“Priority Schools” in Detroit: A thin disguise for charters and privatization

The Detroit Public Schools, headed by its financial czar, Robert Bobb, is poised to implement a sweeping reorganization of the school district that will trample on the working conditions and democratic rights of teachers. In carrying out its policy, the district enjoys the complete support of the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and its parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

At a recent DFT executive board meeting, it was announced that as many as 41 schools will be designated as “Priority Schools” for the 2010-2011 school year. An additional 10 schools will be affixed with this label the next year. The scheme is aimed at eliminating hard-won gains of teachers like job security and seniority rights, and is the first step toward transforming dozens of public schools into privately run charter schools, which will exclude children requiring the most attention and resources.

In a series of “Letters of Agreement,” attached to the union’s contract ratified in December 2009, DFT President Keith Johnson has signed off on a host of “reforms” consistent with the Obama administration’s “Race to the Top” education initiative: the unimpeded spread of charter schools, the lengthening of the school day and year, peer review and evaluations based on the narrowest of criteria, the overemphasis of standardized test scores, merit pay and other attacks on teachers.

It should be noted that at the time of the contract’s ratification, the central issue was the imposition of the so-called “Termination Incentive Plan,” consisting of a $10,000 pay cut over two years, a plan designed to compel older teachers to retire. So, while the complicity of the DFT-AFT leadership with education “reforms” being carried out by Robert Bobb was well known among teachers, the full content of the union’s capitulation contained in the “Letters of Agreement” was not discussed—if, in fact, it was even available at the time of the ratification vote.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/jul2010/prio-j28.shtml

One of the worst performing systems in the whole country if not the worst - and the guy running it wasn't even literate himself.

If that's the alternative to privatization/charters - and it appears that it is - then bring on privatization. It's the right thing to do for the kids.

Why arent the teachers out in a mass protest?

Get loud, let the public know how the government is trying to turn over the education of their children to private companies that have no oversight.

needs to be done.

But you'll probably be told how the union are sellouts....

The teachers I met from Detroit were livid about these policies. When their president stood on the floor of the AFT convention to address the body, he was booed. I assumed Detroit teachers were doing the booing, but I can't be certain about that.

At any rate, I expect he will be challenged when he next runs for office and will have a tough race on his hands.

Seems a little unlikely, but I assume there is a recall process so the rank and file does not have to wait.

The entire situation does not pass the smell test

to go along with this

:)

give us a better option and we can talk




FYI, my mother was a Detroit Public school teacher for 38 years.

thanks again...