When I started teaching a zillion years ago, I knew it would be my career, as did all the people I started teaching with. The young teachers I am working with today are looking at teaching as something to earn money with until they can start a real job. That is what the system has turned into!
PO'd- thank you for stating so well what I've been saying to my colleagues for some time now. Of the at least 12 new teachers in my school, there is one (who happens to come from a family of teachers and administrators) whom I actually see sticking with teaching for the long haul. The rest will tell you point blank that they have no intention of doing this for the rest of their lives. Is this a sign of the times- that young people just don't stick with anything for any extended period of time? Or is it the draining nature of this job, the lack of support, the amoung of personal time that needs to be dedicated to this job that is turning them off? In either case, Bloomberg is getting exactly what he wants- a revolving door of teachers at the lower end of the salary scale -none of whom will ever collect a city pension. They can make top salary as high as they want, because no one will be around to collect it.
Not everyone passes the teacher tests on the first try. One of my friends from grad school has been trying to pass the CST for elementary school teachers for the past two and a half years. She's a terrible test taker, but a great teacher. Love (not) Bloomie's comment on the fact that the LAST could be passed by a high schooler. Let him try to pass the elementary school teacher's CST and then get back to me!
Just one case only, built something to keep in mind:
I worked with an awesome teacher who taught special ed 4 year olds in my school - that is unbelievably hard to do. She failed the exam 9 times -- always a different part and often by a few points. Everyone gave her advice on how to pass and she took the UFT tutoring and paid for other courses. (I just used to tell her to read the Timess every day as prep.) I don't know, sometimes people have an ed experience that does not prepare them for these kinds of tests.
They finally lifted her license but my principal worked to keep her as a para. She was placed in her old classroom with the same 4 sp. ed. 4 yr olds "assisting" a brand new certified teacher. She did what she had done all along but at half the salary. She gave up on passing the test. But 2 years later she took it again on a lark feeling no pressure and passed and is in the same place doing the same thing but now as a teacher.
And what about the merit raises? That's among the proposals, according to the NYT article. I can't believe people are welcoming it as some sort of radical overhaul that will bring us in line with the world market. That's not what it is. The students with the highest needs will be pushed aside; teachers will see them as a threat to their salaries! How vile can a system get? Unless, of course, there were other criteria for merit... but that could get hopelessly messy.
These people had college and masters degrees. Instead of attacking them and firing them BloomKlein should examine the question of how you get a masters and can't pass the LAST? Look at the institutions and what they are teaching and wouldn't you think that if people are in an ed program and paying good money then there should be some component on passing the exams?
In fact, MA requirments often exist as a way to support the grad programs, not the teachers.
Schools that are well-run with new teachers supported will have no problem retaining teachers. My principal tries to support teachers by giving them a cooperating teacher to meet with once a week--even if they are put on a new grade.
However, I do not think these same teachers would stay if my AP were in charge. Her focus is usually negative before it is positive. And the way she finds solutions usally drives everyone up a wall because now we need a solution to her solution.
Klein's new crop of Leadership principals may even make those with 10
year's rethink their career options.
Now that the union sacrificied it's old, we will never see 25/55. That was just a silly enticement to get teachers to vote Yes the last time.
In fact, we may need to protect the pensions we have.
I'm surprised this blog and others did not post on what is happening to the teachers in New Jersey who may see a reduction in their pension benefits.
Merit pay can never work in the field of education. There are too many variables that we cannot control--homeless kids, kids whose parents are going through divorce, crack babies, etc, etc, etc. And if it is up to the principal to decide which of the teachers will get the raise, you can be it will only be the ones that have the same vision as he does!
My principal "dumped" the most challenging students in my class because I was able to "control" them as he put it. We are talking about students who crapped in their pants and flung it at their classmates, students who escaped my prison and screamed they were going to kill the f'n principal and students who told me they were going to shoot me. And my principal actually liked me. Where would I fit in merit pay? I prevented a couple of murders... I cleaned the desks of crap after school and I didn't get shot! How much is that worth?
Schoolgal is hot! She is in the "trenches" and that's the sort of babe we need to add some common sense to what really goes on in the classroom. She is good!You go girl!
Thanks so much for the "Hot" Rant!!
NYC Ed:
I would like to suggest a new tread this last week of holiday that is mayor/chancellor free, Randi/Unity/ICE free, teacher/classroom free, CFE free, and politics free.
Would it be possible to have a thread that can reach out to those in need or far away from home this holiday?
Here are some ideas that your posters can add to:
For our soldiers far away from their families this holiday season, Xerox has had it easy to send a card:
www.letssaythanks.com
Do you have an empty jar at home?
Fill it with loose change and leave it in front of the door of someone who may need it.
Toys for Tots
Thanks,
Schoolgal
Two salient points for today:
1. A Google search for Rod Paige scandal yields a mere 70,700 hits. This guy is just the type of educator we need to listen to.
2. It's regrettable that you chose to use a graphic of the Three Stooges in this context. They don't deserve this ignominy. Leave Moe, Larry, and Curly alone! (And Shemp, too, if you know what's good for you.)
Next up: The Billie Sol Estes plan for privatization of NYC schools.
Congrats ... You are the first EDUCATED educator I ever met!
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