Now DPS teachers must step up to plate
I was pleased to read in the Rocky Mountain News recently the commentary by Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet and school board members admitting that DPS is failing to meet the needs of the children in Denver and that it needs to change the way it does things (“A vision for a 21st century school district,” April 25).
I was also pleased to read the Denver Classroom Teachers Association’s admission that the union wants reform and is ready to do things differently (“Let’s work together for the sake of children,” April 27).
Two of the pieces are now in place for improving DPS schools and the way children are taught. The people we need to hear from now are the classroom teachers themselves. They need to speak up individually and as a group and say that they are ready to work as many hours a day and as many weeks a year as it takes to bring DPS schools up to the standards being set by the charter and private schools in the Denver metropolitan area.
The teachers must also pledge to report all DPS teachers who are teaching poorly — or not at all — to both DPS and the teachers union.
I hope that DPS classroom teachers are up to this challenge. The children in the Denver Public Schools system must have teachers who teach well and who show up for work every day.
Mary Ellen Tournai, Windsor
Mary-
You write an interesting letter regarding DPS. However, like many, you are leaving out a vital and important piece of the puzzle. I think we need to hear from the parents of these children saying that they are willing to be parents as many hours a day and as many weeks a year it takes for their kids to be successful as well. Teachers can only do so much. Why don't people understand that?
YES!! BO, you are totally correct!! Also, all those DPS teachers--and I know a few--might have a hard time giving as many hours as Mary is demanding. You see Mary, they have to work another job to make ends meet (seems people like you have no problem screaming at them to work overtime, but then you forget them when you're in the polling booth.) Starting teachers are making less than waiters. No, wait, starting teachers ARE waiters. But they are NOT parents to these kids. Stop demanding they try to take up that job too. One last question Mary: Have you ever taught public school?
Posted by shaupeen on May 7, 2007 08:59 AMMary Ellen Tournai calls on the teachers to do more, but she doesn't call on the state to pay them more. Good teachers are already leaving the system. Nor does she mention the possibility of hiring more teachers.
My impression is that Mary Ellen is in favor of such reforms as will not cost her anything. Very selfish. tunnel visioned, and even ridiculous.
Posted by Truth on May 7, 2007 09:15 AMWhatever happened to the great Pay for Performance breakthrough that was going to resolve and address all these issues?! Just another headline, now forgotten?
For years, I have waited for the Rocky to report on the really odd situation involving the DPS teachers' union: It's ONLY for Denver teachers. Exclusive representation by this union is mandatory whether or not teachers choose to become members -- and if you're not a dues-paying member, you don't get to vote on your own job conditions. All together,
DPS has nine separate in-house "unions" like Denver Classroom Teachers Association, which it recognizes as "exclusive representatives," while having no statutory obligation to recognize ANY unions -- nor any statutory obligation to periodically require a vote of workers electing those in-house "unions" to be their exclusive representatives! Some of these entities are so disabled they're prevented from striking, while others (teachers, for example) are allowed to strike and keep their jobs anyway.
The unregulated collective bargaining practices at DPS are behind many of its troubles. What I wouldn't give for the Rocky to report on THAT issue!!!! Labor practices at DPS are so weird and unique, it's easy to understand why workers don't perform well.
DPS should start small if it wants to see real reform: make the admins pay for their own health insurance.
Seeing as how so many schools--DPS and others (read JeffCo and CCSD)--are so rediculously top heavy, kathy might want to take her small start a bit further, and have half the administrators pay their own salaries too! (And yes, I'm saying get rid of them...they have little impact on children learning, are quite often lousy teachers who the district cannot get rid of--so they were put into a non-essential administration roles, and their salaries could be used to hire at least two effective teachers per adminstrator.) After all, isn't it what's best for the students?
Posted by shaupeen on May 7, 2007 11:47 AM"Mary Ellen Tournai calls on the teachers to do more, but she doesn't call on the state to pay them more."
Well, we've been throwing money at the problem for so long and things haven't really improved. So maybe the voters are saying "Improve the situation and then we'll give you the money"
Posted by on May 7, 2007 12:27 PMReally 12:27? We've been throwing money at it? According to Gov. Ritter from an assembly 2 weeks ago: Colorado is 49th in the country in $$$ spent in the classrooms, and 49th for teacher salaries. We only have 50 states!! I really hope you didn't hurt your arm throwing all that money at the problem.
Posted by shaupeen on May 7, 2007 12:42 PM"Well, we've been throwing money at the problem for so long and things haven't really improved. So maybe the voters are saying "Improve the situation and then we'll give you the money"
We are not "giving" the money. We are paying the money to get our children educated. Your idea of abandoning the children till the adults grow up, and punishing the teachers because the administrators are doing a poor job, doesn't appeal to me.
It sounds like some administrators may be living in tall cotton. They might just like it if they knew they could just keep up the bad work.
If a doctor does a poor job, we don't just say, well, you don't get a raise, and then allow him to continue doing a poor job. Teachers doctor kids minds.
Posted by Truth on May 7, 2007 09:30 PM