In what can only be classified as self-serving and idiotic, the Newark Teachers Union (a UFT-affiliated org) notified NPS that they received 500 free passes to the upcoming NJEA convention and that they would be attending as a mark of “solidarity”, leaving Newark’s students without highly-qualified instruction.

Solidarity?

In the classroom, my solidarity lies with the students and families I am there to serve.

My solidarity lies with my fellow teachers when they are clearly being wrongfully dismissed or when they are fighting for best practices for their students.

My solidarity does not lie with a policy that means Newark Public School students only receive limited continuous instruction in the month of November because of some manipulation of a calendar.

Allow me to explain.

Traditionally, in the month of November (according to past NPS school calendars) Election Day and the NJEA conference have fallen in the same week meaning that for one week, students only receive 2 full days of instruction.  Now we all know that teaching on a Monday and again on a Wednesday, with the additional time off in between, does not yield an optimal environment for learning.  Mondays, you are coming off the weekend, re-establishing expectations and transitioning.   Add to that students being geared up for the Tuesday of no school and the excitement of an impending 4-day weekend, and teachers have the deck stacked against them in terms of meaningful instruction.

Except in this case, where the union is doing the shuffling and stacking.

Now add to this, the array of other school closing dates—Veteran’s Day, Puerto Rico Recognition Day, Parent Conferences, and Thanksgiving and you end up with an altogether useless November that, traditionally, looked like this:

• Nov. 3: Election Day
• Nov. 5-6: NJEA Convention
• Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day
• Nov. 18: Early Dismissal-Parent Conference
• Nov. 25: Early Dismissal- Holiday
• Nov. 26-27:Thanksgiving Holiday

When Superintendent Janey arrived at NPS and looked at this calendar, he probably said what any reasonable educator would say—“Ridiculous.”  And being a reasonable education leader, this school year he did not budget into the calendar the NJEA Convention days, which aided in increasing the number of days of instruction to 185.

And then, like magic, 500 free passes to the NJEA Convention arrived at NTU.  Typically, the NJEA convention is free to NJEA members and their immediate family members.  Apparently, there are some Newark educators that are affiliated with NJEA—the rest of the state save a few of the larger districts comprise NJEA—so, in the past, NPS just gave the days off.

Now, I’d find it difficult for anyone to make the argument that this is union-busting activity, but NTU dug in its heels, as did Janey, and the numbers were not looking good.

A number of schools throughout the district were anticipating teacher absences to be in the 50-90% range.  Can you imagine a school with that many substitutes offering any kind of meaningful instruction?  (I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, we gave subs hell.)

So, with a stroke of brilliant logic, Janey and his staff moved some of the floating holidays and all but said—“Fine. If you want to show solidarity, then do it on your time.” Or more nicely stated in this press release:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have received notice that approximately 1,700 Newark Teachers Union (NTU) members, including over 1,300 teachers, plan to attend the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Conference on November 5th and 6th. This rate of instructional staff absence will leave the District unable to ensure a safe and quality instructional environment in the schools. In order to assure a strong instructional program and the safety of our students, we are amending the school calendar as follows:

Schools will be closed on Thursday, November 5, 2009, as an Administrative Day.

Schools will be closed on Friday, November 6, 2009, in observance of Puerto Rican Recognition Day.

Schools will be open on Thursday, November 19, 2009.

Schools will be open on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

The goal was to increase the instructional year to 185 days. This amendment ensures that our goal is met.

Sincerely,

Dr. Clifford B. Janey
Superintendent

As a former educator in Los Angeles, and a current educator in Newark, I find myself often on the other side of the table in discussions with education reformers who rage that the Union is the base of all the problems in reforming schools.  In a mark of solidarity with all of my teachers still in unionized schools, I remind those friends that there are plenty of good reasons for u,nions. Then, I share my stories, one of which is about how UTLA backed me when I stood up for my special needs students—much to the dismay of my administration—even though I was still a probationary (non-tenured) teacher receiving no formal union protection.  With the help of my UTLA reps, we won for the students in terms of improved IEPs and REAL inclusion classrooms.

But with moves like this in Newark, NTU makes it very difficult for folks like me who can see the shades of gray in the on-going dialogue about unions and school reform.

Enough with the attempts to trump each other’s “power”. If we, as teachers, really are all about the kids, its time to show it, through consistent actions that benefit them.