PBS , using that quiet intellectual tone listeners are so comfortable hearing ran a story on the unfairness of teachers union to new, qualified teachers and the devastation wrought to students .
The gist of this argument is this: Unions protect bad teachers, allow "new" competent teachers to be fired first and leave districts with "highly paid less than qualified" teachers.
The truth of the matter is this: School districts would like nothing more than to bust unions. If you believe school districts are performing poorly, imagine the education your children will receive from low paying first or second year teachers.Compare it to accepting the lowest bidder to perform heart surgery. You want to hire the youngest, "most up to date" new heart surgeon to cut you or a family member open?
Be my guest.
The myths behind the "union as stone waller" argument are these:
1. Many incompetent teachers are allowed to teach because the union protects them.
False:
Like many businesses a process does exist to fire a teacher. The employer must write the employee a warning notice specifically directing the teacher's performance, citing the contract expectations.
This process does not address suchs activities as leaving students unattended, using force, neglecting students, not providing the educational curriculum expected by the district, driving students in personal vehicles, etc. Many of these are immediate firing offenses. No contract protects the irresponsible or dangerous teacher from termination.
So the myth teachers can't be dismissed is is just that. Incompetent teachers can and are dismissed . Ask any teacher, if an administrator wants you gone, they will find a way.
2. "New teachers" are cheaper and better.
What a joke. Every teacher knows it takes at least two years to know your curriculum well enough to be proficient.
Research shows that every class with a first year teacher puts your child back a year in learning.
Most first year teachers are just hoping to get through the year without being noticed. Good first year teachers will admit their ignorance and ask master teachers for help. They will inhale all the good teaching around them, remembering the best classroom management practices and pursue opportunities to watch master teachers in action.
Those first year teachers, smug in their beliefs the education just completed makes them experts are the dangerous ones parents should hope are in another classroom. I have seen a third grade cadre of experienced teachers assist a failed fourth year NCLB school to success. In three years test scores climbed and two years in a row the school met AYP for the first time (ever). A new principal came in, hired new staff three years ago encouraging many of the master teachers to go elsewhere so young teachers could be hired. The school has failed three years in a row. If the new teachers are well trained and continue to learn, perhaps the school will see results in another year or so. What a loss for the students.
I was a first year teacher, I remember feeling totally overwhelmed, staying at work until 9pm most nights, working weekends, feeling like a beggar, asking if I could sit in classrooms, ideas for lesson extensions, ways to differentiate my lessons, and a million other questions. Some teachers were gracious and helpful, others mean and petty. Like any large business, one can appreciate those willing to help. It is a commitment of mine and I am forever grateful .
New and young are not always better. Yes, a young heart surgeon may have learned all the latest techniques-but his lack of experience would sure make me nervous. A teacher's experience is critical to the success of your child.
3. Teachers with experience are not as up to date as new teachers.
False. Teachers are not only strongly encouraged to obtain a Master's Degree once they begin teaching, they are required by the employing district, the state and the federal government to complete a substantial amount of training hours in order to renew their licenses.. Not only are they required to complete these hours, they are also required to pay for the training . This can amount to thousands of dollars.
In my district, once a Masters degree is obtained, the pay scale is set up to reward continued schooling. The levels of expertise look something like this:
BA/BA+16. BA+32, MA, MA+16, MA+32, PhD.
After having reached MA+32, I am still required to obtain further education to maintain my license. In fact, teachers are now encouraged to attend another program for those with MA+32, an additional 16 college credits, which provides an additional 3,000 per year.
At a time of potential layoffs, and salary freezes, this program remains intact. No one, but those in the 16 college credit program, receive raises. The program will cost me 3100.00 this year.
I suppose I could have gone on and worked for a PhD but I love teaching children. I love learning new methods and approaches to teaching. I just want to be an effective teacher. I have no desire to be an administrator or a University professor. Sometimes I think the educational requirements are overinflated
but if these classes make me a more effective teacher, I'll do it.
4. Longevity is too expensive.
You get what you pay for. Wouldn't you rather have a teacher, well paid, knowledgeable and experienced teaching your children? Most teachers stay in teaching because they love it. It is a passion. The committment has everything to do with the learning success of students. If you had any idea of how much money teachers personally spend decorating classrooms, purchasing learning materials, keeping snacks for hungry children, kleenex for those sent to school with runny noses and paper towels which will do the job, brown paper bags for projects, notebooks so each child has a journal, extra markers and coloring pencils because the district does not provide them, craft stuff for parent presents, additional learning games, flash cards, puzzles and games, a library usually consisting of 300 or more books because the district does not provide classroom libraries, and all of it is a labor of love. Teachers who love teaching don't care what it cost to teach children. But they do need to make a living to support their own families.
5. Teachers get paid to do nothing
Yeah? Our contract is for a specific number of teaching days. We do not get paid for holidays, those weeks off in the summer, spring break or Christmas break. We get paid for the days we teach. We ask that our salary be spread over 12 months because we need to eat during those times. We aren't getting paid for those times.
Ironically teachers will spend a good part of their "time off" preparing for the next semester, or the next school year, or scouring stores, Goodwill, Salvation army, Walmart and any other store offering specials on school supplies, books, furniture, games and whatever else is needed for the next school year.
Next time you hear the myth of the teacher who cannot be fired, the myth of the teacher who does nothing but babysit, or the myth of the teacher who walks out of the building each day at 3:00 with nothing to do, hopefully you remember teachers are not the enemy. In fact, good teachers are precious and consider your children to be precious as well.
