Howard Blume
Teachers Union Challenges LA Unified's New Evaluation Process (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-utla-challenge-20110508,0,3954012.story)
LA Times
May 8th, 2011
Summary: The union is accusing the school district of violating contractual language by failing to "engage in good faith negotiation" regarding evaluation methods. They have filed a grievance with the board that oversees public employees. This is the latest development in what has become a bitterly divisive battle over teaching and testing standards in LA.
Key Points: Union attempting legal challenge to what they see as "unfair" assessment methods.
Relevance: An update on the evolving assessment situation in LA. Will have broader implications for national standards of assessment--LA Unified is one of the largest districts in the nation.
Showing posts with label Teacher Unions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teacher Unions. Show all posts
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Ironic Extremes: Lauding and Bashing Teachers
Valerie Strauss
"Ironic Extremes: Lauding and bashing teachers"Washington Post
March 17, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/ironic_extremes_lauding_and_bashing_teachers/2011/03/17/ABlCnql_blog.html?wprss=rss_education
Topic: Teacher Motivation
More on the issue of judging and measuring what makes a quality teacher.
Key Points: This article does make a good point. As a pilot, I never had someone who was not a pilot, judge my performance. I never had someone who was not a pilot determine what my syllabus would be during flight training. Everyone is good at being a 20/20 hindsight armchair quarterback, but no one wants an armchair quarterback actually making the play calls. On the other hand, if your aircraft does not adhere to the flight plan or the football team consistently loses, well, don’t expect to be sticking with that career for too long.
I don’t mind being held to a set professional standard but, that standard must be set by someone who understands and has experience in the educational profession. And if the outsiders do not trust the professionals, well, then find someone you do…and then trust them.
I am still trying to understand the actual role and priorities of the teacher’s unions too. I hear loud and clear what they say but... I am posting this political satire video here to show some of the frustration that I have already witnessed from parents, teachers and tax payers. The video would be funny if it was not eerily similar to a conversation I overheard recently while eating lunch in an undisclosed teacher’s lounge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kxc6kzH-uI
Relevance: This article highlights the challenge of this profession and I can see why some folks question sticking with it or even entering into it.
"Ironic Extremes: Lauding and bashing teachers"Washington Post
March 17, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/ironic_extremes_lauding_and_bashing_teachers/2011/03/17/ABlCnql_blog.html?wprss=rss_education
Topic: Teacher Motivation
More on the issue of judging and measuring what makes a quality teacher.
Key Points: This article does make a good point. As a pilot, I never had someone who was not a pilot, judge my performance. I never had someone who was not a pilot determine what my syllabus would be during flight training. Everyone is good at being a 20/20 hindsight armchair quarterback, but no one wants an armchair quarterback actually making the play calls. On the other hand, if your aircraft does not adhere to the flight plan or the football team consistently loses, well, don’t expect to be sticking with that career for too long.
I don’t mind being held to a set professional standard but, that standard must be set by someone who understands and has experience in the educational profession. And if the outsiders do not trust the professionals, well, then find someone you do…and then trust them.
I am still trying to understand the actual role and priorities of the teacher’s unions too. I hear loud and clear what they say but... I am posting this political satire video here to show some of the frustration that I have already witnessed from parents, teachers and tax payers. The video would be funny if it was not eerily similar to a conversation I overheard recently while eating lunch in an undisclosed teacher’s lounge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kxc6kzH-uI
Relevance: This article highlights the challenge of this profession and I can see why some folks question sticking with it or even entering into it.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Better off Bakrupt
Jeb Bush and Newt Gingrich
Better off Bankrupt (http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/27/opinion/la-oe-gingrich-bankruptcy-20110127)
L.A. Times
January 27, 2011
Summary: A proposal to alleviate budget issues by allowing entire states to declare bankruptcy, thereby eliminating their outstanding debts and union contractual obligations. This would directly lead to the loss of pensions for tens of thousands of teachers.
Intended Audience: General Public
Key Points: 1) State budgets are being choked by decades of irresponsible concessions to employee unions, namely in the form of pension plans; 2) A mass of former state employees are cashing in (California owes 12,000 former employees over $100,000 each in pension payments this year); 3) Bankruptcy would provide a mechanism to avoid tax increases and eliminate debt.
Relevance: We are entering this profession at an interesting time. For the last forty-five years teacher unions have deferred better annual salary for the promises of repayment in the form of pensions. This has proved, however, to be unsustainable. During an interview on OPB Radio yesterday, an author (I forgot her name entirely) reported that the annual salary of a first year teacher in 1970 plus inflation would be approximately $70,000 today. First year teachers are lucky to earn half of that. The idea has been that teachers make up for what they are not payed in benefits and pension plans. Now a proposal has been made that would eliminate the carrot. Personally, I am not banking on Social Security or company or state pensions, and feel other young people would be wise to do the same. It is high time that we take an active stake in our own retirements, make our own investments, and save our money in places that draw more than %0.5 APY. I would much rather take a higher salary up front and use an IRA than hope that our government can fulfill its financial obligations.
Better off Bankrupt (http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/27/opinion/la-oe-gingrich-bankruptcy-20110127)
L.A. Times
January 27, 2011
Summary: A proposal to alleviate budget issues by allowing entire states to declare bankruptcy, thereby eliminating their outstanding debts and union contractual obligations. This would directly lead to the loss of pensions for tens of thousands of teachers.
Intended Audience: General Public
Key Points: 1) State budgets are being choked by decades of irresponsible concessions to employee unions, namely in the form of pension plans; 2) A mass of former state employees are cashing in (California owes 12,000 former employees over $100,000 each in pension payments this year); 3) Bankruptcy would provide a mechanism to avoid tax increases and eliminate debt.
Relevance: We are entering this profession at an interesting time. For the last forty-five years teacher unions have deferred better annual salary for the promises of repayment in the form of pensions. This has proved, however, to be unsustainable. During an interview on OPB Radio yesterday, an author (I forgot her name entirely) reported that the annual salary of a first year teacher in 1970 plus inflation would be approximately $70,000 today. First year teachers are lucky to earn half of that. The idea has been that teachers make up for what they are not payed in benefits and pension plans. Now a proposal has been made that would eliminate the carrot. Personally, I am not banking on Social Security or company or state pensions, and feel other young people would be wise to do the same. It is high time that we take an active stake in our own retirements, make our own investments, and save our money in places that draw more than %0.5 APY. I would much rather take a higher salary up front and use an IRA than hope that our government can fulfill its financial obligations.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Teachers Unions - Villains?
Richard Whitemire
Are Teachers Unions Really to Blame?The Huffington Post
February 25, 2011
Complete URL: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-whitmire/are-teachers-unions-reall_b_827181.html
Richard Whitemire makes valid arguments that teachers unions are not the “villains blocking national reform.” In the example of Michelle Rhee versus teachers unions in Washington DC school reform, the unions did not stop aggressive teacher evaluations from being implemented and unions made no attempt to block the firing of weak teachers. The author does note that there were clashes between Rhee and the teachers union, but ultimately the unions did not hinder Rhee from carrying out reform measures. “So if the unions weren't the key villain, who gets cast in that role, both in Washington and elsewhere? This is a target-rich environment: Inertia, a disbelief that schools will never change, suspicion, knee-jerk attempts to blame parents…” The idea of inertia being part of the problem struck me. The problem(s) like Mt. Everest seem insurmountable but if we are unwilling to move then we must stop pointing fingers – unless we point inward. The intended audience would primarily be practioners and administrators, but the general public could benefit from exposure to this point of view. I find this article extremely relevant in light of current events – especially those in Wisconsin.
Are Teachers Unions Really to Blame?The Huffington Post
February 25, 2011
Complete URL: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-whitmire/are-teachers-unions-reall_b_827181.html
Richard Whitemire makes valid arguments that teachers unions are not the “villains blocking national reform.” In the example of Michelle Rhee versus teachers unions in Washington DC school reform, the unions did not stop aggressive teacher evaluations from being implemented and unions made no attempt to block the firing of weak teachers. The author does note that there were clashes between Rhee and the teachers union, but ultimately the unions did not hinder Rhee from carrying out reform measures. “So if the unions weren't the key villain, who gets cast in that role, both in Washington and elsewhere? This is a target-rich environment: Inertia, a disbelief that schools will never change, suspicion, knee-jerk attempts to blame parents…” The idea of inertia being part of the problem struck me. The problem(s) like Mt. Everest seem insurmountable but if we are unwilling to move then we must stop pointing fingers – unless we point inward. The intended audience would primarily be practioners and administrators, but the general public could benefit from exposure to this point of view. I find this article extremely relevant in light of current events – especially those in Wisconsin.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Michelle Ree and education reform
Richard D. Kahlenberg
Still Waiting for Superwoman
What Michelle Rhee's fans don't get about education reform.
The Slate
February 21, 2011
URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2285650
Topic: Controvertial Superintendent Michelle Ree
Summary: Rhee's message about education reform is very seductive because it's simple and optimistic. Childhood poverty and economic school segregation, in Rhee's world, are just "excuses" for teacher failure. If we could just get the unions to agree to stop protecting bad teachers and allow great teachers to be paid more, she says, we could make all the difference in education.
Intended audience: General Public
Key point: Most education researchers, recognize that Rhee's simple vision of heroic teachers saving American education is a fantasy, and that her dramatic, often authoritarian, style is ill-suited for education. Michelle Rhee's war on teachers' unions was a sideshow that distracted from the more important effort to give more low-income students a chance to attend middle-class public schools.
Relevance: Discussion on both political and practical fallout of current school reform efforts
Still Waiting for Superwoman
What Michelle Rhee's fans don't get about education reform.
The Slate
February 21, 2011
URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2285650
Topic: Controvertial Superintendent Michelle Ree
Summary: Rhee's message about education reform is very seductive because it's simple and optimistic. Childhood poverty and economic school segregation, in Rhee's world, are just "excuses" for teacher failure. If we could just get the unions to agree to stop protecting bad teachers and allow great teachers to be paid more, she says, we could make all the difference in education.
Intended audience: General Public
Key point: Most education researchers, recognize that Rhee's simple vision of heroic teachers saving American education is a fantasy, and that her dramatic, often authoritarian, style is ill-suited for education. Michelle Rhee's war on teachers' unions was a sideshow that distracted from the more important effort to give more low-income students a chance to attend middle-class public schools.
Relevance: Discussion on both political and practical fallout of current school reform efforts
Friday, February 11, 2011
Dealing with Education and the Realities of the Modern World (Jeff, Article Four)
John Lloyd
"Hey Times, Try Teaching for One Day" (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-lloyd22may22,0,4050662.story)
Los Angeles Times
May 22, 2007
Summary:
The article addresses many of the issues educators and administrators are dealing with today: pensions, teachers' unions, low wages, teacher evaluation, the factory model of education. It is more directly a defense of teachers' rights and an attack against the sort of top-down management that a previous Times article advocated.
Intended Audience:
Those who devalue educators and support the status quo.
Key Points: 1) The issues that face the profession of education are complex and multi-layered; 2) there are no easy solutions.
Relevance: We are entering the profession of teaching at a time of great uncertainty--technological, economic and social. Systems that have been in place in education for the greater part of the last 100 years are becoming inadequate, impractical, irrelevant, and some are entirely illogical in the face of the 21st Century. Change is coming. In order to avoid another Woods Hole Conference (a bunch of rich white guys, none of whom were public school teachers or administrators, sitting around deciding the fate of public education) we must be ready to get involved. Or, when our involvement is unwanted, to have the knowledge and courage to force the matter.
"Hey Times, Try Teaching for One Day" (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-lloyd22may22,0,4050662.story)
Los Angeles Times
May 22, 2007
Summary:
The article addresses many of the issues educators and administrators are dealing with today: pensions, teachers' unions, low wages, teacher evaluation, the factory model of education. It is more directly a defense of teachers' rights and an attack against the sort of top-down management that a previous Times article advocated.
Intended Audience:
Those who devalue educators and support the status quo.
Key Points: 1) The issues that face the profession of education are complex and multi-layered; 2) there are no easy solutions.
Relevance: We are entering the profession of teaching at a time of great uncertainty--technological, economic and social. Systems that have been in place in education for the greater part of the last 100 years are becoming inadequate, impractical, irrelevant, and some are entirely illogical in the face of the 21st Century. Change is coming. In order to avoid another Woods Hole Conference (a bunch of rich white guys, none of whom were public school teachers or administrators, sitting around deciding the fate of public education) we must be ready to get involved. Or, when our involvement is unwanted, to have the knowledge and courage to force the matter.
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