A word on this R.I. school that fired all of the teachers

[bluestateguy]

I'm sure it is possible that some of those teachers deserved to be canned, as well as administrators. But all of them? I find that highly doubtful.

I'm quite certain that some of the students' parents should be fired too. Like the numerous parents who have been deadbeats for years and never taken an interest in their kids education. I have really no tolerance for parents who don't parent and the excuse making that often accompanies such negligence.

[Bozita]

1. For profit charters need kinda ... kinda a stimulus

This is it.

[ChicagoSuz219]

2. They can rehire the good ones, I'd imagine.

They were getting paid between 70 & 80 grand a year!! I'm guessing this isn't the last we'll be hearing about this...

[glinda]

3. Good way to can a Union isn't it?

[ChicagoSuz219]

4. I don't know the details...

...are they even in a Union? I'll see if I can find out.

If not, it'd be a good reason to start one!

[immoderate]

5. I think they're AFT.

They'll get thosee teachers back for half price.

--imm

[ChicagoSuz219]

10. I'm gonna google & see what I can find out... n/t

[ChicagoSuz219]

11. Here ya go...

http://www.projo.com/news/content/central_falls_trustees_vote_02-24-10_EOHI83C_v59.3c21342.html

Says they can hire up to 50% back in the fall. Talks broke down when the Union (Central Falls Union of AFT) demanded the teachers get paid $90/hour (instead of $30) for time spent in after-school (re)training sessions.

[Hannah Bell]

12. uh, no, the talks broke down when the super decided to issue an ultimatum rather than continue

negotiations.

there were no "after school retraining sessions". There were before & after school tutoring sessions, plus a mandated lunch with students (=loss of lunch break), plus 90 minutes of added meetings each week, plus miscellaneous other stuff, including loss of a planning period.

the only hard money on the table was $30/hour for a two week summer training that reduced the contracted break 13%.

There was NO hard money on the table for *any* of the additional mandatory 2-5 hours/week during the regular school year.

The super said "my way or the highway," period.

The super, incidentally, in 2007 was making $140K + benefits for running only 7 schools.

[ChicagoSuz219]

13. I wasn't taking sides. Just posted the article for the previous poster. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

15. when you spread misinformation, you're taking sides.

[ChicagoSuz219]

29. I just posted an article...

...if you know the "real" facts, post them.

[Catshrink]

21. Or bring in H1B visas or get some resume padding Teach for America "kids"

[Hannah Bell]

7. they can't hire any more than 50% of them. & the ones making $70-$80K had 10 years

or more in. Pay starts around $41K for new teachers.

The district has 25% non-native english speakers, 21% special needs, 30% poverty, 96% eligible for free school breakfasts/lunches, & 30% transiency (which in itself significantly reduces graduation rates).

I guess you think that's an easy gig, & firing experienced teachers to replace them with cheap scabs is a good fix.


Plus, the superintendent who fired them made $140K + benefits in 2007 -- for managing only 7 schools. Likely more $$$ now.

Yet I hear no outrage over her "failure" or exhorbitant salary.

Why isn't she being fired too?

[wcast]

16. Great Post!!

These are the points that routinely are not discussed, but matter the most. The salary is meaningless, especially when it comes to why the school doesn't do well. Other points to ponder: How big are the class sizes? How much is spent per student to educate vs. what is spent in suburban districts? Given your figures above, how many ESL teachers are there? Special education teachers? Why does the district expect those working in these conditions to work extra for free? (It's because people blame the teachers for the failure, without knowing the facts or caring)

If we really wanted to fix these kinds of schools we could, but it would cost money. Funding disparity is just another example how the well off in this country get an advantage over the poor, and then we blame the teachers for not being able to succeed in a school system rigged against them.

[Catshrink]

22. Schools in districts you described are showing the same problems all over the country.

So the question is: Are all teachers in all of those schools all across the country incompetent? Are all the administrators incompetent? So much goes into education -- teachers, parents, student ability/willingness, societal pressures, and administrators. Let's not forget poverty and the effects it has on learning and the distractions of TV, video games, etc. The "reformers" are choosing one of these factors and, while maybe mentioning one of two of the others in passing, casting blame on that one. Is it the teachers, the school, or maybe the approach/model we use in those schools?

The administration's solution is to privatize and put these schools in the hands of business people seeking profit. These business people want to partner with an organization that "trains" people for a two year stint in teaching. Good teaching takes several years to develop and requires dedication so automatically, the business run model is making a compromise in quality.

The problem with the schools as they are now and Arne's great solution is that their goal is to send every child to college. Not every student wants to go to college, not every student can afford college. If that is the goal the "school" sets for each student, no wonder so many don't want to be there. How about training them for something tangible? Vocational training should be an option -- we will always need welders, plumbers, electricians, hair stylists, etc. Maybe if kids see a future worth stiving for, something that will pay them a living wage, something will change within them.

[Hannah Bell]

26. exactly. take the transiency problem -- students enrolling in the district, then moving.

that's something teachers have absolutely no control over -- yet it figures into graduation statistics.

the most common reason for moving is probably jobs & finances. not having a job, losing a job, moving to a job, running out of funds to pay rent, etc.

this is a systemic problem, a problem of our lousy low-pay economy - not of schools, curriculum, or teachers, & it won't be solved by firing experienced teachers. it will be made worse.

but 10 to one the worsening results won't be on the front pages. because the rich folks who control the media & are on board with this "reform" (which is in fact part of the war on the working class & busting of unionized workers) -- don't give a DAMN about kids. It's all about the $$$$$$$$$$.

[stray cat]

24. 85% of the kids who graduate can't do basic math - how about offering them jobs

I wouldn't want to be the sucker who hired them

[Hannah Bell]

28. your figure about graduating seniors is bogus.

[Bluebear]

14. "They were getting paid between 70 & 80 grand a year!! - And? You want them to be rehired at what?

What's not too much to pay a teacher for you?

[Catshrink]

18. That was the top of the pay scale, not the average.

[slampoet]

6. They fired all the teachers from the Deaf School too.

I don't think anyone realizes how hard it is to find good ASL teachers.

[Hannah Bell]

8. No, anyone can do it. It's all about a good curriculum, according to the person who sends her kids

to a $25K/year private kindergarten.

[slampoet]

9. If you don't link or use a sarcasm icon I'll assume you are talking about yourself.

Sarcasm in print is like tapdancing on the radio. The effect is wasted.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hobbit709]

17. union busting, plain and simple.

[glinda]

25. Undoubtedly

[Catshrink]

20. The person that should be fired is Arne Duncan.

[stray cat]

23. Over 50% of the teachers can be rehired - but they have to be capable to compete for a teaching pos.

They are allowed to rehire the top 50-60%.

[Hannah Bell]

27. they are allowed to rehire *no more* than 50%. try to get your facts straight.

and "capable of competing" to describe veteran teachers tells me exactly which side you're on.