DCist: Schools Roundup – Stop, Look, and Listen Edition

erahk0

Tue, 27 May 2008 17:20:29 -0500

Chelita - thanks for giving us an insider's honest and open viewpoint and for all your good service to the kids.

Rachael Brown

Tue, 27 May 2008 17:11:31 -0500

Chelita - I think you nail it here. It's not useful to cast the discussion in terms of old vs. young or veteran vs. new - what really matters is identifying, hiring and retaining the effective teachers.

chelita

Tue, 27 May 2008 16:58:28 -0500

I'm a long-time DCPS teacher and WTU member who actually knew and liked Barbara Bullock. This was before we read in the papers that she betrayed us, stealing our dues. And BTW, none of us were aware that she was robbing us blind. Unlike many of my WTU colleagues, I don't mind the idea that we may lose what we call building or systemwide seniority. And I have it big time. I consider a valuable part of my school and don't merely stay in my job because of my seniority. I am good at what I do, the parents, principal and other teachers recognize that. In private industry, people get laid off all the time with only 2 weeks notice. Though I am not crazy about all that Rhee is doing, I have seen and heard teachers who don't teach, who just assign workbook pages for kids to do, yell shut up all day long and if they do get up, walk around in bedroom slippers. These individuals, and I won't call them educators, need to go home. Every school has a few of them and they have seniority, because they could never pass Praxis, or get hired in another school system. So they stay in DCPS not teaching, let alone inspiring. And my union protects them. At least Parker recognizes the fact the teachers' unions can no longer just worry about jobs, but about whether what we do impacts student learning. At least he is talking to Rhee and we may get a new contract. Nathan would never be able to negotiate anything for us, as he and Rhee are at loggerheads.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 27 May 2008 15:08:27 -0500

Hopefully, if Rhee's reforms don't improve test scores within the next few years, DCPS can go back to doing what they were doing before, whatever that was. I think it involved filing things in triplicate, losing them, and serving kids food riddled with insects and rat feces. The Washington Teachers Union needs to go back to doing what it does best: looking the other way while Barbara Bullock robs them blind.

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Tue, 27 May 2008 14:48:46 -0500

If Rhee gets rid of seniority, that will be an astounding accomplishment. But I can't imagine the current WTU president would survive a recall effort if that actually occurred. The Post may love Rhee's reforms, but the true test will come via test scores. If there's no improvement - or if there are worse scores - in the next year or two, Rhee's going to lose lots of leverage and influence.

connie dobbs

Tue, 27 May 2008 14:05:56 -0500

If it's the veteran teachers that are keeping the kids from jumping off roofs, what are the guidance counselors doing? And, yeesh, Monkey; if the union is upset by your pullquote, the schools are a twisted, twisted place. Performance? Who cares about that?

monkeyrotica

Tue, 27 May 2008 13:57:25 -0500

A union source told the Post that without seniority, teachers could be hired and placed based on “qualifications or performance rather than years of service.” I can't think of anything funny to say about this. This is gold, Jerry! GOLD!