Matt Damons speech at teachers rally. [Archive]

JoeChalupa

08-03-2011, 12:16 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/matt-damons-clear-headed-speech-to-teachers-rally/2011/07/30/gIQAG9Q6jI_blog.html

Here is the speech that actor Matt Damon gave today to thousands of teachers, parents and others who attended the Save Our Schools march on the Ellipse near the White House to protest the Obama administration’s education policies that are centered on standardized tests.

He also had a run in with some reporter who asked him a stupid question.

http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/837773/matt-damon-rips-reporter-a-new-one

DarkReign

08-03-2011, 12:38 PM

He's an actor, a very good one, but an actor.

I fail to see how his visage holds more weight than an actual educator beyond his celebrity.

ElNono

08-03-2011, 12:52 PM

Being raised by a early childhood teacher myself too, I couldn't agree more with what he said. Standardized tests are ridiculous and worthless. Making then a major benchmark to provide funding is beyond retarded.

MannyIsGod

08-03-2011, 12:55 PM

He's an actor, a very good one, but an actor.

I fail to see how his visage holds more weight than an actual educator beyond his celebrity.

Well, you might be aware, but typically in our society being a celebrity gives you a platform normal citizens do not have. Obviously his message should be analyzed on whether or not it has merit but its obvious why Matt Damon saying something is always going to carry more weight than Joe Schmoe.

SA210

08-03-2011, 01:28 PM

I saw the run in he had with the reporter and camera man last night. :lol Good for Matt Damon for standing up for people and doing what he can to serve. Awesome.

Ignignokt

08-03-2011, 01:48 PM

Teachers are overpaid.

DarkReign

08-03-2011, 01:59 PM

Well, you might be aware, but typically in our society being a celebrity gives you a platform normal citizens do not have. Obviously his message should be analyzed on whether or not it has merit but its obvious why Matt Damon saying something is always going to carry more weight than Joe Schmoe.

Not arguing it, just wasting posts pointing out the undeserved platform of celebrity, no matter how right (or wrong).

Ignignokt

08-03-2011, 02:02 PM

An MBA.. Exec.. if his company is failing he gets booted. If a teachers classroom is doing poorly, they get celebrities defending them.

DarkReign

08-03-2011, 02:04 PM

Ok, read the transcript and watched the interview.

He pretty much nailed it and the "interview" sealed it.

DarkReign

08-03-2011, 02:07 PM

An MBA.. Exec.. if his company is failing he gets booted. If a teachers classroom is doing poorly, they get celebrities defending them.

Hmm, while I see the point youre trying to make, it isnt really all that true.

CEO's get booted, yes, but slowly. Best part is the severance package they get on the way out.

Regardless, they are not in the same arena of comparison though. One is paid by the private sector, the other the public.

Privatize education, then compare.

ElNono

08-03-2011, 02:13 PM

Isn't the average teacher's salary about 60K/year?

DMX7

08-03-2011, 03:04 PM

Isn't the average teacher's salary about 60K/year?

I think the national averge is somewhere between 45K & 50K per year.

ElNono

08-03-2011, 03:08 PM

I think the national averge is somewhere between 45K & 50K per year.

Isn't that in-line with the median household income?

TeyshaBlue

08-03-2011, 03:15 PM

Isn't that in-line with the median household income?

Should it be?

DarrinS

08-03-2011, 03:16 PM

He seems pleasant.

TeyshaBlue

08-03-2011, 03:16 PM

An MBA.. Exec.. if his company is failing he gets booted. If a teachers classroom is doing poorly, they get celebrities defending them.

Apple, meet oranges.

DMX7

08-03-2011, 03:24 PM

Isn't that in-line with the median household income?

Yeah, pretty much.

Hmm, while I see the point youre trying to make, it isnt really all that true.

CEO's get booted, yes, but slowly. Best part is the severance package they get on the way out.

Regardless, they are not in the same arena of comparison though. One is paid by the private sector, the other the public.

Privatize education, then compare.

Yes, many get golden parachutes if they're fired at all. How many bank CEOs got booted when their company's were nearly had to liquidate during the banking crisis?

baseline bum

08-03-2011, 03:26 PM

spurs_fan_in_exile

08-03-2011, 03:32 PM

Is there anything Obama does to differentiate himself from Bush?

Does marrying a black chick count?

DMX7

08-03-2011, 03:33 PM

Obama's presidency is everything the conservatives wanted in the 1990's, but now it's socialism.

The operative word is "do". He isn't actually doing much differently except getting Osama. He's trying to "do" things differently, but the congress has pretty much stopped him dead in his tracks. Almost everything got filibustered in the Senate his first two years, and now the repugs own the House. The obstructionist party has won.

ElNono

08-03-2011, 04:23 PM

Should it be?

I'm trying to determine where the 'overpaid' is coming from. Granted, it might be an excercise in futility.

ElNono

08-03-2011, 04:24 PM

Is there anything Obama does to differentiate himself from Bush?

He needs to win an election without winning the popular vote, then have a massive bailout of Wall Street and I think they'll match up pretty well.

SA210

08-03-2011, 04:39 PM

Is there anything Obama does to differentiate himself from Bush?

No, they are both wimps

Ignignokt

08-03-2011, 05:06 PM

Hmm, while I see the point youre trying to make, it isnt really all that true.

CEO's get booted, yes, but slowly. Best part is the severance package they get on the way out.

Regardless, they are not in the same arena of comparison though. One is paid by the private sector, the other the public.

Privatize education, then compare.

Oh i get it.. thanks for illuminating that comparison. It's not as if there's a debate to privatize schooling as an effort to make education better.. okay. WIN

Ignignokt

08-03-2011, 05:08 PM

Ok, read the transcript and watched the interview.

He pretty much nailed it and the "interview" sealed it.

He pretty much thinks that teachers shouldn't be held accountable, and that because he's a hollywood actor it's like teaching or something. He even threw in his BAston populist drawl doused with certainity and every midwestern chode believes he is correct.

Ignignokt

08-03-2011, 05:13 PM

Should it be? As a group, they deserve the salary of bank tellers. They are the biggest fuckups in this country and are at fault.

And don't blame the parents. the school is in control of that child during his formative years and holds him for more than half of the day under it's supervision.

This is what you public ed fuckers don't understand, you can't say on one hand that parents are responsible for the poor education when you've already doing that part for them by force, by the govt's muzzle of a gun, and then have this solipsist point of view to where a teacher's performance can never be objectively measured. "i'm a good teacher, why?? i don't know? does anybody know? ah the wind blows and therefore i must follow, tis to be a dandellion spore!"

Ignignokt

08-03-2011, 05:16 PM

Apple, meet oranges.

Yeah, teachers wanting to have engineering salaries. i agree.:toast

DMX7

08-03-2011, 05:45 PM

Ignignokt was raped by a public school teacher (male). Please excuse his visceral nonsense.

Ignignokt

08-03-2011, 05:49 PM

Ignignokt was raped by a public school teacher (male). Please excuse his visceral nonsense.

DMX7 was raped by ignignokt, Please excuse his stockholm syndrome obssesion with me.

Sec24Row7

08-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Drachen

08-03-2011, 06:54 PM

"teachers love teaching that's why they work as teachers"

There are many great, great teachers and better people that work as teachers.... But...

Yeah... No one has ever taken that job because they get 3 months off...
Tenure for non PHD's is stupid. Sub college teachers are regurgitators of information, not discoverers of it. If they want tenure they should move on to the next level.

These are likely the ones that quit when they realize the amount of work. I have read (somewhere) that the average career span of a teacher is 5 years.

Oh, and I would really like to hear an explanation from a person who has a pro-high-school-tenure outlook as to what reasons lead them to believe in tenure. I cannot say that I am against it (yet) because I have not heard the reasons FOR it. (and I understand the reasons for it on the next level)

ElNono

08-03-2011, 07:41 PM

I have no problem with teachers being held accountable on the basis of how their class does after X amount of tests. However, when you tie funding to those tests is where you're going wrong. Now you have the school administrators pushing teachers to train kids to pass tests, not necessarily teach.

It's such a bad system that encourages school officials to cheat and the states to spend more money trying to track down such cheating (http://www.app.com/article/20110715/NJNEWS/307160006/Marks-irregular-testing-New-Jersey-schools).

The reality is that classrooms can vary widely year in and year out. Every kid has special needs when it comes to education. Some are brighter in some things and some are not. Some are quick learners and some are not. Teaching takes a lot of time and a lot of dedication.

I'm sure there's everything out there. Teachers that care, teachers that don't. Good teachers don't get 3 months off. They take time to prepare their programs and improve them based on their previous experiences.

Also, engineers (http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-engineer) make about 1/3 more than teachers (http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-teacher) on average.

Trainwreck2100

08-03-2011, 08:00 PM

These are likely the ones that quit when they realize the amount of work. I have read (somewhere) that the average career span of a teacher is 5 years.

Oh, and I would really like to hear an explanation from a person who has a pro-high-school-tenure outlook as to what reasons lead them to believe in tenure. I cannot say that I am against it (yet) because I have not heard the reasons FOR it. (and I understand the reasons for it on the next level)

that probably has alot to do with getting their loans paid off

Drachen

08-03-2011, 09:00 PM

that probably has alot to do with getting their loans paid off

Yep, if it werent for that, then those who decided to be teachers for summers off, etc would probably quit a lot sooner thus lowering the avg career span significantly.

Blake

08-03-2011, 09:22 PM

DMX7 was raped by ignignokt

a dream is a wish your heart makes

Ignignokt

08-04-2011, 12:11 AM

a dream is a wish your heart makes

Is that why you were cuckholded?

DUNCANownsKOBE

08-04-2011, 12:39 AM

Teachers are overpaid.
You could say that about 99% of all government employees.

DUNCANownsKOBE

08-04-2011, 12:40 AM

DMX7

08-04-2011, 12:42 AM

You could say that about 99% of all government employees.

Are our troops overpaid?

SnakeBoy

08-04-2011, 12:50 AM

These are likely the ones that quit when they realize the amount of work. I have read (somewhere) that the average career span of a teacher is 5 years.

The amount of work isn't what makes them quit. You have to remember that most K-12 teachers are women, many of whom do not have the goal of having a long career. I have 5 relatives who are teachers, all female. Two of them are dedicated to their profession (one for over 30 yrs) and I've never heard them complain about teaching other than occasional remarks on ridiculous policies. The others main goal in life has always been to be stay at home moms and they have always bitched and moaned about teaching. One has already gotten married had a kid and quit work, another just got married to a pilot so I'm sure it won't be too long before she quits work. The last hates teaching but on top of being an idiot she is fat and ugly so she hasn't had much luck finding a husband yet.

DUNCANownsKOBE

08-04-2011, 01:07 AM

Are our troops overpaid?
Yes.

If you're looking for military sympathy, you're talking to the wrong person.

Insomniac

08-04-2011, 03:18 AM

An MBA.. Exec.. if his company is failing he gets booted. If a teachers classroom is doing poorly, they get celebrities defending them.

Booted along with a golden parachute.

Drachen

08-04-2011, 08:12 AM

The amount of work isn't what makes them quit. You have to remember that most K-12 teachers are women, many of whom do not have the goal of having a long career. I have 5 relatives who are teachers, all female. Two of them are dedicated to their profession (one for over 30 yrs) and I've never heard them complain about teaching other than occasional remarks on ridiculous policies. The others main goal in life has always been to be stay at home moms and they have always bitched and moaned about teaching. One has already gotten married had a kid and quit work, another just got married to a pilot so I'm sure it won't be too long before she quits work. The last hates teaching but on top of being an idiot she is fat and ugly so she hasn't had much luck finding a husband yet.

I am sure that the immense amount of work isn't helping. Also, what are these women doing when they are no longer stay at home moms. If teaching was such a great paying and relaxing gig, you would think they would go back to it.

Blake

08-04-2011, 08:14 AM

Viva Las Espuelas

08-04-2011, 09:15 AM

I never knew "regular people" fly overnight from Vancouver to DC(approx 2897 miles)

ElNono

08-04-2011, 10:02 AM

I never knew "regular people" fly overnight from Vancouver to DC(approx 2897 miles)

He said he flew from Vancouver to NY, then from there to DC.

Cathay Pacific actually has an overnight flight from Vancouver to JFK (IIRC it's the only airline with such a direct flight).

Blake

08-04-2011, 10:08 AM

Is that why you were cuckholded?

not my dream, tbh.

I think you sharing your dream of raping a guy is lol though.

Viva Las Espuelas

08-04-2011, 10:10 AM

He said he flew from Vancouver to NY, then from there to DC.

Cathay Pacific actually has an overnight flight from Vancouver to JFK (IIRC it's the only airline with such a direct flight).

I'm sure" regular" people do that too.

desflood

08-04-2011, 10:10 AM

As a group, they deserve the salary of bank tellers. They are the biggest fuckups in this country and are at fault.

And don't blame the parents. the school is in control of that child during his formative years and holds him for more than half of the day under it's supervision.

This is what you public ed fuckers don't understand, you can't say on one hand that parents are responsible for the poor education when you've already doing that part for them by force, by the govt's muzzle of a gun, and then have this solipsist point of view to where a teacher's performance can never be objectively measured. "i'm a good teacher, why?? i don't know? does anybody know? ah the wind blows and therefore i must follow, tis to be a dandellion spore!"
You really can't blame the teachers - they don't actually have much say in what they can or can't teach. Like everybody else with bosses, they are handed their objectives by the higher-ups and risk losing their jobs if they stray from the approved curriculum.

ElNono

08-04-2011, 10:26 AM

I'm sure "regular" people do that too.

I thought you didn't think it was possible. nvm

DMX7

08-04-2011, 11:05 AM

Yes.

Idiot.

http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/money/basic-pay-active-duty-soldiers.html

Drachen

08-04-2011, 11:10 AM

Idiot.

http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/money/basic-pay-active-duty-soldiers.html

I understand your point, and don't want to defend his side, but maybe you should have clicked the link about total compensation on the page you linked.

http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/total-compensation.html

JoeChalupa

08-04-2011, 11:32 AM

Teachers these days also spend too much time being baby sitters because some kids just don't have any respect for them. And yes, I do blame the parents for how some kids behave in class. I've had conferences with many teachers over the years and in HS especially there are disruptive students but if they ask or tell them to sit down and STFU they talk back and some have even been assaulted. They don't need or should have to put up with that crap. There are always some bad apples in every field but for the most part they do really care about teaching and their kids.

Viva Las Espuelas

08-04-2011, 11:35 AM

I thought you didn't think it was possible. nvm

You're assuming what I thought. Try again.

Viva Las Espuelas

08-04-2011, 11:37 AM

And if you truly wanted to "nvm" then why reply in the first place?

Oh, Gee!!

08-04-2011, 12:29 PM

Teachers are overpaid.

your teachers were

jack sommerset

08-04-2011, 12:46 PM

your teachers were

Atleast you agree some teachers are not worth it. That's a start!

George Gervin's Afro

08-04-2011, 12:50 PM

Atleast you agree some teachers are not worth it. That's a start!

you're not worth it dummy..

Oh, Gee!!

08-04-2011, 12:52 PM

you're not worth it dummy..

jack was home-schooled in a women's correctional facility.

Halberto

08-04-2011, 12:54 PM

He's an actor, a very good one, but an actor.

I fail to see how his visage holds more weight than an actual educator beyond his celebrity.

He's also Will Hunting. That's a smart mother fucker right there.

baseline bum

08-04-2011, 12:56 PM

He's also Will Hunting. That's a smart mother fucker right there.

'Eh, that graph theory problem he solved on the board is sophomore level shit.

Viva Las Espuelas

08-04-2011, 01:16 PM

'Eh, that graph theory problem he solved on the board is sophomore level shit.

'Twas?

baseline bum

08-04-2011, 01:32 PM

'Twas?

811LbompjPg

ElNono

08-04-2011, 02:21 PM

And if you truly wanted to "nvm" then why reply in the first place?

I took your original retarded comment to mean that it wasn't possible for regular people to fly from Vancouver to NY overnight. Should've probably assumed you were being just stupid instead of ignorant and stupid.

sandman

08-04-2011, 02:49 PM

The best part is that now virtually every public school has a day where class either starts 90 minutes late or ends 90 minutes early so the teachers can have a 60-75 minute staff meeting without working longer. They look ridiculous complaining about their salaries when they do backflips to make sure they have to work as little as possible outside of the 8-3 school day.

Link? My wife works for the 3rd largest school district in the state with over 100K students. She is at an elementary school. Daughter is at a middle school. Son is at a high school. They all have the same start/end time every day.

sandman

08-04-2011, 02:54 PM

Also, engineers (http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-engineer) make about 1/3 more than teachers (http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-teacher) on average.

Here in Texas the gap is much wider. Starting salary for a new teacher is around $42K if I remember correctly, and an engineer, at least Petrotechs in the O&G industry, come out of college making ~$80K and higher, depending on if they have a Masters or PhD.

Viva Las Espuelas

08-04-2011, 04:17 PM

I took your original retarded comment to mean that it wasn't possible for regular people to fly from Vancouver to NY overnight. Should've probably assumed you were being just stupid instead of ignorant and stupid.

Tell me how many "regular people" you know fly from one coast to another to speak at a rally. And flying from a movie set. Riddle me that, Flapjack.

ElNono

08-04-2011, 04:35 PM

Tell me how many "regular people" you know fly from one coast to another to speak at a rally. And flying from a movie set. Riddle me that, Flapjack.

What's your point? If Matt Damon wants to fly from China to speak at a rally, then good for Matt Damon.

I'm "regular people" and have done twice the miles each way to spend just two weeks with the family. People travel for whatever reason. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

DMX7

08-05-2011, 05:02 PM

I understand your point, and don't want to defend his side, but maybe you should have clicked the link about total compensation on the page you linked.

http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/total-compensation.html

I did click it.

Drachen

08-05-2011, 05:24 PM

this would have been a much more honest representation then.

Bill_Brasky

08-05-2011, 09:53 PM

Tell me how many "regular people" you know fly from one coast to another to speak at a rally. And flying from a movie set. Riddle me that, Flapjack.

To me, the question isn't whether "normal" people can or can't do it, but rather why you have such a stick up your ass about Matt Damon doing it.

BRHornet45

08-05-2011, 11:23 PM

$40-60k per year to half ass work and have off time every time you turn around is a pretty good gig. shut the fuck up and teach like you're supposed to.

Sisk

08-06-2011, 01:32 AM

I'm trying to determine where the 'overpaid' is coming from. Granted, it might be an excercise in futility.

Damon says it's a "shitty salary". What do you think?

Sisk

08-06-2011, 01:33 AM

Also, if yall haven't seen this, watch.

5kxc6kzH-uI

Pretty much sums up how I feel about the teachers union.

BRHornet45

08-07-2011, 01:26 AM

lol this is what Damon was standing up for ... clueless fucking faggot just doing and saying whatever his PR crew thinks will make him look "cool" and "real"

TJ7icVvDK9I

DUNCANownsKOBE

08-07-2011, 01:30 AM

Idiot.

http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/money/basic-pay-active-duty-soldiers.html
That information is available to anyone who decides to join the army. They know what their compensation is before they sign up for it.

DUNCANownsKOBE

08-07-2011, 01:31 AM

Link? My wife works for the 3rd largest school district in the state with over 100K students. She is at an elementary school. Daughter is at a middle school. Son is at a high school. They all have the same start/end time every day.
Hmmm, maybe it's just Arizona then. Our teachers are particularly lazy.