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

[AnneD]

40. We do not have unions in Texas.....

They are called associations. We can't strike. But with the way we are being worked to death and students tested out of their minds, it may come to pass.

All those problems aside, I signed up for my 'union' 2 years into my service as a School Nurse. Year before last our school became a charter in a deal that I still think is illegal (public resources going for a private enterprise). The first year, they got rid of all the teachers with experience and continuing contracts. Now these teachers taught and survived an inner city ghetto school and loved their job. They only thing I could see in common was that they were high paid for their seniority. They were replaced by these fresh faced Teach for America kids that got poverty wages and loan forgiveness after several years. They are now all gone, on to greener pastures.

I noticed that after the blood shed layoffs, I was the highest paid person on campus. I knew they would come gunning for me and sure enough, they did. But in one way, a Nurse on campus id not like a teacher. I provided medical services for special education student and it was stipulated in the federal paperwork. They laid me off, but I stopped of at the union building with documentation, clinic notes and letters from parents.

My union went to bat for me and 2 weeks before we had a hearing, the layoff was reascended and I was offered another position at another school. My union steward said that I basically had them by the short hairs. I needed one more year to make my retirement and I got that and more. In that one action, it made it worth all my years of volunteering my time and the pittance that was my dues. Your union is what you make of it. I love my union and will volunteer they after I retire.

I am looking into retiring within the next year and all I can say is that education in this country is being stripped of funds for profit with the intention of discarding the remains. They do not want an educated workforce or voters. It is not to their benefit. So anytime you see the latest education flavor of the month-ask yourself this: After all the reforms in education that has taken place, why are the graduating students of today not able to match their grandparent level of ability in the basics? Just a thought......