Comments by New Bedford Educators Association President Louis St. John

March 14, 2011

My name is Louis St. John. As a child, I attended Congdon School, Roosevelt Jr. High School and I graduated from New Bedford High School. After college I became a teacher in New Bedford Public Schools. I have worked in our system for 27 years. I am also the President of New Bedford Educators Association and I am proud to represent over 1,150 educators. I am totally invested in New Bedford Publics Schools and I am proud to be a teacher in this great city. I am also proud that my daughter is a student at New Bedford High School.

It has become very popular these days to blame teachers and teacher unions for just about everything. Listening to newscasters and reading newspapers, one certainly could get the impression that we created the economic turmoil in this country. No one seems to remember that Wall Street, bankers, and fraudulent behavior created this recession, not public employees. We have become the scapegoats.

Sadly, some in our community are using the economic crisis as the vehicle to attack teachers and collective bargaining. They act as if the only way to save our economy and our education system is to strip our teachers of their contractually bargained rights. The attack against teachers is not just happening in Wisconsin, Illinois, and New Jersey. It’s happening all around us. The difference here is that it is more subtle.

In the local paper, you see articles, editorials, and timed letters to the editor, which call for reforming the teacher contract. These reforms include eliminating seniority, eliminating professional teacher status, adding merit pay, and changing the teacher evaluation. This would be the same evaluation system that was developed and implemented about 6 years ago and was based on Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines.

The pundits keep talking about getting rid of the “bad teachers” and they claim that the union protects bad teachers. That is absolutely not true. In the first three years of employment, teachers may have their contract non-renewed with out cause. After the 3rd year, the district is required to show just cause for a termination – but the district is under no obligation to retain “bad teachers” and in fact should not.

Teachers are being blamed for everything, including that which they have no control over. Teachers have no input on the school budget or budget priorities. They do not hire or fire ineffective principals. They don’t hire or fire administrators. They don’t develop policies. Traditionally, they have not had much input into curriculum. They do not have control over student transiency rates. They cannot be held responsible for students being absent or tardy. These are district-wide issues and in fact extend beyond the district to the community, families and social services.

What I do see when I visit schools is teachers teaching. I see teachers coming to work early and leaving late. I see teachers counseling students and sometimes counseling parents. I’ve seen teachers buy coats, gloves, soap, and toothbrushes for needy children. I see them spending countless hours correcting papers and planning lessons. I see them volunteering their time after school and on weekends so that shows and other events take place. I see teachers as the most caring of people. At the same time, they are humble. I don’t see teachers going around telling others about the wonderful things they do everyday to help and enrich the lives of students.

I am proud to be a teacher and I am proud to represent the finest teachers in all the state.

If there are better ways to help underperforming schools turn around and help to close the achievement gaps, we are always interested to hear what those ideas are. If there are rational changes needed to the contract that are good for students and fair to teachers, we are always available to negotiate them. What we will not do is condone statements that imply teachers are the problem. Teachers are part of the solution, and must be included in any major discussions that affect what goes on in our classrooms and our schools every day.