Sam Dillon of the New York Times gives us a closer look at the Race to the Top. Looks like Arne Duncan and the BRT's plan to run roughshod over teachers and unions might be hitting some bumps in the road. In the race to the bottom for working Americans why should teachers be treated better than everyone else? Let the debate begin!
As Charter Schools Unionize, Many Debate Effect
CHICAGO — Dissatisfied with long hours, churning turnover and, in some cases, lower pay than instructors at other public schools, an increasing number of teachers at charter schools are unionizing.
.....But the unionization effort raises questions about whether unions will strengthen the charter movement by stabilizing its young, often transient teaching force, or weaken it by preventing administrators from firing ineffective teachers and imposing changes they say help raise achievement, like an extended school year.
Let's see now, where do you think this administration will come down on the question of whether unions will be good for charter schools? Hmmm....
It appears charter and voucher schools, as they expand in number, are adopting many of the same elements as their public school rivals.
ReplyDeleteAnd as they become prominent, they appear to require more funding, just like the public schools.
Bottom line; we're creating charter and voucher parallel systems that contain pretty much the same problems as the public school systems, tripling the amount of government oversight required. Wasn't it hard enough watching over the public school systems?
I've included the following "Race to the Bottom" stories that deal with linking testing to teacher pay. Duncan's special charter money is lost for states that have banned such a test, like Wisconsin, Nevada and California. More revealing, Republicans who have shunned stimulus money and more government spending are proposing a law to do away with the ban, so they can get federal money (a handout) to promote their pet "charter privatization of schools." Have they no shame!
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/column/milfred//index.php?ntid=459646&ntpid=1
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/51591557.html
Will this be part of the "Race to the Top" Sec. Duncan? Will you make the US No. 1 for student suicides?
ReplyDeleteWave of suicide sweeps China's graduate class
Millions of students will graduate in China this year, but with up to a third unable to get a job the number of suicides is soaring.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/5907368/Wave-of-suicide-sweeps-Chinas-graduate-class.html
By David Eimer in Hebei Province
Published: 9:00PM BST 25 Jul 2009