I Posted This on a Message Board

People on the outside cannot begin to FATHOM how absolutely distorted, twisted, and demented public school culture is.

There is NOTHING else in the entire labor market, whether public or private, profit or non-profit, that compares with the public school system culture in the utter filth that goes on.

What is called "public school law" is really LAWLESSNESS that would get outsiders thrown in prison if they do what administrators and their attorneys regularly do in hearings and even in regular courtrooms. Lying is the rule. Teachers you thought were friends suddenly become pods and push the heavily scripted line. These role models you thought would have consciences do not have consciences at all. And it's all because of fear of what would happen to their careers if they don't play "ball." Districts easily coerce employees with the threat of termination and hence blackballing throughout the entire public school system. Teachers who are fired never work in their chosen field again.

Of course Arne and his ilk, who have no conception of the public school culture, aren't interest in true reform.

Here is what I believe needs to be done in public schools, just for starters:

1. ALL hiring must be done in the same manner as the civil service system. All applicants would be required to take tests (and in the case of teachers and administrators, their licensure test scores could be used), and these scores, ALONG with experience, would be used to create an eligibility list just like the federal civil service. A statewide database could be used, and applicants could select the location where they want to work. The highest-scoring people would be selected for interview by a panel. Right now nepotism is the rule in public schools. Nepotism is nothing more than a form of corruption. There would NO justification whatsoever to see a mother and her two daughters working in the same building as teachers. That's what happened at the last school I worked. In my scheme, relatives would not be allowed to work at the same school, and in smaller districts, not even for the same district. Superintendent and school board relatives would NOT be allowed to work in the same districts where these officials work regardless of the size of the districts.

2. ALL termination and disciplinary meetings MUST be open to the public and to the media. NO secret tribunals. The taxpayers are financing these hearings, which can run up to $100,000 or more a pop, and they have the right to know what their administrators are doing to teachers. Very few teachers are fired for true misconduct or "incompetence"; terminations are often simply political tools or "business" decisions to save money. Most "charges" against teachers are trumped-up charges. Principals would think twice about pulling the garbage they pull if they knew their actions would be scrutinized by the public and the media.

3. "Tenure" should be automatic from day one for all new teachers. None of this revolving door nonsense NYC and other districts are pulling on newer teachers who are sacked in their third year. It takes many years for teachers to become masters at their craft; unfortunately, the trend now is to simply get rid of teachers administrators don't want around. However, firing is serious business, especially in education where children have the RIGHT to a stable learning environment, and teachers are RUINED when there is a termination or non-renewal. This cannot be allowed to continue. Employment at will is unacceptable in education because of the nature of the enterprise.

4. Because they are legal proceedings, termination hearings CANNOT be held on district property. The same rules applying in standard courtroom trials need to be applied in hearings. Subornation of perjury, destruction of evidence, perjury, forgery, and bribery of witnesses in hearings would be subject to criminal prosecution. None of this "rubber stamp" nonsense would be allowed; teachers who face termination MUST have the right to true "due process," which includes the full right to appeal decisions made against them by hearing officers. No denying of witnesses for teachers by union lawyers would be allowed.


That's just for starters.