DC pay for performance scam.
Darling of the union haters, Michelle Rhee, and DC Mayor Fenty.
Those who have read this blog over the years know that I am not one who is dismissive of all pay for performance plans. I don’t believe that the present standard salary schedule of steps-and-lanes is or needs to be etched in stone. But Michelle Rhee, head of the Washington DC schools and darling of the privatizers and union haters has made it clear that improving student performance has little to do with how she conceives pay for performance.
The WaPo reports yesterday:
D.C. teachers interested in the huge salary increases proposed by Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee would not only have to relinquish their seniority but also risk dismissal by spending a year on probation, according to details of the plan released yesterday.
Could the union busting intentions of this proposal be any more clear and obvious. This isn’t about student performance. This is about trashing union protections, seniority, due process and fairness.
Apparently DC teachers may not be so ready to sell off their union rights.
Most teachers were reluctant to comment after the sessions at McKinley Technological High School in Northeast. Those who spoke expressed reactions ranging from tentative to hostile.
“I’m just going to take it all in,” said Lilian Turner of Davis Elementary in Southeast, a teacher for 21 years.
Others denounced (union president George) Parker for what they described as an unseemly collaboration with Rhee in promoting the plan.
“I’m unclear as to why the union president is coming to the union in the middle of negotiations and why the president of the union is negotiating away seniority and tenure,” said Jeff Canady, who teaches third grade at Emery Elementary in Northeast.
I think Jeff may be clearer than he is letting on.
I think that the only teachers who would reject this are those who know they can not perform in the classroom. I wish they would offer this in Cincinnati Public Schools, I would jump on it in a heartbeat.
If the only teachers in the Cincinnati Public Schools who would reject this union busting scheme are those that are not as good at teaching as you are Pseudoguru, why don’t you stand up in front of them and propose it to your colleagues?
“I wish they would offer this in Cincinnati Public Schools, I would jump on it in a heartbeat.”
And if wishes were fishes, I know where I’d be,
Casting my net in the dark rolling sea;
And if my net’s empty when it comes back to shore,
I’ll throw it away and go fishing no more.