Teachers, your thoughts on this

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The writer if this article on the contract sees no issue with it. There is a comment about black and brown students do better in a classrooms when the staff looks like them. The author has no problem prioritizing teachers of color over white teachers.

I thought segregation was a thing of the past?

So you are only outraged when it happens to white people?  I guess I missed your outrage and thread on Water park cancels black family party

I’m a white teacher and I don’t think it’s discrimination. I think it’s setting different criteria for retention other than those used before. If the district preference is to protect its commitment to diversity rather than protect seniority, that is its prerogative. Seniority is an even more arbitrary criteria than skin color - we all know that an older teacher is not always a better one, but there is significant evidence that at-risk kids in majority-minority schools often perform better with teachers they perceive as being “like them.”

My preference would be for schools to retain the best teachers regardless of other factors, but I also know that it’s very difficult to quantify teacher quality in ways that most people would consider objective, so that can be problematic.

A Google search also tells me that Minnesota is experiencing the same teacher shortage as most other states, so … right now the possibility of anyone being excessed is pretty low.

They are prioritizing diversity where it is, historically, lacking. Diversity is so important for young children of all races and creeds. I have no problem with it.Plus, I'd venture a guess that in this locality it's easier for white educators to find new employment than it would be for non-white educators.

They were explicitly told in the contract they couldn’t advertise on social media. They broke the contract. The contract got cancelled. That’s how contracts work.

It was two teens who thought up an illicit money making scheme. Rent out a water park and sell tickets for more than what we paid. They got caught. They think they can come out looking like the good guys by crying about it. They’re assholes.

To quote the article:



So, not likely to happen anytime in the next 5-10 years, unless something drastic happens, like the GOP succeeds in defunding public education.

Pretty interesting that a staunch right winger is worried about public education, when the party is trying to do everything it can to do away with it.

I agree with this. Skill and experience should be considered and to add that skin color should not be a consideration in whether or not a teacher is qualified to teach.

I don’t think anything in this agreement suggests that those who are excessed are not qualified to teach. Excessing is a function of funding and numbers, not a quality judgement for teachers.

I would suggest - and I say this as a teacher with 15 years in - that seniority can be a pretty poor indicator of teacher quality by itself as well. The teacher I replaced at my current school had at least 30 years in. She was awful and everyone was glad to see her go. Same experience in my first two jobs - I’ve made a career of turning around music programs driven into the ground by more experienced teachers. So yeah, I’m actually not a big fan of using seniority as the sole criteria for retention.

I think there are many details of the actual process that are not shared in the article. The sensationalized title sells stories. It is my experience (year 25) that when any sort of amendment happens within the process by which teachers are hired and/or let go, it is a lengthy process. The mention that the union agreed to it, speaks volumes to the actual practicality of this process. My teacher union is currently negotiating pay schedule and we are no where near making an agreement, so since there is an agreement on the table tells me that this makes sense. I'd be interested to hear the actual terms.

I've been away from the area for awhile, but I do have a friend that teaches there. I'm going to reach out and ask him what he thinks.

Side note- judging teachers on test scores disproportionally impacts students who need more support.

The highest qualified (training and teacher ability-not based on years of service) should work with the most at need but if we create a culture where we will be paid for performance, many teachers will not choose to work with underperforming (due to many issues) students.

That's the exact opposite of what is needed.

Seriously. Of all the things we have to be outraged about right now, this doesn't even make the list.

Any reduction in force sucks. It is done purely for financial reasons and does not take what is best for kids in consideration.

If the teacher of color is not a good teacher and has not reached non probationary status, the district could just non renew without doing RIF.

If the TOC is good, then I'm all for it. Students need diversity in their teachers. There is not one non white person on our staff so far this year. We need more diversity and the diversity needs protected

I also feel like this is a more nuanced and complicated situation than can be easily summed up in a comment like, "racism is alive and well in Minneapolis," but what do I know. Maybe the OP has some expertise in the field that I'm not aware of.