Comments on: Unionization = Student Achievement?

By: Cool Reform Chic (aka JAllen)

Cool Reform Chic (aka JAllen) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:58:52 +0000

Hey NYer — I hear you, but let’s talk about what the words “just cause” mean. For a charter school board that is committed to making student achievement the primary goal of a school, “just cause” might mean a teacher isn’t making a measurable impact. But such performance measures are impossible to expect from a union contract. Of course teachers, like all employees, need the regular performance feedback. Fired on a whim? That’s normally what people say when they are just mad they were relieved of their duties for “just cause.”

By: KIPP AMP Organizing Draws Wide Notice | Edwize

KIPP AMP Organizing Draws Wide Notice | Edwize — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:52:12 +0000

[...] And no anti-teacher union round-up would be complete without the Jim and Tammy Faye Bakkers of that world, Mike Antonucci on Intercepts and Jeanne Allen on Edspresso. [...]

By: Socrates

Socrates — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:33:26 +0000

Sounds like the teachers at ONE KIPP school, AMP, want more protection, while the union is upping the ante on the other one, Infinity, against the teachers’ will. Infinity signed on for union benefits, with their administration’s blessing, many years ago, but not for union representation in negotiations. Unfortunately, once they’re “unionized,” the teacher are represented whether they want to be or not.

By: NYer

NYer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:27:53 +0000

Actually, the KIPP AMP teachers aren’t asking for fewer hours or permanent tenure. They just don’t want to be fired without just cause. And why should the school be able to fire teachers on a whim with no explanation? Seems reasonable to do the teachers the courtesy of giving them some sort of feedback before they’re fired, especially in a school with the motto “team and family.”