Insanity in Kansas City

[proud2BlibKansan]

The supt is trying to fire 115 probationary teachers and hire 150 Teach for America interns to replace them. The union turned out in force tonight at the board meeting. The teachers who had received termination notices wore name tags identifying them as pink slipped teachers and they stood in the lobby of the board building as the board members walked by on their way to the board meeting. They had to walk by the teachers they were being asked to fire. It was a powerful visual!

The local union president, Andrea Flinders, gave a wonderful speech at the board meeting, telling the board “We as a union are going to hold you accountable that not one single effective teacher is terminated this year,” Flinders said.

And the union members, in their blue AFT shirts, packed the meeting. There were no empty seats and teachers stood in the aisles.

When Andrea finished talking, the looks on the board members faces were absolutely priceless as the teachers cheered. It was a great solidarity moment.

I talked to a reporter at the board meeting tonight who told me that the TFA contract grants $3000 per TFA intern to TFA - a $450,000 finders fee?

Local media coverage:

http://www.kctv5.com/education/27536293/detail.html

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/13/2798915/some-kc-teachers-wear-their-pink.html

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-kcmo-teachers-union-not-happy-with-districts-mass-firing-plan-20110413,0,5535485.story

http://www.kmbc.com/video/27537899/detail.html

Pictures:







http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/education/superintendent-says-teacher-cuts-are-about-education%2C-not-budget

[aquart]

1. That's a nice scam. Who makes that money?

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. TFA

Nice gig, eh?

[aquart]

4. Yes. But "gig" is one of my favorite words.

It just seems wrong to apply it to them. Besmirching, as it were.

[patrice]

3. cheezus! frakking! kayryst! an unrec!!!!

:-(

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Board voted to fire the teachers

[YvonneCa]

6. ...

...:( :hug:

[spedtr90]

7. How did TFA gain sainthood?

These Kansas teachers are obviously amazing people, but they got screwed for their service.
Those new TFA teachers will get over $5,000 a year from Americorps for their "service", to use in paying off college debt or future grad school - even as they collect full wages and benefits (courtesy of the union).

TFA are "the best and the brightest", yet they only need a 2.5 college GPA.

"Intensive" teacher training for 5 weeks consists of only 1 hour per day teaching a class and 1 hour per day working with a small group.

If you have never browsed their site, start here with "Why should my child join TFA?" (May cause nausea.) http://www.teachforamerica.org/the-corps-experience/family-and-friends/why-should-my-child-join-teach-for-america/

Do school boards know anything about TFA, really? There are no facts or studies supporting these "teachers" as superior. This organization needs to be exposed.