To be free or not to be
By Siobhan Boylan
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 at 5:18 pm in Siobhan Boylan.
I’ve noticed many of the new teachers highlighted here are not writing regularly or not writing at all (including me!). I know I’m really busy figuring out all the new curricula, not to mention the ins and outs of this bureaucracy.
But recently I’ve spoken with many colleagues and friends who are shocked that I’m participating in this blog as a new teacher, which leads me to wonder if we’re avoiding this task because of the concern about our professional status. I will not be tenured until I step into a classroom on the first day of my third year teaching. Until then I’m considered probationary.
Any number of things could happen to me during the next two years: I could make a bad joke, my students could fail all their tests, I could write a blog online and offend someone … I know that job security is an antiquated notion, but I also know that public schooling is a difficult and rewarding career that I want to pursue for a very long time.
For me, this blog has been an amazing opportunity to hear from veteran teachers as well as parents and citizens who are interested in public education. I have taken solace in the feedback from those who have left comments here and their ideas and support lead me to believe I am doing the right thing.
So what do you think? Am I risking my job by writing this blog? How much freedom do new teachers have? How much freedom should new teachers have? What are the ethical and professional considerations of publishing this journal? What are my rights to free speech as a probationary employee?
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
December 4th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I was beginning to think everyone bailed.
I would think that you shouldn’t have to take any more precaution than people in other professions that blog about their job. As long as common sense and discretion are used when touching on certain topics I don’t foresee there being a problem.
Let’s be real for a second, a lot of schools in the bay area (particularly in the inner cities) are in shambles. The powers that be have MUCH bigger fish to fry than to worry about an instructor blogging. If one of you were to get into hot water due to this, it would be a huge red flag that someone doesn’t have their priorities straight.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Ms Boylan,
It is always good to raise issues when they exist. Be polite and tactful; don’t be confrontational. As a teacher, you will know best how the children are performing, where they need help and what assistance you need from the principals and central administration. You should not hesitate to speak out. You may be the only voice for the kids.
We would be nowhere without teachers. Given the hostile environment towards teachers, I always wonder why some people still go into the profession. I commend you on your courage and wish you and your first year partners a great journey in your teaching careers.
Turner
December 5th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
– Blogging about work IN GENERAL is very dangerous for job security. I know I’ve seen co-workers in the corporate world (before I taught) in the cubicle next to me bagged because they said semi-innocent things like “I’m bored” or “I think I’m smarter than my co-workers” on their blog.
– It IS different for new teachers. Because of tenure, new teachers are much more closely scrutinized than veterans. They are evaluated every year, often by their principal, and usually receive obligatory “pink slips” at the end of the year — they are rehired, in essence, if the numbers and the evals are both right. In other words, nobody even has to say why you weren’t “rehired.”
– There are plenty of teaching jobs out there, so it wouldn’t be the END of the world. Yet, how many of us want to change work sites when it is not on our own terms? What about the trouble of having to build new alliances, the learning curve of a new place, etc.? Plus, some people have claimed they have been “blackballed” by OUSD for stepping on the wrong toes. It is not as easy to get a job in other districts, unless you teach science, special ed, etc.
– The comment about “the powers that be” is comical. The powers that be can’t control anything BUT teachers. They can’t control parents. They can’t control the money. They can’t control the politicians. They can’t control the kids. Everything is put on the teachers, because they are employed by the district.
I hope the Tribune checks back with these teachers in two years to see how many are still teaching and what they didn’t tell us before they got tenure!
December 8th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Siobhan:
You raise interesting questions about many sensitive and controversial topics, including free speech. I think these are questions that ultimately you must answer yourself. But the question that you might want to consider asking initially is “What is my purpose in writing this blog?” As a reader of your blog about education (and other education blogs as well), I have to say that I’m most interested in your formative experiences as a teacher; how you grapple with the challenges our students bring to school from reading below grade level to poor nutrition to growing up in violent communities. I’m interested in what you think is important to teach, and how you make those choices. I’m interested in hearing which of your lessons work and which fail (I’ve got nearly seventeen years in and believe me, not every lesson hits its mark; not even after all this time!) I’m interested in reading about your students, not by name or by any identifying characteristics but by situations or successes or conflicts that arise.
Taking shots at the district in your blog, in my opinion, seems to be something I, as a likely reader, would not be that interested in reading very often, if ever. First of all, there is a LOT of drama around the district, something kind of perverse is happening in some school or some district office danged near everyday. You are going to run into these issues multiple times. I hardly think your blog is the place to work them out. Yes, the district is a big, bloated, often dysfunctional, screwed up mess. Because big bureaucracies tend to be that way. Between staff and students, we’re looking at nearly 50,000 people, and lord knows how many buildings there are, probably close to 200, and it’s like running a small city, and it’s hard to get it to run perfectly even occasionally. Yes, sometimes there are glaring disasters such as the sewage problem you described, but…you know what? Sometimes the plumbing fails, sometimes (frequently, unfortunately) the heat fails (usually in the winter, of course), sometimes there is a health problem, or some other problem with the facilities. This is just the nature of life. I’ve had my plumbing fail at my house (not to the extent you described, but nevertheless, I was without plumbing for a couple of days).
It is, to me, not a matter of free speech, but a matter of what is worthing writing about (and worth reading about). I have a blog, also, but I never write about analogous situations, nor do I get involved in commenting on the politics of the district or specific individuals, even those with high profiles. I write about what it is like in my classroom for myself and my students, and what things bring me great satisfaction and when I am demoralized. I may write about the education *system* but not about the district (even though I have had tenure for many years). For one thing, they are my employers. I wouldn’t want them writing about me. The employer-employee relationship is enough of a minefield as it is.
I am disappointed, I must admit, that out of the seven new teacher bloggers listed, at least three have not written a word, and between the remaining four, only about ten total postings for about three or so months. I know firsthand how demanding the first year of teaching is,, so I realize this is not a lot of time to do this but I guess I thought since you (and the others) signed up, it was something you would make time for. Perhaps, though, as you suggest, there is a certain trepidation about going public. But I think you can’t go wrong if you write about how you go about teaching a difficult mathematical concept, even if not one student understands it. How do you reflect on it afterward? What were the challenges? Or a student who says, “You’re my favorite teacher!” Or a discussion with a colleague (without naming names) who shares an interesting experience. To me, that’s what worth reading. This should not be a forum for airing grievances; there are many other venues for that. If it’s a big enough story, it will find its way into the public eye, no doubt. (I realize others may disagree; I’m just a colleague and a potential reader, sharing my perspective).
Good luck!
December 8th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Hi Siobhan- keep teaching, writing, and speaking- you’re awesome! Thanks for your commitment to the profession- we need more like you! Looking forward to your next entry…
December 12th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I think Oakland teacher makes a lot of good points, although she goes pretty easy on the district. (Not all bureaucracies are equally dysfunctional and it is fatalistic and apologist to say so.)
In general, maintaining blogs after the initial excitement is very difficult, and figuring out the purpose of doing so is the most important thing.
However, one of the challenges other bloggers have that you don’t is finding an audience. You have been given one by being placed on this site. I think you should take up the opportunity and Oakland teacher’s suggestion to keep it focused on the classroom is probably really good.
Of course, be careful how specific you are in talking about your students; parents may be reading as well.
December 15th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Siobhan,
I strongly disagree with the suggestion that you “keep [your comments] focused on the classroom.” While we teachers are unfairly bashed for the shortcomings of public schools (as if the problems are mainly due to lazy and/or incompetent teaching), far too many of us deserve criticism for failing to speak out about and organize against outrageously unequal teaching and learning conditions.
It’s bad enough that veteran teachers, with some degree of job security, feel too overwhelmed or drained to lend a hand in the political struggle necessary to save public education; but when a new teacher heroically bears witness to injustice affecting one’s students, and veterans counsel her to stay silent on this subject—what can I say? In this context, “keep it focused on the classroom” has the same effect, intended or not, as “keep your head down” and “shut up.” And when an account of terrible conditions that are far more prevalent in your school than in schools with richer, whiter populations is equated with “taking shots at the district,” those culpable for creating and allowing those conditions applaud.
Like Oakland Teacher, I’ve taught for seventeen years in Oakland and am very interested in hearing about your experiences in the classroom, reflections on what works and doesn’t work, etc.; I’m always learning from other teachers, regardless of years (or months) of experience. But I disagree that a “likely reader” would not be interested in your perspectives on the larger context affecting your students and your classroom. Parents and teachers are interested in hearing about anything that affects our students in our schools, so if you have the awareness and courage to speak up, there are plenty of us who need to hear.
As you suggest, though, speaking out poses risks, since many administrators do whatever they can to deflect criticism and punish critics. Non-tenured teachers are especially vulnerable. If you or other teachers you know ever experience retaliation or threats (even if well disguised) for exercising your rights to organize or speak, please contact your union, the Oakland Education Association. As a member of OEA’s Executive Board (and as a fellow teacher), I will do whatever I can to help and to enlist the support of our organization. It’s true that administrators hold far too much legal latitude to fire new teachers without due process. Nevertheless, when any teacher is punished for exercising the right to organize or to free speech, union members and others, can organize a response. Sometimes that response needs to be very public to be effective. If more teachers are to extend their efforts beyond the classroom—and we must if public education is to survive—we will have to do all we can to defend those who are targeted for stepping up.
December 16th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Hi all, I would like to contribute topics to all of these posts. I regularly write about teaching on my facebook account but would like to contribute to what I find are some very interesting conversations. If this is possible, please let me know how I can join in!
December 16th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Hi Saili. Are you a first-year teacher? I’m the Tribune education reporter who manages the blog. Feel free to e-mail me at kmurphy@oaklandtribune.com.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Sadly, OUSD is known for retribution against teachers who speak out - on every level. Over and over I have seen this happen - this is part of the reason that so many good teachers leave. The union is not much help either, but I think the public scrutiny of this blog might actually help… It would be obvious and public if they decided to take action against you for this blog. I think you’re brave and my suggestion would be to make any actions taken against you public. It is important that you speak out and sad that the district is so quick to discourage teachers from doing so.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Craig Gordon: For a union honcho you seem misinformed. New teachers don’t get fired. They don’t get “rehired.” The pink slips go out to all of us newbies and the principals bring back the ones they want.
Since 2000 the number of students in Oakland has dropped from 54000 to 39000. They can ace any non-tenured teacher out without lifting a finger.
Frankly, I’d trade the security of tenure for significantly improved salary and working conditions. in a cash-starved environment, I guess the unions traded for what they could get, which was security. But I can’t see as it really helps teachers or students as much as small class sizes and decent pay would.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:26 am
I need some assistance in finding out what happened to my late cousin Maureen Gavin. I know she moved to Oakland California back in the late 60’s/early 70’s from New York. She passed away in 1999. She was teaching in New York but I am unsure if she continued this in Oakland. Can you help? She had 2 brothers Patrick & James and I am desperately trying to get hold of them…
January 18th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Dear Siobhan,
Congrats on moving through and succeeding in your first year of teaching! Your insights, and the comments of your readers, are totally on mark. I don’t know how you’re viewing your blogging position now, but I hope you do continue. During my two years of teaching on the Navajo Nation, blogging helped me keep perspective, remember the highs and lows, and connect with folks outside of my working circle. During that time, I wrote a blog for Teacher Magazine (I still write one for them, now as a Teach For America program director). I took extra care not to mention the blog to more than a few trusted colleagues, and I never brought it up in detail. I just felt weird about it. I was never being disrespectful to my community, students or administration, and I would never divulge gossip or complain aimlessly. But it still felt weird to talk to my fellow teachers about it. Then one day, my principal walked into my classroom in the middle of reading class and plunked down a printed copy of my latest blog article. He nodded at me and left. As soon as class ended, I ran to his office and started half explaining and half apologizing. He stopped me. And thanked me for being an honest and respectful voice for our all-too-often voiceless community. He told me it was an honor and a responsibility– take it with care.
Keep up your hard, inspiring and critical work.
All my best,
Jessica
January 21st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Keeping the focus on the classroom would make things safer, but I, for one, think that the public NEEDS to know how this district operates. It’s not that the heat sometimes fails. It’s that there are schools where the radiators are somehow stuck on and it’s always 90 degrees or more. That is just one very, very small example. It is likely that none of these first-year teachers will be “rehired” and not because of this blog necessarily, but because OUSD doesn’t tend to rehire good people.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I didn’t see the Dec. 5th post from “Teacher” until today, so for the record:
Yes, most new teachers are on probationary contracts, so the district gets rid of such new teachers by “non-reelecting” them for no stated reason for the following year. So when speaking of the ease with which the district can “fire” new teachers, it’s technically more correct to use the euphemism “nonrehired.”
However the district has hired a number of teachers on “temporary” contracts over the years, often illegally so (i.e., including teachers who the Ed Code says should have probationary, tenure-track status). These teachers have been considered “at will” employees and have indeed been fired the old-fashioned way, suddenly, without notice, smack dab in the middle of the school year (even in the middle of teaching a class!).
Whether we’re talking about “non-reelection” of probationary teachers for no stated reason or outright firing of teachers on temporary contracts and substitutes, the district uses such power to silence critics. We’ve seen it time and again, including in its firing or a substitute teacher who very publicly opposed the State Adinistrator’s closure of East Oakland Community High last year.
And while I agree with “Teacher” that we need small class size and decent pay, of course, there’s no reason to trade this off or counterpose it to tenure rights. In fact, the elimination of tenure would make it harder to obtain decent conditions and compensation, because the strongest advocates for such reforms — outspoken teachers — would be that much more vulnerable to firing, I mean, “nonrehiring.”
July 26th, 2008 at 10:29 am
School Districts in education need to have some accountability. There needs to be a law stating that they need an actual “reason” to non-reelect a teacher. The teachers Union needs to actually protect new hires from violations of the Ed Code. Illegal “at will” contracts need to be stopped. Teachers should not be fired in the middle of the school year, since that disrupts the students. Most teachers are lambs and allow themselves to be victimized. If they were to stick together like lions, the Districts would think twice about abusing them. “Nonrehiring” is just a euphenism for unjust firing. The whole educational system needs to be reformed. Until that happens, the best teachers will be silenced. The teachers Union does nothing to help teachers, since they are working with the Districts.