Another (Potentially) Huge Development
Here comes another historic, philosophical battle, this time in Providence:
Education Commissioner Peter McWalters has ordered the city schools to begin filling teacher vacancies based on qualifications rather than seniority, an order that could fly in the face of the teachers’ contract.
McWalters, in a no-nonsense letter yesterday to Supt. Tom Brady, said the district hasn’t been moving fast enough to improve student achievement and that it was time to intervene in a much more aggressive fashion.
Dare we hope that we’re seeing the beginning of a revolution of sanity? (And dare we hope that it’ll arrive before we reach the utter bottom?)
Good call by McWalters.
Looks like the state Labor Relations Board is going to have a very busy year.
McWalters has not made a good call since coming to RI.
Many of the problems in our schools exist because of McWalters “ivory tower” perception of education. When was the last time the man actually experienced today’s classroom environment? He is totally CLUELES!!
The policies and practices instituted under his tutelage at the RIDOE have, in my opinion, had a major NEGATIVE impact on education in this state. When was the last time you visited RIDOE? It has become a repository for political hacks that push out mandates without any logic, knowledge or experience. That is where you should begin cleaning house!
The SALT Survey, which takes up an enormous amount of time and resources, was someone’s PHD project! The kids think it is a big joke no matter how hard the School Administration tries to convey the necessity to answer honestly.
Do you know how much time and effort goes into administering “State mandated” tests? The taxpayers would be up in arms if they only knew! The “social promotion” and disciplinary standards mandated by the state are destroying any semblance of order or discipline. IT is freighting that seniors in High School cannot write a coherent essay. Yet McWalters has fostered a climate of promotion at any cost!
McWalters should have been fired years ago!
Let’s try this again….
McWalters has not made a good call since coming to RI.
Many of the problems in our schools exist because of McWalters’ “ivory tower” perception of education.
When was the last time the man actually experienced today’s classroom environment? He is totally CLUELES!!
The policies and practices instituted under his tutelage at the RIDOE have, in my opinion, had a major NEGATIVE impact on education in this state.
When was the last time you visited RIDOE? It has become a repository for political hacks that push out mandates without any logic, knowledge or experience. That is where you should begin cleaning house!
The SALT Survey, which takes up an enormous amount of time and resources, was someone’s PHD project! The kids think it is a big joke no matter how hard the School Administration tries to convey the necessity to answer honestly.
Do you know how much time and effort goes into administering “State mandated” tests? The taxpayers would be up in arms if they only knew!
The “social promotion” and disciplinary standards mandated by the state are destroying any semblance of order or discipline. It is frightening that seniors in High School cannot write a coherent essay. Yet McWalters has fostered a climate of promotion at any cost!
McWalters should have been fired years ago!
Aldo,
Say what you will, but the guy is right on the money here. Anyone with half a brain knows it.
Can anybody really explain where the rights of teachers should ever be allowed to take precedence over the rights of our children to get a decent education?
Once again, this issue illustrates what total pigs these unions are. They do not care about the children. For that, they should be eliminated. Hopefully, this is the first step along that path.
And Aldo, since you seem to love these union pig policies, perhaps you could tell us if you want that person with the most seniority when you go for a lap dance??
Little different, huh??
My point being that McWalters has done little to advance education in RI…
The unfunded mandates and “kissy feely” directives have done way too much damage to RI schools for this man to escape accountability for his actions.
Now, with less than 6 months remain, he seems to be “grandstanding”. Where has he been the past decade?
I agree that the NEA/ AFT locals protect incompetent teachers but don’t trust the RIDOE bureaucracy to do anything to “fix” the problems. Trust me on this one; they are the ones who, for the most part, created them
Education is a state responsibility but the fools on Smith Hill have forced the municipalities to fund it with the result being the tax burden we all have to deal with.
Once again, do a check of the RIDOE budget and discover for yourself how many six figure political hacks are employed there. Better yet, show up one day and see how many you actually find at their assigned job.
“Education Commissioner Peter McWalters has ordered the city schools to begin filling teacher vacancies based on qualifications rather than seniority”
gasp
Is the man mad??