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Union Negotiations

Posted by Waski_the_Squirrel on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 2:29:18 AM
This was going to be another rambling post born of insomnia. Ironically, as soon as I sat down, my eyelids are drooping. Perhaps writing is cathartic.

My school is engaged in contract negotiations. Fortunately, the process is not as contentious at this school as it still is at my previous school. It's not all sweetness and light, even here. The process has been going on for months. Still, at least agreement has been reached.

What disturbs me is how the union at this school makes it quite clear that non-union members are not welcome. One colleague recently told me in essence that I was a parasite since I was not a union member. I'll not quote this colleague exactly because it's a small school.

In some small way, it is clear where this person is coming from. As a nonmember, I will not be on the negotiating committee, I do not contribute any money to the negotiations or the union, and I am not even part of the "brainstorming".  The union has made it quite clear to its members that they are not to discuss negotiations with the rest of us at all.

This is an interesting contrast to some other schools where I have worked. Two schools I worked at encouraged non-union members to get involved, even to be on the negotiating committee. We were asked to contribute a dollar amount just toward the negotiating committee. Despite my misgivings about the union, I was willing to do this much.

It shocks people that I disagree with the notion of a common contract. Particularly this year, as I've been a little lazy in implementing new ideas, I've recognized that it doesn't matter. I feel that this was an evaluation year and I've been leery of investing my soul like I did last year and resenting the school. However, now that I've realized that I will be staying for a few more years at least, I will be slaving away like I did last year.

It won't matter. To the kids it will. To my feeling of guilt and work ethic, it will matter. To the school it won't. As long as I do a certain minimum, nothing I do matters. Even in my relative laziness this year, I've been criticized for putting in too much time. The union is responsible for this attitude. Rather than individual accountability, we have a collective accountability.

The union has ensured that schools cannot reward good teachers. I could do the exact same quality of job next year, or even a lot worse. I'll get by just the same as if I spend this summer planning out my curriculum and designing something quality that is adapted to this school's strengths and weaknesses.

As I close this (I really am tired now), I'm starting to think about ways that the school can reward or encourage teachers even within the current system. I'll write that when I'm not tired. I'd hate to type something clumsy that comes across badly!
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School Closing Season

Posted by Waski_the_Squirrel on Monday, May 14, 2007 11:36:43 PM
It's a sad reality that spring and graduation means that yet more school districts will not be with us next year. North Dakota is running out of students and, as a result, each spring becomes the last graduation for yet more school districts.

Since moving to the western edge of the state, I'm somewhat out of touch. Mostly, only the Eastern end and the middle have enough schools close enough together to shut down. I'm teaching in a district of about 1000 square miles, so if anyone around me closes, they'll be traveling a LONG ways.

I'm actually very sympathetic to the plight of small schools. I know I've come off quite harshly in my other posts about school funding. However, I've taught in two different small schools and I know the environment. Small schools are like family. Students do not fade into the background. They are noticed. Generally, teachers also know their families. As a result, it is difficult for a student to "slip through the cracks."

This year and last year (both in somewhat larger schools) I have been really tempted to throw caution to the winds and return to a small school. I like where I'm at this year, but I would love to be somewhere smaller. What stops me are two realities: the small schools often do not have much money either for my salary or lab equipment, and most of the small schools do not have a safe future.

I visit my hometown every summer. It has changed since I graduated. The school has been renovated and many of my teachers are gone. The town itself has changed, but it's all still there. For too many people in North Dakota, it is impossible to return home. The schools are closed or gone entirely. Even whole towns have dried up and blown away. Although I live in this reality, I cannot fathom the emotional feeling that not only has your hometown changed, but your hometown is GONE.

It is a natural process. I don't want the state to step in and stop it. There really is no way without turning to socialism. I've even suggested elsewhere in this blog how the state could hurry up some of it.

All I'm reallly doing today I mouring the passing of yet more schools. Some of my students come from a closed school. They spent their lives there and are forced to spend their senior year in a new school among strangers. Fortunately, most of the students here have been quite welcoming, but it is sad to spend that final year somwhere new and strange even as their lives are about to undergo an enormous change.
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School Funding

Posted by Waski_the_Squirrel on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 5:42:11 PM
North Dakota's Legislature has done its damage. It will be 2 years before it meets again. There were a few changes, but the most sweeping changes in education came in funding. There were no serious curriculum changes or attempts at closing small schools.

I'm going to look mostly at Senate Bill 2200, which is now a law. It is a brute to read, but it represents the first serious attempt to reform school funding in North Dakota. Mostly it has been well received. I was disappointed that the schools which brought this about wanted to "study" it before deciding whether or not to go on with their lawsuit. North Dakota government is very transparent. They have been fully aware all along what the changes are.

I'm going to look here only at a few pieces of the bill.

Teacher Salary
70% of "new money" is to go toward teacher compensation. While I will never object to an increase in my salary, I am disturbed by this clause. The individual schools should be able to determine their own salary based on their own needs. One school may need a new roof more than it needs raises for its teachers. Another may have no trouble attracting teachers so it doesn't need a good salary. Some small, remote schools have already bumped up their salaries quite substantially. The state should allow its schools to manage the money according to their needs.

Special Education
Some children are expensive to take as students. For example, there are students who are violent or who are incapable of functioning in a regular classroom. Due to the special-ed laws, we have to make an attempt to educate them like the other children. Fortunately, there is flexibility. These children cost a fortune. They may require a full time aide, special teachers, special facilities, or other expenses. They may even need to be sent to a special school, which the home school pays for.

The new law requires the state to pick up the added expense. Some would argue that it still puts too much burden on the home school. Without working the numbers, I can't check this. However, I am glad that the state recognizes the problems it has created for schools with its expensive laws. My hope is that schools will be more willing to give special-ed students the help they need rather than putting them in regular classrooms and hoping the teacher can manage them.

Uequal Local Sources
Some schools have more money than others. Some have a lot of land that may be taxed. Others have land that is worth a lot of money. Some have mineral resources. Some get students from other districts or military bases which pay them tuition. The state has attempted to get its claws into this money.

There was an attempt to count tuition money for military students against schools which receive those students. Those schools threatened "mutiny." Minot said that if this was ever counted against them, they would refuse to take military students. Fortunately, this clause was withdrawn from the bill.

Mineral wealth is going to be tapped quite heavily. Schools which receive more mineral wealth will receive less money from the state.

Land will be punished as well. Schools which have a large amount of taxable land per student will receive less state money.

Local Taxes
Schools will be penalized for low tax rates. I am pleased with this because it will help put the squeeze on some of the "tax shelter" districts I mentioned earlier. My only concern is that some schools have kept their taxes down by careful spending and planning of their money. They should not be punished for good money management. Frankly, this clause is in the bill because of schools like Fargo that gave themselvs unlimited tax authority and have high mill rates.

Good Politics
The legislature made it a point not to create a Robin Hood law. Schools are not going to lose money (with one exception). The state is not going to rob from the rich and give to the poor. Rather, the poor are going to receive more state money than the rich. All schools will get an increase in state funding. Because of this, I don't see the possibility of a successful lawsuit. Some schools which threatened one are those that did not get the increase in funding they wanted.

The NEA (sorry) did some projections for the individual school districts. My own doesn't come out great, but it comes out successfully. It is interesting to look at local tax rates and enrollment. Unfortunately, it doesn't give the taxable land area in the districts, but there is a hint in the "taxable valuation per pupil".

I don't know how long this link will remain up, so look which you have the chance.

North Dakota has reformed its school finance structure without court intervention. I hope that this provides a model to other states.
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Bad Television

Posted by Waski_the_Squirrel on Wednesday, May 02, 2007 1:49:12 AM
I couldn't help myself. I wanted to talk a little about bad television. I'm not too current on newer shows since I don't have television at home. Please bear with me!

I think the single biggest mistake that many television shows make is to overstay their welcome. Many good shows start well and then the creators run out of ideas. I mentioned yesterday that Battlestar Galactica is starting to do this and I also noted that Life on Mars avoided the whole problem.

There are so many things wrong with staying too long that go beyond running out of ideas. In the show Growing Pains, the whole family dynamic worked until the kids got older. Then the mother had to get pregnant and various other kids had to be brought in to try and reclaim that dynamic.

The same thing happened with Leave it to Beaver, a much older show. Beaver was "cute" until he hit puberty. Then he came across as more creepy than anything else.

As writers run out of ideas, they try new things that don't fit the show. The classic example is from Happy Days. In one episode, Fonzie was waterskiing and jumped a shark. As a result, it is now common to say that a particular show "jumped the shark". There is an entire website devoted to identifying when shows "jumped the shark."

Other shows develop a social consciousness and stop entertaining and try to preach or enlighten. Happy Days and Growing Pains both did this. You always knew you were in for a bad night when the advertisements would mention, "...a very special episode of Growing Pains". Jumptheshark.com mentions this phenomenon as well.

Another issue that shows suffer is that they have a weak premise. I originally thought Life on Mars was one of these. The idea of a modern police officer finding himself in 1973 is almost cringe-inducing. However, the show was great. It was one of the few that exceeded my expectations by a lot.

On the other hand, I remember a show about an alien living with a family. It was called ALF. It was DUMB.
I've tried to watch it, and I still think it's dumb. I actually have that feeling about a lot of shows.

Some rely too much on novelty or a popular movie. For example, CBS attempted a show based on the movie and book The Client. That one died a quick death. Another show I recall (but the name isn't in my memory) was about a teenage girl with the ability to stop time.

Many shows are watchable and forgettable. Dukes of Hazzard is one of these. Many are not to my taste. I was pretty horrified on one trip by a show about a gay man sharing an apartment with a straight woman. I learned later it was a popular show (I cant rememember the name of this one either). I don't care for Seinfeld. I watched one episode of the Amazing Race with  girlfriend. Had it not been for her, I'd have switched the channel.

Mostly, I find that television sucks away my time. I always want more time and I never have enough. I want to read, I want to watch movies, I want to write (and blog), I want to be outdoors, I want a garden, I want to fix my house, and the list goes on. That's just in my free time. When I relax, I want something worth relaxing with.

I don't have television and I don't miss it. I'm in touch with the world, educated, and up to date. By cutting television out of my life I have more time for other things and the distance to recognize both the good and the bad on television.
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