- Get link
- Other Apps
Latest JUSTCAWS Columns
- Get link
- Other Apps
DO TEACHER UNIONS SUPPORT PUBLIC
EDUCATION?
Recent post brought this up - so I decided to post this article with the paper's headline and original newspaper clip below as the link has since been removed.
There sure has been enough “union
bashing” going on during this economic downturn. Unionized autoworkers seem to
be taking the brunt of the abuse this time around. Many observers have credited
the “bloated” workforce of GM and Chrysler with contributing to their demise. That point may be debatable, but it has got a
lot more people talking about the merits of private sector unions in a competitive,
global economy. Achieving great pay packages, improved working conditions and
fantastic benefits don’t mean a whole lot if the company you work for closes
shop because it can’t compete. As someone who became a teacher because of my
passion and strong belief in the importance of public education, I have
repeatedly questioned the role of entrenched teacher unions. Now as we move
from the industrial to the information age, I fear the demise of Ontario ’s own cherished
public education system if major reforms are not made to the teaching
profession.
Teaching the youth of Canada to be
the leaders of tomorrow I believe is one of the most important jobs out there. It
is why I wonder in disbelief, how can we continue to let the people who do this
important work be paid the exact same with no consideration given to their
ability?
Currently, the salary of a
unionized teacher is determined by two factors – seniority and level of
education, with seniority having by far the greatest influence. Whether in fact
you are any good at it doesn’t factor into the equation. There are evaluations
given to teachers to be sure, but the union has watered down that process so
much that these infrequent evaluations take place only with advance notice and
offer a non-descript grading system such as satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Under the union, teachers are all equals and
therefore an experienced teacher can’t formally evaluate another inexperienced
union brother or sister. Performance appraisals are left to the short number of
administrators that in too many cases have far fewer years of experience than
the teachers they are trying to evaluate. Unfortunately previous educational
reforms have made this more of a regular occurrence than it should be.
Former Ontario Premier Mike
Harris threw administrators out of the union and into management. In doing so
though he neglected to compensate this group well enough and left too much of
the power within the schools in the hands of the union - protected teachers.
It’s no wonder why Ontario ’s
public school system has trouble attracting their best teachers and school leaders
to move up the ranks. Very few want to
leave their comfy union confines to become over-worked and under appreciated
school administrators.
Don’t get me wrong here. I am not in favour of dismantling the entire
system. The teaching profession requires the need for greater legal protection
that unions or associations provide.
However, that need has come with far too many “improved working
conditions” and inability to weed out poor teachers that has put our cherished
public education system in danger. Don’t
be fooled. What is good for teachers is not always good for public education.
Twenty sick days might be great from the teacher’s perspective, but it is
damaging to education.
To be fair, the unions have
helped public education by fighting for good salaries and benefits that have
lured talented individuals into the profession. Once in however, you will have
to be incredibly, intrinsically motivated and wear blinders to avoid comparing
yourself to and eventually becoming the lazy teacher down the hall that “does
nothing” and gets paid the same amount as you.
The concept of merit pay has been
floated before. It does have its drawbacks though if the criteria for how it is
disbursed are not in line with improved teacher performance. Relying heavily on
one measure such as test scores or leaving too much power in the hands of one principal
won’t suffice. It will require all the stakeholders in public education,
including the teacher unions to devise a fair system of teacher evaluation that
can allow for performance pay and the removal of bad teachers that are a
barrier to student learning. If the teacher unions will not come to the table
on this issue or rally their members to continue the status quo then their true
colours will have been shown. Public
education will lose its relevance as a pillar of this province as fed up
parents will choose vouchers and chartered schools for their children. Hopefully this scenario can be avoided with
strong leadership on this issue.
It is why I am encouraged to hear
U.S. President Obama, a Democrat, speak of merit pay through revising their
teacher evaluation process as a way to improve the American public education
system. He recognizes the enormous impact improved teacher performance can have
on student success. Let’s hope for the sake of our treasured public education
system an Ontario political figure will emerge that has the courage take on the
special interest and create meaningful educational reform so that we can
develop the best teachers to inspire our young people to be leaders in the new
knowledge economy.
Here is the editorial from the paper that supported my view... Guelph Mercury Community Editorial Board member
Greg Cawsey likely purchased a few day-job conversations with his most recent
submission to the paper.
His column this month asserted that we could likely
improve the quality of our public education system if we improved the quality
of the teaching. For Cawsey, a public sector teacher, to go down this road, was
potentially hot terrain indeed.
What Cawsey mused about, however, shouldn't be
taboo in his field or elsewhere. No doubt his fair comment that there are
teachers within the ranks who are making a substandard effort -- but are
unlikely to be weeded out or even obliged to improve would have rankled many
education system stakeholders. But these players -- teachers' union honchos,
those with the College of Teachers, education system mandarins, school board
officials and others might have cringed at such talk. But Cawsey is right.
All public system teachers, heck anyone who has
been a public system student, knows there are great educators and ones who
offer much less value for the money. Further, they know the track record of
effectively evaluating teachers and improving their performance is spotty at
best.
Cawsey made mention of the difficult spot that
school administrators are in to do teacher evaluations and how teachers unions
have resisted making the process more vigorous.
He also suggested that adding the carrot of merit
pay for effective teachers could be a strategy worth exploring.
These aren't radical notions. But they are
political hot potatoes.
As a result there isn't enough attention paid to this type of potential educational reform. That's a shame.
My follow up column...
When I wrote my column regarding teacher Merit pay I was asked what is my solution for coming up with a system that evaluates and rewards good teachers. My response has always been " did you read my column? In it I clearly state my view.
'The concept of merit pay has been floated before. It does have its drawbacks though if the criteria for how it is disbursed are not in line with improved teacher performance. Relying heavily on one measure such as test scores or leaving too much power in the hands of one principal won’t suffice. It will require all the stakeholders in public education, including the teacher unions to devise a fair system of teacher evaluation that can allow for performance pay and the removal of bad teachers that are a barrier to student learning. If the teacher unions will not come to the table on this issue or rally their members to continue the status quo then their true colours will have been shown. Public education will lose its relevance as a pillar of this province as fed up parents will choose vouchers and charter schools for their children. Hopefully this scenario can be avoided with strong leadership on this issue.``
As I predicted Teachers and their stubborn unions want no part of any meaningful evaluation system - according to the union - teachers are all equals and any system that challenges that falsehood is shunned.
Public sector unions continually fail to recognize that they are major stakeholders in public education and they cannot solely represent the interests of their member teachers. This strategy will only cause the destruction of public education as moderates will flock to support charter schools as is the case in the U.S. . Notable Democrats there have become fed up with teacher unions' self-interest and now talk over them and support Charter Schools as a way to improve the system.
The same situation will occur here in time as inner-city education decays and money flows out of the system. Make no mistake - public education in Ontario is beginning its slow death - and it's the teacher unions, not any right-wing government that will have blood on its hands.
Written by Gregory Cawsey
- Get link
- Other Apps
Popular Posts
Teacher Unions - You Need To Calm Down
Been tapping my thumbs quite a bit on twitter lately, as it seems many educators have expressing their concerns of various school re-opening plans. While many of my colleagues have been critical of various governments, my ire has been directed at the teacher unions and their fervent followers. Obviously, my comments have been questioned by teacher union supporters, What they fail to grasp is how a teacher and passionate public education supporter would take issue with their own unions. Perhaps a little background is in order for how my view has developed during my 20 + year career. Being politically minded, I was very interested in the teachers union and its role in public education. Early on I was voted by peers to be my schools collective bargaining rep and later a district federation VP. Here, I received further negotiation training and sat on multiple rounds of negotiations with my corresponding school board. My rose coloured, idealistic glasses were soon broken, by these experie
When The School Bell Rings - We Must Be Ready For All
Been certainly enough speculation from concerned parties about what is going to happen in Ontario Schools this fall. Since I have more than a little skin in the game, I wanted to share my thoughts on the matter. Knowing first hand as an educator and parent the vital role teachers play in the development of young minds I was very satisfied to hear that Sick Kids recommended that school return back to the classroom (with enhanced cleaning and safety measures of course) this fall. I thought this would be met with relief, and it was for some. But for many it seemed to only bring anxiety. I can understand this feeling of unease coming from some parents, but I thought educators would embrace being relevant and essential again. Teachers know the dark side of abuse and neglect that occurs in homes of the vulnerable. For these students, school is their safe space. We also know that e-learning does not work for many students with special needs and those facing tech inequity. So barring a chang
When Will This End? If You Live in The States - Early Next Year.
Update - I am an dual citizen and have discovered I have an American mindset, so I stand by my prediction, as it has come true in the U.S. and many parts of the world, but sadly not in Canada. Limited capacity in our healthcare system, little risk tolerance and the power of the collective over the individual has kept Canada in paralysis. Even with higher case counts in some states than all of Canada, red and blue America has moved on. If you are trying to find a sliver lining to this pandemic a popular one is to appreciate its historical significance. You may have been told or said to others to think of the stories you can tell your grandkids about the pandemic of 2020. Sadly, it will be a sombre tale. But it will be one that I am glad to proclaim will come to an end after one year. Yes, the pandemic will stop as soon as we decide to put an end to the pain and suffering caused. Of course I am not talking about the disease. Sorry, but that's not coming to end just yet.
10 Ideas For The Jays New Ball Park
Kids and I have toured quite a few ball parks prior to the pandemic. Love doing the tours and taking notes of what works and doesn't. Had noted some of my observations for ideas on how to improve the Rogers Centre for baseball. With a new ball park now hopefully on its way soon, I did some revising. Ultimately, I don't believe it will be in its current location as its in too valuable a spot already. Better to leverage cheaper real estate down by the lake and build up around it. The Jays also have few options of where they could play while a new park is being built. So I expect, it will eventually end up by lake, so let's not make it another mistake. But either way here are … My top ten suggestions for the Jays new ball park... Let's end this post appropriately, with a walk off from many fans fav park - PNC.
This Disease Is Fought Standing Shoulder To Shoulder
I am heartened to see many videos and images this morning of Police joining with peaceful protesters in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. While racism in society is pervasive and progress toward true equality moves at a frustratingly slow pace, the relationship citizens have with those sworn with a duty to protect them is at the core of this anger. I am not a police officer and I have no family connection to law enforcement. However, like many of us I know many and some very well. I have heard their stories and have nothing, but respect for the job they do. Many of the officers I know are also black. I have deep admiration for these heroes because I would imagine their sense of duty to their communities comes with an inner battle that must be won before they join that group and don that uniform. So I am careful not to suggest solutions in policing, or offer changes to law enforcement structures that I don’t understand. I am a member of another professional tribe a
JUST Archives
JUST Archives
- June 20211
- March 20211
- January 20212
- November 20201
- October 20203
- August 20201
- July 20202
- June 20206
- May 20204
- April 20201
- March 20201
- February 20201
- January 20201
- December 20191
- November 20191
- July 20192
- May 20191
- April 20192
- March 20192
- January 20191
- December 20181
- November 20181
- December 20101
- May 20101
- August 20081