Rahm saves face, CTU gets nearly 18% over 4 years, and the taxpayer gets screwed. Well, 2 out of 3 aint bad.
Oh yeah, its all for the kids. Not my kids.
I'm willing to bet that CPS test scores and graduation rates don't rise by the same percentage as my real estate taxes will to pay for this. Or even 18% over four years.
Teacher evaluations: Chicago students return to classrooms where mediocrity, if not outright failure, not only is acceptable – it is protected. Rahm's willingness to back down from stricter teacher evaluation standards will continue to hurt students. Merit pay: In taking merit pay off the table, Chicago will continue to be a place where underperforming teachers are protected at the expense of great teachers. Fiscal reality: Over the next four years, CPS will act irresponsibly by handing raises equivalent to roughly 18 percent that includes cost of living and step and lane increases. This is despite the fact that Chicago Public Schools already is draining its reserve funds and plans to operate $1 billion in the red next year even before added expenses. Where will the money come from? Taxpayers all across Illinois: Watch your wallets.
It is pretty bad that one of the CTU's main points was preventing the district from firing provably incompetent teachers. That is not fighting for education or the kids: it is fighting against them.
1) From the very beginning, Rahm played to the cornball crowd looking for teacher blood -- you know, the people who don't read or constantly indulge their worst instincts. I doubt he ever lost this contingent, and he still has them -- trying to go to court like the tough guy kept them in the fold. When half the system is made a charter, with no better results, and with nearly the same, and possibly the very same, amount of tax money funding charters, the cornballs will not be found.
2) Teachers realized this was all they were going to get. Many of them already know the score, and are retiring or looking for work elsewhere.
3) Taxpayers always lose. We fund private developers who go on to make a killing, various corporations, TIFs, and the Board of Trade. Billions.
This whole situation underscores to me why, if I could, I would move to Will County. I may be "liberal" (or libertarian) on gay rights and other issues, but I often find myself not in league with the CTU (or K-12 public education, generally). It is not that I stand (or sit) with the "conservatives"; it is that I support the students AND taxpayer.
Frankly, our education model is structured for the an age and era that no longer exists. Mediocre teachers are way overpaid at the cost and expense of good teachers.
Generally, I tried to stay out of this conflict. I thought that the teachers looked good and organized when I went to the Daley Center, but overall I grew tired of them. The real agenda of the CTU is the CTU and their pay and perks. Perhaps the real agenda behind Rahm is personal profit from Charter schools.
I will answer in the inverse.
3. Of course. We, the productive but dying (some say dead) middle class will pay for everyone: Rahm, CTU, etc. It is not entirely clear to me how the students or taxpayer benefits, if at all.
2. I do not know, but I do not think so. I think they realized that the greater the duration of the strike, the more the public support for it would wane.
1. Probably too weak on the CTU. Some of the teacher demonstrators were wearing Ernesto Che Guevara t-shirts. Che Guevara - really?
Overall, the entire structure of K-12 must be reformed. This whole mess was about personal agendas and getting a large slice of the pie (money).
The pay raise part is rather outrageous. Does it make sense that people should get a raise as a reward for blowing off their job for more than a week?
Reward for sloth not excellence.
No wonder more and more countries pass the U.S. by in matters of education and economics, and the level of the work done by teachers in Chicago is held up as an example of failure in the rest of the nation
The union demands to get a pay raise on top of existing overpay and lousy job performance, and their demand that bad teachers be kept in the classroom is far more obscene than any photo could be.
Anonymous, you have to understand that dmarks thinks 75,000 puts you in the rich upper class. He also thinks "average" means "all," and also insists that pay be calculated in ways that are not dreamt of in the vaunted "private" sector.
$75k actually lowballs the compensation. And the obsession with it by the CTU shows that their main concern is shaking down Chicago taxpayers without regard to how it damages education.
Pay in the private sector is in fact performance-based. And yes, I insist on this.
You said, and I quote, "overpay is giving all teachers, good and bad, the same high over $80k compensation." That means, in plain English, that you think all teachers are making 80 thousand dollars. They don't. Do you know the difference between "average" and "all"?
At the firm where I work, and almost universally, benefits are not considered part of your salary, but you would insist on making this true for teachers. Individually, on your own, you don't negotiate benefits, you negotiate salary.
Insist all you want about performance-based pay. I don't know where you work, but where I work pay is based on a number of factors, some of which concern performance. Other factors include who you know, what others in your field are paid locally, your personality, keeping your mouth shut about objectionable management practices, your billable time or lack therof (not strictly a factor controlled by a worker), and, some would say, if you're a secretary, whether or not you're a blonde.
ironicaly i have yet to see any of us from the 19th ward question why Matt Oshea remained silent durring thsi teachers strike! who's side is Matt Oshea on. at least with Pickle, he made it clear he stands with the families of the 19th ward effected by the teacher strike!
Rahm saves face, CTU gets nearly 18% over 4 years, and the taxpayer gets screwed. Well, 2 out of 3 aint bad.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, its all for the kids. Not my kids.
I'm willing to bet that CPS test scores and graduation rates don't rise by the same percentage as my real estate taxes will to pay for this. Or even 18% over four years.
You know, why don't you just say it's 25% over 2 years? You're engaging in fantasy already, so why not just go there?
DeleteI just read in the paper that Tom Darts children go to the public schools. That's nice.
ReplyDeletehe cant afford to pay for private shcool with that new home he built.
DeleteTeacher evaluations: Chicago students return to classrooms where mediocrity, if not outright failure, not only is acceptable – it is protected. Rahm's willingness to back down from stricter teacher evaluation standards will continue to hurt students.
ReplyDeleteMerit pay: In taking merit pay off the table, Chicago will continue to be a place where underperforming teachers are protected at the expense of great teachers.
Fiscal reality: Over the next four years, CPS will act irresponsibly by handing raises equivalent to roughly 18 percent that includes cost of living and step and lane increases. This is despite the fact that Chicago Public Schools already is draining its reserve funds and plans to operate $1 billion in the red next year even before added expenses. Where will the money come from? Taxpayers all across Illinois: Watch your wallets.
It is pretty bad that one of the CTU's main points was preventing the district from firing provably incompetent teachers. That is not fighting for education or the kids: it is fighting against them.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get the idea that CTU wants to prevent the firing of incompetent teachers? From the media?
DeleteAll teachers can be fired. Union members must receive due process, but they can be fired for incompetence.
Still waiting for your response.
Delete1) From the very beginning, Rahm played to the cornball crowd looking for teacher blood -- you know, the people who don't read or constantly indulge their worst instincts. I doubt he ever lost this contingent, and he still has them -- trying to go to court like the tough guy kept them in the fold. When half the system is made a charter, with no better results, and with nearly the same, and possibly the very same, amount of tax money funding charters, the cornballs will not be found.
ReplyDelete2) Teachers realized this was all they were going to get. Many of them already know the score, and are retiring or looking for work elsewhere.
3) Taxpayers always lose. We fund private developers who go on to make a killing, various corporations, TIFs, and the Board of Trade. Billions.
This whole situation underscores to me why, if I could, I would move to Will County. I may be "liberal" (or libertarian) on gay rights and other issues, but I often find myself not in league with the CTU (or K-12 public education, generally). It is not that I stand (or sit) with the "conservatives"; it is that I support the students AND taxpayer.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, our education model is structured for the an age and era that no longer exists. Mediocre teachers are way overpaid at the cost and expense of good teachers.
Generally, I tried to stay out of this conflict. I thought that the teachers looked good and organized when I went to the Daley Center, but overall I grew tired of them. The real agenda of the CTU is the CTU and their pay and perks. Perhaps the real agenda behind Rahm is personal profit from Charter schools.
I will answer in the inverse.
3. Of course. We, the productive but dying (some say dead) middle class will pay for everyone: Rahm, CTU, etc. It is not entirely clear to me how the students or taxpayer benefits, if at all.
2. I do not know, but I do not think so. I think they realized that the greater the duration of the strike, the more the public support for it would wane.
1. Probably too weak on the CTU. Some of the teacher demonstrators were wearing Ernesto Che Guevara t-shirts. Che Guevara - really?
Overall, the entire structure of K-12 must be reformed. This whole mess was about personal agendas and getting a large slice of the pie (money).
Please define a mediocre teacher. Be specific.
DeleteWaiting.
DeleteIt is like in any profession. The ones who aren't very good at their job. Why is this concept difficult to grasp?
DeleteThe pay raise part is rather outrageous. Does it make sense that people should get a raise as a reward for blowing off their job for more than a week?
ReplyDeleteReward for sloth not excellence.
No wonder more and more countries pass the U.S. by in matters of education and economics, and the level of the work done by teachers in Chicago is held up as an example of failure in the rest of the nation
Murph, if you want to facilitate a serious discussion about education and the strike I suggest you remove that sexist, offensive photo.
ReplyDeleteObviously the photo is not offensive to you. It is offensive to female teachers, and it certainly is sexist.
Deletewhere is the photo from?
DeleteA very pretty woman. Whats the problem.
DeleteWho cares about the secondary issue, lets discuss the impt issues.
DeleteI believe that the picture posted presents a more positive image for teachers than a picture of Karen Lewis.
DeleteThe union demands to get a pay raise on top of existing overpay and lousy job performance, and their demand that bad teachers be kept in the classroom is far more obscene than any photo could be.
ReplyDeleteWho is demanding that bad teachers be kept in the classroom? I have already asked this but you won't answer. What overpay are you referring to?
ReplyDeleteIt was one of the main CTU demands. And the overpay is giving all teachers, good and bad, the same high over $80k compensation.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you have to understand that dmarks thinks 75,000 puts you in the rich upper class. He also thinks "average" means "all," and also insists that pay be calculated in ways that are not dreamt of in the vaunted "private" sector.
ReplyDelete$75k actually lowballs the compensation. And the obsession with it by the CTU shows that their main concern is shaking down Chicago taxpayers without regard to how it damages education.
ReplyDeletePay in the private sector is in fact performance-based. And yes, I insist on this.
You said, and I quote, "overpay is giving all teachers, good and bad, the same high over $80k compensation." That means, in plain English, that you think all teachers are making 80 thousand dollars. They don't. Do you know the difference between "average" and "all"?
DeleteAt the firm where I work, and almost universally, benefits are not considered part of your salary, but you would insist on making this true for teachers. Individually, on your own, you don't negotiate benefits, you negotiate salary.
Insist all you want about performance-based pay. I don't know where you work, but where I work pay is based on a number of factors, some of which concern performance. Other factors include who you know, what others in your field are paid locally, your personality, keeping your mouth shut about objectionable management practices, your billable time or lack therof (not strictly a factor controlled by a worker), and, some would say, if you're a secretary, whether or not you're a blonde.
Benefits are part of compensation. It is deceptive to deny this.
DeleteCTU= the worlds largest tax payer funded babysitting service.
ReplyDeleteironicaly i have yet to see any of us from the 19th ward question why Matt Oshea remained silent durring thsi teachers strike!
ReplyDeletewho's side is Matt Oshea on.
at least with Pickle, he made it clear he stands with the families of the 19th ward effected by the teacher strike!