Why I hate unions, and teachers: the NYC rubber rooms
NYC has a policy of putting teachers who suck at teaching, never show up to teach, are accused of sexual misconduct, or use drugs/abuse alcohol in "rubber rooms."
These are places where the teachers go and sit under supervision every day, and get full pay. Full freaking pay. To do nothing. Because they should be fired, but they can’t be because the teacher's unions make it practically impossible to fire a teacher. As in it costs millions of dollars in legal fees to just fire a teacher in NYC, and indeed in many parts around the country. I have taken flack among my friends (predominantly young and hard-working) about giving teachers a hard time, but teachers, like most unionized protected jobs, often completely abuse the system.
It is common that teachers in the NYC system spend between 2-3 years in the rubber rooms, and not infrequently 5-10 years sitting on full pay. This is because it takes so long to fire anyone, and is so damn near impossible, that it takes years and huge amounts of money to bring a case against a teacher with any chance of success. The teacher’s unions solution was always to claim that the city was simply not investing enough money. My solution would be to hire Maggie Thatcher as a consultant.
NYC has announced a landmark move to eliminate the rubber rooms, and do something with the 600 teachers who currently sit in them, a major step forward.
Except listen to this:
"Present occupants of the centres will have to wait until September until the new system comes into effect, but when it does those with minor cases will be given non-teaching jobs inside schools. Anyone facing criminal charges will be sent home without pay, and if sexual or financial misconduct is alleged they will be allowed to stay at home on full pay."
If you have committed sexual misconduct against a student, just head home, take some time off, no worries. We have you covered.
And the new system which will go into place?
"In new cases, charges must be brought within 60 days and hearings into their cases convened within a further 15 days of that, or the teacher will be entitled to return to the classroom."
Does anyone see anything wrong here? They did not change any of the damn union rules protecting teachers, and making it nearly impossible to fire them, all they did was change how much time the city had to bring charges. And if the city does not bring charges quickly enough, THE TEACHERS GET AWAY WITH WHATEVER THEY WANT.
Honestly, what a screwed up system. I can't stand teachers unions, I can't stand unions, and I can't stand the fact that teaching is regarded as some protected holy right the with the mere act of teaching causing a halo of angelic pixi dust and lotus petals to spontaneouslyerupt out of your ass appear around your head. There are fantastic teachers out there who try really hard, many of them, hell it might even be the majority (though I personally doubt it). Those teachers, the ones who really are trying and are making a difference, would be much better off if we could create a better system.
Want to fix the system? Fire the bad teachers, fire the sex offenders, and make teaching competitive. You know, with things like bonuses, raises, promotions, competition, evaluation.
Or we could stick to the current system, and pay child molesters to stay at home on full pay, never fire anyone, and give raises based on seniority. That seems to be working well.
Which is exactly why when Florida recently tried to pass a bill that would tie teacher's salaries to the performance of their students, as well as bar recently hired teachers from getting tenure (so unfair! Guaranteed life employment or nothing!!), it was vetoed by the Governor after massive protests from Florida teachers. Because, you know, their jobs would be based on performance. The horror.
As a final note, US teachers work an average of 180 days a year, instead of 244 days for the rest of us. Which means, if you make the average $43,000 a year as a teacher, you are making the equivalent of $58,300 a year. Boo freaking hoo. Teachers generally fail to mention their 35% annual bonus.
These are places where the teachers go and sit under supervision every day, and get full pay. Full freaking pay. To do nothing. Because they should be fired, but they can’t be because the teacher's unions make it practically impossible to fire a teacher. As in it costs millions of dollars in legal fees to just fire a teacher in NYC, and indeed in many parts around the country. I have taken flack among my friends (predominantly young and hard-working) about giving teachers a hard time, but teachers, like most unionized protected jobs, often completely abuse the system.
It is common that teachers in the NYC system spend between 2-3 years in the rubber rooms, and not infrequently 5-10 years sitting on full pay. This is because it takes so long to fire anyone, and is so damn near impossible, that it takes years and huge amounts of money to bring a case against a teacher with any chance of success. The teacher’s unions solution was always to claim that the city was simply not investing enough money. My solution would be to hire Maggie Thatcher as a consultant.
NYC has announced a landmark move to eliminate the rubber rooms, and do something with the 600 teachers who currently sit in them, a major step forward.
Except listen to this:
"Present occupants of the centres will have to wait until September until the new system comes into effect, but when it does those with minor cases will be given non-teaching jobs inside schools. Anyone facing criminal charges will be sent home without pay, and if sexual or financial misconduct is alleged they will be allowed to stay at home on full pay."
If you have committed sexual misconduct against a student, just head home, take some time off, no worries. We have you covered.
And the new system which will go into place?
"In new cases, charges must be brought within 60 days and hearings into their cases convened within a further 15 days of that, or the teacher will be entitled to return to the classroom."
Does anyone see anything wrong here? They did not change any of the damn union rules protecting teachers, and making it nearly impossible to fire them, all they did was change how much time the city had to bring charges. And if the city does not bring charges quickly enough, THE TEACHERS GET AWAY WITH WHATEVER THEY WANT.
Honestly, what a screwed up system. I can't stand teachers unions, I can't stand unions, and I can't stand the fact that teaching is regarded as some protected holy right the with the mere act of teaching causing a halo of angelic pixi dust and lotus petals to spontaneously
Want to fix the system? Fire the bad teachers, fire the sex offenders, and make teaching competitive. You know, with things like bonuses, raises, promotions, competition, evaluation.
Or we could stick to the current system, and pay child molesters to stay at home on full pay, never fire anyone, and give raises based on seniority. That seems to be working well.
Which is exactly why when Florida recently tried to pass a bill that would tie teacher's salaries to the performance of their students, as well as bar recently hired teachers from getting tenure (so unfair! Guaranteed life employment or nothing!!), it was vetoed by the Governor after massive protests from Florida teachers. Because, you know, their jobs would be based on performance. The horror.
As a final note, US teachers work an average of 180 days a year, instead of 244 days for the rest of us. Which means, if you make the average $43,000 a year as a teacher, you are making the equivalent of $58,300 a year. Boo freaking hoo. Teachers generally fail to mention their 35% annual bonus.
Comments
Post a Comment