ATRs ARE NOT UNSATISFACTORY TEACHERS!!!!!
I was talking to a young substitute in my building today, telling her to hang on, that there were bound to be openings for new hires in September. She wasn't so sure. She said, "There are hundreds of "U" rated teachers hanging around who must be given jobs first." I couldn't believe my ears. I couldn't believe an intelligent, educated teacher had actually bought into the hype being perpetuated by the media and by certain administrators all so they don't have to hire experienced, expensive teachers. I know admins are spreading the story as I heard it when they returned from a job fairs yet, my AP managed to find two excellent teachers who were ATRs at one of them.
ATRs are teachers without classrooms but they are not to blame. They might have worked at a school that was closed or in a program that was eliminated. I know master teachers who worked as mentors who are now unemployable due to their salary and their age.
This substitute looked at me in disbelief when I pointed out the well respected members of our department who would be ATRs should Packemin close. She looked at me in such a way that told me she knew she had been duped.
What I would like to know is where is our union? Why isn't the UFT running ads and putting out PR statements telling the true ATR story? Why are these myths never answered?
5 comments:
So sad. Klein started this is '06 when he labeled them as "undesirables" and told principals they were not to be hired, and the Union never countered. Many who had jobs lined up were told they couldn't be hired under Klein's edict.
POD:
I have been complaining about the union's inaction on the ATR situation for years.
Chaz--there are too many who do not read blogs like yours and that is why the myth prevails.
The same thing needs to be addressed for U rated teachers who have been terminated as well teachers who were placed in the rubber room.
There are myths and a stigma that follow these teachers that are completely ungrounded. The truth needs to be told for ATR's, discontinued teachers and rubber room teachers.
No one needs to listen to the crap that the DOE is promulgating.
The UFT has actively been a collaborating partner with the DoE. The union not only let this happen but also, helped the DoE do everything to marginalize and destroy many fine teachers.
It is no coincidence that the majority are "high paid" senior people.
It's a matter of control and money. The union is only a dues collecting organization. The parasite class. The union is the hr enforcement arm of the DoE and we pay for it.
We deserve the representation that we get. We are an unwilling compliant bunch of suckers.
Nothing will change unless there is a radical shift of the union leadership.
This will not happen unless we emulate what has just happened in the Chicago teachers union. The change has to be a grassroots effort.
The leadership and the rest of the parasites need to be on the unemployment lines. If anyone deserves to be laid off, it's the union.
cheers,
Angry Nog
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