Thursday, January 25, 2007
Breakthrough or Two-Step?
Regarding this story about the Florida charter school teachers who overwhelmingly voted to unionize, I have no idea whether to view this as a significant parsing of words or the usual AFT-two-step with regard to charter schools.
One press release that I saw from the AFT today almost made it sound like the union has a soft spot for charter schools. To wit:
"Charter school teachers and unions are on the same team, and our vote today confirms it," said Grace Thomas, a third grade teacher at the west campus of the Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary.
"Irrespective of the type of school, a real voice for teachers translates into students who excel. Ultimately, that's what educators want and what parents rightfully expect," said AFT president Edward J. McElroy.
Wowzies.
"Same team???"
"Irrespective of the type of school???"
Almost sounds like the AFT is actually moving from passive-aggressive disdain for charters to a collective group hug with them. Almost sounds like the union is suddenly catching up with the rest of the world.
But maybe not. Alas, another news article posted on the AFT's web site dutifully deletes all the two-way happy charter talk included in the other external press release version. Symbolic of the AFT's overall feelings about public charter schools?
Side note: Of course it is worth noting the difference here between the NEA and the AFT on this issue. There's no need to even read the NEA's press releases this closely. No group hugs there. The NEA still thinks charter school teachers hate kids, and even if they wanted to change their minds, it would take 2-years for it to pass in the union's delegate assembly.
Also, note the emphasis here in the press release on the types of professional services the Florida teachers say they want from the AFT. If the unions have anything valuable to offer charter teachers, teachers will continue to find some appeal in joining them. The AFT is actually talking about helping them become better teachers, and teachers in Florida seem genuinely interested in taking them up on the offer. Right now it seems the biggest obstacle to organizing charter schools in this country isn't thug managers, but rather the unions themselves because they can't figure out what their positions are on the matter.
UPDATE: AFT Ed pens another thoughtful piece on charters, this time in Baltimore, and some of the kinds of systemic tensions that are worthy of a real discussion.
One press release that I saw from the AFT today almost made it sound like the union has a soft spot for charter schools. To wit:
"Charter school teachers and unions are on the same team, and our vote today confirms it," said Grace Thomas, a third grade teacher at the west campus of the Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary.
"Irrespective of the type of school, a real voice for teachers translates into students who excel. Ultimately, that's what educators want and what parents rightfully expect," said AFT president Edward J. McElroy.
Wowzies.
"Same team???"
"Irrespective of the type of school???"
Almost sounds like the AFT is actually moving from passive-aggressive disdain for charters to a collective group hug with them. Almost sounds like the union is suddenly catching up with the rest of the world.
But maybe not. Alas, another news article posted on the AFT's web site dutifully deletes all the two-way happy charter talk included in the other external press release version. Symbolic of the AFT's overall feelings about public charter schools?
Side note: Of course it is worth noting the difference here between the NEA and the AFT on this issue. There's no need to even read the NEA's press releases this closely. No group hugs there. The NEA still thinks charter school teachers hate kids, and even if they wanted to change their minds, it would take 2-years for it to pass in the union's delegate assembly.
Also, note the emphasis here in the press release on the types of professional services the Florida teachers say they want from the AFT. If the unions have anything valuable to offer charter teachers, teachers will continue to find some appeal in joining them. The AFT is actually talking about helping them become better teachers, and teachers in Florida seem genuinely interested in taking them up on the offer. Right now it seems the biggest obstacle to organizing charter schools in this country isn't thug managers, but rather the unions themselves because they can't figure out what their positions are on the matter.
UPDATE: AFT Ed pens another thoughtful piece on charters, this time in Baltimore, and some of the kinds of systemic tensions that are worthy of a real discussion.
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