A teacher’s perspective: Firing Day at a Charter School

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. I'm tired of having this argument

I've had ER&D training. I've been a trainer for ER&D. It's actually better PD than I've had from district administrators. There is nothing in ER&D that promotes firing teachers.

Your AFT link is from 2007. Since then, because of pressure from the rank and file (teachers like me), AFT leadership has backed down on several issues, particularly Common Core. Just last week, a statement was released asking for a moratorium on high stakes testing attached to Common Core. AFT has NEVER supported the growing amount of high stakes testing. In my district, because of feedback from teachers like me, and based on research from AFT, the amount of testing has actually been decreased. We have successfully negotiated every year for fewer tests and have cut the number in half in 5 years. Again, this has been accomplished with AFT's support and encouragement.

Your second link isn't even about AFT. Surely you understand that AFT represents teachers, not school board members or administrators.

The original claim was that "union officials collude with administration" and this is a nationwide problem. Unless my district and state are no longer a part of the nation, this is not true.

I can't speak for what is happening in NY or other locals. But I do know that in my local and in my state, there is absolutely no colluding with admins to fire teachers. Jobs have been saved, not lost.

We have also successfully lobbied at the state level (again, with AFT national's support) to fight back against every piece of legislation that attempts to tie student achievement to teacher pay and/or evaluation. Credit also goes to NEA, also spending lots of money at the state level to keep this legislation dead. This year we were able to beat back every piece of legislation promoted by Students First. At the district level, we have also successfully opposed every plan to evaluate and/or pay teachers based on student test scores. We also still have tenure and LIFO language in our contract.

Again, my objection is to the statement that this is a nationwide problem. I'm not 100% in agreement with AFT leadership on every issue. But I can state that at the local and state level, they have been an invaluable resource for us.