Business of the Day

By Diane Ravitch
 

Imagine that you are a teacher in a high school in a high-poverty district. Many of your students don't speak English. Some don't attend school regularly because they have to earn money or baby-sit with their siblings while their parents are looking for work. Some come to school unprepared because they didn't do their homework. But you are idealistic and dedicated, you work with each of the students, you do your best to teach them reading, writing, science, math, history, whatever your subject. But despite your best efforts, many of your students can't read very well (they are struggling to learn English), and many of them don't graduate. If your school eliminated all its standards, you could easily push up the graduation rate.

OK, can we at least admit that things have gotten strange and twisted when members of the Howard Beale Society give a standing ovation to a woman for putting people out of work?

What next — a bus tour of underperforming schools at which Society members could get out to yell “Send out the teachers!”

There is damage being done here. In this eagerness to support the wholesale firing of veteran teachers, people are not thinking about what comes next. Will good teachers want to go near schools that have been set up as free-fire zones for zealous reformers? And will teachers who are willing to take jobs in schools that are being forced to fit into federal guidelines have any understanding of the community they’re in or the particular needs of its students?

Central Falls Kids Deserve Better

For up to date information on what is happening in Central Falls, go to centralfallskidsdeservebetter.com Visit this site regularly to keep up with the news, hear teacher voices, watch videos and find out how you can help.

For other links related to the Central Falls issue, see below:

Gist updates Regents on Central Falls firings

Board fires every Central Falls High School teacher

Rhode Island Federation of Teachers & Health Professionals

Educator Quality Issues

The RI Board of Regents adopted the RI Professional Teaching Standards in April, 2009. Additionally, the Regents are proposing adoption of the RI Educator Evaluation System Standards and the RI Educator Code of Professional Responsibility. Each document represents very laudable goals and standards to which we believe our members aspire. However, it is important for our leaders and members to be familiar with the standards and their indicators as well as their potential use in evaluation, support, continued employment and compensation. It is also important for RIFTHP leaders and members to advocate for the conditions and supports necessary for educators to achieve these standards and act upon these beliefs.

To view information, click on the links below.

Overview of State Budget Article 7

State Budget - Article 7

When viewing the information contained in the Age Proportionality Estimator, the following conversion must be followed:

If the arrived at retirement age is listed as 52.3, it does not mean 52 years 3 months, it means 52 years and 3/10ths of 12 months.  

Find Your Elected Officials

House Contacts     Senate Contacts 

Commitee Assignments

The RIFTHP is pleased to announce that there is a new member benefit through Liberty Mutual Insurance. For homeowners and automobile insurance discounts click on the "Member Benefits" link to the left.

Sandra Feldman, who rose from her position as a second-grade elementary school teacher in New York City to become president of the 1.3 million member American Federation of Teachers, died September 18, 2005 after a long battle with cancer, AFT President Edward J. McElroy announced today. Feldman would have been 66 years old next month.

Sandy's death is a great loss for the AFT personally and professionally and for the children of our nation, said McElroy. She was a leader without comparison and will be remembered for her vigorous commitment to better the lives of the teachers and school staff she represented and the children they served.