The DOE and union have agreed to use a version of the "turnaround model" at two struggling high schools. Automotive and Boys and Girls High Schools. Starting in January, a hiring committee will be formed and interview all the teachers of the two schools. The likely outcome is that a good 50% or more of the teachers, most of them highly experienced, will find themselves without a classroom position and in the ATR pool for the 2015-16 school year. In fact, unlike the 18D process, the two schools do not have to hire back any of the present teachers if they do not want to.
If the Bloomberg inspired "turnaround model" the DOE tried to impose on 24 schools back in 2012 is any guide, then look for the two schools to jettison most of their highly experienced teachers, keeping a select few as mentors for the expected influx of inexpensive and unproven "newbie teachers" they will hire to replace the banished veterans.
The result will be an influx of hundred or more veteran teachers added to the ATR pool who will find it difficult to obtain a new appointment because of their salaries. Interestingly, these teachers without an appointment will not be subject to the rotation system, field supervision, or the tier two ATR discipline process. However,make no mistake, they will be ATRs. Of course, the union leadership will claim that the 18D like process was fair and the best teachers were selected. However, our union leadership is so disconnected from the membership that they would tell you its a sunny day when its raining out.
Will a newbie dominated teaching staff really result in improved academic improvement with the present student body? If you believe that than I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you or maybe you also believe in the tooth fairy?
20 comments:
Stealth union-busting...what else is new? That's why I'm leaving BEFORE they can zero-in on me. My crime? Age and salary...from effective to suddenly being "ineffective".
Unity Caucus: pissing on teachers and calling it rain for over twenty years...
Chaz....with Boys and Girls...the neighborhood it is in is changing DRASTICALLY..and the culture of the school,as it is presently, does not align with that racial and economic shift..the DOE fully recognizes that a neighborhood that is now boasting million dollar brownstones can't have a failing school with a majority African-American male student population in its midst...that is one factor that is causing the DOE to swoop in and SHOCK AND AWE the school....quite frankly...it needed to happen (I have a little knowledge of the school)....and in regards to the teachers...there are some very good teachers there who have real connection to the kids they teach.....some have some serious professionalism as well as pedogogical issues..but I will say the past leadership of the school was really caught between a rock and a hardplace given the circumstances. But with Wiltshire being appointed (and hooked up lovely by the Chancellor), he is pretty much been given free reign to do what he feels is necessary to remake the image and culture of Boys and Girls. All eyes are on him. The Chancellor is cosigning all this. Even the State Ed. Dept is aware of the situation. So if you look at it from the vantage I am looking at it from....in regards to some of the teachers who will become ATRs, it would appear all levels of the management structure are ok with this...and since the ATRs are codified in contractual language....well then it is damned if you do....damned if you don't.
You are of course 100% correct. Notice the picture of Mulgrew and Farina together - she has a very open seated stance and all smiles. Why not? She always gets everything she wants from our union. I remember reading Oprah's biography years ago, (when I was a real teacher and not an indentured servant), and I recall that she had an ephany. It occurred when her agent, (who was being very well paid), came back with a negotiated contract. He said it was a great deal, the very best he could do, and that she could get. On her way back to her office all the network executives came up to her singing the praises of her agent. She realized that if this guy was really fighting for her this wouldn't be happening. Ms. Farina was and is constantly singing the praises of Mike Mulgrew and the UFT.
Good thing I am smart enough to work in a decent school. We have a good majority of Caucasians and Asians. My school is doing just fine. No worries here! Don't set yourself up in a shit school.
I'm certain when the DOE deformers are finished with the restructuring of the administration, teachers and students of these schools-they will be give new names. Automotive HS will become the 'Auto Zone HS' and Boys and Girls HS will become ; A Few Remaining Boys and Less Girls HS'.
Mulgrew does more division then my former hs math teacher.
To Anon 8:08:
We work at similar schools. Asians and whites make up more than 50% of my school, meaning....there is NO chance of my school "closing", and NO chance we do poorly on a quality review.
Of course, someone will play the race card with my comment. But let's face facts, people!! Can you name me ONE school in NYC DOE that Bloomy closed where the majority of kids were white and/or Asian. Of course you cannot.
It's all about work ethic and priorities. Some cultures have it, and some don't. It is OBVIOUS which cultures do not. Of course there are exceptions... I am speaking about the majority.
Mikey Mulgrew strikes again with another sellout. I hope the Solidarity Caucus can make a huge impact quickly to the reign of our corrupt leader.
Why will they not be subjected to the same thing as other ATRs? If they don't rotate where will they be assigned?
8:08 and 11:50 are on point. The more minorities in your school, the greater the chance of it closing. I'm sorry, let me rephrase. The more minorities in your school, the only chance of it closing. The more whites, Asians, Indians, etc, the higher the grad rate and college acceptance. It's certainly the case, sorry but true. My school has about 40% minority so I'm good for several more years. Thank you.
You guys should stop with the race nonsense. I'm wondering if the DOE or UFT slugs are writing it to discredit this site and the people who read it.
Double Union Tuesday. Long day but worth it. 2PM Solidarity Caucus General Meeting. 5PM Citywide ATR meeting. Both located at 87-22 52nd Ave. Elmhurst NY
My cell is 347-564-7597 in case you get lost. There is a parking lot and it is one block off R Train Grand Ave. Station.
Again this freight train coming at our profession and our union brothers and sisters must be, will be, derailed.
Francesco Portelos
Racist remarks don't do our cause or this blog well at all
Its not racist marks if it can be backed up by data. Facts are facts
Sorry the truth hurts but you need to look at the numbers. Graduation rates at schools with large Asian and white students are higher. Sorry you aren't able to grasp this simple concept. As a teacher i try hard every day to educate all my students but to deny the facts is not helping anyone. Campus magnet, august martin, far rock and all the rest have very large non asian and non white students. As teachers we are now being evaluated on regents scores. If you want a high score get a job at a school with high numbers of asian and white students. simple concept to understand, if not i'll write another post.Good day to all
Data doesn't lie. The schools that have closed/restructured over the past 12 years contain a much larger black/latino population than those that have remained untouched. One can argue that poverty/free lunch status also plays a role-although many high schools that have restructured are not necessarily in poorer neighborhoods -but predominantly consist of students of color. This is pure data-and you can look it up on the DOE website for any school. It's this system that's in play that the Charter people prey upon to make their moves.
Data can be and is used to say whatever the presenter wants to prove. (One of the first lessons I learned many years ago in advertising.) We, as educators, must strive to refrain from generalities that demean us and the students we teach. All the things said, were said about Jews, Catholics, Irish, Italians and every group other than WASPs. (Public schools were so hostile to many of these groups that it caused the creation of parochial schools.) The charter schools will use these generalities against public schools and their teachers.
not demeaning anyone. graduation rates for each group speak for themselves. stop trying to spin the debate.
To 8:10,
You should like Eva Moskowitz.
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