Teach a man to fish...

Sources tell me the apparent sickout by teachers at Holy Redeemer High School Wilkes-Barre will be the first of many “rolling sickouts” at newly merged schools in the Diocese of Scranton. It’s coming to a school near you. This comes after Bishop Joseph Martino announced he would not recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers. Should teachers have the right to elect their own leaders and to have those leaders bargain on their behalf? I say yes.
“We should add here that in today's world there are many other forms of poverty. For are there not certain privations or deprivations which deserve this name? The denial or the limitation of human rights - as for example the right to religious freedom, the right to share in the building of society, the freedom to organize and to form unions, or to take initiatives in economic matters - do these not impoverish the human person as much as, if not more than, the deprivation of material goods? And is development which does not take into account the full affirmation of these rights really development on the human level?”
The above author: Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Pope John Paul II
Here’s the link to the Vatican’s website so you can read it yourself:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_30121987_sollicitudo-rei-socialis_en.html
My hope is that the Bishop will step back. He should not spend money on consultants. He should recognize SDACT
My fear is that the Bishop will act unilaterally and not recognize SDACT. The teachers only have the months from September to June to try and reverse the Bishop’s decision to deal with teachers through an employee council at individual schools.
Catholic School teachers make extraordinary sacrifices to teach our kids. At the very least they deserve to choose their own leaders and to bargain collectively. Parents make equally significant sacrifices to send their daughters and sons to our Catholic schools. Their stake in this issue should not be diminished.
As a product of Catholic education, let me say, “Thank you,” to the religious and lay teachers who provided me with my education and my parents who sacrificed to send me to a Catholic school.
I stand with the teachers.

My daughter the model

This is a little self serving but I wanted to share my daughter Erin's first national advertisement for Shea Radiance. My little girl is all grown up and I'm very proud of her. Here's the link:

http://www.sheunlimited.com/2008/01/23/have-a-glittering-valentines-with-shea-radiance/

Ryan Howard

Philadelphia Phillies 1st Baseman Ryan Howard has won his arbitration case and will make 10-million dollars this season. Now I know that Howard has been Rookie of the Year and the National League's Most Valuable player, but the only Howard who should make that kind of money is Mo Howard.

The Jewell's

I was saddened to hear of the death of Ann Marie Jewell of Wilkes-Barre. Ann Marie was a Democratic Party Committeewoman and a Judge of Election in the East End section of Wilkes-Barre. Her husband Art died a few years ago. When Ann Marie began losing her eyesight, Art stepped up and assisted her during each election. While Ann Marie and Art were as partisan as could be, they made sure that every election was above board. Their type is not likely to pass this way again and they will be sorely missed.

And So We Begin...

I am finally taking the plunge. For months now, my friends and family have been urging me to blog. So here we go.