Saturday, February 27, 2010
"Shocked and saddened"
MTA President Anne Wass issued the following statement on the decision by the school committee in Central Falls, R.I., to fire teachers and staff at Central Falls High School.
Educators in Massachusetts are shocked and saddened by the irresponsible decision of the Central Falls School Committee in Rhode Island to fire all of the teachers and other professional staff members at that city’s high school. We are also deeply disturbed that this irrational, destructive action apparently has the approval of the Rhode Island Department of Education and United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Without being privy to all of the details of the negotiations, it appears to us that firing all the staff at any place of employment because of disagreements over wages and hours is a form of union-busting that is a threat not only to all teachers, but also to all working men and women in this country. Further, we believe that education reform initiatives that rely on such punitive, strong-arm tactics are unlikely to foster a climate of collaboration in the future or improve a district’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified staff, both of which are key to improving student performance.
In our own state, we recognize that some students, schools and districts – particularly those serving low-income children – need additional time, resources and support to meet state academic goals. Improving achievement in such schools requires excellent leadership abilities as well as staff. Resorting to firing 100 percent of one’s staff does not speak well for the leadership of a school or district. Secretary Duncan’s support for such an irresponsible, disrespectful and probably illegal method for school “improvement” does not bode well for future federal involvement in local school reform efforts.
We offer our heartfelt support to Central Falls educators, whose reputations have been damaged and livelihoods threatened. We urge the political and school leaders in Rhode Island to reconsider their drastic action and make proposals that are fair to teachers and beneficial to students.
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8 comments:
By the very nature of this preemtive strike I infer that the MTA is worried about something like this happening in Massachusetts. Don't for one minute thik it couldn't. Inherent in firing teachers is the hidden agenda of replacing them with less expensive teachers who are glad to have jobs.
Why are you "shocked and saddended?" You had to see it coming. From No Child Left Behind to Race to the Top the intent has been clear all along: Show that public schools are failing. Give incentives for states to take back the power that unions have welded for decades. How long did you think taxpayers would stand for teacher salaries continuously going up while test scores continuously go down? The mechanism is now in place and has becme a reality. If unions are not willing to help address the problem without sticking their collective hands out, then their members will be looking for handouts because they will be replaced by younger, less expensive teachers willing to do what is necessary.
it's ashame that all the blame is placed on the teachers. Teachers can only do so much, maybe if the parents did their part and reinforced learning at home,these students would be more successful. Teachers cannot do it alone, parents need to step up to their responsibilities.
Don't insinuated that the teachers are not doing "what they are supposed to" being the reason studnets are not succeeding. As a matter of fact, it has even been published on the blog and in the associated press that Massachusetts schools are in the top 5 % AGAIN in student scores. We are doing everything possible to help our students succeed. We do not have control over what happens when students go home- if there is even reinforcement at home. We have no control over a migrant population that leaves for months at a time and returns just before MCAS- so we are held accountable for what they haven't learned. We have no control over the ills of society influencing these children negatively. Who does have control? The parents! Start pointing the finger where it belongs and hold the appropriate people accountable. And by the way, we are taxpayers too!
The parents? Are you kiddiing me? No one is interested in excuses! Can you say Centeral Falls, I bet you can. The problem in Central Falls, the Union that would not work with the system.Heard that before? I don't know about you but I need my job the last thing I want is a Union that can't negotiate.
I agree! If we are not careful--we will be next. Times are tuff right now and we all need our jobs. There is no sympathy for us out there.
If it comes to voting out the union over my job----goodbye union! I've talked to a lot of people in our system and they seem to agree.
No one can afford to lose their jobs right now. Its time to work together.
Sorry Lou---but you need to focus on whats really important and its not DF.
It sure sounds like some people are running scared already. Needing a job won't save you if the climate and conditions are right and your school is chronically underperforming. My question is if it comes to a situation similar to Central Falls-that is where the recommendation is made and approved to fire the staff-can the staff fired transfer to another school? Maybe the people at RMS had better remember who will be making the recommendations for rehiring if push comes to shoove. And that's right, throw Lou under the bus as if he hasn't done everything in his power to support teachers and their rights. No wonder so many elementary teachers kiss up to the principals and do things contrary to the contract. They are worried about their jobs.
The powers that be seem to have a new plan of action. That being to turn union members against each other by lying to them about the actions of the union leaders. This is going on mostly at the elementary school level. Why do Unit A people agree to do things such as evaluate or observe teachers and report back to the principal when that is not a Unit A function? Why do certain Unit A elementary people side with the principal in making union members feel intimidated and/or harrassed if they stand up for their rights? It seems the NBEA has not only to worry about the powers that be but about certain factions of its own members.
01 March, 2010
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