New Haven Independent

Posted by: NHPS Teacher | October 6, 2009 8:46 PM

As a professional educator in the New Haven Public Schools, I strongly support changes that benefit students. We have many problems in the system that start with Dr. Mayo - and trickle down.

I'm having trouble accepting a two hour window next week (10/13) to read, reflect, and vote on (what sounds like) a radically new approach to running schools in New Haven.

Why are we being denied the opportunity to carefully consider this document? It was proposed by union leadership, and has been tentatively accepted by the Mayor and Superintendent.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | October 7, 2009 9:11 AM

NHPS TEACHER,

If you need more than a little time to read, reflect, and vote on the contract yourself, then why do you participate in a collective bargaining system? Aren't your duly elected representatives supposed to do all of that for you?

Posted by: Tom Burns | October 7, 2009 8:18 PM

I am looking forward to seeing all of our members at Career High School next Tuesday. Tom

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | October 8, 2009 10:32 AM

Is this part of the tentative pact.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2009/10/06/2009-10-06_kids_slam_library_land_grab_jhs_126_squeezed_out_of_study_space_by_3_charter_sch.html

http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3749

http://normsnotes2.blogspot.com/2009/09/charter-schools-gamble.html

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | October 8, 2009 4:58 PM

3/5, gotta give you credit for finding this stuff! A couple of questions observations relating to these links:

Do you think that charter schools should receive far less in resources than other public schools? In CT., charters only receive about 75% of what district run schools receive. So how is it that they survive? Because they have far lower administration costs. But the lack of resources limit their ability to grow and serve more children.

2nd article: Yes, before Joel Klein, teachers ran the show in NYC. Since he has arrived, teachers (their unions) do not run the show anymore. And you've got a problem with that??Under Klein student performance has only rocketed upward. There is no place for teacher unions in public schools. Excellent, well-compensated teachers, yes. But teacher unions ought to be outlawed in public schools.

Last article on charter school facility finance: What's the point that you draw from the article? However you slice it, there is no question that charters have spent FAR less in both operating and facility spending than district schools.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | October 8, 2009 8:39 PM

Fix the schools.
To answer your first question on should charter
schools receive farless in resources than other
public schools.No they should in fact as I have said,I don't surport charter schools.As I have said the reason that charter schools look good is that they are aloud to pick and choose what type of students that they want. Case and point
Most charter schools will not take special eeducation studentshttp://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=838819
And they even push kid out that need help.http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2009/07/19/2009-07-19_charters_pawn_off_flunking_kids_ps_big_sez.html#ixzz0LiYKj5So
http://www.gregpalast.com/wheres-your-homework-mr-president/
Also this could be happing in this state and other states,Look how the public schools was shortchange of lotttery money to help run the schools.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/21/education/21schools.html
http://www.cfequity.org/CourtofAppealsCoverage/NY1%206-27-03.htm

Second question you said under Joel Klein that student performance has only rocketed up ward.Not so,In fact there is a investigation into there claim on this.http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election_2009/2009/09/23/2009-09-23_bloomberg_claim_misleading_according_to_study.html
http://normsnotes2.blogspot.com/2009/09/nine-myths-about-public-schools.html

your last question is a easy one.Just read the statement
We’re not speculators. We’re investors.” So says the CEO of a real estate trust that recently sunk some $170 million into 22 charter schools.

Which got me wondering: why charter schools? How do they end up looking like sound investments?

It turns out the buyer, Entertainment Properties Trust (EPR), buys real estate nationwide, with its total portfolio worth about $2.6 billion. Over half of that is in megaplex movie theaters. EPR’s stated goal is to be "the nation's leading destination entertainment, entertainment-related, recreation and specialty real estate company."

So why charter schools?

According to EPR's website: "We understand that education is among the most vital experiences of life. Movie theatres and charter schools are very different in many ways, but they are alike in this respect: People choose to patronize them. Our experience in financing specialized real estate enables us to capitalize on properties that people choose to visit

Just like a corporatist just make the money and to hell with the little person.

Posted by: Tom Burns | October 8, 2009 11:28 PM

three/fifths---you are right on in all your posts--Keep doing what you are doing---Fix--haven't posted in awhile and thought you would be happy that our Union would embrace reform---but you're not--you will only be happy when you see our corporate sector take over education and greedily drive it into the ground as they do with everything they touch---This union, the NHFT is more progressive than your phony charters--and our teachers and staff have the courage to take on the challenge of educating our students better than anyone else---I am so proud of our teachers who work in the most challenging environment you can imagine. They keep on keeping on with love in their hearts and determination in their souls to help our children perform at their highest levels. This reform movement is our moment and we will get it right and leave a legacy that is second to none. Pay attention and watch how it is done. Tom

Posted by: teachergal | October 9, 2009 6:41 AM

I totally trust that Dave and Tom have the best interests of New Haven Teachers in mind and that the contract is one that will serve and protect NH teachers. I know both Dave and Tom and believe them to be stand up guys and look forward to hearing about the contract that i'm sure they spent countless hours developing. They are very aware of the teachers they serve and feel that they will bargain the best contract they can for us.

I am also very excited about the Reform Movement in New Haven. I believe it we look at schools closely, and learn from what other more successful schools are doing and replicate that, then there will be no reason to close schools. Why can't more schools look like Davis School. Lola is doing so many wonderful things there that could be replicated in other schools. Why aren't principals sharing ideas?

I've worked many years at Magnet Schools and non-magnet schools. The difference? If you need something to enhance what you are doing in a Magnet School just ask for some funding and you will probably get it. I now work in a Tier 1 school and that is not the case. I can't seem to get an easel, a desk, and the proper furniture to create a positive learning environment due to this change. Everything needs to be run by the principal who is a very negative force in the building. Basically most people are afraid to say "good morning" without being sneered at.

Unfortunately, Tier 1 schools are servicing the students who did not get into a magnet school or parents who are not savvy enough to apply. Therefore, these students are in non-magnet schools that do not get the same financial support.

When you are going to have Magnet Schools receiving extra state dollars and non-magnet schools receiving basic dollars, there is going to be a difference. Magnets can afford the bells and whistles to enhance education while non-magnets can not. Additionally, you are setting up have and have not environments. So if you have a savvy parent you will go to a magnet school, if not you will go to whatever school is left. We recently got a new batch of kids w/o having the correct number of teachers to teach them. Teachers are teaching more classes than they should with classes that are very large. Lastly, Magnets are able to keep their class size to 22 while non-magnets have 27 kids in a class. Too many especially when they are at basic and below basic in reading and math as determined by the CMT and class work.

Yesterday, I gave my seventh graders a writing prompt which asked them to offer their principal suggestions for how to use an extra hour a day to improve education. They had such wonderful ideas. All which would involve financial support. Some ideas were cooking classes, physical education after school programs, art classes, dance classes, math/reading tutorials, library classes and the list goes on and on. I only wish we had the finances and support to make these things available to kids who are so in need.

Just my two cents for the day!

Posted by: teachergal | October 9, 2009 6:51 AM

Just read an interesting editorial which gives another perspective of what is happening not only here but in the larger American education picture.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/opinion/09krugman.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Hope it opens!