Oakland plan makes teachers compete for their jobs

akv · 03-31-2012, 13:14

A New Trend for America's Future?

Quote:

Oakland plan makes teachers compete for their jobs

Jill Tucker

Saturday, March 31, 2012

As part of a radical plan to reform three failing high schools in Oakland, current teachers who want to stay will have to compete for their jobs with outside applicants.

They also will have to agree to work nearly a month more each year, but the deal comes with a bigger paycheck.

The plan, which takes advantage of a small clause in the labor contract, skirts teacher seniority rights and is the latest attempt by a school district to get highly trained and reform-minded teachers in front of the most struggling students even if it means defying labor union doctrine.

In San Francisco this month, district officials skipped over less-senior teachers in 14 struggling schools when handing out pink slips.

In Los Angeles, a legal settlement last year allowed the district to spread layoffs more evenly across schools rather than rely solely on seniority. Several state legislatures across the country have banned the use of seniority in teacher layoffs.

Teacher unions see these moves as an affront to a sacred tenet of worker rights.

In Oakland on Thursday, the teachers union demanded the district rescind its plan for McClymonds, Fremont and Castlemont high schools and has filed an unfair labor practice complaint.

The superintendent is attempting to abuse a clause in the contract that allows the district to set different work requirements for "teachers on special assignment," union leaders said. It's a power struggle that will take veteran and committed teachers away from their students, said Betty Olson-Jones, president of the Oakland Education Association.

"This is really a slap in the face to our students," Olson-Jones said. "It's saying it doesn't matter who your teacher is."

District officials disagreed.

The plan isn't meant to purge the schools of teachers, but to ensure that every teacher assigned to them is committed to the hard work it will take to help struggling students succeed, Superintendent Tony Smith said.

"The kids in those schools need support, and the teachers need additional time and support to work with these kids," Smith said.

His plan would eliminate teaching positions at the three schools and replace them all with teachers designated as being on special assignment.

Those hired would be required to work an extra 18 days during the students' summer break. They'd receive an additional $5,100 on average.

The district has made it clear that those who don't want the extra workload need not apply.

By Friday afternoon, more than 100 teachers had applied for the estimated 60 positions available. Forty-five of the applications were from teachers currently at the three high schools, district officials said. The deadline for applying was 11:55 p.m. Friday.

Teachers currently at the schools who decided not to apply but wish to remain in the district will be assigned to another district school.

Earlier this week, several teachers at the schools said they wouldn't apply.

Among them was Castlemont English teacher Rodney Brown, who has been at the school six years.

"My staying at Castlemont would only be as a classroom teacher not some made-up position," he said. "I'll teach at another Oakland school."

Fremont special education teacher Moss Hahn said he also would not apply for personal and professional reasons.

He said the schools don't need new teachers; they need to restore funding for librarians, security, art, music, dance and alternative languages like French.

The superintendent's initiative "seems like a questionable remedy at best and may turn out to be a disgraceful experiment," he said.

The plan does not require approval by the school board, but its seven members could intervene, requiring the superintendent to sit down at the bargaining table with union leaders to hash out a compromise, said board member Noel Gallo.

Gallo said the board will probably raise that possibility at a future meeting.

"I think what we have right now is a great deal of division," he said. "I need to be able to reach out and work with our teachers."

Yet, the status quo hasn't worked at McClymonds, Fremont and Castlemont high schools, where test scores consistently fall among the lowest of the low in the state and where less than half the students end up with a diploma, Smith said.

As far as Smith knows, no one has ever tried a plan like his before.

"It's aggressive and different, and it's contractual," he said. "Is Oakland satisfied with what we've got? Because what we've got is from what we've done."

At a recent teacher union rally outside Fremont High School to protest the superintendent's plan, ninth-grader Clinton Brand stood with a few of his teachers.

He wasn't clear on all the details of the changes coming to his school, but he didn't like the sound of it.

"I love all my teachers," the 14-year-old said. "I don't like having to get to know new people."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...type=printable

Sigaba · 03-31-2012, 14:43

As long as teachers continue to put their own interests far ahead of those of their students the overall quality of education in America is unlikely to improve.

My $0.02.

GratefulCitizen · 03-31-2012, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

As long as teachers continue to put their own interests far ahead of those of their students the overall quality of education in America is unlikely to improve.

My $0.02.

Why is it the teacher's responsibility?
If parents are worried about their children's education, then they should take the matter into their own hands rather than outsourcing it.

Solar · 03-31-2012, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

As long as teachers continue to put their own interests far ahead of those of their students the overall quality of education in America is unlikely to improve.

My $0.02.

Or make it their best interest to improve the quality of education. Private schools seem to do this well. The idea that their employment depends on quality of education helps.

Edit: I've posted my intro several months ago. It says I have one post but that is not true. Will post another intro if necessary.

Surf n Turf · 03-31-2012, 17:47

Food for thought

SnT

When school children start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interests of school children."
- Albert Shanker
President, United Federation Of Teachers, (1964-1984)
http://commonsensepoliticalthought.com/?p=10970

cbtengr · 03-31-2012, 21:45

"The superintendent is attempting to abuse a clause in the contract that allows the district to set different work requirements for "teachers on special assignment," union leaders said. It's a power struggle that will take veteran and committed teachers away from their students, said Betty Olson-Jones, president of the Oakland Education Association."

"This is really a slap in the face to our students," Olson-Jones said. "It's saying it doesn't matter who your teacher is."

I gathered it to say that someone DOES think it matters who your teacher is. For years now here in Iowa the answer seems to always be throw more money at education, trouble is the worse teacher in the system makes the same as the best one. Gotta start somewhere when it comes to addressing this issue, sounds to me if they are off to a good start in Oakland.

**The Reaper** · 03-31-2012, 22:15

Accountability. Responsibility. Respect.

Foreign concepts to the unions. And some educators who probably shouldn't be teaching.

TR

Sigaba · 03-31-2012, 22:56

FWIW, as long as I can remember, many aspiring and current graduate students are quick to aver that teaching assistants should unionize. They talk about respect, collective bargaining rights, and tax exemptions, but they rarely mention accountability or responsibility.

Thanks to a petition launched by the current administration, these discussions are heating up a bit in various areas of cyberspace. The needs and concerns of undergraduates are not mentioned. Many TAs/GSIs act as if being entrusted with the education of young people is an inconvenience. (I guess supporting undergraduates gets in the way of OWS activity.)

Members of this contingent are quick to complain when they get burned by professors. But it is their job to help us, they lament. Yet, they don't seem to realize that their professors have the same sensibilities towards teaching and mentoring that they want to codify through unionization.

(I might be a little bitter.)

tonyz · 04-01-2012, 07:59

In response to the OP regarding trends in education - "George Carlin must be rolling over in his grave..."

More PC BS run amok...is it any wonder why some of the younger folks look to big government for the answers...what can't they control...was the test maker's tone a little too gruff?

War On Words: NYC Dept. Of Education Wants 50 ‘Forbidden’ Words Banned From Standardized Tests
'Dinosaur,' 'Birthday,' 'Halloween,' 'Poverty,' 'Divorce' Among Those Suggested
March 26, 2012 7:04 PM

The New York City Department of Education is waging a war on words of sorts, and is seeking to have words they deem upsetting removed from standardized tests.

Fearing that certain words and topics can make students feel unpleasant, officials are requesting 50 or so words be removed from city-issued tests.

The word “dinosaur” made the hit list because dinosaurs suggest evolution which creationists might not like, WCBS 880′s Marla Diamond reported. “Halloween” is targeted because it suggests paganism; a “birthday” might not be happy to all because it isn’t celebrated by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Julie Lewis’ family celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa, but she told CBS 2′s Emily Smith she wants her children to appreciate and learn about other holidays and celebrations.

“They’re going to meet people from all walks of life and they’re going to have to learn to adjust,” Lewis said.

Words that suggest wealth are excluded because they could make kids jealous. “Poverty” is also on the forbidden list. That’s something Sy Fliegal with the Center for Educational Innovation calls ridiculous.

“The Petersons take a vacation for five days in their Mercedes … so what? You think our kids are going to be offended because they don’t have a Mercedes? You think our kids are going to say ‘I’m offended; how could they ask me a question about a Mercedes? I don’t have a Mercedes!’” Fliegal said.

In a throwback to “Footloose,” the word “dancing” is also taboo. However, there is good news for kids that like “ballet”: The city made an exception for this form of dance.

Also banned are references to “divorce” and “disease,” because kids taking the tests may have relatives who split from spouses or are ill.

Some students think banning these words from periodic assessment tests is ridiculous.

“If you don’t celebrate one thing you might have a friend that does it. So I don’t see why people would find it offensive,” Curtis High School Sophomore Jamella Lewis told Diamond.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said the DOE is simply giving guidance to the test developers.

“So we’re not an outlier in being politically correct. This is just making sure that test makers are sensitive in the development of their tests,” Walcott said Monday.

To which Fliegal responded: “It’s all of life! I don’t know how they figure out what not to put on the list. Every aspect of life is on the list.”

There are banned words currently in school districts nationwide. Walcott said New York City’s list is longer because its student body is so diverse.

George Carlin is rolling over in his grave.

The New York City Department of Education is waging a war on words of sorts, and is seeking to have words they deem upsetting removed from standardized tests.

Fearing that certain words and topics can make students feel unpleasant, officials are requesting 50 or so words be removed from city-issued tests.

The word “dinosaur” made the hit list because dinosaurs suggest evolution which creationists might not like, WCBS 880′s Marla Diamond reported. “Halloween” is targeted because it suggests paganism; a “birthday” might not be happy to all because it isn’t celebrated by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Julie Lewis’ family celebrates Christmas and Kwanzaa, but she told CBS 2′s Emily Smith she wants her children to appreciate and learn about other holidays and celebrations.

“They’re going to meet people from all walks of life and they’re going to have to learn to adjust,” Lewis said.

Words that suggest wealth are excluded because they could make kids jealous. “Poverty” is also on the forbidden list. That’s something Sy Fliegal with the Center for Educational Innovation calls ridiculous.

“The Petersons take a vacation for five days in their Mercedes … so what? You think our kids are going to be offended because they don’t have a Mercedes? You think our kids are going to say ‘I’m offended; how could they ask me a question about a Mercedes? I don’t have a Mercedes!’” Fliegal said.

In a throwback to “Footloose,” the word “dancing” is also taboo. However, there is good news for kids that like “ballet”: The city made an exception for this form of dance.

Also banned are references to “divorce” and “disease,” because kids taking the tests may have relatives who split from spouses or are ill.

Some students think banning these words from periodic assessment tests is ridiculous.

“If you don’t celebrate one thing you might have a friend that does it. So I don’t see why people would find it offensive,” Curtis High School Sophomore Jamella Lewis told Diamond.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said the DOE is simply giving guidance to the test developers.

“So we’re not an outlier in being politically correct. This is just making sure that test makers are sensitive in the development of their tests,” Walcott said Monday.

To which Fliegal responded: “It’s all of life! I don’t know how they figure out what not to put on the list. Every aspect of life is on the list.”

There are banned words currently in school districts nationwide. Walcott said New York City’s list is longer because its student body is so diverse.

Here is the complete list of words that could be banned:

Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological)

Alcohol (beer and liquor), tobacco, or drugs

Birthday celebrations (and birthdays)

Bodily functions

Cancer (and other diseases)

Catastrophes/disasters (tsunamis and hurricanes)

Celebrities

Children dealing with serious issues

Cigarettes (and other smoking paraphernalia)

Computers in the home (acceptable in a school or library setting)

Crime

Death and disease

Divorce

Evolution

Expensive gifts, vacations, and prizes

Gambling involving money

Halloween

Homelessness

Homes with swimming pools

Hunting

Junk food

In-depth discussions of sports that require prior knowledge

Loss of employment

Nuclear weapons

Occult topics (i.e. fortune-telling)

Parapsychology

Politics

Pornography

Poverty

Rap Music

Religion

Religious holidays and festivals (including but not limited to Christmas, Yom Kippur, and Ramadan)

Rock-and-Roll music

Running away

Sex

Slavery

Terrorism

Television and video games (excessive use)

Traumatic material (including material that may be particularly upsetting such as animal shelters)

Vermin (rats and roaches)

Violence

War and bloodshed

Weapons (guns, knives, etc.)

Witchcraft, sorcery, etc.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/...ardized-tests/

Diablo · 04-01-2012, 09:56

Oakland USD is a f'ing disaster. I have lived in Oakland, and could tell what day of the month it was based on the amount of gunfire- welfare payments seems to get the whole town riled up. I have taught at Oakland Tech. HS and worked with the students who care and struggle against some real long odds, and some who come to school only because they can sell more drugs there than on the street corner. The state of CA took the district over for poor performance about 8 years ago and nothing improved at all.
The changes discussed are good, but it is all the union's fault for not acknowledging that some teachers simply suck at teaching. This community above most others understands this. Teaching- no matter the subject- is a difficult task requiring lots of planning and preparation. It also requires a student who has some- not lots, but some- desire to learn. So much of teaching in Oakland is about PERSEC and checking your six that (for all people on campus, teachers, students, and all staff) the fundemental stuff of teaching is lost.
A good friend of mine works there and he told me the following. This reapply process is going to allow the principals to cut some really crappy teachers out. Also most teachers will keep their jobs and some-those on the bubble - will get transferred in exchange for keeping their jobs. All sounds good to me until you realize that Oakland high schools have to hire about 25% of their teaching staff new every year. At some point the supply demand curve will limit the ability to cull all the crap.
Signed,
One of the few non union teachers in California. An angry one at that....

cbtengr · 04-01-2012, 11:55

"One of the few non union teachers in California. An angry one at that.... "

Diablo, you got balls! Because.....................

1. Anyone who would teach in Oakland would have to have them.
2. You are one of the few not throwing your hard earned money down that rathole called union dues.

I take it California is not a closed shop state? I live in a "right to work" state and can really appreciate the fact that I cannot be forced to pay dues. Good for you.