Central Falls—Blame the Teachers
Saturday, June 11, 2011
With seven percent of students at Central Falls High School (CFHS) being proficient at math, and under half of them making it to graduation day, School Superintendent Frances Gallo asked the teachers in the spring of 2010 to adopt a “transformation model” – a measure that required some extra effort on the teachers’ part in order to turn the school around.
Whether the educational breakdown at CFHS was the teachers’ fault or not, CFHS represented a failed government program. So for the sake of students and taxpayers, CFHS either needed to be shut down, or drastically reformed.
But this is Rhode Island, where Rhode Islanders live in Rhode Island, and government employees live in La-La Land.
Aghast at the idea of a boss requiring a higher quality of output, the teachers union lashed back with monetary demands, buttressing their extortion by injecting emotional pleas into the issue. The union insisted that Gallo was injuring their “morale” by “scapegoating” the teachers.
Nobody plays the drama queen better than a unionized teacher. We Are Central Falls!
But since the union raised the issue of blame, let’s take a look back. During the controversy, ABC News reported that CFHS had an “87% teacher absentee rate.” This meant that “on average teachers miss 23 days of school a year. Which is a lot,” commented one ABC reporter.
I’m a Proud Teacher at Central Falls! We Are Central Falls!
Thuggish Tactics
The teachers wanted more money. The only problem was that Central Falls had been under control of unions and Democrats for decades. So, naturally, there wasn’t any money left. The city was on the verge of bankruptcy, even with the Statehouse picking up its education tab for the past twenty years.
Seventy-five obstinate teachers were soon fired. And the union created a media frenzy that backfired in their face, culminating with President Obama supporting the layoffs, saying, “Our kids get only one chance at an education, and we need to get it right.”
A week later an effigy hanging of President Obama was found inside a Central Falls classroom. And among a score of threats, Gallo received a letter that said, “I wish cancer on your children and their children, and that you live long enough to see them die.”
The message was clear: Don’t mess with the teachers union. They Are Central Falls!
Teachers 'Work to Rule'
Even though hundreds of people immediately applied for the 75 open teacher slots (an occurrence that shattered the unions’ longstanding insistence that high salaries are necessary to attain quality workers), a conciliatory tone was struck. And all 75 teachers were rehired under Gallo’s transformation model.
But the teachers would be damned to see it actually work.
Ever since the skirmish last spring, the union has attempted to make Gallo’s life a living hell, undermining the transformation model with “a high rate of teacher absences that has persisted all year…On any given day, an average of 14 teachers…are absent.” (Click here to read the GoLocalProv story.)
Don’t worry. The students weren’t learning anything anyway. Besides, this is how the teachers demonstrate that, for them, “it’s all about the kids.”
Despite the union’s assertion that the absences were being exaggerated, GoLocalProv discovered that “sick days appear to still account for most of the absences.” Union president Jane Sessums then shifted the union position, claiming that the “teachers find themselves in a high-stress work environment, which she said explains why teachers might be taking the number of sick days that they are.”
Just more dramatics. We have children teaching children in Central Falls.
Frances Gallo vs. the Establishment
With Gallo refusing to back down, the teachers union recently decided to go public with their thuggery, passing votes of “no confidence” regarding Gallo’s leadership, and bothering the public with reports of petty workplace disputes.
Senator John Tassoni (D-Smithfield), a consistent labor ally, pounced on the propaganda campaign as well, actually calling for Gallo’s resignation and saying, “What is needed is a complete overhaul of how the schools are operating in that city.”
Yeah, welcome to the club, Senator. That’s what Gallo tried to accomplish last year. But the union thought, instead, it would be more fun to celebrate an effigy hanging of the country’s first black president (yes, these are the fluffy-hearted liberals that you always hear about).
Gallo’s fight is with a powerful and entrenched political establishment. They are clawing viciously to maintain the status quo, while most Rhode Islanders clamor for reform. So as more and more arrows are fired at Frances Gallo over the upcoming weeks, Rhode Islanders should consider the possibility that all of the union’s grievances are entirely artificial; that they represent a mere escalation of the union’s revenge agenda.
If you valued this article, please LIKE GoLocalProv.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Travis Rowley (TravisRowley.com) is chairman of the RI Young Republicans, and a consultant for the Barry Hinckley Campaign for US Senate.
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Comments:
barnaby morse
6:55am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Travis, Please be careful to get the facts correct. gallo claims there are no discipline problems @ the high school yet there are 4 paid people roaming the halls all day long ensuring that students get reined in. These people's salaries are paid to Family Services as part of Julia Steiny's program. Now we have heard that in addition to these 4 people, the district has hired security guards who walk around w/fake badges!
Of the teachers who were "rehired" 25 resigned to take positions in other districts (guess they were qualified), 4 retired & several were reassigned to different buildings. So where is your argument re: absenteeism & the rehired teachers?
In order to see a true "thug" in action, check out how many neighbors and relatives the administrators, including Anna Cano Morales, have directly under their supervision. look at the lack of a bidding process for repairs, time clock installations, etc. This would be called nepotism in any other venue.
At last count support for Gallo was:
teachers:8
noncertified staff:3
parents: 2
Ed Jucation
8:31am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
You have your point of view Travis but please answer this question: If all the teachers were replaced with the best and brightest teachers in the nation do you think Central Falls graduation rate and test scores would improve? If you do then you have no idea of the complexities and challenges of urban education. Will you blame the teacher when the student is absent 60 days per year? (look at the attendance rate at the high school to see how many have). Will you blame the teachers when only 2 or 3 parents show up for parental conferences? NOT and exaggeration. Will you blame the teacher when the student does not speak English and fails the NECAP test? Finally, will you blame the teacher who gets assaulted by students, pushed, shoved, and sworn at? You probably think the teacher is also responsible for students texting and using cell phones in school which distracts them from their education. So nice to have an uninformed opinion. Don't expect my vote.
Bryan Sullivan
8:54am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Bravo, Travis!!!!!!!! This article is DEAD ON. And for all of you above, this is the most important line: "the teachers union...decided to go public with their thuggery, passing votes of “no confidence” regarding Gallo’s leadership, and bothering the public with reports of petty workplace disputes." This is EXACTLY what was proven when Tassoni got caught lying about the 100k time clock!! NOW look at you people, STILL "bothering" the public with issues of fake badges, the time clock, bidding process, etc.
Bryan Sullivan
8:55am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Travis is right when he says this is a "propaganda campaign." The point is to create the PUBLIC PERCEPTION of mayhem at Central Falls.....The union is a collective thug. This is how they have ALWAYS operated.
liz smith
8:57am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
If Gallo was interested in improving things in Central Falls, she would have invited any interested teacher, NOT just her chosen few, to join her and discuss best practice. Instead she dictated her demands in a take it or leave it attitude. A 7% math proficiency rate is awful. But, what was the state proficiency rate at that same time? When you compare 7% to the state rate which was less than 30%, it’s put into perspective. Do you understand how graduation rates are calculated? Because it is a calculation of various factors, not simply seeing how many students are there in September and how many walk across the stage in June. Transient rates are a huge factor. As for Obama publicly supporting the firing of teachers, perhaps he should have gotten his facts straight. He referenced the Met School, saying what a great job they were doing there. Unfortunately, the Met School has lower scores than Central Falls High School. Gallo must have bought into his praise of the Met School since she then hired a liar from there to be co-principal. It would be interesting to see the impact of that principal except that is impossible since he resigned..though he is still collecting a paycheck. I suppose the fact that he and two other administrators who are not working are still getting paid is the fault of the teachers’ union as well…
Tom R.
9:03am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@barnaby morse ..... um, nothing you said disputed rowley's argument regarding absenteeism and the rehired teachers. What rowley was saying was that hundreds of people applied for the 75 spots. Yet we always hear from the unions that high public salaries are necessary to attract good workers. Looks like we could have had a bidding war for those 75 spots, and driven down the salaries - improving the education AND saving the taxpayers some money. But nooooooooooooooo, the same 75 teachers were hired back. I'm sure they were the absolute best 75 teachers out of the hundreds that applied. pff, year right!! Rowley's right....the union is a joke.
Tom R.
9:08am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@liz ..... look at you, making excuses for 7% proficiency. Why? Because the rest of the state (according to you) was around 30%????? Yea, the unions run the rest of the schools too!!!! You admitted the key point: "7% math proficiency rate is awful"....it doesn't matter what anybody else is scoring. Don't distract everyone from the issue at hand: CENTRAL FALLS HIGH SCHOOL, and what should be done to it. And i like what rowley said: "CFHS either needed to be shut down, or drastically reformed." And the teachers union is standing in the way. That's the bottom line.
Bryan Sullivan
9:13am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Also, I just dug this up: "Overall, [Deborah Gist] said there have been marked decreases in disciplinary referrals at Central Falls High." DESPITE what the teachers and their defenders are saying. Their entire campaign against Gallo is a LIE. Just like Tassoni got caught lying about Gallo and the stupid time clock. This is how low the teachers are willing to go, in order to take revenge against a woman who wanted to fix the school, but couldn't give the teachers more money to do it.
Again, GREAT article, Travis!!! I'm emailing this to every RIer I know!
Tom R.
9:19am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
hey, bryan......looks like those security guards with the fake badges are doing a good job making the school safe. Of course, the teachers are going to claim that they've been too scared/intimidated to confront the misbehaving kids (because of Gallo, of course) .... Or maybe they haven't been at work enough this year in order to discipline the kids. Maybe that's why the discipline rate has improved under gallo....
Sierra Lee
9:24am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thank you, Mr. Rowley! A wonderful and refreshing read. This is how the public unions have operated for years. Intimidating and lying is how they get their way. Hey, Teachers: Get back to work, and stop "working to rule," or whatever you call it. Everybody knows you could care less about the children or their education. The unions have always been about one thing: Money. And More Money.
Thanks again, Mr. Rowley!!
Bryan Sullivan
9:32am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Right on, Sierra! As Travis said, this is all part of the teachers' "revenge agenda." This is a "propaganda campaign." No doubt about it. Yes, a "wonderful and refreshing" read.
barnaby morse
9:48am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@Tom: You missed the point of the 75 people that were "rehired" 28 didn't even walk into the door in Sept. They WERE REPLACED with young teachers & still no measurable changes! Also the fake badges only showed up THIS WEEK! Check out the teacher assault on ABC6.
allison wonderland
10:01am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@bryan......dr gallo....is that you?????
Tom R.
10:13am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@barnaby morse - I understand that 28 of 75 teachers didn't return. This is irrelevant. The point (rowley's original point) was that hundreds of teachers applied for the 75 spots. And if i remember correctly, it was around 800-900!!! Rowley's original point was that these applications flew in the face of what we always hear from the unions, that we have to pay teachers high salaries in order to get people to want to be teachers. It has always been a load of crap....just more lying from the teachers union.
william eccleston
10:14am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Travis Rowley is a hired punk, an agitator, a figure familiar to those who know professional hockey. Reason and fact are never his game but rather the most outrageous slander. His purpose is not to persuade but to instigate extreme emotional reaction. People who work in the Central Falls system should not let him get under their skins. They should instead just keep supply GoLocal with the facts and let the reporters do the real work
Bryan Sullivan
10:28am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Keep "supplying the facts" like Senator Tassoni and his "time clock" lie? Sorry, William. But the only person bringing a truthful perspective to the issue is Rowley. This article NAILED IT. You're actually telling readers that the teachers union isn't made up of the people who "instigate extreme emotional reaction"??? What planet do you live on? As Travis noted: WE ARE CENTRAL FALLS!! What the hell does that even mean? How about, THE TAXPAYERS HAVE NO MONEY LEFT!
Bryan Sullivan
10:30am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
In addition, I notice you don't argue AT ALL with Rowley's column, which contained facts, research, and sound analysis. You just ask people to dismiss him (classic liberalism). You just try to marginalize Rowley's effectiveness by letting everyone know that he is a "hired punk, an agitator" who doesn't use "reason and fact." Instead of just making this claim, try making an argument. Your lack of substance exposes you.
Charlie Delta
10:54am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
So, using Rowley's logic, and Bryan Sullivan's "propaganda"spiel, let me then say that Rowley is 87% stupid, and I would summise that he is 13% biased. I don't have to prove it. I just need to say it. Sullivan has his facts dead wrong. When teachers are assaulted and abused by students on a daily basis, and management does nothing to intervene, I would call that more than just "petty" workplace complaints. Where do you work, Mr. sullivan. I'll drop by and harass you for a minute or two and call you every "F" bomb combo in the book. What would you do? Oh, that's right, you would claim you have civil rights.
Your morons, both of you, like the cronies of Enron, Tyco and Goldman Sachs who blamed the whistle blowers for their demise. Neither one of you would last 5 days in a public school classroom. If you don't like unions, so be it...but it doesn't excuse your ignorance of the facts. The teachers can prove their case. Admin can't.
Sullivan....because you "say" someone has done research doesn't make it so: but I guess I would refer to my 87% stupid remark about you and Travis. Oh, and what you're doing isn't propaganda? Keep hiding behind your keyboard, coward, and stop blaming teachers for the economic woes caused by greedy....here it comes....Republicans.
Johanne Furtado
11:04am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
I teach in Central Falls and am outraged by these slanderous comments. How dare you pass judgment on me. Your remarks show your ignorance. I love my job and could not care more about my students if they were my own children. And from September to June, they are my children and they know they are part of our educational family. We create a community that thrives educationally and socially. We help the children develop their voice and become independent. “Be respectful, but always stand up for your beliefs.” Our class is not an isolated occurrence. I am fortunate to work with some phenomenal teachers. It is amazing to me how people with no knowledge of an individual’s passion and dedication for their profession can make such opinionated remarks and paint the entire Central Falls Faculty with one brush stoke.
Chris O.
11:11am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@Charlie Delta, you're clearly a teacher "hiding behind your keyboard"...Charlie Delta? ha! Again, here we have someone saying that Rowley has his facts wrong, but doesn't offer one example of something false that Rowley said in his column. All we see is hatred for Republicans because, as the union instructs Charlie Delta, "greedy Republicans caused RI's economic woes"...ha! What a joke. Seriously, look how hateful these people are! You think they're incapable or unwilling to mount a propaganda campaign??? Thanks to Travis for offering an insightful column.
Chris O.
11:21am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@Charlie Delta --- Clearly you are a unionized teacher, "hiding behind your keyboard." Charlie Delta?? ha! Again we have someone telling us that Rowley doesn't have his facts right. Yet Charlie Delta offers no examples of something Rowley got wrong. Just more attacks (Rowley is 87% stupid). And an insistence that Gallo doesn't care about the safety of the schools! Yea, okay. And then there's the instilled hatred for Republicans that union members are indoctrinated with - The odd notion that somehow "greedy Republicans caused RI's economic woes"....what a joke.
Cristiana Quinn
11:21am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
As Johanne points out, there are some great teachers in CF. And as we all know, there are some awful ones in many school districts. Sadly, this is because of a culture fostered by the teacher unions. When we look at most big cities trying to improve schools, the best and the brightest have given up because they can't win against the union. Look at Michele Rhee in DC or Geoffrey Canada in NYC-who left to found charters to get around the unions. Unions began in an era when most teachers were women and underpaid. Today, they are outdated and viewed by many teachers are bullies who take their money and force them to do things. So, when we assign blame in CF, let's put the majority of it where it belongs-on the unions. They are the ones handing out absurd amount of sick/personal days, limiting hours, not firing bad teachers, giving tenure after 2-3 years, etc.
Rose Merry
11:24am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Travis, you love Gallo because
1. She kept administrator on the payroll after she fired them? Costing the TAXPAYERS OF RI hundreds of thousands of dollars?
2. She hid a sexual assault on a first grader
3. Failed to inform parents of out of date inoculations
4. Failed to investigate assaults on teachers
5. Removed the Police Officer and replaced her with a rent-a-cop
6. Burned through $2 million dollars of grant money on consultants that were her friends.
7. Handed out no bid contracts on a renovation to a building that is now empty
8. Has not done a damn thing for the district
9. Handed over a school to a charter that was kicked out of Cumberland and is going to stuff 5th graders in with 8th graders in an overcrowded school.
You are a fool.
william eccleston
11:43am on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Yes, Mr. Sullivan, supplying the public forum with fact is our only hope at getting to the bottom of the truth. Aren't you satisfied, for example, with Mr. Tassoni making a fool of himself? Let the journalists do their business. With Golocal alone as yet among the print media willing to follow leads regardless of their origin, we will eventually learn whether or not the Central Falls district has been outrageously mis-mangaged by the State of Rhode Island acting through the Board of Regents. Also, Mr. Sullivan, notice that I made no mention of the dreadfully inept union. As for Rowley, I stand by my characterization.
william eccleston
12:15pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Why didn't I address Rowley's "argument," Mr. Sullivan? Evidently I did not make that plain. I had assumed, incorrectly of course, that everyone in this Rhode Island audience would have a sufficient knowledge of hockey to understand me. My apologies. I will make it plain, then. Why should I break my knuckles against a cement-head with the result of winding up in the penalty box?
Again, I am confident that with Golocal determined to report the Central Falls story from all sides and follow the facts to whatever conclusions they lead to, the public good will be served. Aren't you satisfied, for example, with Mr. Tassoni making a fool of himself. And do note, Mr. Sullivan, that I did not mention the dreadfully inept union at all.
william eccleston
12:17pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Why didn't I address Rowley's "argument," Mr. Sullivan? Evidently I did not make that plain. I had assumed, incorrectly of course, that everyone in this Rhode Island audience would have a sufficient knowledge of hockey to understand me. My apologies. I will make it plain, then. Why should I break my knuckles against a cement-head with the result of winding up in the penalty box?
Again, I am confident that with Golocal determined to report the Central Falls story from all sides and follow the facts to whatever conclusions they lead to, the public good will be served. Aren't you satisfied, for example, with Mr. Tassoni making a fool of himself?
Ed Jucation
12:29pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Right on Johanne! By the way, have you ever seen Travis visit Central Falls High School? Has he ever been inside the school and observed classrooms, the hallways or the cafeteria? He seems to know a lot about the school and I was wondering if he ever visited.
Rose Merry
12:38pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Never pass up an opportunity to poke fun at a public fool.
Rose Merry
12:39pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Never pass up an opportunity to poke fun at a public fool
tia juana
12:40pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sorry, Travis. Linc Almond worked with the CF teachers and their unions for years. This divisiveness against teachers was created under Carcieri. CF teachers did not change from good to bad over night. they were villafied by the administration.
Chris O.
12:40pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
@Charlie Delta --- Clearly you are a unionized teacher, "hiding behind your keyboard." Charlie Delta?? Really? Again we have someone telling us that Rowley doesn't have his facts right. Yet Charlie Delta offers no examples of something Rowley got wrong. Just more attacks (“Rowley is 87% stupid”). And an insistence that Gallo doesn't care about the safety of the schools! Yea, sure, okay. And then there's the instilled hatred for Republicans that union members are indoctrinated with - The odd notion that somehow "greedy Republicans caused RI's economic woes"....what a laugh. Let’s get rid of these unions.
Rose Merry
12:42pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
You've got to be kidding.
concerned resident
12:51pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
it's time to send an independent team of investigators in to get the real story.....no finger pointing, just the truth...by the way....if there are ineffective teachers working, that is administrations fault....they are responsible for hiring, evaluating, and firing new teachers....it takes at least three years to receive tenure
concerned resident
12:55pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
is anyone else having difficulty viewing all comments....does golocal limited comments to 20????
tia juana
12:55pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Transformation model=what?
more work less pay ? push $$$and firing on grades 9-12 when the foundation is built in earlier grades? extra pd for art, and electives when they have no NECAP test.
The Time clock was not a dinosaur so why the fingerprint electronic system when even Barrington refused to spend for all the "extras". Is that fiscally sound--with our taxpayer money?
tia juana
1:08pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
the toy doll was placed there by a staunch Republican teacher. He has been rehired and has never intended to send a message to the media or be called a liberal. Silently he suffers the slings and arrows of the truly uninformed.
barnaby morse
1:25pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
I question how well Travis dos his research when PolitiFact claimed the following statement to be "half -true."
"Last year it was discovered that Rhode Island's public employees ranked 4th in average pay, while the private sector ranked 23rd."
Kathleen Kiley
1:27pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Right on Johanne! How dare anyone who has not worked, taught, or given of their time in Central Falls bash one of the best facilities, past and present, in the State of Rhode Island. I have the great fortune to witness on a daily basis the dedication of the teachers in Central Falls not only as an employee but as a grandparent/guardian of Central Falls elementary students.
For 20 years plus I have seen and been evolved with the nurturing environment that the faculty at all the schools gives to their students. Has the writer of this article had any experience with the obstacles we face as a staff when our students show up to school hungry and ill prepared due to lack of sleep, nourishment, and the very nurturing we try and provide? Has this writer been verbally assaulted by a high school student or watched as other students in a classroom are intimidated by such behavior while continuing to teach as well as diffuse escalating behavior? Before you so broadly put the teachers in Central Falls down, educate yourself to the situations we as the front line face everyday.
Kathleen Kiley
barnaby morse
1:32pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Not sure how thorough Travis' research really is when PolitiFact reported that his assertion that "Last year it was discovered that Rhode Island's public employees ranked 4th in average pay, while the private sector ranked 23rd" was only a "half truth
Perhaps, Travis is a product of No Child Left Behind.
A Migliore
1:34pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Check your facts Travis-- so many of them are wrong or obviously skewed.
For instance, "hundreds" of people applied for the CF teachers' jobs. Do you know that included the fired teachers themselves? They made the teachers apply not once, but for every job they were qualified for. So one CF teacher may have sent in 2-5 applications to the school. Do the math, with the amount of teachers in the building, just the teachers re-applying for their own job accounted for HUNDREDS of applications.
If there were so many people lined up to take these jobs, why are there teachers (who either resigned or retired) who were never replaced this year? And by the way, those numbers are counted in the absenteeism rate-- how do you blame a teacher who doesn't work at the school anymore for not showing up? Some how Gallo has done that.
Jorge Torres
1:45pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Hey Travis, you are an idiot. Get your facts right. I'm very sure you got them from "Dr. Gallo" or one of her puppets.
Jorge Torres
1:49pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Hey Travis, you are an idiot. Get your facts right. I'm sure you got them from "Dr. Gallo" or one of her puppets in district.
Evita Lamentira
1:54pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Some Republicans are teachers too like the non liberal guy who put up the Obama toy. He never meant for it to be more than it was but Gallo blew it out of proportion.
Who decided that it was RIDE's job to divide school districts into management vs worker? We used to all be on the same team.
Who took normal negotiations and turned them into skermishes? the Carcieri administration that see schools as businesses teachers as workers and students as products with no free will.
Teachers are management and professional. Students ought to be the workers who are held accountable for their production.
Kathleen Kiley
2:11pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Outraged is right, How dare you, Mr. Travis bash one of the finest faculties in the state.
Pure Truth
2:36pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Please know readers, that this editorial has several errors in it.
I am so dismayed at the huge lack of truth in this editorial that I have to pick it apart piece by piece:
“Superintendent Frances Gallo asked the teachers in the spring of 2010 to adopt a “transformation model” “
1. The teachers were not “asked”, they were given a take-it-or-leave it command. The teachers requested to negotiate for extra compensation.
“…a measure that required some extra effort on the teachers’ part in order to turn the school around.”
2. The term “some extra effort” implies a minor amount of time and effort. Gallo’s demand was more than minor: 20 minutes per day extra, 1 hour per week mandatory tutoring schedule, 90 minutes per week mandatory planning schedule, once per week mandated lunch with the students, as well as 60 hours mandatory professional development during the summer.
“…the teachers union lashed back with monetary demands…”
3. The superintendent’s demand was for HS teachers to work an extra 9,060 hours per school year for no extra compensation. I’m confused…wouldn’t most people want to be compensated for that much extra time at work? Not to mention money lost by many teachers for the cost of childcare for all those extra hours. Is it so egregious to ask to negotiate for compensation?
“87% teacher absentee rate.” This meant that “on average teachers miss 23 days of school a year.”
4. All you have to do is read Jennifer Jordan’s stories on this subject to know that those numbers were greatly inflated by including long-term illness leave (think battling cancer), professional leave, bereavement leave, and OPEN POSITIONS in those calculations.
“a media frenzy that backfired in their face, culminating with President Obama supporting the layoffs”
5. The comments made by the president were based on the wrong information, something for which he made restitution by personally requesting a federal mediator to assist in the ensuing discussions between the teachers and the administration.
Pure Truth
2:37pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Please know readers, that this editorial has several errors in it.
I am so dismayed at the huge lack of truth in this editorial that I have to pick it apart piece by piece:
“Superintendent Frances Gallo asked the teachers in the spring of 2010 to adopt a “transformation model” “
1. The teachers were not “asked”, they were given a take-it-or-leave it command. The teachers requested to negotiate for extra compensation.
“…a measure that required some extra effort on the teachers’ part in order to turn the school around.”
2. The term “some extra effort” implies a minor amount of time and effort. Gallo’s demand was more than minor: 20 minutes per day extra, 1 hour per week mandatory tutoring schedule, 90 minutes per week mandatory planning schedule, once per week mandated lunch with the students, as well as 60 hours mandatory professional development during the summer.
“…the teachers union lashed back with monetary demands…”
3. The superintendent’s demand was for HS teachers to work an extra 9,060 hours per school year for no extra compensation. I’m confused…wouldn’t most people want to be compensated for that much extra time at work? Not to mention money lost by many teachers for the cost of childcare for all those extra hours. Is it so egregious to ask to negotiate for compensation?
Pure Truth
2:38pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
“87% teacher absentee rate.” This meant that “on average teachers miss 23 days of school a year.”
4. All you have to do is read Jennifer Jordan’s stories on this subject to know that those numbers were greatly inflated by including long-term illness leave (think battling cancer), professional leave, bereavement leave, and OPEN POSITIONS in those calculations.
“a media frenzy that backfired in their face, culminating with President Obama supporting the layoffs”
5. The comments made by the president were based on the wrong information, something for which he made restitution by personally requesting a federal mediator to assist in the ensuing discussions between the teachers and the administration.
“Even though hundreds of people immediately applied for the 75 open teacher slots…”
6. Again I’m confused….one would think that the administration would have had no trouble replacing the large number of teachers who resigned prior to the beginning of the school year. But no, there were still many openings in the HS long after school started, openings that were also added into the teacher absentee rate, which caused such a media frenzy in October. Where-oh-where did the applicants go? Oh, where oh where can they be?
Pure Truth
3:44pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Readers, please know that this editorial has several errors in it. I will speak to each of those errors piece by piece below:
“Superintendent Frances Gallo asked the teachers in the spring of 2010 to adopt a “transformation model” “
1. The teachers were not “asked”, they were given a take-it-or-leave it command. The teachers requested to negotiate for extra compensation.
“…a measure that required some extra effort on the teachers’ part in order to turn the school around.”
2. The term “some extra effort” implies a minor amount of time and effort. Gallo’s demand was more than minor: 20 minutes per day extra, 1 hour per week mandatory tutoring schedule, 90 minutes per week mandatory planning schedule, once per week mandated lunch with the students, as well as 60 hours mandatory professional development during the summer.
“…the teachers union lashed back with monetary demands…”
3. The superintendent’s demand was for HS teachers to work an extra 9,060 hours per school year for no extra compensation. I’m confused…wouldn’t most people want to be compensated for that much extra time at work? Not to mention money lost by many teachers for the cost of childcare for all those extra hours. Is it so egregious to ask to negotiate for compensation?
“87% teacher absentee rate.” This meant that “on average teachers miss 23 days of school a year.”
4. All you have to do is read Jennifer Jordan’s stories on this subject to know that those numbers were greatly inflated by including long-term illness leave (think battling cancer), professional leave, bereavement leave, and OPEN POSITIONS in those calculations.
“a media frenzy that backfired in their face, culminating with President Obama supporting the layoffs”
5. The comments made by the president were based on the wrong information, something for which he made restitution by personally requesting a federal mediator to assist in the ensuing discussions between the teachers and the administration.
“Even though hundreds of people immediately applied for the 75 open teacher slots…”
6. Again I’m confused….one would think that the administration would have had no trouble replacing the large number of teachers who resigned prior to the beginning of the school year. But no, there were still many openings in the HS long after school started, openings that were also added into the teacher absentee rate, which caused such a media frenzy in October. Where-oh-where did the applicants go? Oh, where oh where can they be?
“a conciliatory tone was struck. And all 75 teachers were rehired under Gallo’s transformation model.”
7. “Conciliatory tone” implies that the teachers somehow appeased the district administration by agreeing to comply with the superintendent’s demands. This is untrue. The teachers and administration, through mediation with the federally appointed mediator, mutually agreed on terms of compensation for the extra work time. So really, in the end they DID negotiate, and did reach agreement which is what teachers asked for in the beginning.
“…the union has attempted to make Gallo’s life a living hell, undermining the transformation model with “a high rate of teacher absences that has persisted all year…On any given day, an average of 14 teachers…are absent.”
8. See point #4.
“petty workplace disputes.”
9. This one just blows my mind! There is nothing petty about teachers being assaulted in school. There is nothing petty about 3 administrators still being paid large salaries even though they are no longer employed. There is nothing petty about people being in fear of losing their jobs when they speak up about issues that relate to their jobs.
“…the union thought, instead, it would be more fun to celebrate an effigy hanging of the country’s first black president…”
10. NEVER was this celebrated by the teachers. While we did not think it a racist attack, we were appalled at the sheer stupidity and thoughtlessness of the act.
Concerned Incentralfalls
4:00pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Travis, the number of teachers who were fired exceeds your number of 75. It was actually 93 from the HS, and dozens from the middle school and elementary schools, something that was never written about. If you are going to lambaste people, it would be prudent to get your facts straight first.
Scape Goated
4:11pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
I am also a teacher in CF and, like my colleague above, love my job. It's an absolutely amazing job where no single day is the same as any before, you get to start with a clean slate every year, and you get to experience the ah-ha moments that take place each and every day for your students. I am disappointed that so many in our state are so misinformed as to what we really do in CF, and are so quick to vilify us. We make our schools into communities, communities that are safe and sound from some of the problems our kids come in with. Our schools are like a home to our students, and do you know who it is that makes that home? nurtures it and keeps it good and right? Yup, you guessed it, the TEACHERS!
Baez Luso
7:12pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
I amn sorry Mrs Furtado but because you don't speak up for the teachers who behave baly and disrespectful you all get put in a bad place. I know that is not fair but you all don't take control of the situation. I hope you will rise up someday and do what you want to do not what the union wants you to do. An about the parents. Yes two parents drove to east greenwich to deliver a petition in support of Dr. Gallo and the changes in the district to the Commissioner. The petition had nearlly 250 names on it and it is getting bigger and bigger. Parents are smart and they see through this nonsense. they will walk with their feet or they will fight for their kids. I feel blessed to have a voice and I will use it. It is a shame that Central Falls Schools is the playground for greedy and unrealistic union officials. Baez Carlos Luso
Baez Luso
7:14pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
I forgot to say thank you to Mr. Rowley. Where are the Democrats? hiding with their union representatives?
Johanne Furtado
7:42pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
Mr. Luso, I respectfully disagree with you. There is no union telling me what I can and can not do. I do what I feel is right for my students including voicing my opinion with other teachers, administration, and yes the union. As for pointing out teachers with “bad” behavior, that is the job of administration. Teachers are working under a provisional contract for the first three years. Administration can chose to non-renew them for many reasons. Some teachers aspire to become administrators, but I have no such desire. I am an educator that takes my job seriously. My allegiance is with my students.
tia juana
2:54pm on Sunday, June 12, 2011
The lady in question definitely collected signatures from people on the street. She randomly walked up to people outside of the school and asked them to sign a paper on her clipboard which she brought into school with her.
Rose Merry
6:22pm on Sunday, June 12, 2011
Oh Travis you are a liar
william glad
1:42am on Monday, June 13, 2011
O, and Travis or “mind setter” you’re an @$$, or just an irresponsible journalist. I have grown up in this area and I know these people and you’ve taken a complex issue and twisted it into a platform for you to bash unions with. Bravo, God forbid you take the time to look deeper into the issues as to why the schools system is failing no no no you just want to yell real loud and point out who’s to blame. The CF schools system will never succeed because of social promotion. For those of you unfamiliar with this term it means that students are pushed ahead a grade level even if they are performing below grade level. The only time a CF student is truly held accountable is during his last two years of high school but by then it’s too late. Mind you we are not talking about one or two students it’s around a 1/3, and the class work is so watered down that the students that have passed aren’t even in the neighborhood of proficient. As far as the teachers go it’s like any other profession you have some good ones, some bad ones and the bulk of them fall in between, but the monumental failure of the CF school district in general can’t be placed entirely on them. The systems broke and the politicians and the bureaucrats in place don’t have the imagination or courage to fix it, and yes the unions are in part to blame but replacing all the teachers isn’t going to fix the problems.
David Said
8:08am on Monday, June 13, 2011
Travis wake up smell the roses.. What schools did you go to.... Wake up people. Wake up senators, wake up we are paying for the school system. Wake up Gist !
michael riley
1:19pm on Monday, June 13, 2011
Travis,
Your analysis is right on target and the response of those who are offended by these truth's is very damning.Rhode Island public school teachers and teacher unions are in for a very rude awakening.The Central falls example is a national embarrassment. Yet you have people trying to justify this behavior. I can only think that this will not be solved in the courts but rather in the streets.
Michael g Riley
George McLaughlin
8:25pm on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Another nitwit hired hack. Where was this guy when the firings took place? Where was he when Gist gave her 10,000 dollar speech to the legislature--paid for by Angus Davis? He suddenly appears with old, discredited statistics and the charm of a snake. Could it be that he is part of the invisible arsenal of bully airheads who are waiting behind the RICAN, Gist, Cano-Morales, Gallo curtain of death--each getting his 30 seconds of fame at the expense of honorable teachers and student victims of "reform"? He will be at a a lower step in hell for it and his provincial devil queen--Gallo-- will rule over him for eternity.