And Stay Out!

Cupcakes have been banned from a New Jersey elementary school, and the residents are storming the capital with pitchforks. Well, not exactly. Everyone knows you don't need a fork to eat a cupcake, let alone a pitchfork.

We're moving toward this ban in my home district, and my daughter's teacher told us cupcakes were strictly forbidden (though only at birthday celebrations). They can bring fruit, and juice, but none of those goshdarn cupcakes, which apparently are at the root of the imminent decline of western civilization.

Personally I don't eat sugar, white flour, white rice, or most junk food, but I haven't imposed these restrictions on my kid, who's thus far healthy and active.

Is this a good idea, or is it too much?

Thanks to Schoolgal

One ATR Left Behind

Maryanne at This is Too a Blog is an ATR no more.

Zip on over and congratulate her.

One down, 999 to go.

Texas Teachers Reject Merit Pay

In Texas, where collective bargaining is forbidden, but hitting students is fine, several schools have rejected merit pay, determining it would pit teachers against one another.

Bea Cantu, principal at Bellaire, said that just two of 47 teachers at the school voted in favor of a plan that was developed to distribute the bonus money. The law creating the program - passed in a special legislative session in May - calls for merit-pay plans in low-income areas, with bonuses to be distributed based on standardized-test scores.

If you believe what NYC Deputy Chancellor Alonso says, that teachers are the sole variable in academic success, these programs make sense. But I teach is a very good city school. It would be far easier for my colleagues and me to earn merit pay than it would for other teachers in tougher schools. And I don't kid myself that I'm responsible for the quality of my school (I also don't kid myself that it will be maintained, at 250% capacity and with the DoE dumping hundreds of additional students on an annual basis).

A few years back there was a well-regarded study, the name of which escapes me. It recommended that city schools pay competitively and then add merit pay. Chancellor Klein seized on the merit pay proposal and ignored the competitive pay part.

I'm opposed to merit pay. But unlike Chancellor Klein, I'm also opposed to hiring teachers without merit. Nearby Nassau County shares my sentiment, and few districts there need to contemplate such gimmicks.

No Decent Paying Job Left Behind

A hundred bucks an hour for tutoring? Not anymore. You can get tutors for far less, even as little as $2.50 an hour.

It's certainly tempting to parents. In fact with No Child Left Behind mandating tutoring, companies are already experimenting with using offshore tutors. Certainly, American teachers can't compete with these rates.

Is this a good thing, or is it yet another job lost for working Americans? Will GW and company figure out a way to outsource teachers altogether?

You can't deny that doing so would go a long way toward reducing Steve Forbes' tax bill, the number one priority of our nation.

(Disclaimer: I don't tutor for pay, ever.)

Corporal Punishment Lives

Of all the absurd and stupid things I see in education, this takes the cake. Corporal punishment is for educators utterly bereft of imagination or initiative, like Anthony Price, the Fort Worth middle school principal pictured here.

I can't believe such a barbaric practice is sanctioned in American schools. Any person who can't come up with a solution short of hitting a child is simply too stupid to teach.

And any teacher who hits my kid will quickly become an ex-teacher, if not a dead one.

We Don't Like No Nudity in Texas

Sydney McGee, a 28-year art teacher from Dallas, has been suspended with pay for taking kids to an art museum. It turns out them dadgum artistes actually paint pictures and make statues of nude people, and kids may have actually seen them (Actually, the Times estimates half a million other local students may also have done so over the last ten years).

In Dallas, the teachers have an annual contract, and they plan not to renew Ms. McGee's.

Ms. McGee is a living, breathing argument for teacher tenure. Just imagine what Bloomberg and Klein would do if they had such powers.

Thanks to Schoolgal

Broad Powers for a Narrow Agenda

GW Bush, who's spent the last five years trying to reduce Steve Forbes' tax bill by any means necessary, can now label those who wish to increase it as enemy combatants.

By writing into law for the first time the definition of an "unlawful enemy combatant," the bill empowers the executive branch to detain indefinitely anyone it determines to have "purposefully and materially" supported anti-U.S. hostilities.

Are you comfortable knowing this president has such powers? Are you absolutely sure he, or his designates, won't find something potentially pernicious in your library records? It may not be that bad, though, if you're an American citizen:

Only foreign nationals among those detainees can be tried by the military commissions, as they are known, and sentenced to decades in jail or put to death.

Unfortunately, there's nothing that says they can't leave you in jail until you drop dead of natural causes. Or other causes:

...the bill immunizes U.S. officials from prosecution for cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of detainees who the military and the CIA captured before the end of last year. It gives the president a dominant but not exclusive role in setting the rules for future interrogations of terrorism suspects.

It's remarkable that American GIs sit in prison over Abu Ghraib while those who initiated it have not and now cannot be touched.

Let's hope the black boxes aren't rigged too heavily in 06.

Thanks to reality-based educator

Children First

Here we are at the end of September, and the UFT reports there are 6,339 grievances over class size. The limit for high school is 34, the highest in the state.

I was listening when Sam Greenfield reported on 1600 AM that the DoE had managed to reduce class sizes. It's remarkable how many so-called reporters uncritically parrot whatever the government tells them to say nowadays. In my building alone, there are hundreds of oversized classes. I know teachers who had oversized classes all year last year, despite grievances.

Class Size Matters maintains otherwise:

See the reference to decreasing class sizes in the Mayor’s Management Report in the NY Sun story below; as members of this list serv realize, the city’s data on class size has been shown to be inaccurate in the past.

According to independent monitors such as the State education department and the Independent Budget Office, there has been little or no improvement in class size in the middle and upper grades over the last four years. In the early grades, class sizes have decreased only half as fast as enrollment. And even according to the MMR, average Kindergarten class sizes went up last year for the second time in three years - a very worrisome trend.

Those of us who actually work in schools don't need to read reports from the state to monitor class sizes.

Mike "Accountability" Bloomberg likes to talk about "Children First," particularly when it entails placing working people last. Unfortunately, kids hardly benefit from the systematic neglect he's been practicing since he came into office on a river of lies about improving education.

Oopzie!

As you may have read here or elsewhere. Mayor Mike "Accountability" Bloomberg left back 339 kids by mistake. At first, he'd thought he'd passed too many kids.

Odd behavior indeed from an administration that maintains test scores have nothing whatsoever to do with anyone except teachers. Before, a DoE spokesperson said "This is not really a case of anyone dropping the ball."

The Daily News, though, reports otherwise.

State officials said the preliminary results were never meant to be the final arbiter on promotion.

"It was for the city to use along with its own indicators like teacher observations and grades," said state Education Department spokesman Tom Dunn.

That explains why New York City is the only district in the state to have this problem. Let's see how long it takes them to blame teachers for it.

Thanks to Schoolgal

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

It's interesting to see various parties having conniptions over the letter of the UFT contract. No, you can't teach new material during your 37.5 minute class, which is not a class. That would be hard work (Reviewing is just a walk in the park, apparently).

Of course, those of us in oversize schools have had our periods extended up to fifty minutes. We actually do teach more (and I'd wager it's much more effective than those classes that aren't classes). Despite UFT propagandist Leo Casey's typically empty bravado, we don't figure in his calculations.

Of course, it's not as simple as that. Bloomberg announces, in front of God and everybody, that it's an absolute must to put our needs last, then he puzzles over why we aren't jumping up and volunteering to do more for him.

My former AP thought I was good at classroom management. One semester, she told me (as an appointed ESL teacher) that I'd have to teach five Spanish 1 classes. If I didn't agree, she would make sure that I'd stay so late I'd lose my second job. I applied for and received a UFT transfer (the one we gave away for less than nothing in the last contract).

My new supervisor also liked my classroom management. She had problems with a first period Spanish class that was driving the teacher crazy. She asked me if I'd do her a favor and take the class.

I said sure, of course.

There's a better way.

Klein's Machinations Bear Fruit

31 principals are rebelling against the CSA, largely those from Klein's Leadership Academy--you know, the ones who've never taught or supervised before.

They don't care for the decorum of President Jill Levy, who reportedly stated she “wanted to puke on (Mayor Bloomberg's) shoes.”

I don't particularly wish to puke on the mayor's shoes (Don't tempt me with a horse head on his pillow.), but I'm bone-weary of "nice" politicians like John Kerry and Mike Dukaukis. Give me Jill (or Bill) any day.

Bear in mind the atrocious UFT contract came on the heels of the draconian givebacks the CSA agreed to last time. However you may feel about supervisors (I know, but I've had some extraordinarily good ones), their fortunes are largely linked with ours.

It was folly on the part of Randi's gang to trust this mayor and grant him control. It would set an awful precedent if he were allowed to break the supervisors' union. If you don't believe me, here's a quote from Mayor Mike:

“My great fear is that all of it will be thrown out and we will be right back to where we started. We’ve got to find some ways between now and the end of our administration to make it so compelling that the public will demand that we continue to put the interest of our students first, and the interest of the people who work in the system or benefit from getting contracts in the system last.”

Now you know where working people stand with this mayor. Someone rouse Bloomberg on his yacht--let him know the kids may have to work too when they grow up.

Thanks to Institutional Memory

The Carnival is in Town

Over at the Education Wonks.

Check it out.

Be Careful out There

Mike in Texas has an unusual story to share with us. I cautioned him, because it brings to mind one of my own.

I taught special education for one memorable semester. I was not very good at it, and chose not to pursue it. When I was hired, though, the AP swore up and down I'd be teaching English (my license area at that time). She then immediately assigned me to teach math and music.

After a couple of months, I was teaching something (I don't remember what), when two girls began a very animated conversation in back of the room. After giving them a few looks, I did not get the desired result. This was a science room, with big black tables, and a very large black teacher's desk.

I climbed up onto my desk, walked calmly across the student desks to the back of the room, looked down and whispered to the girls. "I'd appreciate it if you'd be quiet for a little while."

I then walked back across the desks, climbed back onto the floor, and resumed my lesson as though nothing had happened. This happened only once, in front of one small special ed. class.

A month later I was in the cafeteria, when another teacher sat down and asked my name. I told him. He said, "Oh, you're the guy who walks across the desks."

And that's what I was, till I moved on to another school and got a fresh start.

The High Cost of High School

This article spells out various expenses high school students are expected to swallow for the class trip, the class ring, the class picture, the yearbook, the prom, and what-have-you. When I was in high school (and dinosaurs roamed the earth), there were many of those things too, but they were regarded as strictly optional. Perhaps after only 17 couples attended our prom, they reconsidered.

In my school (and every city school in which I've worked), there's something called "senior dues" which cover graduation, a yearbook, a gown, a school shirt, and I'm not sure what else.

I've always found it bothersome that kids needed to pay to graduate from a public school. I find that unreasonable. We ought to make the yearbook and all the other nonsense available to kids who want it, but we shouldn't be shoving it down their throats.

Or maybe I'm just cranky. I can tell you, though, receiving a bill from a public school for several hundred bucks won't make me any less cranky. And many parents of my students are far less-equipped to shell it out than I am.

Taking Back the White House

All you need is someone like this to sock it back to Fox News. Watch the video.

Would this guy have left the swift boat smears unanswered? I don't think so.

Where is the Democrat who will stand up like this one in '08?

Thanks to reality-based educator.

Highly Recommended

Check out Anonymous Educator. This teacher works in an unnamed private school and has the most outrageous sense of understatement I've bumped my head on lately.

You might want to scroll back to follow his adventures in Mexico and Vegas, or his various dealings with friends, neighbors and school administration.

Please support your friendly neighborhood blogger. As you can see, he can't be expected to get by on looks alone.

Randi and Joel Have a New Fan

I was just referred (by an ATR teacher) to an interesting article from NYC Indymedia:

Newly, vastly empowered principals have succeeded in inculcating a climate of fear within the schools that proscribes whistle-blowing, grievance filing, and collective action. Nothing demonstrates this more than the Chancellor’s recent remarks that 1500 recently excessed teachers (an increase of 500% from last year) are “potentially undesirable veteran[s]” (The New York Times, 9/2/06).

UFT President Randi Weingarten should be as much an object of teachers’ scorn as Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein. During negotiations for the 2003-2007 contract Ms. Weingarten sacrificed a well-oiled system of teacher transfer in which excessed teachers were guaranteed placement within their region for a so-called “open market” system wherein excessed teachers pound the pavement-citywide-in the oft-vain attempt at securing employment.

Meanwhile, over at Edwize, Leo Casey and City Sue, who've both signed loyalty oaths to the Unity patronage mill, swear it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Apparently, more teachers have transferred under this plan, and that's more important than ther thousand-plus displaced teachers wandering around as subs.

Typically, Leo and Sue haven't anticipated what Chancellor Klein will be saying about these teachers come contract negotiation time, and fail to appreciate the ramifications of the chancellor hiring hundreds of new teachers even as they wander about in limbo.

Here's what the latest issue of NY Teacher has to say about ATR teachers (Correction--Schoolgal points to a letter that mentions them). Doubtless they think those teachers should be grateful for the right to to pay Leo and Sue's six-figure salaries. Personally, I wouldn't begrudge them these salaries, or higher ones, if they negotiated decent contracts. While it's simpler to turn the whole thing over to PERB and let them do whatever the hell they feel like, that's not what we pay them for.

Ooops!

Goshdarnit. Chancellor Klein left 339 kids back by mistake (On Thursday, the city claimed it had promoted too many kids). How could such things happen in the world of non-educators who know everything about education?

Now, after the schoolchildren and their parents have suffered the humiliation and frustration of failing an entire grade, the chancellor is generously giving them the choice of staying or moving up after three weeks of school. No doubt it'll be simple for marginal students to catch up and this will have no enduring effect on them whatsoever.

Notice also there's no mention of "accountablity" in the article. That applies exclusively to unionized employees.

Update: The Daily News covers this story with a great quote from a DoE wonk:

"This is not really a case of anyone dropping the ball."

Try telling that to these kids and their parents. So much for accountability.

Thanks to Schoolgal.

Freedom of Speech

A Kentucky teacher burned two American flags to demonstrate free speech to his seventh grade classes. He will not face criminal charges, but his school board may have some sort of disciplinary action.

I do not support flag-burning prohibitions, particularly in the form of constitutional amendments. Still, I find this teacher's actions idiotic and grotesquely offensive.

I wouldn't want him teaching my kid, and I would raise hell if one of my kid's teachers were to try a stunt like this, particularly in front of junior-high kids, who are a handful already.

What do you think?

FastPass

Chancellor Klein is fond of adapting business models to suit education. For example, he's a large proponent of merit pay, as long as he doesn't need to pay a competitive wage beforehand. The chancellor believes great teachers will jump at the chance to (maybe) make money, as opposed to approaching nearby districts that pay well to begin with.

But why not, just to show what a regular guy you are, give current teachers a crack at getting their jobs back? After all, there are openings. Sure you can get two new teachers for the price of one vet, but why not give them a small window and have some fun while you're at it?

At Six Flags Great America in Illinois, if you eat a live cockroach you can bypass all the attraction lines. Perhaps the Chancellor can offer the 1,000 blackballed ATR teachers a similar opportunity. Eat a live cockroach and get your job back, before we offer it to someone off the street. This way, he could clean up the schools even as he provides experienced teachers for NYC's 1.1 million students.

While a thousand teachers sit in limbo, Klein's hired at least 275 new teachers, and he's looking for more. Klein says he won't force these teachers on anyone, and implies they're a drag on the system. What principal in his right mind wants to hire them after Klein sends out messages like that? The chancellor is clearly moving toward a showdown with clueless UFT leadership in 07.

Let's give Unity a fastpass to oblivion, rather than yet another opportunity to sell us out.