Not to defnd Randi, but my reading of the story is that Randi was on the panel of yesterday's teacher symposium. NOT the blue ribbon panel.Having read some of the makeup of the BRP and a little of its recommendations I find it hard to believe that the Panel would accept any union head, even one as malleable as Randi into their group.
The most important fact in that story is the recommendation for the end of America's experiment in egalatarian education. We have been almost alone in the world in structuring our system so that late bloomers and could catch up and that the option for higher ed was open to most. Now we are to track our kids. To where? A Ford plant in Mexico, a Nike plant in Indonesia?
People still come to America because of the educational opportunities our design allows for.
Now this all makes sense. The roboticized workshop methods, the attack on large high schools, the creation of tiny boutique schools which accept no student with needs. We, in NYC will produce the working proletariat, taught to complete their tasks in the manner designed and ask no questions, while the graduates of Ardsley, Manhasset, and Short Hills will run the society with no interference. Am I being to pessimistic?
Thank you very much. I think you're right about the panel (and everything else, in fact), and I've modified the post to reflect it.
Years and years ago when I started teaching, the pension was part of the big draw. Teachers worked for much less than their actual value because of the big payoff in the future. After all, a teacher's education is equivalent to that of any lawyers, but our salaries aren't. We didn't go green meadows in the present for the promise of rich pastures in the future. Now, people are jealous. Friends of mine in private industry are talking about my pension like it is something I will be getting for free, not something I worked for and earned. The miniscule raises that we will be offered now in exchange of these pesnions are nothing. I can't be affected by these proposed changes, but too many people will be. Keeping the pension along with health care benefits are the two most important things that should not be given up or negotiated away under any circumstances.
The problem with pensions is that they are not part of the negotiation process in NYS. They are the product of legislative action. No union negotiated a tier 3 and 4 in the 70s. The dire finances forced the lawmakers into some sort of action.
Today the finances are not as dire, but these players like Klein and Tucker. the guru of America's Choice, are attempting to steamroll these new ideas as a cure for the disease of education failure.
Career educators, save for admins, are no longer desired. Teachers are cogs in the machine of new methodologies, i.e. America's Choice, Teachers College. They are meant to be replaced. If the DoE provides a 401k plan that can be carried to the next job it will be easier to restock the system every six or seven years, as the pension will no longer be an element keeping people in the system.
As an aside as to desired outcomes of this panel, I found a new middle school in the DoE looking for teachers. It aspires to be a gifted school and does not use Amer Choice or TC. It follows Renzulli and Reis' ideas about intense curriculum, ddevelopment of Knowledge, and using long term in depth study to acquire it. The difference between Renzulli and Tucker's America's Choice is the difference between learning to play Tee Ball and playing Triple A baseball. Only with Amer Choice the aspiring balplayer never progresses beyond Tee Ball. But that's enough for the Panel. They're interested ina few pplayers and many bat boys.
Pensions were a part of the private sector too until big business decided it wanted to save money. yet still lined the pockets of CEOs. Many people who were close to pension were suddenly laid off, while those in charge received huge payoffs.
Now those making much more than we do can invest.
But keep in mind, we never got the salaries we deserved, and even though senior teachers are making more (less than our counterparts) they have huge expenses since they have college-aged children and if they lost their pensions, they would have no income.
Yes this mayor has forced our students to become test prep wizards, but that's because it effects his bottom line--the scores--not the students.
There's a lot of variation in pension plans, though. Cops and sanitation workers can retire before teachers. It's probably true the master plan is to eliminate pensions for teachers. Then they can give the teachers an immediate raise, forget to do so again for a few years, and have them right back where they were, except with no pension.
We've really got to get rid of this no-backbone leadership before they give away even more.
xkaydet65:
Can you tell me the name of the School. I am interested in possibly switching schools next year and moving from Elementary to Middle School (My License is up to 6th grade, but I think I am allowed to teach 7th.)
Many thanks.
It's called The Bell school.Look under new schools on the DoE site after you hit human resources.
Just thought I'd drop a link for you guys.http://www.haloscan.com/comments/ag2828/
5720022354839702351/. This will take you to info on Marc Tucker of America's Choice and chairman of the Panel NYC ed writes about.If you read enough about this guy and his pals on the Panel it is enough to send my friends on Free Republic into common cause with the folks on Daily Kos. He's out to remodel America and his model will have little room for niceties like individual liberty.
This is who are REAL enemy is.
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