Comments on: On NY1, Weingarten floats making the word “tenure” optional http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/01/on-ny1-weingarten-floats-making-the-word-tenure-optional/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Success Story of Charter Schools and Teachers Unions | TakePart Social Action Network™ http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/01/on-ny1-weingarten-floats-making-the-word-tenure-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-121905 Success Story of Charter Schools and Teachers Unions | TakePart Social Action Network™ Sat, 23 May 2009 00:31:43 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=13547#comment-121905 [...] a live television debate several weeks ago, Randi Weingarten actually said that charter schools should not only be seen as laboratories for academic innovation, but for [...] [...] a live television debate several weeks ago, Randi Weingarten actually said that charter schools should not only be seen as laboratories for academic innovation, but for [...]

]]> By: Fordham Fellows Blog http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/01/on-ny1-weingarten-floats-making-the-word-tenure-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-112198 Fordham Fellows Blog Mon, 04 May 2009 21:07:31 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=13547#comment-112198 [...] for experimenting with unionized charters.” On Friday night, AFT President Randi Weingarten voiced similar sentiments in a televised debate with charter school operator Eva Moskowitz: [Weingarten] [...] [...] for experimenting with unionized charters.” On Friday night, AFT President Randi Weingarten voiced similar sentiments in a televised debate with charter school operator Eva Moskowitz: [Weingarten] [...]

]]> By: Gideon http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/01/on-ny1-weingarten-floats-making-the-word-tenure-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-109158 Gideon Fri, 01 May 2009 13:15:54 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=13547#comment-109158 In watching the so-called "debate" it wasn't clear to me that Weingarten took much of a position on anything, letting Moskowitz lay out most of the issues. And it was Moskowitz who acknowledged that the union is not the totality of the problem, that bureaucractic departments of education also hold some of the blame. While there's a lot of talk about the problem with contracts, there was no specificity last night. Weingarten suggested the contract has become more flexible, but offered no examples of how this plays out in improving schools. It was Moskowitz who raised the problematic issue of teacher tenure, which Weingarten really danced around. She could have pointed to the specifics of the Green Dot Charter School contract, which is unionized and has a short contract with no tenure. Also, let's not forget that contracts are an agreement between two parties, labor and management, and it's not fair to focus exclusively on the union in debates about the contract. The role of management in agreeing to these contracts and enforcing provisions for removing ineffective teachers needs to be examined as well. Finally, I thought it was a cheap shot for the host to say that Moskowitz hadn't talked about the children in her comments, as if everything this debate was about wasn't about educating children. In watching the so-called “debate” it wasn’t clear to me that Weingarten took much of a position on anything, letting Moskowitz lay out most of the issues. And it was Moskowitz who acknowledged that the union is not the totality of the problem, that bureaucractic departments of education also hold some of the blame. While there’s a lot of talk about the problem with contracts, there was no specificity last night. Weingarten suggested the contract has become more flexible, but offered no examples of how this plays out in improving schools. It was Moskowitz who raised the problematic issue of teacher tenure, which Weingarten really danced around. She could have pointed to the specifics of the Green Dot Charter School contract, which is unionized and has a short contract with no tenure. Also, let’s not forget that contracts are an agreement between two parties, labor and management, and it’s not fair to focus exclusively on the union in debates about the contract. The role of management in agreeing to these contracts and enforcing provisions for removing ineffective teachers needs to be examined as well. Finally, I thought it was a cheap shot for the host to say that Moskowitz hadn’t talked about the children in her comments, as if everything this debate was about wasn’t about educating children.

]]> By: A Different Type of Charter School http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/01/on-ny1-weingarten-floats-making-the-word-tenure-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-109088 A Different Type of Charter School Fri, 01 May 2009 12:08:06 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=13547#comment-109088 Weingarten seemed particularly attached to Obama's message of working together. Recently, she has been speaking very much like a politician. It was a striking departure from many of her previous messages. I applaud Weingarten for trying to take the higher ground, trying to focus on how the two could work together - even while Moskowitz spoke divisively. Nevertheless, her words seem inauthentic and motivated by her political ambitions. It's a shame that human lightning rod, Moskowitz, has become the de facto spokesperson for all charter schools. Her views are not representative of many charter schools. Her schools are not representative of many charter schools. There are lots of charter schools out there who do things very differently. Weingarten seemed particularly attached to Obama’s message of working together. Recently, she has been speaking very much like a politician. It was a striking departure from many of her previous messages. I applaud Weingarten for trying to take the higher ground, trying to focus on how the two could work together – even while Moskowitz spoke divisively. Nevertheless, her words seem inauthentic and motivated by her political ambitions.

It’s a shame that human lightning rod, Moskowitz, has become the de facto spokesperson for all charter schools. Her views are not representative of many charter schools. Her schools are not representative of many charter schools. There are lots of charter schools out there who do things very differently.

]]> By: NYC Educator http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/01/on-ny1-weingarten-floats-making-the-word-tenure-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-109076 NYC Educator Fri, 01 May 2009 10:05:22 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=13547#comment-109076 Ms. Weingarten''s openness to lack of tenure is nothing new. She specifically said, regarding DC schools, that everything was on the table except vouchers. Also, she has initiated a partnership with Green Dot Schools, which specifically rejects both tenure and seniority rights. Ms. Weingarten”s openness to lack of tenure is nothing new. She specifically said, regarding DC schools, that everything was on the table except vouchers. Also, she has initiated a partnership with Green Dot Schools, which specifically rejects both tenure and seniority rights.

]]> By: Elizabeth Green http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/01/on-ny1-weingarten-floats-making-the-word-tenure-optional/comment-page-1/#comment-108978 Elizabeth Green Fri, 01 May 2009 04:53:18 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=13547#comment-108978 On behalf of those of us not in NYC tonight, thank you Philissa for this great summary. On behalf of those of us not in NYC tonight, thank you Philissa for this great summary.

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