Whittling away at the monopoly. California initiative on teachers has support.

Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 8/10/05

[Crackingham]

In California, "Principal Faye Banton can walk through the classrooms of Edison Middle School in south Los Angeles and quickly identify her weakest teachers. But Banton knows she can't dismiss them without a drawn-out fight," the Los Angeles Times reported this week.

"It takes much too long to get rid of them," she said.

Under California law, school districts can dismiss teachers during their first two years on the job without providing any reason. But after two years in the classroom, teachers earn the more protective "permanent status." Before dismissing a permanent-status teacher, district officials must meticulously document poor performance over time, formally declare the intention to dismiss the teacher and then give the instructor 90 days to improve.

So, rather than hassle with dismissing a teacher, "which can consume hundreds of hours," the Times reports, some administrators shuffle problem instructors from school to school in a practice known to school officials as the "dance of the lemons."

The Los Angeles Unified School District has attempted to dismiss only 112 permanent teachers -- about one-quarter of 1 percent of the district's 43,000 instructors -- over the past decade.

"It takes two to three years to effectively remove someone who is not helpful to children in the classroom," Los Angeles Schools Superintendent Roy Romer reports. "That's too long."

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger believes he has the solution: a voter initiative that would authorize school districts to dismiss teachers summarily during the first five years, and also change the rules for firing veterans who perform poorly.

A Field Poll in June found broad support for the teacher reform among California voters, with 59 percent supporting it and only 35 percent opposed.

Would this Schwarzenegger reform solve all of the problems with California's public schools? Hardly. It would do little in the vital matter of giving back to teachers and principals the ability to restore order by disciplining students. It would do little to restore competition, in which parents control where their education dollars go and can choose the best schools regardless of geography. It would do little to remedy the failure of the federal government to prevent the schools from being swamped with the children of illegal immigrants, nor to break the "certification" stranglehold of the education colleges that effectively blocks lateral transfers into teaching from other professions.

But it would be a good start. And so, of course, the teachers unions vow to defeat it.

It will be interesting to watch and see just how fed up taxpayers -- and parents -- prove to be. And whether such a movement spreads to the East should it succeed in California.

[editor-surveyor]

"A Field Poll in June found broad support for the teacher reform among California voters, with 59 percent supporting it and only 35 percent opposed."

This can't be true, the Contra Costa Times says that the initiative is in trouble! (and we know that they wouldn't lie...)

[afnamvet]

The teacher's union has agressively stepped up their ads against it so broad support for reform must be true. Contra Costa Times = bird cage liner.

[elbucko]

"It takes two to three years to effectively remove someone who is not helpful to children in the classroom," Los Angeles Schools Superintendent Roy Romer reports. "That's too long."

Roy Romer oughta' know. A lot of parents would like to see "Uncle Roy" removed along with equally poor quality teachers. Go back to Colorado, Roy. Don't let the door hit ya....

[SmithL]

I still care about public education, but I am SO glad to be done with it.

[sierrahome]

"A Field Poll in June found broad support for the teacher reform among California voters"

In a "push poll"...MAYBE. The California Teachers Union wants MILLIONS...to teach your children socialist horse sh!!t. If you think California is just "crazy"...this will be in your state within a few years

[Czar]

I have no sympathy whatsoever for the CTA and the selfish drones it presides over. All the unions, teachers and staffs care about are feathering their own nests, all of course in the name of the children. Despite the tons of money fed into this bottomless pit by the taxpayers, California schools are a total mess.

Believe me, the taaxpayers are primed to hit them hard. They've earned it.

[RKV]

You mean you don't believe everything you read in the papers? Shame on you. /sarcasm

[Wiseghy]

This initiative would PAY TEACHERS MORE and yet the CTA opposes it, Hmmmm....

They tell their members that it will destroy teamwork by making teachers, schools and districts COMPETE against each other for incentive money...PERISH THE THOUGHT!!

I will refrain from trashing the CTA too much except to say that their hypocrisy is showing. Their leadership is getting in the way of helping children become better students. I have always been appalled at how membership just buys the company line on this stuff. Looks like voters aren't any more. I expect to see a massive confusion campaign on the initiative as we approach the election date. They'll do anything to keep the test scores in the tepid range if it protects their cozy, liberal leadership.

[GVnana]

Those are very interesting numbers. Aren't they? Shows how fed-up people really are with the education mess in CA.

[TaxPayer2000]

This can't be true, the Contra Costa Times says that the initiative is in trouble! (and we know that they wouldn't lie...)

I was born and raised in contra costa country. now I live in orange county, I actually miss reading the Contra Costa Times, always good for a laugh!

[budwiesest]

some administrators shuffle problem instructors from school to school in a practice known to school officials as the "dance of the lemons."

They do the same dance with PhD'd administrators. A certain 'Rudy Crew' comes to mind: Got 'danced' from Sacramento only to get a raise in Oregon, where more dancing took place. Last I heard, he was bringing down about 205K/year somewhere near Seattle.

Given that public education is so awash in taxpayer money, it's not surprising at all to hear of unofficial 'dances with incompentancy' taking place, rather than firings.

Most (if not all) of those who call themselves administrators would bankrupt a doughnut shop in two months or less. Damn good thing teaching mustn't opertate at a profit.

This ain't America folks, not even close. We're living in some g*ddamn third dimension where 'up' means 'down', and 'in' means 'out'. Upside-down America. It's getting real old though. Not sure what the answer is, but something had better happen soon 'cause too many of us aren't benefitting from our actions that are contrary to the 'norm' these days.

As a taxpayer, I for one, am sick of supporting incompetence and stupidity in the public sphere. As the closest thing to a communist/socialist entity amongst us, public schools (and all things public) ought to be aware that we will hold them accountable. 'Till then, "care to dance?"

[SiliconValleyGuy]

This can't be true, the Contra Costa Times says that the initiative is in trouble! (and we know that they wouldn't lie...)

Thanks for the ping- and for the well-placed use of sarcasm. ;)

From the article: some administrators shuffle problem instructors from school to school in a practice known to school officials as the "dance of the lemons."

And these are supposedly "educators" dedicated to the good of California children's futures. Not!

[RobbyS]

"Under California law, school districts can dismiss teachers during their first two years on the job without providing any reason. But after two years in the classroom, teachers earn the more protective "permanent status." Before dismissing a permanent-status teacher, district officials must meticulously document poor performance over time, formally declare the intention to dismiss the teacher and then give the instructor 90 days to improve."

As a former teacher let me translate: When the principal could get rid of the underperforming teacher without showing cause, he does not because it is easy\ier not to do anything. Besides, many weak teachers quite without prodding. After the teacher has permanent status, he will not take the time to document poor performance.
performance, because he is too lazy to do the paperwork. Real supervision is hard work.

[AgThorn]

Bears repeating:

Would this Schwarzenegger reform solve all of the problems with California's public schools? Hardly.

1. It would do little in the vital matter of giving back to teachers and principals the ability to restore order by disciplining students.
   
2. It would do little to restore competition, in which parents control where their education dollars go and can choose the best schools regardless of geography.
   
3. It would do little to remedy the failure of the federal government to prevent the schools from being swamped with the children of illegal immigrants,
   
4. nor to break the "certification" stranglehold of the education colleges that effectively blocks lateral transfers into teaching from other professions.

But it would be a good start. And so, of course, the teachers unions vow to defeat it.

[hauerf]

"They do the same dance with PhD'd administrators. A certain 'Rudy Crew' comes to mind: Got 'danced' from Sacramento only to get a raise in Oregon, where more dancing took place. Last I heard, he was bringing down about 205K/year somewhere near Seattle."

Sounds like a piker. Last I heard, and that was at least five years ago, the chauffeurs provided to the top ten or so LAUSD administrators were paid over $100k/year.

[apillar]

The problem is not just specific to teachers, once most state and federal employees complete their probationary period (1 to 3 years depending on the position), it takes nothing short of an act of god to remove them from their jobs.