The Emergency and Exploitation

Thousands of teachers are going to be laid off. We must do something now to save our kids.

Then the wet blanket at EIA has to drop these party pooping steamers:

In 2003, California issued 20,000 pink slips, and only 3,000 teachers lost their jobs. The percentage will be higher this time around, but it is likely that a majority of the pink-slipped will be called back. So why so much angst? Because state law requires districts to give teachers what amounts to five months’ notice of a possible layoff. More notice is better than less if you knew you were definitely losing your job, but months of uncertainty only exacerbates the problem.

Then we get stories about local teachers of the year in Burbank and Santa Barbara County receiving pink slips with zero mention of why. What kind of system forces you to get rid of teachers of the year and keep others?

But why get caught up in such flummoxing factoids? CTA certainly doesn’t. Here are few rules for bargaining during trying times like ours, where kids, communities, and the general welfare of our democratic society are at stake, as sign-swinging screamers have recently reminded us:

* “Roll over current contract without re-opening any articles. Maintaining salary and benefits at current levels is a priority; keeping the status quo is a constructive victory.”

* “Do not agree to freeze step and column costs temporarily.”

* “Do not trade salary for jobs; in an effort to save positions, you could lose both.”

* “Do not agree to furlough days.”

* “Do not agree to or advocate for divisive budget cutting proposals, such as cutting certain positions (e.g. counselors, librarians or Education Support Professionals/classified).”

At least CTA had a pink background on their website a few weeks back. Solidarity. For the tenured. The rest get sent packing in a puff of pinkness. The hypocrisy is galling.

Pink Friday

Today was “Pink Friday.” In order to show “solidarity” and “support” of teachers who received layoff notices (pink slips) we were supposed to wear pink to work today. Also, according to the CTA flier, wearing pink would be a way to “stand up” for schools, teachers, and children.

I didn’t participate. This made for a bit of an uncomfortable day, since I was one of two people on the entire staff who did not wear pink. And it’s well known that I have an abundance of pink paraphernalia piled up in my wardrobe.

Kids and  and teachers on the bubble are being exploited as pawns in what ultimately is a political battle. Wear pink if you support teachers and kids. Says the union. Says CTA. I didn’t, and I had kids asking me if I supported teachers. I find that to be tyrannical, AND disingenuous. CTA and our local union won’t go near the sacred cow of seniority, and in order to screen this god-like entity, unions sacrifice children and teachers.  Seniority never quite makes it to dinner table for the family discussion. So the system works according to plan. The last hired (regardless of ability, effort, experience, or anything else that might have bearing on the effectiveness of a teacher) are first to get axed. We defend a system that ensures these teachers will be on the verge of unemployment, but we’re going to make them feel better by wearing pink!!?? PLEASE! The union made sure this would happen, and now that we’re out of money, they throw the newbies to the wolves. So lets stick up for the sheep while the wolves are tearing them to pieces. Solidarity.

And what’s best for kids? How’s this for “what’s best for kids”: Expert teacher brings years of expertise and training in English language instruction to the district. She’s only been at this particular district one year, so she’s first on the chopping block. Or this: 8th grade English teacher gets bumped by an elementary school teacher who has more years of experience in the district, and a dusty English credential that hasn’t been used in years. The 8th grade teacher happens to have more seniority than the fresh-faced, indefatigable, and knowledgeable 10th grade English teacher at the high school. The 8th grade teacher has never taught 10th grade, but he has “seniority,” so he bumps the rookie at the high school.

It’s what’s best for kids.

So  screw wearing pink today. I’m sticking up for the dignity of all teachers who work hard, demonstrate competence, and try their damnedest to inspire kids to enjoy, appreciate, and learn the subjects they teach. We can have a debate about funding, budgets, and  how to avoid cuts to education (when education spending makes up about half of our state budget and we’re billions in the hole). But there is no way I’m going to whore out students and teachers to a feed a beast that has not demonstrated the slightest inkling to even discuss alternatives to the institution that treats all teachers like time-stamped carbon copies.