PACCE is a chapter of the Association of American Educators.

Follow AAE on:

Subscribe to our RSS Feed: feed-image.gif
Gary Beckner op-ed on 2010 Member Survey
posted by: Colin | November 19, 2010, 06:10 PM   


Education and education reform are hot topics in today's headlines. Movies like Waiting for "Superman" have put the problems with American education center stage. Everyone seems to be aware that the crisis in public education is growing. Despite record level spending, students from 16 countries are outperforming their American counterparts. To top it all off, 50 percent of teachers in the classroom today will be retiring in the next ten years. This is not the recipe for a well-educated public.

Unfortunately, teachers largely have been pushed aside as education reformers determine how to help America's students catch up with the rest of the world. Teachers can thank the teacher union leadership for being excluded from the education reform decisions. While American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten claims that teachers are being "scapegoated" for the nationwide lack of student achievement, administrators, parents, policymakers, and business leaders are working together to develop innovative strategies to help America's students catch up with countries like Finland and South Korea.

Ms. Weingarten and her allies at the National Education Association have an arsenal of sound bites that are nothing more than double talk. It's as if they are saying "we are part of the solution but only if you do it our way." So who can blame policy makers for tuning out the unions when their prescription for improving public education is more money and less accountability?

The unions have done a masterful job at branding teachers and their unions as essentially the same. This could not be further from the truth. The fact is that there are hundreds of thousands of teachers who are not members of the teacher unions and do not support the unions or their positions.

There is hope for teachers, however. An alternative to the teachers unions called the Association of American Educators is a non-partisan, non-union professional association for educators. This summer the organization randomly surveyed its members from all fifty states to understand the changing sentiments of teachers relating to education reform. The findings show that teachers are indeed warming to reforms - a shocking blow to union-held stances relating to accountability, tenure and compensation.

For instance, the unions generally oppose using student test scores for teacher evaluations even when using a value-added system, which takes into account important student characteristics like special education services, free and reduced lunch status, and other factors out of a teacher's control. Although our survey finds teachers do not want to be evaluated solely on student test scores, 80 percent of those surveyed supported using a value-added assessment when student test scores are part of teacher evaluation. In fact, AAE members believed that student test scores ranked near the top in evaluating teacher effectiveness, second to only administrative/ faculty review. Notably, years in the system ranked dead last among quantifiers of teacher effectiveness.

With regard to tenure, teachers unions promote it as a crucial means of protection for teachers to be able to perform their jobs. However, AAE's survey shows that teachers have a different opinion. Eighty-one percent of those surveyed responded that tenure is not necessary for an educator to properly perform his or her job effectively, and the vast majority of respondents – 80 percent – asserted that achieving tenure does not indicate an effective teacher.

Also debunked in the survey is the myth that all teachers believe that they should have a job for life. Seventy-three percent supported a Colorado policy that strips tenure if a teacher is deemed ineffective for two consecutive years. Further, seventy percent disagreed with the statement "Last hired, first fired."

When it comes to compensation, unions hold the line for a rigid, structured pay scale. AAE teachers showed that 79 percent of them supported educators being paid more to teach in high-needs schools and 80 percent agreed with paying teachers for taking on more responsibilities and additional roles at their schools.

It is this kind of data that demonstrates that teachers unions are out of step with their membership base. In fact, those teachers who think their unions are properly handling their interests have a false sense of security. Thousands of teachers have already left the union and have joined non-union, professional associations that offer many of the benefits they need without the union baggage. The growth of these organizations is the greatest hope that one day the unions will be forced to listen to their members rather than the other way around.

Comment below.


>> Originally posted by Alix on the AAE Blog.


Comments (31)Add Comment
seo
written by simon, March 28, 2024

Only wanna remark on few general things, The website design and style is perfect, the written content is rattling good : D.akun pro platinum
GetFreedomUnlimited
written by GetFreedomUnlimited, January 16, 2024

You can visit https://gtfredomunlimiteds.one/ and enter the 12-digit invitation number they sent you, together with your 5-digit zipper code and previous name, if you received an invitation to use the Chase Freedom unlimited credit card in the mail.
Slot Gacor
written by Amankhatri63, January 07, 2024

This design is spectacular! You obviously know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
https://jesuismaville.com/
...
written by Amankhatri63, January 07, 2024

I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thankshttps://jesuismaville.com/]Slot Gacor
seo
written by seo, December 26, 2023

An fascinating discussion may be worth comment. I think you should write on this topic, it might certainly be a taboo subject but usually people are not enough to dicuss on such topics. To a higher. Cheerspigus taksi silute
seo
written by seo, December 24, 2023

What is your most noted accomplishment. They may want good listeners rather than good talkers.LGBTEntertainment and Social Guide App
seo
written by seo, December 10, 2023

메이저사이트 is my top choice for secure online betting. Toto Match's rigorous verification process guarantees safety.
so
written by sarfaraz, November 12, 2023

Thanks for sharing this information. I found this information very useful. That’s a informative post. I will return to read more blog posts.How to Cancel Cox Internet
seo
written by simon, October 21, 2023

Hello, you used to write fantastic articles, but the last several posts have been kinda lackluster… I miss your super posts. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track!บาคาร่าไม่มีขั้นต่
seo
written by simon, October 19, 2023

I wish to show some thanks to you just for bailing me out of this incident. As a result of scouting throughout the the net and finding recommendations that were not helpful, I assumed my life was gone. Being alive devoid of the approaches to the problems you’ve sorted out all through this article is a crucial case, as well as those which may have in a wrong way affected my career if I had not discovered your site. Your ability and kindness in playing with a lot of things was valuable. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not discovered such a step like this. I am able to at this time look ahead to my future. Thanks a lot so much for the expert and effective guide. I will not hesitate to suggest your web site to anyone who should have assistance about this issue.พนันบอลออนไลน์ฟรีเ
ครดิต
seo
written by simon, October 18, 2023

Some truly interesting points you have written. Assisted me a lot, just what I was looking for : D.ufabet บน มือ ถือ
seo
written by seo, October 10, 2023

I am glad for writing to let you know of the great experience my friend’s girl went through reading the blog. She figured out several pieces, most notably how it is like to have a great helping style to get many more smoothly completely grasp several specialized issues. You really did more than visitors’ expectations. Thank you for displaying those good, dependable, explanatory and in addition cool guidance on this topic to Lizeth.Check This Out
seo
written by seo, October 09, 2023

This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!kubutogel syair
seo
written by seo, October 09, 2023

I like this website because so much useful material on here : D.vacumetros
seo
written by seo, October 07, 2023

Looking for a specific service? Search 천안오피 for nearby options.
seo
written by seo, October 01, 2023

This could be the right blog for everyone who is desires to be familiar with this topic. You already know much its practically not easy to argue along (not that I just would want…HaHa). You certainly put the latest spin with a topic thats been discussing for decades. Excellent stuff, just great!Traveling in Indonesia
seo
written by simon707, September 27, 2023

Dining room furnitures want to be included with shellac or varnish in order to preserve the timber grains::ufabet เว็บตรงทางเข้า มือถือ
MyKFCExperience.com
written by joshuaparker279, September 27, 2023

We Appreciate Your Participation in the KFC Customer Satisfaction Survey. To learn the terms and check your eligibility to win a free whopper, free chicken, fries, and drinks in KFC Go Cups, go to the mykfcexperience survey. https://mykfcexperiencex.com/
seo
written by simon707, September 23, 2023

I love the look of your website. I recently built mine and I was looking for some ideas for my site and you gave me a few. May I ask you whether you developed the website by youself?ufabet เข้าสู่ระบบเว็บตรง
JackListens
written by peterparker, September 19, 2023

If necessary, the Jack In The Box corporation will use the data you provide to enhance the ambiance of the eatery, the level of service provided to patrons, and the food.
Visit here JackListens
JackListens.com Survey – Two Free Tacos – JackListens
written by peterparker, September 19, 2023

If necessary, the Jack In The Box corporation will use the data you provide to enhance the ambiance of the eatery, the level of service provided to patrons, and the food. Visit here JackListens
seo
written by seo, September 17, 2023

I like this website because so much useful material on here : D.Packers and Movers Kolkata to Ahmedabad
seo
written by simon707, September 17, 2023

There are masses of exercise guides at the net but a number of them aren't scientifically validated and simply assumptions.research chemicals
seo
written by seo, September 15, 2023

I have been reading out a few of your posts and i must say nice stuff. I will surely bookmark your site.10.0.0.1 piso wifi
...
written by simon707, September 10, 2023

hi there i stumbled upon your website searching around the internet. I wanted to say I like the look of things around here. Keep it up will bookmark forvaobong nhanh
seo
written by seo, September 10, 2023

I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my websitehave a peek here
seo
written by seo, September 04, 2023

Hello! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the good information you might have right here on this post. I can be coming again to your blog for more soon.My Car Import
seo
written by seo, August 31, 2023

Hey, you used to write wonderful, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!How To See Reposts on TikTok
...
written by David USA, August 29, 2023

I mostly prefer fast food items on Jack in the Box restaurants only. They are one of the well known and most popular fast food restaurants companies in the United states and they are now conducting an online survey program at jacklistenscom.co official website who are the customers of Jack in the Box are eligible to take part in the jack in the box survey and win a supreme croissant for free. Good Luck.
...
written by John Mike, December 12, 2018

Consider renting video games instead of buying them. Renting video games is significantly cheaper than buying them. Furthermore, renting gives you a chance to try out a wide range of different video games. Obviously, if you rent a game that you end up really liking, you could then consider buying your own personal copy of the video game.
https://hacksmista.com/

...
written by Leodeer, October 22, 2018

Education is the basic need of all over the world it is help full to spent successful life for having good future. This foundation is giving help to learn more useful and effect https://www.customessaysreviews.com/papersgear-com-review/ to complete and achieve goals of life. People should visit here they will get more help full way of learning knowledge about education.

Submit a comment
 (not published)
smaller | bigger

busy
 
grandexxx desijimo xodesiporn veryxxxhd noirporno sexfilme video sesso xvideos2020 fuegopornoechterporno