NEA: Dave Arnold Archives





	NEA Home

	Member Home

	In the Classroom

	Professional Development

	Support Professionals

	NEA Now

	NEA Voices

	Grants & Resources

	NEA Member Services

	NEA Publications

	NEA Constituencies

	Members Only (registration required)





	Select below to see your state affiliate website:


Dave’s View Dave Arnold may be the most famous custodian in the United States who most people have never heard of. But his writing has a huge following among education support professionals and educators nationwide. This school custodian and former Illinois Education Association ESP of the Year is a published poet. But most Association members know him best from the bimonthly editorials -- Dave's View -- he has been writing for this Web site since 2002. His columns are listed below. Rendered Void Consolidating districts can mean lost benefits. A Bonus to Members Get your automatic Dues-Tab Insurance and other goodies. Breaking the Code Newcomers are not born knowing NEA acronyms. Fewer Edisons Today's electronic gadgets don't bolster imagination at school. That's Our Reg NEA's president has traveled far without losing his way. No Two Students Alike Our next president must confront NCLB deficiencies. Playing Defense at School What ESPs and teachers should know when threatened by students. Quick! Log-off if You're at Work Reading "Dave's View" on the job might violate AUP. The DNA of an ESP Personality types often match a certain ESP job category. Don't Play Us 'Working for the children' doesn't mean 'work for free.' Getting Personal Illinois ESPs help pass a state law limiting outsourcing. Dinosaur Knowledge Veteran workers know where the bodies are buried. The Haze of Summer Seasonal chores and seemingly fun activities carry risks. A Deafening Silence School incident involving a student's attempted suicide "never happened." Putting Others First Twila Zirakzadah risked losing her job to help an ill student. Bravery Unrewarded A selfless, heroic act almost gets a custodian fired. Time of Your Life ESPs should be compensated for overtime work. Longer School Days Affect Everyone Consider all opinions before enacting a law. Have Conference, Will Travel If members cannot find the conference, it must find them. Contract Collaboraton Changing bargaining styles can mean success for all. You've Got a Friend Investing time in students can reap benefits beyond all expectations. Primer on Retirement Visualizing your retirement lifestyle helps attain it. Bargaining on the Golden Years Negotiate your members toward a prosperous future. Education's Reward An 81-year-old father keeps a promise to his son. When Terrorists Hit Schools A series of school shootings shocked us. Health Care Plans Can Change As health care costs skyrocketed, one local took control. The ' 65 Percent' Solution ' Still Wrong Though informed, some ESPs persist in supporting a bogus plan. No Coverage is Good Coverage? The media might try reporting good news for a change. A Fine Hello and Hi Dee Ho Busy ESPs can still promote etiquette and model behavior. The Crippling Cost of Energy As energy demand goes up and up, school utility bills follow. Never too Busy to Help Ellen Schoenenberg's enthusiasm is contagious. Creatures of the Light Custodians do their best work during the day, like most humans. Bargaining is Worth the Grief Opposing forces must deal with one another to succeed. Caps-n-Gowns and Gone Graduation day is bittersweet for school staff. Our Enemies Never Rest The '65 Percent Solution' is a deception that will hurt ESPs. Pulse of a Teacher An ESP honors her teacher-friend during Teacher Appreciation Week. Secretaries Rule! Celebrate Administrative Professionals Week on April 23-29. Don't Fry the Cook Food service employees provide healthy meals. Asthma Alert Are you ready to assist an asthmatic student who can't breathe? Phantom Food Menace Insect-based food dyes can cause allergic reactions. Surrogate Parents School employees rank high in the 'trust' department. Tongue Tied ESPs can help non-English speakers cross the language divide. My Father's Lost Barn An encounter with the past leads to Dave's New Year's resolution. Appalachian Christmas Dave reflects on his worst and best holiday seasons. Putting a Price on Service ESPs contribute more to schools than privateers. Built on Faith ESP Day rests on a foundation of loyal service. Letter Leverage Remind your local newspaper about American Education Week. Corporate Carnivores? Weigh the benefits of a Health Savings Account over insurance company coverage. Opinion of ESP columnist Dave Arnold. Easy to Misstep as a Secretary Public relations skills are essential to a secretary's survivial. Don't Punish the Messenger It's sometimes the ESP who gets the third degree when disciplining a student, says ESP columnist Dave Arnold. 'Labor' Wins the Day ESPs should pay tribute to labor leaders past and present. Together Again A new school year can unite teachers and ESPs. Underdog Victories Inspired citizens challenge budget cuts and other policies. Grief Training for ESPs? School staff help students cope with emotional emergencies. Public is Clueless About ESP The RA and American Ed Week can help ESP shine. Collateral Damage Ignoring your health at NEA's annual meeting can be risky. Exercise Your Brain Studies link mental illness to certain jobs, lifestyles. The Fungus Among Us Mold is a relentless survivor that thrives in classrooms. ESP Scribe After 100 editorials, Dave Arnold is just getting started. Protect Your Social Security Educators can help repeal pension offsets through activism. Good Defense Security officers are essential to the safeguarding of schools. Paras Often Targeted Some ESP who lose their jobs may need counseling. Beloved Cookie Mom Thousands of homemade cookies go toward school activities. Covering the Basics Living wage campaigns have put many workers above poverty line. Education Not Incarceration ESEA may do more for prisons than schools. Everybody Loses Privatization threatens district jobs and school spirit. Duty Calls ESP stand tall when helping students. Reluctant Heroes If ESP are ignored during American Education Week, it could be their fault. Ineffective and Unrealistic Installing seat belts on buses is a bad idea. Quality People Employees working behind the scenes create goodwill. Instinct Versus Intellect Different approaches to problem-solving helps us survive. Example is an Invaluable Teacher A father helps his daughter experience black history. Spy Cams: Friend or Foe School surveillance systems can sometimes be blind to the truth. Solidarity Saves the Pastor ESP parishioners prove to be a blessing to one church congregation. Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking When ESP give speeches, our collective story shines through. Ailing Schools Regular upkeep is key to upholding building standards. Sexual Harassment's Gray Area Be respectful at all times to avoid even the hint of misconduct. Family Connections Nepotism trumps merit at some school districts. ESPeeved ESP have a unique set of pet peeves. Evaluate Your Personality ESP personality profile is usally different from teachers. Establish Student Scholarships Treasury funds can be used to help students. Be Careful With Infected Blood Bloodborne diseases are harder to detect than airborne infections. Tenuous Times Trustees and ESP are closer to each other than it appears. Unruly Students Go Unpunished Straying off course is to easy for some students. Measuring Job Performance Does a cook merit more pay than a custodian? Storytellers in Short Supply A wealth of information about ESP is lost in time. Name Your Board Members School board elections offer the opportunity for ESP endorsements. Taking Care of Business Associations should build momentum to succeed. Providing the Home Touch ESP can help young students cope with their first days of school. Guns: Safety Above All Else Students should be educated about gun safety. The Great Divide Training opportunties are greater for teachers than for ESP. Just For Us The Web helps NEA reach ESP in new ways. Our Goose Got Cooked Work duties can multiply for ESP who ignore the signs. Angel Eyes Can Be Deceptive Superintendents need tact as well as talent to succeed. Could Have Been Worse Unpredictable forces of nature can wreak horror on schools. Bomb Scare Prompts New Contract Language ESP helped police search school grounds for explosives. Have Faith While their religions may differ, ESP and teachers find fellowship. Unlikely Partners School trustee and custodian gain mutual respect after floor project. Danger: Pesticides Only certified employees are allowed to apply chemicals at schools. Serving Multicultural Needs Paras help bridge cultural gaps between schoolwork and students. Extreme Penalties The terrorism threat sometimes stymies our common sense. Rough Roads Civil liberties and labor laws are easy to take for granted. Defending Our Students Do not think badly of all students due to the actions of a few. Student Hilarity Humorous comments by young students are reminiscent of early TV comedians. Slack Performers Students suffer when school employees neglect their job duties. Cyberspace Gurus Technical service employees are in high demand at schools. Dare to Care Caring for students is not officially in our job descriptions. Paige Gets Personal The Secretary of Education should resign for what he said about NEA. Prison Break A school district merger is likely if prison shuts down. Move or Go Bankrupt What happens to school staff in a rural county when schools close? A Town's Demise The closure of an 83-year-old prison could devastate schools. Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning Amateurs Schools with good teachers are best-suited to shape young minds. Preschool Teachers Do What It Takes Changing diapers at school is routine for some teachers. How Things Work Is graffiti an act of vandalism or self-expression? Overtime Pay Take-away New overtime rule will affect some ESP. When Secretaries Had to be Nurses Students get good medical care despite a nursing shortage. Legacy of Laughter Whether you like Jack Benny or Jack Black, laughter helps us survive. Wanted: ESP Historians Many ESP memories are lost to future generations. Know Your Poison A teacher accidently polished her piano with graffiti cleaner. All Night Long Community leaders organize a post-prom party to curtail drunk driving. The Breeze of Summer Some ESP enjoy working during summer break. Caught Short Out-of-pocket expenses often scare off new bus drivers. The Right to Know Unlock school records by filing a Freedom of Information Act request. Friend Forever A mentor can make the difference between success and failure. The Law According to Murphy When building maintenance is neglected, occupants suffer the consequences. Non-members Should Pay Their Fair Share Freeloaders would strengthen NEA locals while decreasing dues. ESP Often the First to Spot an Abused Student School guidelines are needed to handle suspected cases of child abuse. Belting It Out Seat belts in school buses is an unreconciled issue at many schools. Your Legacy ESP who read to students are long remembered after the story ends. Workers' Compensation Not a Given Many ESP need the help of a judge to settle benefit claims. Didn't Vote? Then Don't Complain Stampeding elephants should not keep ESP from voting. Serving School Districts ESP can help schools stay on track. Spectators are Spoiling School Sports Rude behavior by fans may lead to their expulsion from school sporting events. Might as Well Feather the Nest A new year may mean a new contract for many ESP. Did Your School Flunk Lunch? Overworked and underpaid, cafeteria workers deserve better than their portrayal in Time magazine. Cooperation and Respect When ESPs, teachers and trustees work together. The Invisible Line Between Teachers and ESP I told them I was a custodian. They went silent, then changed tables. In Harm's Way Some non-medical ESP are pressured to perform medical procedures. American Education Week ESP should take every opportunity to show school pride. Strengthening Our Collective Power ESP influence has increased despite lack of participation by members. You say "voucher," I say "vulture" ESP have much to lose when public schools fail. In Honor of School Secretaries Only they know how much they do. Not a Disgrace to be Poor Small locals struggle to send ESP members to state and national events. Contract Negotiations Bring out the Devil in Us A good contract is the most important document you can have. School Bus Technology Improves, But Kids Still Kids Bus aides could help bus drivers control cabin conditions. No Room for Boredom At School Kids, cats and mice keep custodian busy. ESP Hobbies Can Help Students Young scientists get tutored by Mr. Wizard. Time to Pay the Para Of all ESP, paraeducators are essentially the least compensated. Teamwork Key to Success During Operation Brain Food Staff help students cope with exam anxiety. Escalating Health Care Costs Hit ESP Hard Bargaining gains are often surmounted by hikes in medical costs. ESP Are First Line of Defense at Schools No school is safe from hostile intruders determined to cause violence. Meet Dave Arnold: NEA.org Columnist Working with students and watching them grow is its own reward. Lessons from Mountain Men 2003 ESP conference offers the chance to share survival stories. ESP Can Create A Legacy of Kindness Former students have long memories of the courtesies exhibited by ESP.

	Printer friendly	E-mail	Subscribe

Dave’s View