Jive Talking

I hope nyceducator doesn't watch this. He's too important to get hurt. He said:

I would rather stick a pencil in my eye and twirl it counterclockwise than voluntarily subject myself to either the sights or (gads!) the sounds of Dear Leader Weingarten giving a speech, so I managed to miss it.

Read the rest of his post here
For those of you who want to read along

I AM HONORED TO BE HERE REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION MEMBERS. WE WORK IN YOUR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, IN YOUR HOSPITALS, AND YOUR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. WE BELIEVE THAT ACCESS TO AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION IS A BASIC CIVIL RIGHT. FOR THE CHILDREN WHO ARE DENIED THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO FULFILL THEIR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL, IT IS A PERSONAL TRAGEDY, AND AN INEXCUSABLE IN JUSTICE. IT IS ALSO AN AFFRONT TO AMERICAN VALUES AND A THREAT TO AMERICA'S ROLE AS AN INCUBATOR OF INNOVATION. THIS MUST CHANGE. AND THAT REQUIRES LEADERSHIP, NOT DEMAGOGUERY. THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO ELECT BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE. AND WHY THEY NEED ALL OF US WORKING WITH THEM. THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS IS READY. OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN STRENGTHENING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BETTER SERVE OUR STUDENTS. LET'S DO WHAT WE DO IN OUR BEST SCHOOLS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. BARACK OBAMA KNOWS THAT TEACHERS MUST BE PARTNERS, NOT PAWNS IN FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICIES. AND FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICY MUST BE ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN TESTING. SO I ASKED YOU TO JOIN US IN THIS QUEST BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THAT STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CORNERSTONES OF OUR DEMOCRACY. BECAUSE OUR AGING POPULATION DEPENDS ON FUTURE GENERATIONS GROWING THE ECONOMY. BECAUSE TODAY'S STUDENTS WILL BE THE CARETAKERS OF TOMORROW'S ENVIRONMENT. THE SPARKS IGNITING OUR INNOVATIONS, THE TENDERS OF OUR GLOBAL RELATIONSHIPS, THE GUARDIANS OF OUR PROSPERITY, AND THE CREATORS OF OUR ARTS. OR SIMPLY BECAUSE EVERY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO A FAIR AND HOPEFUL START IN LIFE. WHEN THOSE CHILDREN WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS OF OUR CLASSROOMS THEY BRING US THEIR DREAMS COME UP POTENTIAL, AND THEIR TRUST. AND SOMETIMES THEY BRING THEIR EMPTY STOMACHS, AND TREATED AILMENTS, AND LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT CAN CHILL YOU TO YOUR CORE. AMERICA'S TEACHERS, TAKE THEM AND ALL THEIR FULLNESS AND WE DO ALL THEY -- ALL THEY CAN TO HELP THEM REACH GREAT HEIGHTS. BUT THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS. STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE YET STRIDE AND SUCCEED. COMMUNITIES THAT VALUE EDUCATION AND INSHORE STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM WHEN I VISIT THOSE SCHOOLS. BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN WILL CHALLENGE THE PEOPLE ENTRUSTED WITH OUR CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING. AND WE WELCOME IT. WE ARE READY TO WORK TOGETHER TO USHER IN A NEW ERA OF EXCELLENCE IN AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE CAN DO THIS. WE MUST DO THIS. AND IT STARTS WITH ELECTING BARACK OBAMA AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU.