I have worked under 6 principals and at least 12 VPs. None were evil, but most were incompetent in at least one or two of their 3 responsibilities – relations to the parents and community, budgeting and running the physical plant, and being an instructional leader. In all fairness the job is really an impossible one. The principals could not recognize nor implement effective instructional methodology, maintain a budget, summon up the guts to discipline a recalcitrant teacher, run a meeting, or have a vision as to where the school should be going. The VPs have the worst job and most were learning on the fly, making mistakes on a regular basis and leaving disasters in their wakes -ordering the wrong state tests, mismanaging funds allocated for computer labs, letting discipline matters stack up so that months would go by without any action, or rubber-stamping teacher evaluations because they couldn’t tell good teaching if it bit them on the ass. Basically these are just people who wanted the higher pay and couldn’t or wouldn’t cut it in the classroom. So when you impart “good” motives to an administrator, I question whether they really know what they are doing. That is why you need a contract.

On the subject of teachers working extra hours, or putting in extra work, let’s face it. Teachers are VERY jealous of each other. Schools are like “Peyton Places” to use an old TV analogy, where excellence is not held in high esteem but is instead attacked for being different. Those teachers who go an extra mile are viewed first with suspicion and then derision for overworking the kids, or showing others teachers up, or “who exactly does he think he is?” This attitude is not just found in the teaching profession, but in every profession. That is why it is so hard to consistently be excellent. Jaime Escalante was eventually forced out of his school. However, I will add this caveat – I have seen teachers work extra hours because they were NOT efficient at all by using a convoluted system of grading which required them to stay at school until 8 p.m. But my compliments to the teacher who spends extra hours with their students because they uphold the nobility of the profession. And no, you don’t get paid enough, but never hold back from the kids because you resent the District’s underhanded tactics. When you feel that resentment building up you should find a new profession – or how about becoming an administrator?

1. The teachers union

2. Union enabled bad teachers

one more thing, if you do not understand the meaning and usage of context, I hope you are not teaching our kids.

And oh yes, I love good teachers!!!!!!

You cite one instance of poor teacher conduct in which the teacher was defended by his union and, by doing so, imply that this behavior is the biggest problem facing students in our district. I agree that there are cases like this, but they are relatively few, and they are not the biggest problem in Oakland schools.

One of the most challenging issues in most schools is the high tolerance from district and site administration for bad behavior on the part of students. The other is the high degree of support students need because they enter our schools unprepared for the rigor of the curriculum. These issues affect the quality of ALL teaching.

These same issues plague every urban district–they are not unique to Oakland. And until they are addressed effectively, schools will continue to have problems–no matter who is teaching.

I agree, leadership is extremely important. I would NEVER suggest that site and district leadership is not vital, but teachers and instruction also play a role. The most important role, after all we are the ones who have direct contact with students. That’s what the union seems to not grasp. They want to shift all ownership on administrators, with no ownership on its members.

I worked with a colleague who would take off repeatedly (a minimum of once a week, every weekend was a 3 day weekend for this guy). He never left lessons plans and sometimes he wouldn’t bother to call a sub. I spent hours covering his classes. When we complained to the principal, you know what OEA said “it’s his RIGHT to use sick leave”. #$#@!!! What other job in America or union would support this kind of behavior? And the sad truth is that I could go all night with story after story! And this is not the most egregious story I could share. How is that the fault of the district? His students learned NOTHING. OEA made sure that he kept his job and there was nothing the site or district leadership could do. Even an employee at a fast food restaurant is expected to maintain good attendance and call in when absent. And they aren’t responsible for children. What organization allows you to do that and keep your job?! Poor attendance is a surefire way of getting fired…..in OTHER professions. So I ask you, who had control in this situation? Should the site and district leadership be held accountable for his students’ test scores? This one is 100% on OEA. If you think teachers are under fire now, let more stories like this go public! People in other professions will hear these stories and flip out….rightfully so.

Lets get real….Get real!

And as far as the comment that we could fire every teacher, then we would get the same results. Once again, the union response is extreme and an over-reach. Bloggers shared that the district should have the right to fire underperforming teachers, not all teachers. But the union mindset always interprets things in an exaggerated manner. Why so extreme?

I give tenure 10 years at the most. America has had it with union scapegoating.

It’s heartening that your hatred for educators is matched by your incredible wealth of free time. If only “once more and for the last time” really were.

That provision(SB1285) would allow district officials to practice favoritism and discrimination. They could decide not to hire back a more expensive teacher or a teacher who has been a vocal advocate of student needs.

Fire a teacher for being a vocal advocate of student needs? This is worse that perpetrating a fraud this is a flat out LIE!

“Tell Senator: Stop Blaming Teachers
Urge Assembly to Defeat Steinberg “Favoritism” Bill

Your help is needed to defeat the newest version of a measure that would ignore the real needs of students and public education – adequate and stable funding – and blame teachers for the system’s ills.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) has authored SB 1285, a CTA-opposed measure that again will make it easier to lay off experienced teachers from lower-performing schools and undermine local control. On top of that, the measure is completely unnecessary because state law already gives school districts flexibility in layoff procedures to best meet the needs of students. CTA continues to battle against these attacks on the protections against discrimination and favoritism, including seniority”.

In my opinion(and that of millions of disillusioned taxpayers) seniority protections are discrimination and favoritism, the only fair way is to keep the best workers like they do in private enterprise(unless your the head honchos kid of course). There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING fair about seniority. I have to borrow a great line from another post paraphrasing ” some teachers claim to have 15-20 years experience when all they really have is first year experience 15-20 times over”. That is just so true.

In the union contract, the union dictates:

The hours that are worked, the rate of pay(including stepping, built in raises and colas, which incidentally they feel wholeheartedly entitled to before and after the fact) the process and terms of disciplinary action including termination,and they protect substandard teachers with ferocity. Last but not least they can and will fire a teacher for not paying union dues.(you can be derelict in your duties as a teacher but you dare not forget to pay up the MONEY. Well, the union better think again, because thats taxpayer money, and we wont play nice with them anymore.

Once again a reminder:

The good teachers are worth the money we taxpayers pay, but it just sickens me to be forced to pay for people that just don’t measure up. Not to mention the damage they do to upwards of thirty kids at a time.