Schools Roundup: The Blame Game Edition

Posted by in DC Life on 09 30th, 2008 | no responses

Some notable finger pointing by the past week: a list showing 90 unfilled teacher vacancies surfaced, prompting complaints of a teacher shortage caused by Chancellor Michelle Rhee�s firing 270 teachers that summer; the long-awaited schools modernization plan was criticized by the D.C. council as incomplete and lost community input; and a Washington Teachers Union info session about the quagmired teachers� contract negotiations descended into name-calling and shouting matches. Perhaps Post columnist Jay Mathews had the most grown-up solution: just fire them!

According to DCPS spokeswoman Dena Iverson, the emptiness list obtained by the Post is out of term, and the District is only aware of 42 current vacancies. “We expect the majority of the 42 open teaching positions to be filled within the next two weeks as we move teachers from under-enrolled schools to schools that exceeded enrollment expectations,� she told the Post. Most of the teachers who were fired were let go considering they losed out to meet a June 30 deadline to obtain Praxis certification. Currently, there are about 4,000 DCPS teachers working in 120 schools.

For the schools with vacancies, classes may be over-crowded above the 25 student limit imposed by the union, and teachers may be asked to give up planning periods to cover classes without teachers. As a former teacher, I can attest that having to use your planning period to cover for lost teachers is exhausting and frustrating. Having 40 kids in a separate lesson period can be a nightmare. But anyone who can�t pass the notoriously easy Praxis teaching certification exam really shouldn�t be teaching. See for yourself.

The WTU has jumped on that story, emailing a WJLA video about the vacancies to its membership and protesting that had Rhee not fired 270 teachers, there wouldn�t be a shortage. WTU president George Parker said, “There seems to be a double standard for accountability. Teachers are held accountable,

but the administration is not held accountable for something as basic as getting a teacher into a classroom.”

Photo by Fredo Alvarez

Council doubtful of Schools Modernization Plan: Last Thursday, Allen Lew, head of DCPS interpretation, presented the Mayor�s $2.5 billion schools modernization plan to the D.C. Council, who were less than pleased, calling the plan “vague and conceptual” and complaining about the lack of community involvement in its preparation. (Two public hearings seeking comment on the plan were only announced about a week in advance and were poorly attended.) The Council was plus vocally annoyed that Rhee and Deputy Mayor for Education Victor Reinoso were not present at the hearing, even though Rhee had notified the Council early in the month she would be unable to attend. “I don’t think it is too big an imposition to come before the people’s representatives to explain how these resources are to be expended,” said Council member David Catania (I-At Large).

Contract Watch: Here�s what one teacher had to say about final week�s WTU membership assembly: �The screaming, the interruptions, the loud audience conversations - I’ve seen more decorum at high school football games.� Bizarrely, some folks disagree. Meanwhile, calls are out for the American Federation of Teachers or WTU to offer up their own plans to improve teacher accountability, since the unions have resisted bringing the current proposals to a vote. Remind anyone else of other votes that can’t get passed?

Schools Notes: New DCPS special education chief named� Howard University�s The Hilltop profiles the D.C. Youth Orchestra� Rhee addresses the National Press Club� DC School Reform Now announces upcoming community meetings in every ward.