Comments on: Kappner vs. Olson-Jones for OEA president

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:38:36 +0000

I agree that talking about Palestinians’ plight at a union meeting is inappropriate … just like pushing for a union to train, evaluate and discipline its members is silly!

And c’mon, professional organizations are hardly a cure-all for incompetence — you have to be a psycho murderer for the doctor boards to even think about pulling your license, while the Bar Association has only one measure it holds to: Passing a test, and taking some classes every few years to refresh your knowledge.

Whether you like unions or not, whether you make more or less than teachers, here’s the number reason why teacher (and site admin) salaries matter for the kids: Slowing turnover. More money for staff slows turnover. Constant turnover is the single biggest destroyer of progress in struggling urban schools.

And don’t think turnover isn’t related to getting rid of bad teachers. If your school is desperate just to be fully staffed, how hard are they going to try to weed out the weak but tenacious teachers?

Districts like Piedmont only let SUPERSTAR rookies get to their “tenured” year, and have the pick of the best teachers from other districts. They always have a flood of eager beavers wanting jobs there. They can cherry-pick.

I have seen an Oakland school BEG a generally lousy, if basically harmless, teacher to NOT quit. Why? Because said teacher would have to be replaced, perhaps by a sub, perhaps by a TFA kid who might quit after two months. And yes, this was AFTER the recession was well underway.

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:11:15 +0000

“This vote got more than the authorization to strike vote. In fact, Olson-Jones got more votes than all who participated in that vote. Hmmmm?”

Different way of voting: Strike vote was IN PERSON in ONE PLACE at ONE TIME. Apples and oranges.

By: Nextset

Nextset — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:02:44 +0000

Today I was looking at the website for CAVA – California Virtual Academies. This is the vanguard for what I think is coming to render obsolete the Urban Public Schools business model we have operating at OUSD.

I know one family that has their children enrolled here. They seem extremely happy with the results. Among other advantages the students are able to advance in their strong subjects as fast as they can.

It is a Simi Valley Based Internet K-12 school that is operating across CA. It is registered as a Charter School in Alameda Co, Los Angeles Co and many other principal counties. The students work through broad band internet connections with webcams and headsets with face to face (internet) teacher meetings, assignments, and class sessions. Books are UPS’ed to the students – the school provides all of the books and materials. Assignments are turned in through Email. The School will provide the computer equipment on an as needed basis.

I noticed they are hiring teaching staff (as the publics are laying off staff). I wonder if they are unionized?

This sort of school should be watched. They may be the wave of the future. I find it remarkable that the existing school districts appear to be doing nothing to compete with this.

Brave New World.

By: TheTruthHurts

TheTruthHurts — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:25:00 +0000

JR. Having worked in a large company, I can bet what the largest legal cost is – GETTING SUED. Probably sued by parents, sued by disgruntled employees and sued for employee misbehavior. That’s life in the big city these days. Even if OUSD has great lawyers or outside lawyers, I bet there are also judgements out there that cost even more taxpayer money and probably more than the lawyers. Sad, but true.

By: J.R.

J.R. — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:25:03 +0000

The big problem with unions is: We as taxpayers and parents and their children are stuck in a situation where we must pay for chaff along with our wheat. Thankfully most of our teachers are wheat quality. If the child wants to learn, even in the “so called” worst schools “he/she” will learn. One fact people need to bear in mind regarding avg. teacher salaries, they are averaged along with support specialists, and other highly paid non-teaching positions which skews the average upward. Teachers are really not highly paid at all especially in California with our high cost of living.I was at a board meeting and I found that one of our districts big expenses is legal costs. Talk about parasitic.

By: Ivette

Ivette — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:23:55 +0000

Anyone else notice that Betty’s flyer doesn’t mention students AT ALL? Why is student achievement not the emphasis of our teachers’ union? I understand that teachers have dealt with unfair treatment in the past, and although conditions are not ideal (especially for new teachers), we need to remember that we are here for our students, not just paychecks and benefits.

Del: Agreed. Unions are not meant for professions, for trades perhaps, definitely not for what should be the most highly esteemed profession.

By: David Laub

David Laub — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:10:45 +0000

Noted, Steven. Thankyou, David

By: Steven Weinberg

Steven Weinberg — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:20:19 +0000

David, don’t judge the readership of this blog exclusively by the most frequent posters. It has a large audience that never posts, but finds it interesting and informative. I am always surprised by the number of people I meet who are familiar with my submissions.
There are times that I wish Katy would take a different approach to some stories, but there are times, such as the posting about “School Reform Deja Vu” where she has highlighted exactly what needed to be said.
It would be nice if the local newspapers could devote more staff time to investigating district expenditures and policies, but I have been a Tribune reader for over 40 years, and the coverage since Katy has been in charge of the beat has been the most thorough, thoughtful, and informative that I remember. There have been several occasions when this blog has alerted me to issues I would otherwise have missed and allowed me to have input before decisions have been made.

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:20:40 +0000

I actually found some of the responses about OEA’s leadership, purpose and direction to be nuanced and thoughtful. You shouldn’t sell your fellow blog readers so short!

But you’re entitled to your opinion — and, of course, no one’s forcing you to read my work or the comments it elicits.

By: David Laub

David Laub — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:19:57 +0000

Ms. Murphy, I admit to have been mistaken as to your potential caliber as a journalist of worth. Shallow, yes. Eeking out sensationalist and mediocre response from a narrow base of base responders, yes. Well, i guess it pays your monthly bills. Quite a waste.