reason to use a 3 month… Read more »

debtsor
1 year ago

You wouldn’t know a collapsing real estate if it actually fell from the sky and hit you on the head. Why do you think I have so much time to sit around here on a Friday afternoon and post nonsense on this website? This isn’t my first rodeo…

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

Well, we can agree that you post nonsense. Common ground is always good to find.

Old Joe
1 year ago
Reply to  debtsor

Spot on debtsor. Chicago real estate will soon become a hot potato.

Willowglen
1 year ago

PPF – studies have shown the average teacher ACT score in the City of Chicago is 19. Difficult to verify, but wouldn’t surprise me. It is very challenging to compete in the so called white collar marketplace with that level of achievement. To a person with fewer choices, CPS likely looks attractive. The union isn’t the cause of the scores; indeed the 30 ACT scorer from University of Illinois is going to opt for the Glenbrook North’s of the marketplace as opposed to most CPS opportunities. But the low scorers have ample reason to cling tightly to the union. Choices… Read more »

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  Willowglen

So why aren’t the best and brightest applying for CPS teaching jobs? Maybe something to do with the horrific working conditions and the lower pay compared to the well to do suburbs. If you want the best and brightest then you will need to make the job more attractive. Since the working conditions may resemble a prison compared to a suburban school and aren’t likely to change, the premium would need to be huge to be competitive. Are taxpayers of Chicago willing to pay more? If CPS only gets the lowest performing teachers, who is on the sidelines waiting to… Read more »

ProzacPlease
1 year ago

The average ACT score for teachers in Chicago is also the average ACT score for students graduating with a degree in education.

jajujon
1 year ago

Did I say contract negotiations? Look again and don’t be so reactive. It’s an employee-employer relationship, isn’t it? And are they on either side of the table in that relationship? Yes they are. And once they unionize, they become union brothers and sisters, don’t they? And do unions support other unions? Yes they do. Thus, allies, queering terribly the employer-employee dynamic.

debtsor
1 year ago
Reply to  jajujon

And more than just the employer/employee dynamic. Principals are management, even if it is just low level. Bosses are management, workers are labor. Principals now straddle both sides of the table so to speak. You are totally right, the incentives here are now really messed up, and will most certainly lead to perverse outcomes.

jajujon
1 year ago
Reply to  jajujon

I’m awaiting a response, PPF. You’ll need to enlighten us on the bright side of the unionization of both management and labor, and particularly at the most intimate levels, those of principals and teachers. Help us understand how much better off the kids will be, which are really, truly the most important constituency in the room.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago
Reply to  jajujon

People have the right in Illinois to negotiate their working conditions and pay. It’s not up for debate as it’s their constitutional right. How does a principal or teacher negotiating a fair wage and working conditions harm children? It’s ridiculous that you believe that. Employees don’t need to take a vow of poverty just to save taxpayers money. If your argument is the students need more money then advocate for that but not at the expense of paying fair wages and benefits. You’re just upset that you can’t exploit unionized labor the way you can the non-unionized. The people of… Read more »

jajujon
1 year ago

Try to redirect your train of thought away from contract negotiations for just a minute and think about the other aspects of the employee-employer relationship. For example, let’s say a teachers union is threatening to strike. The principals union, seeking to support its union brethren, threaten the same. In past teacher strikes, principals were expected to teach some classes and fulfill their duties to keep children safe and ensure they are learning while juggling their other duties. Stay with me, PPF. We’re not talking about the reasons for striking, remember? So now the teachers go on strike. The principals union… Read more »

Old Joe
1 year ago
Reply to  jajujon

In a just world PPF’s kids would be enrolled at the school whose teachers and principal were on strike at the same time.

When the strike was settled Jesse Sharkey would be their “teacher.”

jajujon
1 year ago
Reply to  Old Joe

Crickets from PPF. Like union officials, concern for the children takes a back seat to money.

Tom Paine's Ghost
1 year ago

Holding an entire state hostage while criminally colluding with bribe-taking politicians is not a constitutional right. All IL public sector union members are guilty criminal conspirators. The taxpayers owe them and you nothing.

Pensions Paid First
1 year ago

The Illinois constitution states it’s a right. The Illinois constitution states you owe pensioners. What TPG states means absolutely nothing. Public sector union employees will exercise their rights. Yell at the clouds all you want but pensioners will be paid and taxes will be raised as necessary. Get over it.

Old Joe
1 year ago
Reply to  jajujon

Yep, and home school your kids or send them to a Catholic school. Your old age depends on it.

Old Joe
1 year ago

Folks, too many of you on Wirepoints are confusing a Democratic Party Patronage jobs program with education.

Poor Taxpayer
1 year ago

If teachers do not care about education, then who is caring about it/
The are getting paid to do a job and are not doing it.
Should be able to get a babysitter for much less money and benefits.

Poor Taxpayer
1 year ago

The only education they get is to deal drugs, car jackings, and other criminal activities.
Guess what the Chitty has waiting for them in the near future? You think it is bad now wait till you see the future. Teachers just pass the students on, should be a law against it, it is criminal.

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A statewide concern: Illinois’ population decline outpaces neighboring states – Wirepoints on ABC20 Champaign

“We are not in good shape” Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski told ABC 20 Champaign during a segment on Illinois’ latest population losses. Illinois was one of just three states to shrink in the 2010-2020 period and has lost another 300,000 people since then. Ted says things need to change. “It’s too expensive to live here, there aren’t enough good jobs and nobody trusts the government anymore. There’s just other places to go where you can be more satisfied.”

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