Speaking of disrespect for teachers' unions...I can tell you what teachers likely to do in 2016

[madfloridian]

unless someone starts honoring their contracts and their negotiated benefits. They will simply not vote. Teachers tend to be passive by necessity, and they probably won't tell anyone about their decision not to bother. Their careers have been at stake for over 6 years now.

There was a post here today about Obama slamming unions.

Since teachers' unions were not mentioned I decided to post some reminders of how their legal contracts and negotiated benefits have been trampled on. Early on in 2009 both Obama and Secretary of Education warned districts not to cave in to unions.

Then they proceeded with a policy that in effect turned public schools over to education "reformers" who know nothing about educating young people.

Here are some examples...only a few...there are so so many. Remember that many of these teachers were tenured, also known as Continuing Contract and other names.

When they are fired or laid off that is called union-busting.


Newark: 700 Teachers May Be Laid Off and Replaced by TFA

TFA (Teach for America) is a private company that recruits recent college grads and charges thousands of dollars to districts who hire them. Of course districts could hire locally for free.

Veteran journalist Bob Braun reports that Cami Anderson–the Christie administration’s state-appointed superintendent in Newark (and a graduate of Teach for America)–may lay off 700 Newark teachers and replace many or most of them with TFA.

He writes:

“The state administration of the Newark Public Schools (NPS) is expected to lay off hundreds of experienced city teachers and replace many with new hires, including more than 300 members of Teach for America (TFA). The report comes from union sources but is supported both by the latest version of the state’s “One Newark” plan and by the Walton Family Foundation website. The foundation is expected to subsidize the hiring of the new teachers.

More:

7,000 NY teachers laid off in cuts

ALBANY -- Layoffs hit nearly 3 percent of teachers in New York this year, according to a survey released Tuesday by the state Council of School Superintendents.

That translates into more than 7,000 teacher layoffs, said Richard C. Iannuzzi, president of the New York State United Teachers union. Another 4,000 unfilled positions were eliminated.

Chicago teachers faced another group than TFA. It is called the New Teacher Project. They were to replace the teachers laid off because they were not needed. Weird, huh?

Laid off teachers in Chicago surprised by "secret" rating method. New Teacher Project involved.

Chicago Public Schools says it’s using 30 reviewers—all top-notch, National Board Certified teachers—to look over its online teacher applications. They’ve so far reviewed 4,000 applications and added a designation to each one. Winckler said reviewers are trained and are using a rubric developed several years ago by CPS and The New Teacher Project. That’s a national group dedicated to getting high quality teachers into needy schools.

The New Teacher Project, founded by Michelle Rhee, was busy in NY as well.

The city may lay off 8,500 teachers, but education officials still want approval for a contract of up to $5 million a year to recruit even more teachers.

The agency's Panel for Educational Policy will vote later this month on the hefty contract, but already critics are questioning the need to spend money to recruit during a time of layoffs.

"We should put a freeze on any spending related to new hiring. We should not even be going through the expense of negotiating a contract now," said Patrick Sullivan, the panel's Manhattan representative.

Since 2000, the New Teacher Project has contracted with the city to recruit New York City Teaching Fellows. For this school year, the group received $2.8 million for recruiting 705 teachers.

Get that? They want to lay off tenured teachers and pay 5 million to recruit more. That is just plain stupid.

Did you see that "non-profit" has earned 2.8 million since 2000? Really.

And though there is so much more, I think journalist Bob Braun said it well on his Twitter page.

Bob Braun
?@BobBraunsLedger

TFA calls me "fear mongerer." I feel the fear in hearts of teachers laid off so TFA-ers can slum it for two years. http://bobbraunsledger.com/?p=1254

I think teachers were among the many who stayed home at election time. I am retired, I voted, I voted Democrat.

Now these teachers are having the parents and students come on board with them, and their jobs are even more at stake.

This will drop as most education posts do, I will have people lecture me about how bad teachers' unions are, how public education is no good.

That doesn't matter. Agree or not...the situation exists. No one in leadership particularly cares.

And one more thing. I wish when people stand up for other unions here at a Democratic forum that they would at least mention teachers' unions.

[AuntPatsy]

1. I wish more attention would be given to this issue, our future generations depend on it

[DrKZ]

16. And yet

The Clintons have always prided themselves on the chater school bill in 1996 and continue to be a champion of charters and the general privatization of public schools
Teachers do not support common core either --- but guess who has and of course there is the relationship between the clintons and the gates foundation

[AuntPatsy]

19. A huge problem for our unsuspecting next generation, what would you propose?

[blkmusclmachine]

2. They'll probably vote Independent. These so-called "New Democrats" have thrown Unions under the bus.

[madfloridian]

4. Yes, they have.

[sabrina 1]

7. Shouldn't be a surprise. 'New Democrats = Reagan/Repub/Lite. They LIKE Reagan. He started the upward

tsunami of wealth to them (Third Way Board are almost all Investment Bankers).

How our party got taken over by them is a mystery to me.

Actually, we probably helped unwittingly before we knew about them.

Now the job of replacing them with Democrats should be the main goal.

They don't like Unions. Unions are a threat to their low wage policies.

Reagan didn't like Unions.

[haikugal]

11. It's the same tactic used by dominionists taking over churches..steeple jacking..

In every level of society.. In answer to your musing on how it happened...with stealth, it happened with stealth and planning.

[madfloridian]

27. No way to have known before growth of internet.

I would say for me late 90s for genealogy research on a slow computer and Windows 95.

But for politics it was 9/11 and the push to invade Iraq.

That's when I began to learn about the real powers behind the party.

[sabrina 1]

30. You are exactly right. I blindly supported Clinton, unaware totally of these Global Corporations who

were driving policies while we were busy worrying about defending him from the far right over Monica.

In my case, the awakening came around 2004 when I noticed a strange anit Left contingency appearing on Liberal Forums.

It seemed these people had 'talking points' most aimed at the Left. So you want 'ponies'. And one of the worst that I recall made to women members on one of the top so-called Liberal Forums: 'We are not going to be worrying about your 'PET ISSUES' which were abortion rights, equal pay etc. Hundreds of women walked away from that forum after that. A few stayed, 'explaining' why. We found out later they were not just ordinary people like the rest of us. They were political operatives who had been there acting as if they were just ordinary people.

And then I began to research. And what I found out was stunning to me. I had to let go of a whole lot of previous convictions. It was difficult. I just wish we had not been so naive for so long.

[madfloridian]

34. Same here.

My first forum for just reading was Free Republic, recommended by a "friend". Didn't sound right, didn't sound like things I knew. I hit DU not long after 9/11.

Such polar opposite things at both forums, stunned me.

You never read stuff like this in the newspaper and never heard or saw them on TV.

Whole new world.

[sabrina 1]

30. You are exactly right. I blindly supported Clinton, unaware totally of these Global Corporations who

were driving policies while we were busy worrying about defending him from the far right over Monica.

In my case, the awakening came around 2004 when I noticed a strange anit Left contingency appearing on Liberal Forums.

It seemed these people had 'talking points' most aimed at the Left. So you want 'ponies'. And one of the worst that I recall made to women members on one of the top so-called Liberal Forums: 'We are not going to be worrying about your 'PET ISSUES' which were abortion rights, equal pay etc. Hundreds of women walked away from that forum after that. A few stayed, 'explaining' why. We found out later they were not just ordinary people like the rest of us. They were political operatives who had been there acting as if they were just ordinary people.

And then I began to research. And what I found out was stunning to me. I had to let go of a whole lot of previous convictions. It was difficult. I just wish we had not been so naive for so long.

[LWolf]

38. Yes. Many will. nt

[madfloridian]

3. How Oprah enabled the catapulting of propaganda about teacher tenure.

OprahPaganda?

Davis Guggenheim, the movie's producer, intones "Everybody gets it. It's automatic. You show up for two years, you got tenure."

That is a flat-out lie. In my district, which is known for a strong union, teachers do not get tenure unless their principal wants them to. Many teachers are released at the end of their first or second year. Tenure is by no means automatic. And there are indeed ways to get rid of tenured teachers, who do not have "jobs for life," but rather have rights to due process. In fact, a few moments earlier, we were told "Michelle Rhee has fired a thousand teachers and principals," many of whom had tenure. We do need to improve our evaluation systems, and I have written some suggestions here. But this is a lie, and it should not have been presented without a challenge.

Oprah tries to reassure those of us who might be having a reaction to this.

Everybody knows I love good teachers, and there are so many thousands of you great ones in this country, so we're not talking about you, if you are a good teacher. Okay? So save your time gettin' upset. And what I know is that you who are the good and great teachers out there, you also want good and great teachers, because you really care about the kids.

[world wide wally]

5. Obama's entire approach to education is the one thing that really irks me about him.

I really like so much of what he does, but when it comes to education and the TPP, he just deflates the whole balloon.

[JDPriestly]

6. These programs are just stealing from the public coffers.

To be a certified teacher, you have to take education courses, fulfill all the requirements and then do student teaching. At least that is the way it used to be.

Teaching is hard work. I couldn't do it. Too introverted, I suppose. After a day of student teaching, I could only go home and sink into my bed.

Now if I am working at a desk job that doesn't require me to deal with people, I can work on and on. But dealing with all the students (people in general) is exhausting for me. Everyone is different. It takes a lot of stamina and social skills to be a teacher. Experience helps. These organizations like TFA are hiring inexperienced people. They sometimes bring enthusiasm but their mistakes are yet to be made. Experienced teachers have learned from mistakes.

Such a stupid system.

[AwakeAtLast]

28. And people wonder why we need time off.

If someone has never taught children, they have no idea the level of exhaustion that is experienced.

I tell people to think back to when you had a newborn. Then multiply by 25.

Teachers in higher performing countries teach half as long in a day and teach fewer students.

[DebJ]

8. All of the teachers in my neck of the woods are battered, broken, dispirited... and some

even outright hospitalized from the pressures...and I'm talking about a man in his 30's in good health who had to be hospitalized
for a week because of the stress.

Students are allowed to physically assault teachers, and nothing happens. NOTHING.

There is no limit. Whatever a student does, the teacher is held responsible. The teacher. It is a game for the students.

And it's all because of money.

They want to drive all the teachers with experience out of the system, to save money.

It's sickening.

The union is bashed and broken and helpless and powerless, almost......... almost no hope at all.

So tragic.


Let's hope Wolfe succeeds in restoring funds to education that Governor Gashole cut.... but the state reps are almost
totally Republican, so I don't know what good our new Gov can do.... although Corbett's cuts to education were
a primary reason he lost the re-election.

[madfloridian]

35. I can believe their discouragement.

They are after experienced teachers, want to do things cheaper.

Never thought I would see such things in this country.

[DebJ]

9. madfloridian I love all your posts. Thank you for holding the torch............

[F4lconF16]

10. Kick and rec

...

I don't have much more to say at this point. Thank you for keeping us informed.

Edit: yeah, actually, I do have a lot to say on this. I'm really, really angry about this. I am absolutely furious. I will update this tomorrow, but posting now to remember.

[haikugal]

12. Thanks for this..

You do a wonderful job of keeping us informed and I know it must be stressful for you. I'm so angry about so many things these days..this infuriates me. I feel like we are being crushed in every way possible.

Thanks MF, you do great work!

[madfloridian]

18. Just glad I'm retired and not facing this mess.

I don't know how teachers can bear this now.

[Enthusiast]

13. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

[TheKentuckian]

14. The tendency to be passive has been a huge detriment to teachers, students, the nation, and and futu

from my point of view because for a long time they had the strength and status to really push back on this bullshit and now it is too late, it is like a microcosm of the Turd Way hostile buyout of the Democratic party. Too many that made compromise a vice and being passive noble to actually fight and survive.

[madfloridian]

15. Agree in part. But teachers have a good reason for not making waves.

I once was marked down for disrespecting authority because another teacher and I asked questions during an in-service half day meeting. We were having to shout and clap and react like children while the presenter, a private very expensive hire, rambled on. Literally...we had to pretend to be 1st graders for 3 hours and act like we did not have a thought in our head.

Teachers now are denied tenure for much less than that. They have to deal with administrators who often have never been in a classroom. They would love to get rid of experienced teachers like I was and replace them with cheap.

So I can understand. I became that way to survive my last few years under a horrible principal who had been fired once, sued, got her job back. I know that because the county superintendent told me when he once asked me to file a grievance. He said his hands were tied.

[AuntPatsy]

20. I realize the position teachers have been put into, I constantly encourage the kids to attempt

an understanding of what is not only happening to teachers but themselves as well, make enough noise, push until wave after wave of true anger takes hold so they themselves can push back against those who obviously could care less about today's youth's educational needs? People are trying, people are angry, scared, ready to take on all opponents, but will there be enough to hold back the attempted turning of the tide on valued education?

[awoke_in_2003]

17. One name tells exactly how they feel about unions-

Arne Duncan

[newblewtoo]

21. One other thing

I haven't see mentioned much on this thread which has been in the back of my mind recently. It is cheaper to buy out and layoff career path teachers than it is to fund their pensions. We actually had a former principal turned mayor say that not long ago. I imagine that by maintaining a revolving door with TFA people the reduction in pension and associated costs would be considerable. The welfare and education of students does not enter into the bottom line. Sad but true.

[liberal_at_heart]

22. I wouldn't blame them one bit for not voting, and I completely agree with you about including

teachers unions in the conversation about unions. Republicans out right attack teachers. Democrats just act as if they don't exist. Either way, it is unacceptable. We must stand up for our children and for our teachers, and if we don't we cannot blame them if they don't vote.

[avebury]

23. In Oklahoma State employees tend to have a low

opinion of the Educational system first and foremost because the Educational system just does not manger their funds responsibly. Way too much money goes to administrative costs and not the classrooms. You could literally give them every penny in the state budget and they would never ever be happy. They are getting ready to raid budgets of state agencies to give to Education and that really ticks off state employees. Efforts have been made to consolidate and reform state agencies but god forbid if you mention that idea of consolidating and reforming the educational system. We can't understand why the educational system is not forced to use their funds wisely in the first place when everybody else is. It just feels like we are pouring money down the drain.

[madfloridian]

24. Looks like more money will be going to charter schools, just like in Florida.

That will leave public school funding stripped even more as the money follows the students to the charter school.

It's gotten so bad in Florida that maintenance and construction money went only to charter schools for several years leaving public schools with no funds for that. Now they seem to be trying to give public schools something at least

Here's an article from the 16th. All Fallin has to do is sign. And more charters will open.

http://oklahomawatch.org/2015/04/16/charter-school-expansion-bill-heads-to-gov-mary-fallin/

[avebury]

26. Governor Fallin is all abouy privitzation nt

[madfloridian]

36. Sounds that way to me.

[hifiguy]

25. But kkkops' unions are sacrosanct.

Why is it getting so hot in this handbasket?

[FloriTexan]

29. Kick

[bvar22]

32. K&R

...because this is important.
The Party Leadership has been trying to bust the Teachers Union since the Clinton Administration.

[madfloridian]

33. The plan of the DLC. From 2000

http://www.educationreport.org/2693

The issue of school choice has for years caused fissures in the Democratic Party, which receives significant support from labor unions including the anti-school choice Michigan Education Association (MEA).

However, the voices for greater competition in education are increasingly being heard from within the party.

The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) is now calling for reforms including school choice and merit pay for teachers.

In addition to school choice and merit pay, From's reforms include the establishment of performance goals for individual schools, national standards and testing, a national teacher corps, character education, and post-secondary vocational programs. Other proposals include lengthening the school year and day, ensuring access to preschool, and allowing experts who lack certification to teach.

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. Let me offer this

by the way, there are more than a few people advocating not voting south of the border. It is the wrong diagnosis, but...

Yet, not voting is not a solution. What needs to happen in both nations is the rise of a fully engaged citizen class, fully engaged, with an independent, strong and ethical media.

In Mexico strong minorities were mobilized after the events of Sep. 26. The goal of what we now most call by it’s proper name, the oligarchy, is for people to demobilize and lose heart. Not voting helps the oligarchy.

In the United States the closest we came to that minority mobilization was with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Since it has atomized and mostly been demobilized after the state crushed the camps. We see flickers here and there, but mostly these movements lose steam fairly fast. Partly it is because of a lack of a program for both challenge and positive change.

The people in both nations know there is something wrong. People are indeed angry. The question is how long until a true generational commitment to challenge the status quo and change happens? Just taking to the streets is not going to deliver on that change.

http://reportingsandiego.com/2015/04/14/a-crisis-of-democracy/

Yes, there are connections...

And on edit, no I am not delusional. In the age of citizens united my vote means squat for the powers that be... truly. So it really does not matter who ends up in the WH, oligarchies are what they are. But what they want is exactly for people to give up, fully.

[riderinthestorm]

39. K&R as usual madflo. I have a love/hate relationship with your posts...

love having the info despite how depressing it is.

Too important to drop.

Thanks again for posting