tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post8682471787520257507..comments2024-03-29T04:34:05.185-04:00Comments on CURMUDGUCATION: TNTP Proposes New Tenure PlanPeter Greenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-11898610935887884712014-09-23T13:20:51.278-04:002014-09-23T13:20:51.278-04:00I agree. I am a retired teacher from the Normandy...I agree. I am a retired teacher from the Normandy School District. My last year was one of the worst years in my lifetime. I was harassed by a new superintendent because I had the nerve to speak with a school board member about conditions in my building (inside my classroom) without her permission. I was in a technology classroom where 15 desktop computers were housed. That Fall (2005) was a pretty rainy season. Rain poured into my classroom because of a leaky roof in the building. I followed necessary protocol - contacted my principal, who contacted maintenance. Maintenance dept. brought in trash cans and plastic to cover wires; but that was not enough. My students were still in an unsafe environment. So, I called a School Board member. Much to my surprise, this superintendent became furious with me. She forced my principal to write a letter of reprimand to me. My Union rep. forced the district to remove the letter of reprimand from my File. After that, this superintendent transferred me from that school to another building. This happened during the middle of the school year. After holiday break, I had to report to a new building where I was greeted by a new principal and sent to a new classroom where the students had had substitute teachers after substitute teacher. I finished out that school year by the grace of God. Then, I decided to retire. I refused to sign a new contract for fear that this superintendent would come after me again. I refused to give her the opportunity to fire me. Teachers all over deal with this sort of leadership all the time. No one can tell me that I didn't have the right to speak with a school board member. According to this superintendent, I had no right to "go over her head". I really feel sorry for teachers now-a-day because they have to not only work hard inside their classrooms, but they also have to deal with the foolishness of administrators who could care less about our youth. Google this name: Dr. Connie Calloway BTW, she was let go (bought out of her contract) by two school districts before she was hired by Normandy School district. After leaving Normandy, she was hired by Detroit school district...and was fired!!! How did that happen? Why did Normandy decide to hire her in the first place? Go figure!msblkwidowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17781158062821507109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-76450041653570868802014-09-14T15:25:32.553-04:002014-09-14T15:25:32.553-04:00It's funny-- when standardized test results co...It's funny-- when standardized test results come in, reformsters assume that the data must be accurate and "prove" that X number of students are failing. But when the data don't fit the pre-determined conclusion (there are a zillion terrible teachers), then the data must be faulty.Peter Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-32596891838126289972014-09-13T23:08:32.265-04:002014-09-13T23:08:32.265-04:00Also, don't assume a teacher who is fired &quo...Also, don't assume a teacher who is fired "deserves" it. Few do. School districts make crap up all the time to ruin a teacher because they can. They thumb their noses at the victims, daring them to sue. They don't care if they break the law because it isn't their money.susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042368771115647117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-70703602357371338292014-09-13T23:05:46.896-04:002014-09-13T23:05:46.896-04:00The "statistics" are a load of crap. Sch...The "statistics" are a load of crap. School districts use all kinds of deceitful jargon to hide the REAL numbers of the teachers who get dumped all the time in school districts all over the country. Non-renewals, resignations in lieu of dismissals, forced resignations, and "dismissals" are ALL firings, and they number in the THOUSANDS a year. The ONLY thing school districts and "reformers" use in their deceitful arguments is those few teachers who actually go through the kangaroo hearings called "due process hearings" and lose, which 75 percent of those few who opt for them do. Almost all of them who are eligible take resignations in lieu of dismissals in exchange for a promise not to sue a school district and some itty-bitty amount of money. These teachers stupidly think this will help them in the job search process, but I can tell you it makes NO difference since you have to disclose any kind of termination, which a resignation in lieu of a dismissal is, on a job application. It gets thrown into the trash.<br /><br />People need to talk to teachers who have been dumped to find out just how much power principals have, and how little teachers really have and how easily teachers are dumped. It's a shock, let me tell you.<br /><br />susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042368771115647117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-29691942172958366182014-09-13T23:03:00.415-04:002014-09-13T23:03:00.415-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042368771115647117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-31054942181143671392014-09-13T16:28:41.626-04:002014-09-13T16:28:41.626-04:00"But consider the fact that, of California’s
..."But consider the fact that, of California’s<br />275,000 teachers (a majority of whom are tenured), fewer<br />than a half dozen are dismissed for performance each year.<br />The numbers are very similar in other large states like New<br />York, Illinois and New Jersey."<br /><br />I have no doubt that many teachers don't get as far as the dismissal process. They quit, leave, retire, resign before the hearings are ever scheduled. Union officials suggest this course of action to the teacher because they don't want to defend no-win situations. It would be fiscally irresponsible to spend members' dues in defense of the indefensible. laMissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00516322307725011313noreply@blogger.com