Re: [Phys-l] Kozol fasts to protest NCLB - defense of unions

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@hep.anl.gov>]

There is no contradiction between 1 and 3 as long as they are read 
literally.

The phrase ``25 contact hours'' means being in front of a class 26 hours 
(usually 50 minute hours) per week, usually accompanied by early morning 
and afternoon tutoring, attendance at parent's nights, and coaching a 
sport or supervising some other activity.


On Wed, 19 Sep 2007, Bernard Cleyet wrote:

> Jack!
>
> I don't understand; 1 and 3 seem contradictory, assuming you refer to
> the affluent community of Hinsdale.
>
> bc also wonders what is meant by 25 contact hours.
>
>
>
> Jack Uretsky wrote:
>
> > Hi all-
> > 	I think that Larry's remarks are on point.  I can add (and I've
> > advised a teacher's union involved in negotiations):
> > 1.  In Illinois, school boards in wealthy suburbs throw money at teachers.
> > Salaries are definitely not an issue.
> > 2.  After negotiations, if an individual teacher (under Illinois law) does
> > not want to accepte the terms of a new contract, then the terms of the
> > previous contract remain in effect.  In other words, a school board has no
> > power to unilaterally reduce teacher salaries.
> > 3.  School board members tell me that the primary personnel problem they
> > face is teacher retention.  I have a high school teaching certificate, and
> > there isn't enough money to pay me for 25 contact hours of teachin - we
> > seem to be the only country in the world that puts such requirement on its
> > teachers.
> > 		There is more, but I'll save it for later.
> > 				Regards,
> > 					Jack
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 19 Sep 2007, Larry Smith wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > > At 2:29 PM -0500 9/19/07, Paul Lulai wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > The administrators can get rid of any teacher they want to.  Follow
> > > > protocol.  Granted it is much easier before the teacher earns tenure.
> > > > Then the administrators should get rid of the bad teachers before they
> > > > earn tenure.  If someone has a great first 5 years and then slumps, it
> > > > is the administrations job to tell them to pick it up a notch.  It might
> > > > not be popular, but that is their job.  Bad teachers won't like it, good
> > > > teachers do.  If the teacher continues to stink after a good start, then
> > > > get rid of them.  Follow protocol.  It can be done.
> > > It is _very_ difficult in most states, including mine, to get rid of poor
> > > tenured teachers.  It can be done, but only by following protocol for 3-4
> > > years documenting the poor performance.  Even then we still get sued.
> > >
> > > Yes, we try to not give tenure to poor teachers (it is quite easy to not
> > > re-hire untenured teachers), but the probation period is only 3 years, not
> > > 5, and it isn't always easy to tell how good someone will be after only 3
> > > years.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > At 7:49 AM -0400 9/19/07, Rick Tarara wrote:
> cut
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