House education committee chair apologizes over ‘Gestapo’ remark

The political right cannot abandon a perspective that has gotten them where they are. No assassinations are going to stop them calling those who oppose their mindless ideas Nazis and Gestapo. No change will occur because there isn’t any logic or evidence behind their positions–the positions are primarily fear based (e.g., labeling teacher unions Gestapo is suppose to evoke emotional reaction, especially fear). Also note that Palin now says that the press are the hate mongers, not lil’ ole her.

This is going to be fun to watch. If everyone is on pins an needles, having to watch everything they say, think about how much less will be said. Could we see a situation where lawmakers will actually think before they speak? For some of ‘em, I’m sure it will be torture since so much of what they say has no content and is in fact nothing but inflammatory rhetoric meant to mobilize the supporters.

I suspect this current restraint will last about a month – maybe less.

“Could we see a situation where lawmakers will actually think before they speak?”

Maybe they’d actually do their jobs instead of shooting off at the mouth at every opportunity.

How can more observations be bad? I’m a teacher, and I’d love it if more people observed me and offered observations. Even if your good it can only make you better. Why would REpublicans, or anyone, be afraid of teachers being observed and helped?

Helping new teachers=rounding up Jews for extermination?

Close comparison?

Erickson’s remarks do seem incredibly tone deaf, especially with all the talk the past few days about violent and caustic rhetoric. Glad she apologized. It’s better than her party’s chair Tony Sutton did when comparing Republican supporters of Tom Horner to Nazi sympathizing “quislings” or Glenn Beck, the tea partiers et al who outright posit that Obama (healthcare guy) is identical to Hitler (Holocaust guy).

Why in the world would Republicans consider an alternative license better preparation than meeting the state’s requirements for a teaching license?
Why is 90 days of supervision too much accountability, but 3 years before tenure is not enough? Apparently teachers across the state have been acting as “Gestapo” for decades – experienced teachers mentoring new teachers; a proven method of improving instruction.
“I really believe that once they are in the classroom, they don’t need that extra supervision,” she said. Well, she just find a budget cut. Teachers don’t need supervision once they hit the classroom door on day one. Cut the principals!

I’m a teacher and I think all teachers need more supervision, not just those that take an alternative path to licensure.

How about the lovely Ms. Palin, playing her usual victim role, using the anti-Semitic “blood libel”. I didn’t even know what that was or that it was a thing. Kinda says a lot about the crowd she runs with. I’m sure she’ll figure out how she is a victim again.

She is an embarrassment to all of us in the teaching profession. Just ask her former colleagues at Princeton H.S.

The FBI is reported to have infiltrated Minnesota Peace and Justice groups (the Anti-War Committee and Women Against Military Madness) and spied on them.. They sent an agent Karen Sullivan in to spy on these and other progressive groups for two years..

The FBI have done so as well as put activists in Grand Jury investigations, under the orders of Attorney General Eric Holder, which is done so with the direct authorization of president Barack Obama.

Present at the Press Conference to expose it was former FBI agent Colleen Rawley (New York Times 2002 Person of the Year)

I look forward to having Andy Birkey and the Minnesota Independent do a full cover story and exposé.

Being a watchdog of those in power instead of being a lapdog for those in power.

Yeah-Right

Michael: If you’d like to keep commenting, please keep comments relevant to the topic of each post, per our comment policy. As for your story suggestion, thanks.

[...] later apologized for the analogy and I equally accept her apology’s sincerity but, as I said, the first words, however candid, [...]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t the alternative licensing program intended to help bring people with real-life experience to share but no formal teacher training into the classroom?

If not, then how is it not a program to cut corners on teacher preparation?

If so, then how can a short program be considered equivalent or superior to extensive formal education and training?

On the one hand, 90 days of supervision sounds a bit excessive – especially if it is 90 schooldays. I would also refer to it as:
1) probation
2) internship
3) apprenticeship

Take your pick. Big Brotherly at worst, but there is no excuse for caustic remarks. Such things only reflect the animus of a public *servant*.

I hope they introduce a program like this to expand “alternative licensing”:

Police.
I’ve watched tons of TV shows and have driven really fast. I’ve even shot guns.

Doctors.
I’ve also watched tons of medical shows and have been sick and have even diagnosed my own and other’s illnesses. I’ve done surgery on deer and ducks that I shot.

Lawyers.
I’ve probably watched more lawyer TV shows because, well, there are more of those than doctor and police. I’ve been sued, and I won (sort of, you never really win when you get sued). I believe that I have the ability to become amoral whenever necessary (which is always).

I hope, after these “alternative licensing” bills are passed, that I don’t have some Gestapo surgeon looking over my shoulder. Some think that doctors need a lot of training, but if that were true, why does everyone die?

Different Tim,
Thanks for starting my day off with a laugh. Maybe politicians could replace violent rhetoric with caustic humor. Wonder of Jon Boehner can laugh as well as cry?

Let’s see: Who was it yesterday, in the US House of Representatives who compared the Republicans’ statements about Obama Care to the infamous Nazi Propagandist? Where are those who decry his statement?
“Equating anyone in our politics with a band of murderers is unacceptable,” tweeted the Minnesota AFL-CIO.
Do they really mean “anyone?”

Shar Knutson, president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO issued the following statement over the remarks: “For Representative Erickson to compare the responsible supervision of beginning teachers to tactics in Nazi Germany is inflammatory and has no place in our state’s public policy debate.
But it is Ok if it is a Democrat Representative using similar words?

This Bullsh1t is typical of Republicans.. Under T-Paw “Mr. Republican Gestapo” we have De-funded education.. Teachers get fired and kids end up in classrooms with 40 students .. Do we wonder why the system fails?? No lets not!! Let’s BLAME THE TEACHERS UNION.. God I HATE Republicans.. Isn’t the ” Rapture ” suppose to suck these fruitcakes into heaven or purgatory ??? It can’t happen soon enough…

I seem to recall a county board candidate here in the north metro in a Facebook posting writing of a “Met Council Gestapo” without ever any apology demanded or given.

I suppose not all Republican “Gestapo” remarks are equal.

Also, I guess, not all get above the radar.

However, the truth is that each is as offensive as the next.

I dislike much about Met Council, but that terminology is uncalled for.