I am seriously offended by these recent emails. I am a union leader in both my state and local chapters. I am also a very dedicated teacher. I have taught for more than 20 years and work hard at my profession to stay on top of new ideas and methodologies. Be careful about over-generalizing on this topic. I am currently fighting a reprimand for insubordination because I supplemented the basal curriculum with something that was not suggested in the text; I shared music from a gospel/blues singer, Mahalia Jackson, after the students read a story about her. I fight for the contract because it's an agreed upon understanding between the district and teachers. If we don't stand up for our rights, someone else, namely administrators, will require us to do whatever they want. I have no doubts that I was targeted because I speak up, ask questions and am a union leader. Take a look at your district's history. Many of the benefits you receive now is because previous teachers fought f or them.
Michele Salem, Oregon -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "kimberlee hannan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I so agree with you. The bad apples ruin the basket for everyone. Believe > me are bad and vindictive principals. I know first-hand. Those of us that > are teaching for June, July, and August "(and we know who WE are)," seem to > also be the ones who are the most involved in the union. Now I am NOT > bashing the union. I have great respect for the folks who protected me when > I needed protecting. But in my experience, the ones who go ballistic at > meetings, picket when a member of the school board farts, and quotes the > contract chapter and verse, are the ones who wouldn't have a job without > their involvement in the union. > Kim > > > On 7/18/07, Debbie Goodis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > I always thought that WE (the teachers in general) who do NOT do our jobs > > adequately (and we know who WE are) are the ones who are really the reason > > the powers that be "tell" us what and how to teach. I saw it in Head Start, > > when there was an arrogance among some teachers to relax and not go the > > extra mile, I think around the same time it became unpolitically correct to > > fire people or write them up based on poor job performance. Suddenly, we > > couldn't find a way to get rid of the bad or dead weight and so we had to > > force them to do the job by making them conform to a "program" of teaching. > > I used to direct centers and it was very difficult to let a teacher go > > (preschool, not public) because of the "liability." And we all know how > > difficult it is to get rid of teachers in public schools. The unions mostly > > protect the slackers, it seems to me. (I do realize there are bad and > > vindictive principals, too) I would be curious to know if anyone thinks I'm > > way off base here, or if > > this might be part of the picture. > > Debbie > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Building a website is a piece of cake. > > Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online. > > _______________________________________________ > > Mosaic mailing list > > [email protected] > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > > > -- > Kim > ------- > Kimberlee Hannan > Department Chair > Sequoia Middle School > Fresno, California 93702 > > > Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't > change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give > everything, have no regrets.. Life's too short to be anything but happy. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
