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Teachers unions graded
What role should the teachers union play in improving L.A. Unified? Discuss round two of this week's Dust-Up.
Comments will close after two weeks.
1.
The union's purpose is to look out for the member's well-being as well as the students of the future...not the "perks" that come along with being in office and having a power trip and seeing the union as their cash cow. How do you explain all the "conferences" that Duffy and Julie Washington attend? What have they learned from these conferences that have benefited the members?
2. The current union leadership is much of the same beaurocracy as the district. It's true that in one single term, AJ Duffy, Julie Washington, Joel Jordan, Josh Pechthalt and David Goldberg have managed to dismantled the union's infrastructure without a blink of the eye or a care in the world that 80% of management have resigned, including two of the founding members of UTLA. In addition, many members (as well as staff) worry about the longevity of the union if we continue this path.
3. One of UTLA's biggest failings -- and there are many -- is this: In order to rise in the union, a teacher must leave his or her classroom to attend union events. In order to become a union leader, one must cease to be a teacher. Duffy is a disgrace. He had demonstrated throughout his term he does not fully understand labor law, as evidenced by this loud threats to stage walkouts that simply cannot happen. UTLA would be better off hiring a skilled labor leader instead of electing rank amateurs who abandoned their classrooms in order to rise to positions of power within the union.
4. The trouble with public schools is that funding for schools is based on property taxes. Low income areas receive less money for education than do high income areas. All schools should receive the same amount of funding, even if the difference is made up from State or Federal funds.
5. I believe Lisa's mistaken policy is quite clear in her last paragraph, "...that may not always be in the best interest of the teacher or student." "Principals would benefits....". That is the problem in a nutshell - principals would benefit, but it would not always be in the best interest of teachers or students. Isn't that backward ? The problem isn't that there is a lengthy contract. It is that there needs to be a lengthy contract because of the years and years of abuse by those same principals who Lisa wants to give more authority, and control. Wrong plan.
6. Some years ago I spent several summer sessions and numerous hours throughout a period of six years participating in the LEARN program. What we got from that training was applied to the schools in which we taught and we saw great progress. Then there was a change of leadership in the district and the program was dropped. LEARN and School Based Management programs should be re-instituted and supported by the district. The people at the local school, the teachers, administration and parents know what is best for that particular population.
7. We do need to look at the purpose of a union: it is to get what is best for the teachers, so they can live a decent life while devoting countless hours to the job. The majority of teachers spend innumerable hours to plan, research, and contact parents, etc. Teachers whose lives are in order are much more likely to be "good" teachers and devote the time needed to help students learn.
8. I found Lisa Snell's analysis of New York's education system interesting. Readers should note the dramatic difference in pay and per pupil funding for the New York Schools. They provide upwards to $10,000 a year in per pupil funding, making financial incentives possible without penalizing teachers. Any change in today's unions, whether they be the teachers or the screen writers will depend on funding that provides for compensation for their members. That is, a union's first job is to establish salary and work rules. Once salary is not an issue, incentives for subject area teachers or "lead teachers" is possible.
9. Unions are organized by workers for workers. The role of a union is to get better pay and working conditions for its members. Better education for students is not the goal of a union. Union ads that promote "It's for the Students" are lies. The interests of the teachers are not identical with the interests of students and parents. Don't be confused about the role of the union; it is not to better education, but to better the lives of teachers. If UTLA gets better wages and working conditions for its members, it is doing its job, irrespective of whether the children of Los Angeles are getting a decent education or not.
10. Yes Lisa, because I make so much money, the union is just too focused on teacher pay. Wake up, many of use are struggling to pay our rent, nevermind ever owning a home. The contract does treat us like professionals. That's the point of it. And if Green Dot teachers are so happy, why is Green Dot always looking for teachers in all subject areas? Because they are overworked, that's why. Nice try with the 401K. I'll take a pension any day to a 401K that can be eaten up by fees and once it is gone it is gone. Do these teachers pay into Social Security at Green Dot? Because if not, they are doubly screwed.
Submitted by: Kelly
2. The current union leadership is much of the same beaurocracy as the district. It's true that in one single term, AJ Duffy, Julie Washington, Joel Jordan, Josh Pechthalt and David Goldberg have managed to dismantled the union's infrastructure without a blink of the eye or a care in the world that 80% of management have resigned, including two of the founding members of UTLA. In addition, many members (as well as staff) worry about the longevity of the union if we continue this path.
Submitted by: Christian
3. One of UTLA's biggest failings -- and there are many -- is this: In order to rise in the union, a teacher must leave his or her classroom to attend union events. In order to become a union leader, one must cease to be a teacher. Duffy is a disgrace. He had demonstrated throughout his term he does not fully understand labor law, as evidenced by this loud threats to stage walkouts that simply cannot happen. UTLA would be better off hiring a skilled labor leader instead of electing rank amateurs who abandoned their classrooms in order to rise to positions of power within the union.
Submitted by: Clara Louise
4. The trouble with public schools is that funding for schools is based on property taxes. Low income areas receive less money for education than do high income areas. All schools should receive the same amount of funding, even if the difference is made up from State or Federal funds.
Submitted by: Dorothy Nicholson
5. I believe Lisa's mistaken policy is quite clear in her last paragraph, "...that may not always be in the best interest of the teacher or student." "Principals would benefits....". That is the problem in a nutshell - principals would benefit, but it would not always be in the best interest of teachers or students. Isn't that backward ? The problem isn't that there is a lengthy contract. It is that there needs to be a lengthy contract because of the years and years of abuse by those same principals who Lisa wants to give more authority, and control. Wrong plan.
Submitted by: Mike Dreebin
6. Some years ago I spent several summer sessions and numerous hours throughout a period of six years participating in the LEARN program. What we got from that training was applied to the schools in which we taught and we saw great progress. Then there was a change of leadership in the district and the program was dropped. LEARN and School Based Management programs should be re-instituted and supported by the district. The people at the local school, the teachers, administration and parents know what is best for that particular population.
Submitted by: Bill M.
7. We do need to look at the purpose of a union: it is to get what is best for the teachers, so they can live a decent life while devoting countless hours to the job. The majority of teachers spend innumerable hours to plan, research, and contact parents, etc. Teachers whose lives are in order are much more likely to be "good" teachers and devote the time needed to help students learn.
Submitted by: Bill M.
8. I found Lisa Snell's analysis of New York's education system interesting. Readers should note the dramatic difference in pay and per pupil funding for the New York Schools. They provide upwards to $10,000 a year in per pupil funding, making financial incentives possible without penalizing teachers. Any change in today's unions, whether they be the teachers or the screen writers will depend on funding that provides for compensation for their members. That is, a union's first job is to establish salary and work rules. Once salary is not an issue, incentives for subject area teachers or "lead teachers" is possible.
Submitted by: ChrisK
9. Unions are organized by workers for workers. The role of a union is to get better pay and working conditions for its members. Better education for students is not the goal of a union. Union ads that promote "It's for the Students" are lies. The interests of the teachers are not identical with the interests of students and parents. Don't be confused about the role of the union; it is not to better education, but to better the lives of teachers. If UTLA gets better wages and working conditions for its members, it is doing its job, irrespective of whether the children of Los Angeles are getting a decent education or not.
Submitted by: ajk
10. Yes Lisa, because I make so much money, the union is just too focused on teacher pay. Wake up, many of use are struggling to pay our rent, nevermind ever owning a home. The contract does treat us like professionals. That's the point of it. And if Green Dot teachers are so happy, why is Green Dot always looking for teachers in all subject areas? Because they are overworked, that's why. Nice try with the 401K. I'll take a pension any day to a 401K that can be eaten up by fees and once it is gone it is gone. Do these teachers pay into Social Security at Green Dot? Because if not, they are doubly screwed.
Submitted by: Barbara
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