All Public School Teachers Dismissed in RI

[ujs3]

Amidst all the changes that have been occurring here in FL, I turned to see just how bad it is in other cities around the US. I think that the latest news to come out of RI is definitely the worst news I've read. The board has voted to fire all public school teachers. You can check out the two articles below for more information. It's so hard to fathom, but this is the world we live in.


http://www.projo.com/news/content/PROVIDENCE_SCHOOL_MEETINGS_02-25-11_MCMMBSG_v26.1bd455c.html

[Captain Zissou]

WRONG.

They have voted to issue all teachers notices that they are eligible to be terminated prior to the next school year.  The state government mandates that all teachers who have the potential to be fired must be notified by March 1st of the previous school year.  RI's education system is facing massive deficits, so drastic cuts will be necessary.  Since they are unable at this point to determine which teachers will need to be let go, they are opting to send all teachers warning. 

This is a terrible thing, but they really have no choice.  The studies that will be needed to determine which grade levels can tolerate teacher reductions and in which districts will take far more time than they have prior to March 1st.  In order to not violate state law, this is their only option.

[BridgeTroll]

Thank you Capn Z!

[uptowngirl]

wow, in the private sector no one gets a "heads up" they just come into work one day and get notified. It really bothers me that unions hold so much power in negotiations with tax payers monies. It is to the point where we the real employers have no power at all. While most teachers ROCK, there are some that have no business being in this line of business and we are just stuck with them. Good teachers have nothing to fear as they will always be in demand, good or poor economy. I just do not understand why good teachers want to support and protect the poor ones, is it because of the minimal interaction and impact to your own job performance?

[tufsu1]

that's not entirely tryue uptowngirl...when laying people off, many private sector employers give folks several weeks (even months) of notice....and/or provide severance pay.

[uptowngirl]

Hmmm never at even one place I have ever worked have I see that. Being a consultant in my previous life I have worked at a TON of financial institutions, and all the big ones and never seen this happen. After the first round of layoffs people kinda know....but no heads up required by law. Do you know a state that requires this by law in the private sector?

[tufsu1]

well I've seen it plenty of times at my own company in the last few years....and I know of folks at other companies that have seen the same thing.

[Springfielder]

The DTU, which is the union here in Duval county, it's not as strong as people would believe...especially since there was law passed many moons ago, that makes it illegal to strike. That in of itself takes away a great bargaining tool.

As for lousy teachers, and I know plenty...much of that depends upon a fair and tough principal, who does the evaluations for each teacher in their school. When there's a lousy performing teacher, the principal just has to follow the rules, and place them on a success plan...where it's laid out where they need to improve and are given ample time to do so. Failure will result in being placed on a less than satisfactory list, where the teacher can be surplussed and it can also lead to termination. It's just a matter of the principal doing their job right.

Most people wish they belonged to a union, which does help with wrongful terminations and unethical working conditions.