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Et tu, Barack? Teachers Lose Another Ally

Embattled unions don't want evaluation based on test scores

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2009 5:35 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Teachers union members are fuming over President Obama's desire to stay the course and evaluate educators based on student test scores, McClatchy reports. Obama is even threatening to withhold California stimulus money unless the state enshrines the student-teacher performance link into law. "It takes more than the ability to fill in bubbles to be considered an educated person," says one union chief. "We thought President Obama understood that."

California teachers, who lost 18,000 jobs this year, were already battling politicians who want to impose teacher merit pay, remove a cap on charter schools, and turn over schools to private operators. Now Education Secretary Arne Duncan is urging them to think outside the box: "It's not enough to focus only on issues like job security, tenure, compensation and evaluation," he says. "You must become full partners and leaders in education reform."

The president of the Los Angeles teachers union speaks after the local Board of Education voted to adopt a resolution that may turn a third of the district's schools over to private operators.
The president of the Los Angeles teachers union speaks after the local Board of Education voted to adopt a resolution that may turn a third of the district's schools over to private operators.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
In this photo taken June 8, 2009, Corinna Lefkowitz, an English teacher, hands out final exams at Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif.
In this photo taken June 8, 2009, Corinna Lefkowitz, an English teacher, hands out final exams at Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif.   (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
President Barack Obama pauses in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009.
President Barack Obama pauses in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Our perception is it's more of the same, and that's not good, because we thought we were going to be able to change something, make some true reform in public education. - David Sanchez, president of the California Teachers Association

The only place the NAACP can be is with this governor. If the teacher unions put a better proposal on the table, we would stand with them. - Alice Huffman, California NAACP president

The only place the NAACP can be is with this governor. If the teacher unions put a better proposal on the table, we would stand with them. - Alice Huffman, California NAACP president

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
lindamae
Sep 22, 2009 5:42 AM CDT
There are matters out of control of even the most seasoned teachers so students do fail. I meet them as adults trying to earn a GED and they all tell me that they just knew it all and no one or nothing could have convinced them the need for education so they quit. Some quit when they are 18 and have no credits and some quit when they are 8th graders but they need to fill their seat until they are old enough to quit. Perhaps Obama, rock stars, sports stars, etc. can spend more time and energy pointing out that education is knowledge - and it is with knowledge that we can live productive - and happier - lives. We need to have a skill that will enable us to earn a living. Obama should have hammered that point home during his presentation. I couldn't believe his first thought was to ask kids how them could help HIM. I was glad that he changed his speech in order to convince kids that education was important. He would have been more effective if he had given this speech at a time when both parents and children could have sat together to listen to it. Parents, our society, friends, the media - all affect the choices our kids make about education - and I include academic and non academic plans of study. We need more plumbers as much as we need another lawyer. Perhaps more so. Also, the tests that our kids take evaluate their mastery of skills which make up the test. If our kids don't do well, then we need to reteach those basic skills so that they can proceed and succeed. Parents - read to your babies.
Nwambe
Sep 21, 2009 12:06 PM CDT
The thing is, if you can't afford money for textbooks or computers, your standardized test scores will go down. Is that the fault of the teacher? What about kids who drop out of school for family issues? Should teachers have to account for that? Finally, if teachers are held to the standardized test, then guess what, they'll teach to the test and only to the test. The kids won't actually learn anything.
ljm
Sep 21, 2009 9:29 AM CDT
@odowd80- I don't think it is because of the pay. Looking a the BLS web site and pro-rating for a 41 ww year, teacher median pay is in line with the median income for wage earners with 4 year degrees. Teachers also have pretty good state retirement plans and insurance plans. I would imagine more people don't go into the profession because the right has resoundingly and unfairly demonized the teaching profession. Still, for nine months of work, the compensation isn't out of line. Just out of curiosity, are you a teacher?
Politics • US

 
education • Barack Obama • California • reform • NAACP • teachers' unions • teachers • Arne Duncan • stimulus funds

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