So because they are students their opinions don't count? They have no financial interest in what happens, they are not laid off or threatened by Dr. White...but they see the result of his policies and don't like what is going on.
Yippee Kids who care about current events and their own futures.
The only reason any of them give on Facebook for hating White is uniforms. I'm not a fan of the uniforms, but I wouldn't call that caring about current events or even their futures.
I do not hate Dr. White. I just do not agree with his plan for IPS. Yet, I feel we should not blame everything on him, but look at what we can do to fix the problem. Students skip school, disrupt classes, and much more. Yet, they complain about the the classes being to big or the teacher not being able to give individual help. Well, tell your friends to start acting like they have some sense and maybe things will be a lot better. Yes, Dr. White is full of mess, but how many can say they have done all they can to improve the academic performances in schools or the attedance rates of those students who cut classes? How many parents can say they help their children with homework or visits the school whenever they get a chance to see how their child is performing? October 19, 2010 at 3:12pm
i agree but how can kids focus if they teacher getz transferd on them in tha middle o f tha yr nd then they credits get messd up? plus some teachers give up to easy on students nd vice versa October 19, 2010 at 3:14pm
Being an IPS graduate BRHS 2010, I have seen an enormous decrease in parents that visits the schools without being called in for a conference for the child's behavior. Personally, I have seen a huge difference with the school district, but I feel that we all need to look at ourselves an dsee what we can do if we want to see a turn around in the IPS district. Remember, teachers are not baby sitters, they are there to help increase your knowledge. They get paid whether you learn or not, so why not use them for what you can. October 19, 2010 at 3:15pm
dats true tiere bt lets look at da big picture. parents and students cant complain if they r not tryna be part of a solution October 19, 2010 at 3:16pm
but tha ones who are apart of the situation get turnd down bcuz no body cares October 19, 2010 at 3:20pm
that's not true because many people who helped voices were heard October 19, 2010 at 3:25pm
And fix that by what? Doing things that the kids don't like even more? Yes. Add Gas to the fire. It's only better.
Dr. White is far from the problem at IPS. You people are crazy if you don't see who is really putting the screws to you..the lobbyists and policymakers who have NEVER even visited an IPS school.The alternative is the corporate morons who micromanage to death.
It's big business, tests, tutors, schools, professional development,and management for the failing schools. It's all about tax dollars going to different corporations in the "new educational community", with no data to support their huge fees that taxpayers will be forced to pay?
Those are the people making money off of the traditional state education monopoly. You insinuated people were profiting off of school choice. I just wanted to know who?
I'll tell you the biggest racket at IPS is the special ed funding. My neighbor has a son who never learned to read. He has been in special ed since 2nd grade because of it, she's gone to countless meetings where everyone smiles and says he's making great progress, that's he's such a joy and that he tries so hard. But he's in middle school now and reading at a 2nd grade level. He's a really bright, so this isn't an IQ thing. In fact up until middle school, he still got good grades in other subjects. But now its catching up to him. There's just too much reading and writing. He is embarrassed, frustrated, and hates school. His mom has no idea what to do (the school just keeps telling her to read with him -- which she does, but it doesn't improve things any more than when they read with him). IPS keeps collecting money for him being special ed, but they are doing absolutely nothing for this child. And they're collecting thousands of extra dollars for him. They are profiting from him NOT improving. Wouldn't it be great if his education funding could be used at Hutson school? I think even if you oppose vouchers for the general population, you should support them for special ed students. I don't care if a company makes a million dollars if they're educating kids that IPS isn't.
@I don't care if a company makes a million dollars if they're educating kids that IPS isn't. ______________________________________
Precisely the whole point of vouchers. If should not matter what organization can provide the best education for a given child - be it public, private, charter, home, Online, etc.
The money should follow the individual child, not the district, not the school, but should follow the child!
@I don't care if a company makes a million dollars if they're educating kids that IPS isn't.
...but they're not so quit defending corporate interests. It's bad enough they have the media and the lobbyists on their side distorting facts. Check out Jon Stewart's Cushy Teacher rant video.
What are you talking about. The teachers union is the biggest lobby in the country? And with public unions, there is no rich corporation trying to outsource your job. It's just taxpayers trying to make sure they're getting the most value for their buck. Everyday Joes -- Insurance underwriters, Retail managers, hairdressers, etc. The wealthy, power-hungry people are all on the side of the unions.
To the friend of the great kiddo who needs specialized schooling, tell your friend to grab a hold of a special ed. lawyer (Neighborhood Christian Legal Center maybe able to help). I know of several students who have gone to private schools, with the help of a lawyer, to a school that helps the child; the school district picks up the tabl Good luck!
It's funny that Mary Louise didn't know IPS' policy about transporting students in personal cars.
From WRTV6, 3/8/2011:
IPS policy states, "The board will not authorize the transportation by private vehicle of students of the corporation," 6News' Rick Hightower reported.
District spokeswoman Kim Hooper said not even a permission slip can allow a teacher to transport students in private vehicles and that students must be transported to school functions by their family or on school buses, citing liability.
"We have opened an investigation into how this came about because of this policy we have in place that prohibits the transportation of our kids in private cars," she said.
Just FYI, the what are you talking about isn't from Abdul. I'm an IPS mom in the John Marshall district whose kids go to a magnet school. And what part of my post was attacking? Or untrue?
In fact, my statement, "with public unions, there is no rich corporation trying to outsource your jobs" infers that unions can be a good thing in the private sector. But teachers unions are completely different. The battle of rich people against the working people is switched, with the rich people on the union side, and the working people on the taxpayer side.
Of course not. That's not what I meant. But many people are made rich by unionized teachers. The bloated administration, all the corporate hands in IPS pockets, they all rely on government contracts with unions. Also, the average taxpayer makes less than the average union teacher. That's all I meant. It's not this big corporation against the working stiff teachers like with private sector labor unions.
Well, only about 25% of hoosiers have a Bachelor's degree, so the average taxpayer probably doesn't have a college education. Nobody said teachers don't deserve their salaries. But it's not "corporate interests" that are demanding accountability. It's everyday joes who think the public education system isn't being a good steward of public money. That's the "other side." Not some big bad rich corporation or lobby. The big corporation and lobbies are on the same side as the unions. Small little companies and charities are the ones opening up charter schools. The big money is in maintaining the status quo. It's like badmouthing a little mom-and-pop store for taking money from Wal-Mart.
I don't recall it being a secret invitation like a sorority, majoring in education. We are well educated, degreed, licensed PROFESSIONAL educators. Nobody seems to be upset about the pay doctors, and lawyers, and corporate people make and they have degrees. This thinking that teachers have it too good is ridiculous.
We work long hours, take work home, and are subjected to parents yelling at us, kids being downright rude and disrespectful, and now the public wants our heads on a platter.
Doctors, lawyers, and corporate people aren't paid with tax dollars. People who work for the public shouldn't be surprised when they have to answer to the public. You're being oversensitive, bordering on paranoid. Nobody wants teachers's heads on a platter. Nobody. But the idea that public education is some taboo area that nobody has the right to touch or criticize or change is, frankly, misguided. Of the people, for the people, by the people and all that :)
Doctors don't take medicare/medicaid payments? Some attorneys are prosecutors. Other attorneys are public defenders. Supreme Court Justices work for the public. The list goes on and on. And all teachers don't work for the public. Nice how that works out.
I'm having trouble following you You seem more focused on arguing with me then discussing any actual point. My point was that unions are not necessary for the public sector. You'r constant rebuttals of "Nuh-uh" to everything I post doesn't change the fact that the public is SUPPOSED to hold the public workers accountable. If they're not holding public defenders or Medicaid-receiving doctors accountable for tax dollars, they certainly should! The teachers unions as well as the Indiana Dems aren't protecting public education from power and greed. They're "protecting" public education from democracy.
If you've ever worked for someone who wants to fire you just because their best friend suddenly decided they want your job, you'd understand why teachers need the union.
merit-pay program for teachers in New York City did not improve student achievement and may actually have had a negative effect on education, a Harvard University economist has found. The $75 million program also did not affect teacher retention or job satisfaction. In addition, researchers found that math and English test scores among middle-school students declined after merit pay was introduced in their schools, compared with their peers in schools without merit pay. GothamSchools.org (New York)
Some physicians and dentists do not accept Medicaid patients because the government does not pay the market price for medical services. My husband is a doctor, and he does not accept Medicaid patients because he does not want to be involved with the governmental health payment system. Of course, there are doctors who rely primarily on treating Medicaid patients, but I would not advise anyone who has health insurance to frequent one of these doctors for any medical care. There's a reason they rely on Medicaid patients for their practices -- they're lazy, not up-to-date on standards of care, and sometimes just plain sleazy doctors. Usually these medical practices are located in neighborhoods where poverty is the norm.
Yes, some bosses are jerks. But that's a silly reason to have a union. There are laws to protect some kinds of wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment. You don't need a union for that. Other than that, there's a point where you just have to suck it up like the rest of the state and try to avoid getting fired by asshole bosses.
ARGH! So which is it? I just heard the 59 newspeople say that charter schools out perfomed all public schools. I also heard that 21 of the worst performing school in Hoosierland were charters. Conficting information!
Now all the bandwagon followers will be heading to charters. Maybe if we just made all schools charters, everyone would be happy. Of course we'd have no health insurance and no libraries. That's awesome.
@And that way your husband doesn't have to deal with those undesirable poor people and old people.
No, it means he chooses not to deal with the federal government's program of doling out money for medical services rendered to Medicaid patients. Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers change almost on a monthly basis. If a doctor is trying to build a solid medical practice, it's impossible to rely or count on Medicaid money from the government to reimburse him/her using a consistent dollar amount. Doctors in private practice have to meet a monthly payroll for their employees which means they must have a budget and a financial plan to meet that budget. Private practice doctors also must budget such things as lease or mortgage payments for their office space, heating and cooling bills, malpractice insurance, employee salaries and benefits, telephone and Internet service provider bills, janitorial bills, etc. You cannot keep a medical practice up and running if you base your income on Medicaid payments, unless you're an unscrupulous medical practitioner who bilks the government by submitting bogus Medicaid claims.
By the way, Medicare payments are reliable and do not change on a monthly basis. So, providing services for the elderly patients is never an issue with private practitioners.
I think we should all go back to the way it ws in the early 20th century. 10 hour work days, 6 day work weeks, locking factory workers in, chaining the exit doors shut. You only needed an 8th grade education to teach.
We are taking teaching from a profession to a job. I don't want to go to a doctor who isn't licensed, just like I don't want my kids taught by a teacher who isn't licensed. There is a reason you have to take a test, get a Bachelor's, and have a license to teach. It's not easy, not everyone can do it.
Those who CAN teach, those who can't teach, do other stuff.
You just spew b.s. without actually using fact or logic. It's the most maddening thing ever, and it defines you as a poster, probably the blogmaster. Forget our current discussion, how would you expect a professional teacher to evaluate the above post as far as an intelligent, reasoned, response to another post? It's like you know you're supposed to be pro-union, but your brain and heart aren't in it, so you're just repeating pieces of arguments you think you might have heard over the years. It's not the end of the world if you're not informed, but then don't attempt to debate it. You just make yourself look silly and you end up hurting your own cause. Stick to weight jokes and making fun of people's clothing and speech. I think that's a better reflection of your capabilities.
If you are terminated due to your own performance, it is possible that you may not receive unemployment. It isn't mandatory that you receive unemployment after being fired due to your own performance, but it's possible if the company doesn't argue it. Being Riffed is a reduction in jobs, so they cannot fight unemployment.
We were told in our school corporation that if you lose your job due to "being an inefficient" teacher you will NOT get unemployment. If you are rif'ed you will. So they hold the reigns financially over everyone's heads. Pretty scary. I know teachers are keeping daily logs on who doesn't turn in homework, who doesn't bring books to class etc., PROTECTION and PROOF
This blog has always been a place to attack people. Go back through old posts and check for yourself. The biggest difference now is there are a few regular posters (from what I can tell at least two teachers and at least two parents) who tend to challenge some of meanness and immaturity. In the beginning, the mean, immature posters made up the majority of blogging, with only a very occasional post that challenged that. Now it seems to be more 50/50.
I'm not a teacher or a union member, but if an employer doesn't document numerous instances of writing you up and counseling you before firing you, they don't stand a chance at not paying you unemployment. They can't just up and fire you and stay its for cause. Even if you don't belong to the teacher's union, you still have rights under Indiana law.
@ This blog has always been a place to attack people. I did go back and check. It actually took 5 days between when the blog opened and the attacks on people started!
To me, there's a big difference between having the freedom to form labor unions and collectively bargain versus being required to to use union workers. Absolutely unions should be free. Workers should be able to collectively bargain. But that doesn't mean anyone should be forced to use union workers, be forced to pay dues to a union, etc.
I feel so sorry for the IPS teachers who are getting Rif-ed. I'm sure the vast majority are good teachers and good people. They are just innocent victims of a bad Indiana economy and a bad Indiana government (in my opinion).
Having said that, I am of the impression that an abnormally large number of older teachers have been placed on PIPs this year with speculation that they will lose their jobs relatively soon.
I have no idea who has been placed PIP or not, but I know my principal has said that there is a lot of pressure to formally identify and discipline teachers who they've previously been ignoring or passing around from school to school.
I am facing a non-renewal and had no idea it was coming. I got my first bit of communication on how bad of a teacher I am on March 1st. I am fighting it with the union, but honestly think I am ready to move on. I want to find a job where when I put in my heart and soul, I am appreciated and not attacked. I am tired of putting IPS ahead of my needs and worrying about whether I am upsetting someone. I think that I may be able to draw unemployment even though I will resign. It will be considered "forced." I have taught many years and have no bad evaluations in my file. I hope IPS figures out how to save the kids because things seem to be getting worse not better. I would love to see the blog master start a strand on the above question. be very careful of this new evaluation system. It can be horrible. I am sure it was written with good intent, but it seems a number of people are having a hard time with it.
The post above should talk to the union attorney, if you resigned, then you will lose your right to unemployment benefits. I would wait until the union has worked on the case, get an appointment and talk to IEA.
They're supposed to give you specific feedback on what you need to do to improve; did they do that? If you're ready to move on anyway, have you thought about getting into curriculum or administration. Also, I know a couple of former teachers who are working with postsecondary teaching programs now and seem to love it. There are lots of ways to serve children and education without being a classroom teacher.
I agree with the poster two posts above; it is really, really hard to collect unemployment if you quit. Plus, this economy is really, really bad. This might not be the best time to leave for greener pastures. By all means, look around and take something if it comes up. But I don't think I'd go the "give up and take unemployment" route. I'd swallow my pride and do whatever the PIP says to do and bide your time until you can retire, transfer, change jobs, etc. Unemployment isn't much to live on, and after it runs out, people are finding that nobody will hire people who have been unemployed for a year.
If they're threatening termination without giving you the opportunity to improve things, then you not only have a case with the union, you have a case with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The evaluations are fine, but if they're not even following Indiana law, then I'd sure as hell fight it, even if I end up leaving for another job eventually.
@If they're threatening termination you have a case with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Teacher have to go through a process with the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board before they can take any case any further. http://www.in.gov/ieerb/ This board governs all labor complaints for teaches, except if your rights have been violated under federal law...such as AGE discrimination, so if many older teachers have been targeted this way they need to get together and file a FEDERAL complaint with the FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/age.cfm
Meanwhile remember what I was told by personnel years ago "there is state law and there is IPS policy and we follow IPS policy." I have heard of at least 4 people who were told resign or be non-renewal and the people all resigned without first consulting the union, it IPS can get away with it they will so make sure you have a union rep there, and don't do anything without consulting the union.
I know about one person, he was fired when he was on FMLA. The Unemployment Judge gave Linda Casey a nasty chewing out and IPS lost their case.
Good thing they got unemployment, now they need to get their job back with back pay for all the time they missed, This is a violation of FEDERAL LAW and they need to contact the US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION and file a complaint. http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/
Number 7 of the top ten violations of FMLA Terminating an employee during or at the conclusion of FMLA leave. (825.216) http://www.branch38nalc.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/FMLA_TOP_10_VIOLATIONS.pdf
You know as many lawyers as there are in Indiana I am surprised that someone has not started to advertise to represent teachers in these federal cases against IPS...They could make a fortune and perhaps they could stop this stuff from happening.
There are legal ways to get rid of bad teacher, IPS just is too lazy to do them, and with the reputation and moral character of many administrators nothing is fair. Bad teachers are in every school and are often sidled right up next to administrators...who ignore the bad teaching because they are friends with the teacher.
vote Bennett out! Get most of the crooked Republicans out, and we can go back to business as usual. They poke their unknowing noses into our business, when they have absolutely NO idea what is really, truly happening outside of their candy-coated world. They don't know what we do day in and day out, yet we are required to take students with horrible emotional, mental, and sometimes physical disabilities and turn them into the over-performing, silver-spoon in the mouth type they have and will always be members of society. These idiots have absolutely no idea what the rest of the world is like. They can't see beyond their own ideas of what a success should be. A success is instilling into our students' minds that they can and will learn. They can and will accept no less than their personal best. They can and will succeed regardless of what a "standardized" (by the republicans - no doubt) test determines. I hate that I work so hard to break through all of the crap that my students families and friends throw on them, just to have them discouraged to find that they are "average" at best according to state standards. My students overcome so much in one semester that I am so thankful I can make a difference, but then the dreaded stamp of the standardized test results undoes all of our hard work. AWFUL! I hate this craziness! I think that personal gains should be measured in another manner. Standardized tests are so worthless!
You do realize that standardized tests have nothing to do with Bennett, are supported strongly by both Republicans and Democrats, and aren't going anywhere, right? Indiana recently went further and joined the bipartisan movement to adapt national academic standards.`Nobody reputable wants to do away with standardized testing. They are the best measurement stick we have. Some might want to improve the test, and others might want to remove the high-stakes attached to them, but I don't know a single educational leader who wants to end standardized testing altogether.
Let's get rid of ineffective teachers and make room for those teachers who have drive, passion, and proven success with their students. Yes, principals ARE identifying and writing up these teachers, and it's about time! They don't belong in the classroom--seniority or NOT. Either step up or get out! You shouldn't need a union if you're doing what's in the best interest of children. CHILDREN COME FIRST!
Yes, it IS time you move on. Here are some of the reasons why:
1) You gave your son a $15,000 raise at a time when you are laying off teachers.
2) You hire in coaches at a huge salary so that you can have winning sports teams ($65K,$109K), but you have no jobs for them. So you either make up some silly job with a silly title, or they get hall duty, cafeteria duty, and rest room duty instead of a real job until practice time after school. That is immoral as well as fiscally irresponsible. You could use that money to hire more reading or math teachers. The Board should run you out of town!
3) You show no respect for those who come to speak at your Board meetings. They are allowed two-four minutes AT THE END OF YOUR MEETING, then their concerns are left unanswered. I will never attend another Board meeting because you do not really want the public there and you make that quite obvious.
If these are decisions you make outside of closed doors, how can we trust what you do behind them?
Move on. Stop threatening to do so just do it. You will be like a missing person who nobody misses at all.
I don't see him. It's too common of a name. When I put in Eugene White Indianapolis, I didn't come up with anything.
ReplyDeleteSomeone has created a page that says "If You Hate Eugene White". More than 1200 people have signed up.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants to see it, simply googling "If you Hate Eugene White" will give you the link. It's just a bunch of high school kids though.
ReplyDeletePlus one RIF teacher.
ReplyDeletePlus one veteran teacher.
ReplyDeleteSo because they are students their opinions don't count? They have no financial interest in what happens, they are not laid off or threatened by Dr. White...but they see the result of his policies and don't like what is going on.
ReplyDeleteYippee Kids who care about current events and their own futures.
Yeah, I'm sure you'd be celebrating those same kids if it was a about a teacher.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason any of them give on Facebook for hating White is uniforms. I'm not a fan of the uniforms, but I wouldn't call that caring about current events or even their futures.
ReplyDeleteno so.
ReplyDeleteI do not hate Dr. White. I just do not agree with his plan for IPS. Yet, I feel we should not blame everything on him, but look at what we can do to fix the problem. Students skip school, disrupt classes, and much more. Yet, they complain about the the classes being to big or the teacher not being able to give individual help. Well, tell your friends to start acting like they have some sense and maybe things will be a lot better. Yes, Dr. White is full of mess, but how many can say they have done all they can to improve the academic performances in schools or the attedance rates of those students who cut classes? How many parents can say they help their children with homework or visits the school whenever they get a chance to see how their child is performing?
October 19, 2010 at 3:12pm
i agree but how can kids focus if they teacher getz transferd on them in tha middle o f tha yr nd then they credits get messd up? plus some teachers give up to easy on students nd vice versa
October 19, 2010 at 3:14pm
Being an IPS graduate BRHS 2010, I have seen an enormous decrease in parents that visits the schools without being called in for a conference for the child's behavior. Personally, I have seen a huge difference with the school district, but I feel that we all need to look at ourselves an dsee what we can do if we want to see a turn around in the IPS district. Remember, teachers are not baby sitters, they are there to help increase your knowledge. They get paid whether you learn or not, so why not use them for what you can.
October 19, 2010 at 3:15pm
dats true tiere bt lets look at da big picture. parents and students cant complain if they r not tryna be part of a solution
October 19, 2010 at 3:16pm
but tha ones who are apart of the situation get turnd down bcuz no body cares
October 19, 2010 at 3:20pm
that's not true because many people who helped voices were heard
October 19, 2010 at 3:25pm
And fix that by what?
Doing things that the kids don't like even more? Yes. Add Gas to the fire. It's only better.
Dr. White is far from the problem at IPS. You people are crazy if you don't see who is really putting the screws to you..the lobbyists and policymakers who have NEVER even visited an IPS school.The alternative is the corporate morons who micromanage to death.
ReplyDeleteIt's big business, tests, tutors, schools, professional development,and management for the failing schools. It's all about tax dollars going to different corporations in the "new educational community", with no data to support their huge fees that taxpayers will be forced to pay?
ReplyDeleteWhat corporations specifically are making all this money? I know of people getting rich in the old education community, but not really the new.
ReplyDeleteMcGraw-Hill, ETS, Edison Educational, text book, and the temp services that staff the scoring rooms. Check the profit/loss statements, big money.
ReplyDeleteThose are the people making money off of the traditional state education monopoly. You insinuated people were profiting off of school choice. I just wanted to know who?
ReplyDeleteI'll tell you the biggest racket at IPS is the special ed funding. My neighbor has a son who never learned to read. He has been in special ed since 2nd grade because of it, she's gone to countless meetings where everyone smiles and says he's making great progress, that's he's such a joy and that he tries so hard. But he's in middle school now and reading at a 2nd grade level. He's a really bright, so this isn't an IQ thing. In fact up until middle school, he still got good grades in other subjects. But now its catching up to him. There's just too much reading and writing. He is embarrassed, frustrated, and hates school. His mom has no idea what to do (the school just keeps telling her to read with him -- which she does, but it doesn't improve things any more than when they read with him). IPS keeps collecting money for him being special ed, but they are doing absolutely nothing for this child. And they're collecting thousands of extra dollars for him. They are profiting from him NOT improving. Wouldn't it be great if his education funding could be used at Hutson school? I think even if you oppose vouchers for the general population, you should support them for special ed students. I don't care if a company makes a million dollars if they're educating kids that IPS isn't.
ReplyDelete@I don't care if a company makes a million dollars if they're educating kids that IPS isn't.
ReplyDelete______________________________________
Precisely the whole point of vouchers. If should not matter what organization can provide the best education for a given child - be it public, private, charter, home, Online, etc.
The money should follow the individual child, not the district, not the school, but should follow the child!
@I don't care if a company makes a million dollars if they're educating kids that IPS isn't.
ReplyDelete...but they're not so quit defending corporate interests. It's bad enough they have the media and the lobbyists on their side distorting facts. Check out Jon Stewart's Cushy Teacher rant video.
I found it..wonderful...
ReplyDeletehttp://noticios.com/p/10746
What are you talking about. The teachers union is the biggest lobby in the country? And with public unions, there is no rich corporation trying to outsource your job. It's just taxpayers trying to make sure they're getting the most value for their buck. Everyday Joes -- Insurance underwriters, Retail managers, hairdressers, etc. The wealthy, power-hungry people are all on the side of the unions.
ReplyDeleteRE What are you talking about..........
ReplyDeleteAbdul, we get enough of your anti unon rants on your blog...why do you have to spread your anti working man and woman drivel here
To the friend of the great kiddo who needs specialized schooling, tell your friend to grab a hold of a special ed. lawyer (Neighborhood Christian Legal Center maybe able to help). I know of several students who have gone to private schools, with the help of a lawyer, to a school that helps the child; the school district picks up the tabl Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that Mary Louise didn't know IPS' policy about transporting students in personal cars.
ReplyDeleteFrom WRTV6, 3/8/2011:
IPS policy states, "The board will not authorize the transportation by private vehicle of students of the corporation," 6News' Rick Hightower reported.
District spokeswoman Kim Hooper said not even a permission slip can allow a teacher to transport students in private vehicles and that students must be transported to school functions by their family or on school buses, citing liability.
"We have opened an investigation into how this came about because of this policy we have in place that prohibits the transportation of our kids in private cars," she said.
Just FYI, the what are you talking about isn't from Abdul. I'm an IPS mom in the John Marshall district whose kids go to a magnet school. And what part of my post was attacking? Or untrue?
ReplyDeleteIn fact, my statement, "with public unions, there is no rich corporation trying to outsource your jobs" infers that unions can be a good thing in the private sector. But teachers unions are completely different. The battle of rich people against the working people is switched, with the rich people on the union side, and the working people on the taxpayer side.
ReplyDeleteteachers ARE NOT rich!
ReplyDeleteOf course not. That's not what I meant. But many people are made rich by unionized teachers. The bloated administration, all the corporate hands in IPS pockets, they all rely on government contracts with unions. Also, the average taxpayer makes less than the average union teacher. That's all I meant. It's not this big corporation against the working stiff teachers like with private sector labor unions.
ReplyDeleteThe average taxpayers who makes less than the average union teacher probably doesn't have a college education
ReplyDeleteWell, only about 25% of hoosiers have a Bachelor's degree, so the average taxpayer probably doesn't have a college education. Nobody said teachers don't deserve their salaries. But it's not "corporate interests" that are demanding accountability. It's everyday joes who think the public education system isn't being a good steward of public money. That's the "other side." Not some big bad rich corporation or lobby. The big corporation and lobbies are on the same side as the unions. Small little companies and charities are the ones opening up charter schools. The big money is in maintaining the status quo. It's like badmouthing a little mom-and-pop store for taking money from Wal-Mart.
ReplyDeleteJust ask yourself this: Do I want to teach?
ReplyDeleteI don't recall it being a secret invitation like a sorority, majoring in education. We are well educated, degreed, licensed PROFESSIONAL educators.
Nobody seems to be upset about the pay doctors, and lawyers, and corporate people make and they have degrees. This thinking that teachers have it too good is ridiculous.
We work long hours, take work home, and are subjected to parents yelling at us, kids being downright rude and disrespectful, and now the public wants our heads on a platter.
Doctors, lawyers, and corporate people aren't paid with tax dollars. People who work for the public shouldn't be surprised when they have to answer to the public. You're being oversensitive, bordering on paranoid. Nobody wants teachers's heads on a platter. Nobody. But the idea that public education is some taboo area that nobody has the right to touch or criticize or change is, frankly, misguided. Of the people, for the people, by the people and all that :)
ReplyDeleteDoctors don't take medicare/medicaid payments? Some attorneys are prosecutors. Other attorneys are public defenders. Supreme Court Justices work for the public. The list goes on and on. And all teachers don't work for the public. Nice how that works out.
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble following you You seem more focused on arguing with me then discussing any actual point. My point was that unions are not necessary for the public sector. You'r constant rebuttals of "Nuh-uh" to everything I post doesn't change the fact that the public is SUPPOSED to hold the public workers accountable. If they're not holding public defenders or Medicaid-receiving doctors accountable for tax dollars, they certainly should! The teachers unions as well as the Indiana Dems aren't protecting public education from power and greed. They're "protecting" public education from democracy.
ReplyDeleteIf you've ever worked for someone who wants to fire you just because their best friend suddenly decided they want your job, you'd understand why teachers need the union.
ReplyDeleteSOME principals are unprincipled.
merit-pay program for teachers in New York City did not improve student achievement and may actually have had a negative effect on education, a Harvard University economist has found. The $75 million program also did not affect teacher retention or job satisfaction. In addition, researchers found that math and English test scores among middle-school students declined after merit pay was introduced in their schools, compared with their peers in schools without merit pay. GothamSchools.org (New York)
ReplyDelete@Doctors don't take medicare/medicaid payments?
ReplyDeleteSome physicians and dentists do not accept Medicaid patients because the government does not pay the market price for medical services. My husband is a doctor, and he does not accept Medicaid patients because he does not want to be involved with the governmental health payment system. Of course, there are doctors who rely primarily on treating Medicaid patients, but I would not advise anyone who has health insurance to frequent one of these doctors for any medical care. There's a reason they rely on Medicaid patients for their practices -- they're lazy, not up-to-date on standards of care, and sometimes just plain sleazy doctors. Usually these medical practices are located in neighborhoods where poverty is the norm.
Yes, some bosses are jerks. But that's a silly reason to have a union. There are laws to protect some kinds of wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment. You don't need a union for that. Other than that, there's a point where you just have to suck it up like the rest of the state and try to avoid getting fired by asshole bosses.
ReplyDeleteAnd that way your husband doesn't have to deal with those undesirable poor people and old people.
ReplyDeleteARGH! So which is it? I just heard the 59 newspeople say that charter schools out perfomed all public schools. I also heard that 21 of the worst performing school in Hoosierland were charters. Conficting information!
ReplyDeleteNow all the bandwagon followers will be heading to charters. Maybe if we just made all schools charters, everyone would be happy. Of course we'd have no health insurance and no libraries. That's awesome.
@And that way your husband doesn't have to deal with those undesirable poor people and old people.
ReplyDeleteNo, it means he chooses not to deal with the federal government's program of doling out money for medical services rendered to Medicaid patients. Medicaid reimbursements to health care providers change almost on a monthly basis. If a doctor is trying to build a solid medical practice, it's impossible to rely or count on Medicaid money from the government to reimburse him/her using a consistent dollar amount. Doctors in private practice have to meet a monthly payroll for their employees which means they must have a budget and a financial plan to meet that budget. Private practice doctors also must budget such things as lease or mortgage payments for their office space, heating and cooling bills, malpractice insurance, employee salaries and benefits, telephone and Internet service provider bills, janitorial bills, etc. You cannot keep a medical practice up and running if you base your income on Medicaid payments, unless you're an unscrupulous medical practitioner who bilks the government by submitting bogus Medicaid claims.
By the way, Medicare payments are reliable and do not change on a monthly basis. So, providing services for the elderly patients is never an issue with private practitioners.
I think we should all go back to the way it ws in the early 20th century. 10 hour work days, 6 day work weeks, locking factory workers in, chaining the exit doors shut. You only needed an 8th grade education to teach.
ReplyDeleteWe are taking teaching from a profession to a job. I don't want to go to a doctor who isn't licensed, just like I don't want my kids taught by a teacher who isn't licensed. There is a reason you have to take a test, get a Bachelor's, and have a license to teach. It's not easy, not everyone can do it.
Those who CAN teach, those who can't teach, do other stuff.
You just spew b.s. without actually using fact or logic. It's the most maddening thing ever, and it defines you as a poster, probably the blogmaster. Forget our current discussion, how would you expect a professional teacher to evaluate the above post as far as an intelligent, reasoned, response to another post? It's like you know you're supposed to be pro-union, but your brain and heart aren't in it, so you're just repeating pieces of arguments you think you might have heard over the years. It's not the end of the world if you're not informed, but then don't attempt to debate it. You just make yourself look silly and you end up hurting your own cause. Stick to weight jokes and making fun of people's clothing and speech. I think that's a better reflection of your capabilities.
ReplyDeleteThis is not connected to other discussions here, but I have a question:
ReplyDeleteWhen teachers are fired from IPS, does IPS try to keep them from receiving unemployment compensation?
I suppose maybe this would be different for someone who is fired vs. someone who is RIFFED.
If anyone has any knowledge about this, I would sure like to hear it.
If you are terminated due to your own performance, it is possible that you may not receive unemployment. It isn't mandatory that you receive unemployment after being fired due to your own performance, but it's possible if the company doesn't argue it. Being Riffed is a reduction in jobs, so they cannot fight unemployment.
ReplyDeleteI know about one person, he was fired when he was on FMLA. The Unemployment Judge gave Linda Casey a nasty chewing out and IPS lost their case.
ReplyDeleteI thought the blog was a place to express our opinions without being attacked. Guess I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteCranky people on here.
We were told in our school corporation that if you lose your job due to "being an inefficient" teacher you will NOT get unemployment. If you are rif'ed you will.
ReplyDeleteSo they hold the reigns financially over everyone's heads.
Pretty scary.
I know teachers are keeping daily logs on who doesn't turn in homework, who doesn't bring books to class etc., PROTECTION and PROOF
This blog has always been a place to attack people. Go back through old posts and check for yourself. The biggest difference now is there are a few regular posters (from what I can tell at least two teachers and at least two parents) who tend to challenge some of meanness and immaturity. In the beginning, the mean, immature posters made up the majority of blogging, with only a very occasional post that challenged that. Now it seems to be more 50/50.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a teacher or a union member, but if an employer doesn't document numerous instances of writing you up and counseling you before firing you, they don't stand a chance at not paying you unemployment. They can't just up and fire you and stay its for cause. Even if you don't belong to the teacher's union, you still have rights under Indiana law.
ReplyDelete@ This blog has always been a place to attack people. I did go back and check. It actually took 5 days between when the blog opened and the attacks on people started!
ReplyDeleteRonald Reagan said: "where free unions and collective bargaining are lost there is no freedom" 9/1/1980
ReplyDeleteTo me, there's a big difference between having the freedom to form labor unions and collectively bargain versus being required to to use union workers. Absolutely unions should be free. Workers should be able to collectively bargain. But that doesn't mean anyone should be forced to use union workers, be forced to pay dues to a union, etc.
ReplyDeleteI feel so sorry for the IPS teachers who are getting Rif-ed. I'm sure the vast majority are good teachers and good people. They are just innocent victims of a bad Indiana economy and a bad Indiana government (in my opinion).
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I am of the impression that an abnormally large number of older teachers have been placed on PIPs this year with speculation that they will lose their jobs relatively soon.
Is this true or just rumor?
I have no idea who has been placed PIP or not, but I know my principal has said that there is a lot of pressure to formally identify and discipline teachers who they've previously been ignoring or passing around from school to school.
ReplyDeleteI am facing a non-renewal and had no idea it was coming. I got my first bit of communication on how bad of a teacher I am on March 1st. I am fighting it with the union, but honestly think I am ready to move on. I want to find a job where when I put in my heart and soul, I am appreciated and not attacked. I am tired of putting IPS ahead of my needs and worrying about whether I am upsetting someone. I think that I may be able to draw unemployment even though I will resign. It will be considered "forced." I have taught many years and have no bad evaluations in my file. I hope IPS figures out how to save the kids because things seem to be getting worse not better. I would love to see the blog master start a strand on the above question. be very careful of this new evaluation system. It can be horrible. I am sure it was written with good intent, but it seems a number of people are having a hard time with it.
ReplyDeleteThe post above should talk to the union attorney, if you resigned, then you will lose your right to unemployment benefits. I would wait until the union has worked on the case, get an appointment and talk to IEA.
ReplyDeleteThey're supposed to give you specific feedback on what you need to do to improve; did they do that? If you're ready to move on anyway, have you thought about getting into curriculum or administration. Also, I know a couple of former teachers who are working with postsecondary teaching programs now and seem to love it. There are lots of ways to serve children and education without being a classroom teacher.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the poster two posts above; it is really, really hard to collect unemployment if you quit. Plus, this economy is really, really bad. This might not be the best time to leave for greener pastures. By all means, look around and take something if it comes up. But I don't think I'd go the "give up and take unemployment" route. I'd swallow my pride and do whatever the PIP says to do and bide your time until you can retire, transfer, change jobs, etc. Unemployment isn't much to live on, and after it runs out, people are finding that nobody will hire people who have been unemployed for a year.
ReplyDeleteIf they're threatening termination without giving you the opportunity to improve things, then you not only have a case with the union, you have a case with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The evaluations are fine, but if they're not even following Indiana law, then I'd sure as hell fight it, even if I end up leaving for another job eventually.
ReplyDelete@If they're threatening termination you have a case with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
ReplyDeleteTeacher have to go through a process with the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board before they can take any case any further.
http://www.in.gov/ieerb/ This board governs all labor complaints for teaches, except if your rights have been violated under federal law...such as AGE discrimination, so if many older teachers have been targeted this way they need to get together and file a FEDERAL complaint with the FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD. http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/age.cfm
Meanwhile remember what I was told by personnel years ago "there is state law and there is IPS policy and we follow IPS policy." I have heard of at least 4 people who were told resign or be non-renewal and the people all resigned without first consulting the union, it IPS can get away with it they will so make sure you have a union rep there, and don't do anything without consulting the union.
I know about one person, he was fired when he was on FMLA. The Unemployment Judge gave Linda Casey a nasty chewing out and IPS lost their case.
ReplyDeleteGood thing they got unemployment, now they need to get their job back with back pay for all the time they missed, This is a violation of FEDERAL LAW and they need to contact the US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION and file a complaint. http://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/
Number 7 of the top ten violations of FMLA
Terminating an employee during or at the conclusion of FMLA leave.
(825.216)
http://www.branch38nalc.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/FMLA_TOP_10_VIOLATIONS.pdf
You know as many lawyers as there are in Indiana I am surprised that someone has not started to advertise to represent teachers in these federal cases against IPS...They could make a fortune and perhaps they could stop this stuff from happening.
There are legal ways to get rid of bad teacher, IPS just is too lazy to do them, and with the reputation and moral character of many administrators nothing is fair. Bad teachers are in every school and are often sidled right up next to administrators...who ignore the bad teaching because they are friends with the teacher.
Thank God I only have one more year, then the rest is gravy and only if it's worth the effort.
ReplyDeletevote Bennett out! Get most of the crooked Republicans out, and we can go back to business as usual. They poke their unknowing noses into our business, when they have absolutely NO idea what is really, truly happening outside of their candy-coated world. They don't know what we do day in and day out, yet we are required to take students with horrible emotional, mental, and sometimes physical disabilities and turn them into the over-performing, silver-spoon in the mouth type they have and will always be members of society. These idiots have absolutely no idea what the rest of the world is like. They can't see beyond their own ideas of what a success should be. A success is instilling into our students' minds that they can and will learn. They can and will accept no less than their personal best. They can and will succeed regardless of what a "standardized" (by the republicans - no doubt) test determines. I hate that I work so hard to break through all of the crap that my students families and friends throw on them, just to have them discouraged to find that they are "average" at best according to state standards. My students overcome so much in one semester that I am so thankful I can make a difference, but then the dreaded stamp of the standardized test results undoes all of our hard work. AWFUL! I hate this craziness! I think that personal gains should be measured in another manner. Standardized tests are so worthless!
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that standardized tests have nothing to do with Bennett, are supported strongly by both Republicans and Democrats, and aren't going anywhere, right? Indiana recently went further and joined the bipartisan movement to adapt national academic standards.`Nobody reputable wants to do away with standardized testing. They are the best measurement stick we have. Some might want to improve the test, and others might want to remove the high-stakes attached to them, but I don't know a single educational leader who wants to end standardized testing altogether.
ReplyDeleteLet's get rid of ineffective teachers and make room for those teachers who have drive, passion, and proven success with their students. Yes, principals ARE identifying and writing up these teachers, and it's about time! They don't belong in the classroom--seniority or NOT. Either step up or get out! You shouldn't need a union if you're doing what's in the best interest of children. CHILDREN COME FIRST!
ReplyDeleteHello Dr. White,
ReplyDeleteYes, it IS time you move on. Here are some of the reasons why:
1) You gave your son a $15,000 raise at a time when you are laying off teachers.
2) You hire in coaches at a huge salary so that you can have winning sports teams ($65K,$109K), but you have no jobs for them. So you either make up some silly job with a silly title, or they get hall duty, cafeteria duty, and rest room duty instead of a real job until practice time after school. That is immoral as well as fiscally irresponsible. You could use that money to hire more reading or math teachers. The Board should run you out of town!
3) You show no respect for those who come to speak at your Board meetings. They are allowed two-four minutes AT THE END OF YOUR MEETING, then their concerns are left unanswered. I will never attend another Board meeting because you do not really want the public there and you make that quite obvious.
If these are decisions you make outside of closed doors, how can we trust what you do behind them?
Move on. Stop threatening to do so just do it. You will be like a missing person who nobody misses at all.