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

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

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