Teacher Voice

It's been awhile since my last post (September 23, 2011).  I stopped writing because I was struggling emotionally with several issues related to education.  Standing up for teachers has taken its toll on me, and I had nearly decided that I wasn't making much of a difference anyway.  Besides, teaching itself takes an incredible mental toll on me.  I tend to immerse myself in my work for much of the school year, leaving little time for outside factors.  I had nearly given up when a good friend shared a blog post with me by Kelly Flynn, former teacher, and education writer.  This posting explores why more teachers have not used their voice to speak out against education "reform."  This caused me to look back at what I have written during the last eight months or so:  my Mlive persona, javamama, has made 864 posts and has 8 followers; my teacher musings blog has had 328 views since its inception; my Daily Kos account (CleanSlate) has 8 diaries with a total of 109 recommends.  While these aren't big numbers, they do show some interest in these issues.  According to Kelly Flynn, every voice can make a difference.  I have decided to add my small voice to those of others and continue to blog.

Today I would like to write about something a little closer to home than many of my other posts.  I have written in the past about the changes in legislation in Michigan and how I tried to make my voice heard there, sadly to no avail.  Now, I would like write about how these changes are actually playing out in my daily life.  First, I would like to explain how politics played a role in our local contract negotiations.

Our contract negotiations began well before the new governor and state legislators went to work to "reform" education in Michigan. In fact, our negotiations began well before our contract was to expire.  Economic issues were not discussed at first.  Then, the new governor took office and wrote a budget in record time!  In his budget was a "shift" of revenue  from the School Aid fund and the cutting of the foundation money each district receives.  That was when the sky began to fall.  Then came a bill that essentially would freeze contracts while negotiations were taking place.  This meant no raises.  Next, legislators pushed a package of bills through that would change teacher tenure and evaluations, making it easier to fire "bad" teachers.  Then, the legislators passed a bill that required districts to pay no more than 80% or a hard cap on teacher health insurance.  All this time, our contract negotiations were taking place, but really not progressing.  The state was essentially negotiating for our district and there was no real incentive for settlement.  All of this legislation was in the name of reforming education, but in reality, it poisoned the very atmosphere of my job.

Even now, after we have settled the contract, the general mood is negative.  While I am happy to have negotiations over with, I am not happy with the contract.  I did vote in favor of it because I felt it was probably the best contract we could get considering where things began.  I think several of my colleagues would agree with me.

So, now back to business of educating children, right?  Wrong.  Now, I must worry about more than tomorrow's lesson plan.  Now, I have to figure out a way to show growth for all of my students or I will be in danger of having an "ineffective" rating on my teacher evaluation.  It's not like I haven't thought about what I can do to help my students become better writers.  I've always done that.  No, showing growth is very different from that.  The sad thing is that this new evaluation system will not "get rid of the bad teachers" as so many of our legislators hoped.

I have experienced my first turn at being observed and evaluated, one of many that will surely come.  Now, we must be observed twice every year.  Some may think that our evaluations should be kept private, but I am willing to share my evaluation results with anyone because I think they are garbage and not indicative of my ability as a teacher.  

Out of 81 indicators of performance, I was deemed "highly effective" on exactly seven of them.  That's right, seven indicators.  I will tell you that this made me feel very "ineffective," although I didn't receive any "ineffective" ratings. When discussing this with my principal, he told me that he felt that I was a highly effective teacher (lip service? not sure).  He, however, was being forced to use the rubric.  When I pointed out to him that that rubric didn't match the indicators, he admitted that, but said he had to follow it.  Yes, this is how ridiculous things have become.  In all fairness, the state is supposed to hand down an evaluation tool that may be different than the one my district purchased (gasp!) and the rubric may very well be different.  I don't put a whole lot of stock into the governor's council, which is made up of several data heads, to create a fair and accurate evaluation tool.  The one my school is using will certainly not weed out the "bad" teachers.

Instead of relying on data collectors to come up with an evaluation tool, why not talk to some teachers?  Teachers are in the trenches everyday and know what it takes to do this job and do it well.  That's not happening right now.  

If doing what's best for kids is really at the heart of all of this reform, why involve people who know nothing about what it takes to teach and what makes a good teacher?  This will negatively impact children, in fact, it IS doing so right now because now I am more concerned than I should to be about 81 indicators that may determine whether or not I keep my job, instead of worrying about tomorrow's lesson plan.

Stop the insanity...use your teacher voice to speak out against all of this.  Our future depends on it.

We're Doomed!! Governor's Council Decided

Ever since Governor Snyder signed the new law, now known as Public Act 102, changing the accountability levels of teachers and creating a council to create the assessment tool for teachers, we have been waiting patiently to hear who will sit on this committee.  The final appointee to the Governor's Council on Educator Effectiveness was made today.  Here's how it looks:  the governor gets to appoint three people, the House and Senate each get to appoint one person, and the state superintendent gets to appoint one person.

Governor Snyder has appointed Mark Reckase, a professor at Michigan State University and expert on measurement and quantitative methods.  Professor Reckase has been conducting research on computerized adaptive testing.  One can assume that this appoinment is to assist with the student testing piece that will tie student test scores to teacher effectiveness.  Ugh!  More testing and data collection.  It makes me want to scream!

Snyder has also appointed Nicholas Sheltrown of National Heritage Academies of Grand Rapids.  National Heritage is a for-profit charter school company that runs charter schools in Michigan and seven other states.  Mr. Sheltrown also has a background in "performance technology" as he is listed in the staff directory for Grand Valley State University as a Performance and Technology Specialist.  Looks like another "bean counter" type to make sure the teachers are doing their jobs.  The fact that this guy works for a for-proft company makes my stomach churn!

Snyder's final appointment was made today.  He appointed Deborah Ball of the University of Michigan School of Education.  She has been an elementary teacher, and she specializes in math instruction.  It looks like Snyder wants us to get those math scores up!  While I don't really have any reasonable objections to this appointee, her math focus makes me ponder.

The others members of the council are Senate appointee, David Vensel, principal of Jefferson High School in Monroe.  The school's website didn't have much information about him at all. I think that maybe in these fiscally tight times, the district hasn't put a lot of effort into their website.  Maybe this guy has teachers' interests at heart, maybe not?

The House appointtee is Dr. Jennifer Hammond, principal of Grand Blanc High School, and president of MASSP.  In other words, not a friend of teachers.  The MASSP lobbied heavily for the new teacher tenure laws, and they got what they wanted!  She is "one of them."

The state superintendent's office has appointed Joseph Martineau who works for the Michigan Department of Education in the Bureau of Assessment and Accountability.  Again, another math person.  As far as I can tell, no one on this council has any English or social studies background.  Sorry all you English and social studies teachers out there, I guess we are out of luck!

I only hope with all my heart that these people do nothing to further damage the public school system in Michigan.  Well, I can hope, can't I?

The Story That Should Have Been Written

This is the story that should have been written about Linden's school board meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011.  Instead, the story was about how Mancino's donated free coupon's for good student behavior.  Give me a break...

The media center was filled with teachers of a single mind, dressed singularly in the color black.  It was very obvious to anyone that it was intentional.  The meeting was called to order.  The school district's superintendent was noticeably absent. 

The meeting proceeding very quickly with the agenda being approved, then moving onto the recognition of the fall sports coaches by the athletic director, Cathy North.  Then came public comments.

LEA president Meg Walton took the podium and gave a very rousing and emotional speech about the district's inability to settle a contract.  She raised several salient points about the union making a minimum of four offers while the school board has only has only made one offer.  That offer is a substantial pay cut, plus a hard cap on insurance, something much more drastic than is required, considering the district's fund balance.  In fact, the district voted just about a month ago to lower the fund balance to 3% in order to save teacher jobs.  Apparently, they want to build it back up again.  In the past, the district' fund balance has been as low as 2%.

After, Ms. Walton's speech the audience stood and gave her a hearty round of applause.  Two other teachers also took the podium and spoke on the issue of a lack of contract. 

It should be evident to the Linden School Board that the teachers are not happy with the current situation.  Even some parents are not happy, as was evidenced by two parents addressing the board about the very large class sizes at Linden Elementary. 

I hope the board was paying attention...

I hope the public realizes that it is not the teachers' fault that there is no calendar and no contract.  Of course, they might, if the media did its job....

When is enough enough?

More attacks on public education, especially teachers, have been taking place here in Michigan.  It wasn't enough that the Republican-dominated legislature has passed and Republican Governor Rick Snyder has signed into law sweeping changes in teacher tenure and evaluations in June.  No, while the legislature did take a break from the onslaught temporarily this summer, they have been back at it full-steam-ahead during the past week and a half.

First, Sen. Pavlov introduces a package of bills (SB 618-624) that further deconstruct public education as we know it.  This package of bills does a number of things such outsourcing teachers (yes, hiring teachers from a private company), lifting the cap on charters, lifting the restrictions on cyber schools, allowing foundation money to go to private schools, and requiring public schools to participate in a statewide schools of choice, with restrictions on turning down out-of-district students. 

What these bills essentially say to current public school teachers and the parents of the children who attend these public schools, is that ANYTHING GOES!!  It doesn't matter about teacher quality, more taxpayer money going to private companies or private religious schools,  or even real,  face-to-face contact with students.  No, none of this matters because the legislature is "reinventing" public education in Michigan, by bypassing unions, siphoning money to private companies and forcing money-strapped districts to accept expensive out-of-district students without any additional funding.  No, this is what is best for the students of Michigan.  Our trusty legislators are education experts, you know, because they themselves have been through the public education system and send their children to public schools (Ooops, they send their kids to private schools, don't they?).

It gets even better...A few days ago, both the Senate and the House introduced bills that would prohibit the collection of unions dues through a payroll deduction.  Why?  It's not that this costs school districts any money.  It's not because it would benefit students in any way.  No, it is only because the MEA supported the recall effort of one of their own, Rep. Paul Scott.  This is nothing more than retaliation for a successful attempt to get the recall of Rep. Scott on the November ballot.  Paybacks.  I'm pretty sure it won't stop here.

If you are a public school teacher, or the spouse of one, or the friend of one, or a parent of public school students, you need to let our Michigan legislators know that this attack on public education and public school teachers must stop!  Please, contact them and let them know that you value our public school system.

I have included a video of MEA President Steve Cook's message to members taped earlier this evening.  He encourages everyone to get involved.  It is no longer acceptable to sit by and do nothing.

Save Our Schools March in Washington D.C.

My transformation into a political activist would not be complete without attending a rally and march in Washington D.C.!

My friend and I drove to Washington D.C. this weekend to attend the Save Our Schools March.  It was hot!! The temperature in D.C. was 104 degrees on Friday.  Luckily, it wasn't quite that hot on Saturday, the day of the march, but it did go into the mid 90's that day.

We didn't stay right in the city, so we had to drive in and try to find a place to park.  It was crazy!  All of the public parking garages were closed, and the meters had a two hour limit.  It was almost as if the city did not want us there.  We eventually found parking several blocks away and had to walk in the scorching heat to the Ellipse where the rally took place.


There were about 5,000 people who attended.  We saw people from all over the U.S.   My friend and I went around and took pictures of all the different signs people were carrying.  Let me tell you, Wisconsin was very well represented!  I think that what has happened in that state has truly awoken a sleeping giant!  The signs reflected the passion of people who have been under attack recently:

They set up a stage and Jumbo Tron screen for the crowd.  They also set up white tents to offer a little shade.  The Washington Teachers Union provided hand-held fans and free water to everyone.   We saw people who were passing out information about the Socialist Labor Party.  We saw others who were trying to drum up support to bring back the Glass-Steagall Act (banking reform legislation designed to stop speculation).  There were also a few signs that supported impeaching President Obama.  These events bring all kinds of people! 

Why were we there?  What were we marching for?  Educators and parents and supporters were there to march for equitable funding of schools, to cease the continued privatization of public education through increasing charter schools, to cease the use of high-stakes testing in evaluating teachers and schools, to end the faulty law known as No Child Left Behind.  These "reforms" are not going to improve education in America.

Attendees of the rally heard inspiring speeches from some big names in education:  Jonathan Kozol, Diane Ravitch, and Deborah Meier.  We also heard from others who have been involved in other rallies across the country.  One was a student from Students for a Democratic Society.  These people are the ones who occupied the capitol building in Madison this past winter.  Comedian Jon Stewart recorded a message for teachers that was played on the Jumbo Tron screen, and we had a surprise visit from celebrity Matt Damon!
Both of these celebrities are children of teachers and had words of support for us. There were many speakers who slammed Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.  I can only hope he listens!

After the speeches, we marched.  In the heat.  To the White House.

Actually, we walked around the White House and back to the Ellipse.  In front of the White House were two other groups protesting, Syrians and Israelis!  They were separated by barricades and were shouting back and forth to one another.  We marched right up the middle of them!  It was a little bizarre.  I thought we would stop in front of the White House and chant or something, but we didn't.

After the march, my friend and I got out of the heat and went back to our hotel in Virginia.  There was a meeting on Sunday to discuss the movement's next step, but my friend and I had a long drive back to Michigan.  Unfortunately, we could not attend this meeting.  I will have to follow up with this through the internet.

Did Washington hear us? I'm really not sure if the march had an impact, but it made me feel like I was doing something.  I am participating in political life.  I have become aware of important issues, and I have taken a stand on them.  I wish MORE people had been there this weekend.  I am discouraged by the apathy that I see around me.  What is it going to take for people to start to take notice and speak out against the attack on the public sector?  I am hoping that more people will read my blog and become aware that we need to speak up!  Please pass this on!

Collecting Signatures, Part II: An Interesting Twist

As I wrote in my last post, I have been working on the petition drive to recall Rep. Paul Scott and Gov. Rick Snyder for the past week.  Today took an interesting turn.  Apparently, Rep. Scott is beginning to feel the pressure and he has decided to "press" back.  While working at Grand Blanc High School this afternoon, a car arrived carrying two Paul Scott supporters, one with a video camera, and one with flyers.  I know that they had just as much right to be there as we did.  We couldn't ask them to leave.  Their tactic was to stand right next to the parking lot (before the petition table) and video tape signers as they walked toward out table.  The video taping was meant to intimidate (I believe) the signers.  The other gentleman would give a flyer extolling the virtues of the new teacher tenure law while the other guy video taped.  Most people just laughed at them.  A few of them refused the flyer and told them that Paul Scott has to go!  I saw two people leave without coming up to the petition table.  I'm not sure if they wanted to sign, or if they were hecklers.  My partner was really nice to the two gentlemen.  She offered them ice cream and pizza that we had.  They declined.  These two were not rude or bullies.  The organizers of the petition drive were a little worried, but these two had little, if any impact on what we were doing.

Also of note, our group had set up another signing location in Grand Blanc today in front of a party store.  Paul Scott's people proceeded to call the party store and threaten to not shop there anymore unless the petitioners left.  These are the types of desperate tactics that are being used by the Paul Scott camp.   This tells me that he is worried, indeed!  It gives me the motivation to keep up the work we have been doing!

Collecting Signatures

Thursday, July 21, 2011 launched the recall effort for Rep. Paul Scott from District 51.  I don't live in his district, but many of my colleagues do, and I think this man has done more to damage public education than any other current legislator.  I am helping in the recall effort!  This is the first time I have participated in something so political, but I feel compelled to do so.

I volunteered to work collecting signatures yesterday at Grand Blanc High School (ironically, Paul Scott graduated from Grand Blanc High).  One of my colleagues and her sister have been very active in the Recall Snyder campaign. We had petitions to recall Rep. Paul Scott, Gov. Rick Snyder, and a petition to repeal the Emergency Financial Manager law (Public Act 4).  The weather was muggy and rainy.  Other volunteers said that business at this location had been very steady throughout the day.  There seemed to be a lull because of the rain.  I grabbed an umbrella and a sign and stood on the side of Saginaw trying to bring people in to sign petitions.  Many vehicles honked their horns at us; others would wave or give a thumbs up as they drove past.  I felt very encouraged by all of this!  One woman slowed her car down and proceeded to shake her head at me.  I could only imagine what she was saying to me.  This didn't matter because I realize that not everyone is unhappy about how the state is currently being run.

I held the sign for about an hour.  A slow stream of vehicles turned into the high school parking lot to sign.  The rain had stopped and the sun was peeking out from the clouds.  I was asked to take over collecting signatures because one of the volunteers had to leave.  Business was picking up because many people were on their way home from work.

What I found interesting was listening to what people had to say as they approached the table.  There were so many who were very angry at Rep. Scott for the arrogance that he has displayed.  Some people shared stories of coming in contact with Rep. Scott when he was campaigning , or one of the times he visited schools.  One mother told of a story when Rep. Scott visited her daughter's school to speak and brought candy, but he didn't bring enough candy for everyone.  Her daughter was really upset!  I gave her a recall Paul Scott sticker.  Another citizen who was an older gentleman came up to the table and said, "I want to know why he didn't marry the woman he got pregnant!"  I know these stories have nothing to do with Paul Scott's politics, but they do reveal the level of animosity the public is feeling toward his character.  They are signing the petition.

Some people don't agree with what we are doing and want to voice their opinion.  One older man pulled his car into the parking lot but didn't get out.  When we went up to talk to him, he just wanted to complain about what we were doing.  Another younger voter stopped by and actually approached the table.  He wanted to argue about the cost of public pensions.  We told him to have a good evening and he left.  For every head shake or complaint, there were at least twenty-five others who wanted to sign.  I left yesterday evening feeling like I had really made a difference.

We collected hundreds of signatures yesterday.  It was only the second day, and we were only one location.  We have until August 5, 2011.  I'm not sure if we can get the required 8,000 signatures, but at least I will know that I tried.  I will volunteer more during the next two weeks.  If you live in Rep. Scott's district and you want to sign, join the recall Paul Scott Facebook page to find out locations of petitions.  If you want to get involved, you can also volunteer.  We need all the help we can get!