A few of us had an impromptu discussion on our lack of a contract yesterday. I don't feel like any teachers talk about it at school, but maybe it's just because I'm not hanging out with the union reps, or folks that are having the discussions. Truth be told, I'm not thinking about it too much, and that makes me feel guilty. I come from a strong union state and union family, and have always found the union efforts in Baltimore to be somewhat laughable. At school, even this year, I feel like the issue is barely affecting my life.
Still, my post about working to rule has generated a few interesting discussions, from folks who don't much like unions, to the Baltimore Sun's Classroom Connections blog, to Education Week's blog. I don't know what to make of it all, and wish I had a bit more guidance on the issue.
More is happening than I thought. I heard that the Drama Club advisor began this year's first meeting by telling the students that by advising Drama Club, he and his colleague were going against the union's orders, and asked the students to have their parents call the school board about this issue. I tought this was a powerful way to get your point across, in a serious speech to kids, kids who know you care because you're there, anyway, advising a group after school.
And I want to support the union, I really do. I don't have nearly enough planning time now, and the thought of giving any more of it away is ludicrous to me. And, it is about the kids; when a teacher teaches 170 of them, he needs time to get back essays and plan dynamic lessons for them.
So, yes, it is important. But apparently I don't think it's that important, because I'm not working to rule.
But, if the union had said, "Alright, our position is that your class size will be capped at 25, and that you will have a 12-month contract instead of a 10-month contract, and that every teacher should be issued enough textbooks, a working computer, phone, and overhead projector every year," then, damn right, I'd do whatever it takes to support the union's position. I would not stop working at 3:15, but I would take all of my work home with me to further the cause.
So my opinion about the matter is that it apparently is a bit about what they're fighting for. Planning time is just so disappointingly meek. It's important, but not nearly important enough.
So that's my current take on it. Still supporting the union, but, because I don't think the union is my voice, I'm not supporting them by working to rule.
The Caged Bird Sings, Ctd
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5 comments:
Forget working to rule. It's a public relations ploy more than anything else, and I'm sure the union knows it. No teacher in their right mind will do it - it doesn't help you as a teacher to not do the most you can to make the classroom experience as productive as possible for everyone involved.
I still contend that the recognition and renumeration, or lack there of, for teachers in this country, especially in hard-strapped dysfunctional urban school systems, is one of the biggest "crimes" taking place within this country. And the lack of real investment in public education is clearly paying dividends in many ways, not the least of which is our overcrowded jail system.
But you should let your union membership know that if you really want to bring about change, the key is to get them where it hurts. I know the whole story of how and why the BTUnion won't go on strike, thanks to some bs that went on in the 70s, but take a look at what a sick-out did in Tucson. Hopefully this link works. http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/201441.php
The Tucson teachers were facing a measly 1% pay increase, and after exhausting other avenues, decided to stage a sick-out. 40% of the teachers participated, and the system almost immediately upped the offer to 3%. In all my years in the system I never remember anyone suggesting a sick-out. I wish they had - I left the system with 100 plus sick days and it would have been nice to have put them to some use in getting something accomplished. The irony is that the teachers are so needed and really have so much potential power in this situation - if they just decide to not show up then the whole system falls apart. Even if only 20-30% of the teachers in the system decide to participate, it still makes a difference.
And I think it's great if the parents are upset that the teachers all called in sick - then maybe they'll pick up the phone and call the central office and complain and ask why the system can't get its teachers to come to school. Or maybe they'll call their political representatives and demand that the teachers get what they need to be effective teachers so they can stop calling in sick.
I'm sure in this day and age of email, you wouldn't even need the lame BTU to organize something like this - but it would be nice to have a real issue to rally behind. Since you don't have a contract, why not include all of the items you listed - class size, etc. Then everyone who wants to can use up some of their sick days - call it the Contract Flu or something.
I used to use slick days to go to Florida and New York and Arizona - I would have gladly used them to fight the power!
Your Sympathizer in Tucson
I am working in a district that is without a contract for the 2nd year in a row and our union reps continue to say that negotiations are going well. I would like to know their definition of "well." We have been asked to wear black on Fridays to show our solidarity; to what end I am not sure. I've never even seen a central office administrator in my building.
The last time we were asked to work to rule (which we technically could not say--we were told to say "I am too busy preparing for the MEAP") it seemed to have no effect. Working to rule puts the teaching staff in an impossible position; feel guilty for not supporting your union or feel guilty for not giving your students 100%. It has never been explained to me how working to rule will change central office's position.
In our case it comes down to money and a dress code, and in the Detroit area with its struggling economy and union stronghold I will be surprised if we ratify a contract this year.
Good luck and I love the blog.
I plan to bring this up at the next chapter meeting, but to allay some of your concerns, work to contract are pretty much our big guns unless we do the quasi-legal sick-ins that our far western colleague suggested or risk legal sanctions by violating the law (unjust or morally questionable though it might be)by striking. I REALLY think that from a propriety stand point, as well as getting greater participation from the rank and file, this should have been put to a vote, if not discussed in open forum. BTW...I went back to doing coach classes this week, even if one person showed up only to reschedule one for next week.
-T.C.
So, in other words, T.C., the union's "big guns" are basically pea shooters, eh? Work to rule is really bringing down the walls, eh? Maybe that's why so many teachers end up just leaving the system altogether - there's really no one there to look out for them, no one working to improve the system, especially in BCPSS. Even the organization that is supposed to tap into the collective potential power of teachers, the BTU, can only brandish a "big gun" that amounts to no more than a public relations technique that still leaves teachers underpaid, overworked, without a contract AND morally confused and at the same time does nothing to bring about dialogue and change. I can tell that the central office is shaking in their boots right now - "Oh no, the Union pulled out their BIG GUNS again - oooh, I'm so scared!" Work to rule is so bogus and pathetic it's ridiculous.
By the way, what does quasi-legal mean? Something either is legal or is not. If someone is sick they can take a sick day, legally. And I would imagine a lot of teachers in BCPSS are sick - sick and tired of working in a dysfunctional system, sick and tired of a Union that has all the cojones of a eunuch, sick and tired of working so hard in the classroom and being treated like something less than the professionals they are, sick and tired of union officials and union reps who toe the line or roll over on their backs for the system, sick and tired of overstuffed classes, lack of supplies, lack of support, and lack of leadership.
If you haven't figured it out yet, the BCPSS Union is pretty useless - has been for years. Too bad there isn't another alternative available.
To the last very disgruntled anon:
You pretty much hit it on the head as to the pea-shooters. Personally, I think it is at least immoral to take away the right to strike from teachers. No one would die, no one would lose their home, nor would there be a massive plague from refuse being left in the streets for rats to...oh..yeah...there are already plenty of those..this is Baltimore.
AS to your other comments, I will not rise to the bait, as you are clearly frustrated and in reality you and I are more than likely of a like mind on this whole mess. In other systems I have seen up close how unions are the only ones that will look out for teachers when the chips are down. When I came here in the early 90's I had a lot of bad vibes about the BTU for a number of reasons, and a lot of what I have experienced since has done nothing to allay my initial fears.
-T.C.
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