Teachers' union halts extra classes in Syracuse, NY

The Associated Press ^ | Tuesday, November 6, 2001 | By MICHAEL GORMLEY

[Behind Liberal Lines]

ALBANY -- A union has stopped some teachers from providing extra remedial classes for no extra pay as part of their attempt to reduce class sizes and better serve students in need.

The Syracuse Teachers Association union on Friday filed a complaint that has effectively ended the extra classes taught by five math and English teachers and a special education instructor, school and union officials said Monday.

[Tai_Chung]

The Syracuse Teachers Association union on Friday filed a complaint that has effectively ended the extra classes taught by five math and English teachers and a special education instructor...

I'm sure the teacher's union was only thinking of the children. (/sarcasm)

[BobWNY]

I have relatives that live in Syracuse and they say nothing was mentioned about this on the local tv news, although a article was carried about it in the local newspaper.

They are all wound up about the mayorial campaign.

Another good reason why vouchers should be provided to parents to get out of the money grubbing teachers union grasp.

[Eska]

Big difference teaching a class of 30 some students, including 7-8 special needs that are often disruptive due to social/emotional problems and a class of 20 students who are in school to learn & excel academically.

Schools today are so much different than say 20 years ago; all the related social and behavioral problems tend to disrupt the process. A refection of our society and ourselves.

A few teachers come in at 7 and are gone at 3, but most I know spend 10 hours a day at school and several more at home each night because they really enjoy teaching.

Teachers generally don't teach for that 40,000 dollar salary, they teach because the better (behavior) students make it so rewarding and fun.

[porgygirl]

[Teacher317]

I'm sure the teacher's union was only thinking of the children. (/sarcasm>)

Good point, ubut in this case they aren't even thinking of the teachers... this was done voluntarily. They wanted to do this so badly that they were doing it for free... and our beloved unions have stepped in to make sure we don't accidentally get any teaching done.

Defang the stupid teacher's unions. They don't answer to anyone, and only make matters worse. They keep crummy teachers in their jobs, they keep teachers from working hard, they apparently keep teachers from volunteering for extra tutoring, they stifle competition, they take money from teachers to use illegally in election campaigns... (I'll think of ten more in a few minutes)