In a message dated 6/14/2004 7:57:29 AM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Steve Brandt did a nice job of outlining a very real problem in the MPS. The solution to the problem is another story. http://www.startribune.com/stories/1592/4826700.html The fixes mentioned aren't really fixes; the one because it just simply won't work, and the other because it doesn't directly address the problem of teacher assignment... Teachers and the teacher union are more than aware of the problem and are willing to have the system change - they just don't want to be the ones to pay the bill... >> The problem is that the district has been assigning untenured and largely inexperienced teachers to certain schools, creating a less than optimal conditions for the students to develop their academic skills and for their teachers to learn their trade. The students are overexposed to the district's least effective teachers (brand new teachers usually fall into that category), and the new teachers are not adequately supervised and supported. The most direct way to solve the above-mentioned problem is to desegregate untenured and inexperienced teachers: Create temporary teacher-in-training positions that would be spread out evenly throughout the district's schools. I welcome the input of teachers in fleshing out this proposal. Aside from a plan to desegregate inexperienced and untenured teachers, I not only see no reason to water-down or eliminate tenure and seniority rights, I believe it would be beneficial to strengthen those rights. Why? When a principal can run a school like a banana republic, there is going to be pressure on that principal to run their school like a banana republic. Number 8 of my "Eight proposals" to close the learning gap: 8) I recommend that the board offer to amend the teachers contact to strengthen teacher tenure rights by: a) adding language which recognizes the right of non-tenured teachers to appeal any decision to terminate their employment, which may be done only for cause; b) add language that requires the administration to fully inform teachers of their appeal rights, including time limits, when given notice of a layoff or forced transfer. c) add language that invalidates any layoff or forced transfer due to the elimination of a teaching position if the decision to eliminate the position is subsequently reversed. - link to Eight proposal to close the gap: http://educationright.com/id328.htm -Doug Mann, King Field Minneapolis school board candidate www.educationright.com - - REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
