Peace in education

[DGearyFTE]

I think it is fair to say that many of us know and/or have friends that are teachers. IMO, and I don't believe I am too far off the mark, no one wins in a strike (though at 75% of salary, the teachers are doing better than everyone else). Having said that, I am not willing to bash the teachers for being on strike. However, it may be worth exploring some of the pressures that lead to this type of situation. If you read this article (linke below), it is fairly clear that the teachers union (like the recent OPPA actions) are active in weilding power (see the unions grab of $60 from each teacher x 45,000 teachers to run attack adds. And of course we know that more recently the teachers union has been in bed with the Liberals in Ontario in a manner that would offend the sense of ethics of just about anyone. Yet, where are the teachers in all of this?

http://www.freedomforum.ca/teachers-...rofessionally/

Now then, lets skip over this 'bump' since it has been the fodder of discussion in this forum repeatedly. Let's have a look at this article below. Now here is a concept, let's pay teachers based upon the student's perfomance. WOW! What a concept. I am not buying into the union party line about smaller class sizes. I am also not buying into the "we need more money to ensure quality of education".

https://educhatter.wordpress.com/201...-so-resistant/

I live in Florida for a year with my family. My son attended the local school. Hands down his best year ever. We never got a call from the school because the teachers managed their classrooms. There were no calls about the boy doing what boys do. Now that we are back in Canada it is a constant struggle to have to balance boy like behaviour against what should be discouraged. In other words, the teachers constantly abdicate their responsibility in the classroom and send the problem home. If my son was performing as an honor student like he was able to do in a Florida I would have more empathy for the striking teachers. But unlike the teachers in Florida and other US states, the teachers here have no performance assessment at all. Unless a teacher commits a crime there is never a chance that they would be fired for non-performance. Read the article and tell me how that makes you feel.

Finally, I have been looking for an article related to coersion and intimidation by the union against the teachers to keep them in line. There is a well kept lid on how that unions have managed (strong-armed) teachers for not toeing the line. Let's face it, if the union was revealed to be what it really is, an entity that is self serving and fat with money and power on the backs of the teachers then there may be a call to end this nonsense.

Of course this is not about to happen. Jimmy Hoffa would be envious of the power that the teacher's union wields. It will only be public pressure and strong political leadership that will be able to turf the unions to the curb. I am not opposed to the teachers having a collective bargaining unit, I am opposed to the unconscionable and corrupt actions that the union continues to perpetrate behind the scenes.

IMO, it is not the teachers that we need to focus on. Let them get back to work. However, they do share responsibility and for that reason they need to accept a component of the blame. There is no doubt in my mind that the good teachers (IMO the majority) would be happy to go to a performance based salary structure, shed the union yoke and kick the non-performers to the curb...

[DGearyFTE]

JBen said...
"Lets agree (and I assume we do based on your posts) this is about a lack of money. Money that is needed to ensure our children get the education they deserve………the classroom environments they deserve ( I agree, too many in a class is not a good thing)."

JBen,
I disagree, and I believe you will see my point. There is lots of money, the problem is how it is distributed. In my previous post I have alluded to performance based salaries. So, if the unions want concessions then force them to the table to discuss how this can be done budget neutral.

I have no doubt that as soon as the non-performing teachers have their salaries reduced this will free up...money.

There will be more money when those really at the bottom are seen to the door... new found money!

Next, no more banking sick days such that a teacher can retire and turn in hundreds of day of sick time for cash at their highest salary rate... more money.

Gut the unions and reduce the union dues... more money

I could go on...

[terrym]

The unions will never agree to anything like performance based compensation. Goes against pretty well everything they stand for. All the previous governments have allowed the union to grow and gain power to the point where it is now impossible to change things. They have enough money and votes to control every Provincial election. They essentially pick and choose who best serves thier purpose in an election. The only way they could be stopped would be to have nothing but anti union candidates in every party and that is impossible.
Wynne's actions are no surprise. She entered politics as a school Trustee who fought with the Province and refused to balance her education budget. It was illegal but she still did it. As Minister of Ed she improved her already comfortable relation with the union and when she became Premier her very first move/meeting was to reopen signed contracts and throw a half $Billion at the union because they were pizzed at McGuinty and she knew she needed their support and money to get elected. All predictable. We are stuck with this dynamic until we hit total financial collapse. Ontario voters as a rule are idiots who live for today and don't care about the mess they pass on to their kids.
As for the "blame the union" not the teachers, I don't buy that. The union is run by teachers who are elected by teachers and represents teachers. If the union didn't reflect what it's members want and believe in they would elect people who do. So, yes the union is a reflection of the majority of teachers.

[DGearyFTE]

As for the "blame the union" not the teachers, I don't buy that. The union is run by teachers who are elected by teachers and represents teachers. If the union didn't reflect what it's members want and believe in they would elect people who do. So, yes the union is a reflection of the majority of teachers.

terry,
My bad, I did not make it clear enough that the teachers share the blame as well but at this juncture I think we all acknowledge the absolute power of the unions.
As much as you are correct I like to think that there is a glimmer of hope somewhere in the future that says good people will start doing good things. Sooner or later the self serving, pandering and gluttony will have to be seen for what it is. I believe a strong leader with good support (IMO from rural ontario) will be able to start moving the chalks to the right.

Let's be clear, there are many parents with school aged kids that are very unhappy at the moment.
In the past 6 months it is has been demonstrated that despite more money and smaller classrooms Ontario teachers continue to achieve below average results as indicated by recent student scores in math and other core subjects
When the Liberals finally give in and give the teachers what they want the public now facing more taxes from this same government will have even greater reason to push for reform.

Not saying this will all happen over night but it has to begin somewhere...

[terrym]

terry,
My bad, I did not make it clear enough that the teachers share the blame as well but at this juncture I think we all acknowledge the absolute power of the unions.
As much as you are correct I like to think that there is a glimmer of hope somewhere in the future that says good people will start doing good things. Sooner or later the self serving, pandering and gluttony will have to be seen for what it is. I believe a strong leader with good support (IMO from rural ontario) will be able to start moving the chalks to the right.

Let's be clear, there are many parents with school aged kids that are very unhappy at the moment.
In the past 6 months it is has been demonstrated that despite more money and smaller classrooms Ontario teachers continue to achieve below average results as indicated by recent student scores in math and other core subjects
When the Liberals finally give in and give the teachers what they want the public now facing more taxes from this same government will have even greater reason to push for reform.

Not saying this will all happen over night but it has to begin somewhere...

Until all these upset parents actually start voting then nothing will change. Governments get elected with majorities with less than 40% of the vote. Half of eligible voters don't bother. The unions and their families are numerous enough to provide wins every election. I truly hope you are right and that eventually the tide will turn but at this point I see it going in the other direction.

[JBen]

Agree to an extent DGeary, or rather there's usually a few ways to look at the same thing. That doesn't mean any one angle is more/less right or accurate than the next. It's just a different light on the topic.

I hope I made my stance/position clear. I blame the Liberal and the Unions. I am "PO'd" even though I understand/empathize with "teachers" with respect to the cause. POd because no one forced them to vote to strike and given "current" conditions. Conditions their Unions helped perpetuate/create......They voted "for this"....

We have a deficit to take care of
We have 300 billion in debt.

There are storm clouds on the horizon be they Interest Rates, be it people who have too much debt/not enough saved running into serious trouble in their golden years and what that is going to cost us...etc.

Agree part of the problem is how its distributed.
But how can we take $ from one ministry now and give to another. Don't we need more nurses? Does Ms Wynne skim 100mm from that to appease teachers? The MNR?

Its the Unions that should be getting tarred and feathered, torn down, ripped asunder and reformed.
And if "teachers" are upset because they feel they are being unfairly targeted, don't like any animosity/hostility etc. While I can understand that to...Many do work really hard for our kids and more...

Blame the Unions, not the public. Thus "no-one to blame but themselves".

Terry on that note. Do you blame the OPP for the actions of their Union? Either bargaining or accepting the 8.5% raise, the corruption investigation or more? I don't.

[JBen]

Nice read DGEary. I'll want to read it through again and let some things digest.

https://educhatter.wordpress.com/201...-so-resistant/


That said, when you shine a different light on it, something interesting comes to mind.
Isnt Ms Wynne and the education system/ beuracracy currently making a lot of noise about reforming sex ed?
Based in large part to it being outdated, behind the times. Funny that when discussing perhaps some getting with the times (per that article).................
food for thought.

[DGearyFTE]

Having had a child in performanced based teaching environment I can tell you that it is completely different.
As the article states, the tide is coming and Ontario teachers will have to deal with it eventually.

I really like this statement quoted from the article...

"The Canadian teacher unions now find themselves as outliers, fighting a rearguard action against teacher quality reform. While NEA president Dennis Van Roekel sought to respond to the inevitability of change, the Canadian teacher unions continue to demonstrate a “head in the sand” approach."

[JBen]

lol, kinda like they way they are sticking their heads in the sand with respect to the present day situation?

Its an interesting topic that, in and of itself.

[buckchaser]

Ontario students consistently score well in global education comparisons. Our educational system works and works well. Sure, it could be improved. Here's one of many sources - http://globalnews.ca/news/283717/can...nghai-finland/

Performance based compensation for teachers is a flawed concept. Here's one of many sources debunking it - http://news.uchicago.edu/article/201...udent-learning
The problem with performance based compensation is that it encourages teachers to "teach to the test" aka stream all their student learning toward the line of questioning they expect to see on the standardized test. Creativity, critical thinking, and other "softer skills" are not emphasized. Plus, it has been shown that what standardized tests measure best is socioeconomic status, parental involvement, etc.

Performance review already happens, typically on a 3 - 5 year basis - BUT it can be invoked at any time if administration feels it needs to (e.g. responding to consistent parental complaints, underperforming students). Teachers can and do get fired - I got my job replacing one of them.

You want to fix education? Here's what you do:

1) mandate that all educational contracts go to binding arbitration if negotiations break down

2) remove education from the direct control of the reigning government. Every provincial government brings in their own politicized version of education . Education should be run "arms length" similar to the justice system - best practices would be encouraged and political interference would be minimized.

3) Have a comprehensive review of all consultants, "phantom" principal positions, and other board sycophants. These positions are typically $100 k plus and (in my experience) provide little to no benefit to the classroom teacher and their students.

4) Consult the employees. I have been teaching at the secondary level for 13 years and NOT ONCE has my school board or any governmental educational group asked my professional opinion about anything meaningful. It's "top down" management in the worst way. Logic would dictate that school boards/governments would have something to gain by listening to the collective years of experience in the teaching profession in Ontario.