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Throwing teachers under the bus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I got a few emails following Tuesday’s post about teachers forced to change grades.
The teachers who contacted me mentioned a bigger problem — when principals fail to defend them, particularly when it comes to discipline. They cited incidents where principals seemed more worried about parents running to the school board rather than supporting teachers.
Teachers, do your principals back you up?
Parents, how often do you contact principals? Do you try talking with the teacher first?
Housekeeping note: You will have two guest bloggers next week while I’m on vacation. I’m leaving you in the excellent hands of Aileen Dodd, who covers Gwinnett schools, and Kristina Torres, who covers DeKalb education.
Also, ajc.com has started a new channel for volunteers. Check out volunteer opportunities for your school.
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Should the state takeover Clayton schools?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue’s executive legal team is looking at what it would take for the state to step in and rescue troubled schools. These steps are because Clayton County schools lost its accreditation.
For the state to step in, a change must be made to the state constitution. Any amendment must be approved by the Legislature and voters. The earliest that could happen is November 2010.
About 50 school districts across the country have some sort of state involvement. Takeovers don’t solve all problems. Researchers say it takes about three to five years for a system to turnaround.
States typically fire the school district’s superintendent and other top officials. Then states must appoint new administrators. (Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall was selected by New Jersey to be the state appointed superintendent of Newark public schools after the state took over that district.)
In some communities, parents and teachers fought against state takeovers, arguing it wasn’t right for the state to usurp local control.
Should Georgia step in and take over troubled school systems, like Clayton? What criteria would determine when the state should come in and when it should leave?
On another note, we recently began a Web channel to link people to non-profits and volunteer groups, so check it out.
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More budget problems
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb County schools is offering buyouts to 189 veteran central office employees.
DeKalb has been wrestling with financial problems. Like other systems, DeKalb is trying to deal with high fuel and utility costs and funding cuts from the state. But DeKalb has also been hit with a declining enrollment.
As some of you may remember, DeKalb already cut back on running some buses and eliminated a popular German program in two elementary schools.
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of these budget problems, for DeKalb and other school districts. What other cuts do you think systems will make?
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Missing the first weeks of school
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It happens every year. The first day of school comes and officials count their enrollment. By the time Labor Day rolls around, the number of students increases by several thousand.
Lots of kids miss the first days of school. In Gwinnett County, more than 5,000 students have enrolled since the new school year began. Last week I visited a school in Atlanta and saw lines of students and parents waiting to register.
Some of these people are taking advantage of No Child Left Behind transfers. Others just moved to the area and were not aware of August start dates. But that can’t account for everyone.
These late arrivals force teachers to review classroom rules. Teachers must review material new students missed, taking away learning time from students who showed up on day one.
Why is the start date for a new school year no longer sacred? What message does it send to students when their parents let them miss the first few weeks of school?
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Change that grade
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia Professional Standards Commission is revising the ethics code for educators. The commission is working with teacher associations and one suggestion is to prevent educators from being forced to change a grade.
They want a Doc Neace rule.
As some of you may remember, Larry “Doc” Neace was a physics teacher at Dacula High in Gwinnett County who was fired in 2005 for insubordination because he refused to restore a student’s grade on a lab report.
Neace said he dropped the grade because the student fell asleep in class. Gwinnett has a policy against lowering grades as a form of discipline. Neace said he’s been dropping grades for years as a way of reminding students they have to participate in class.
Neace’s firing received state and national attention. Since then, many groups have tried to prevent a repeat of what happened.
How often do teachers face situations where a superior forces or strongly encourages them to change a grade? Will adding a rule prohibiting these demands make a difference?
Latest comments
I am a proud member of GAE—a union. I am going to a Teachers Rights workshop this month; but I already know what my rights are.... read the full comment by HS Teacher | Comment on Throwing teachers under the bus Read Throwing teachers under the bus
Teachers are on their own. There is no support anywhere. I spent last year begging my principal to do something about a group of future convicts in my fourth grade classroom. She made excuse after excuse for them. I went to the super…no help there.... read the full comment by Sarah | Comment on Throwing teachers under the bus Read Throwing teachers under the bus
I’ve had one decent principal and one good AP. The rest are with the “under the bus” throwers :( I just “retired” from teaching special education after 4 LONG years. I couldn’t be happier now.... read the full comment by teach | Comment on Throwing teachers under the bus Read Throwing teachers under the bus
I used to think that teacher’s unions were evil and unnecessary, but I am quickly changing my tune. My county has so quickly spiraled into terrible working conditions, shady administration, bullying, crazy curriculum bandwagons, and the lowest teacher... read the full comment by elise | Comment on Throwing teachers under the bus Read Throwing teachers under the bus