District Administration - November 2012 - (Page 62)
Professional oPinion • randall Collins
• odvard egil Dyrli
A Look at the 2012 Chicago Teachers’ Strike
This is an updated version of the interview posted on the District Administration website at the time of the strike. Longtime school superintendent Randall Collins, executive director of the District Administration Leadership Institute (daleadershipinstitute.com), shares professional insights on the Chicago teacher strike with Odvard Egil Dyrli, District Administration’s executive editor. The facts are well-known: Karen Lewis, president of the 26,000-member Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who appointed reform-minded JeanClaude Brizard chief of the school system, were locked in a toe-to-toe stalemate resulting in a districtwide strike that stranded 350,000 students in the nation’s third-largest city. The historic strike ended in a matter of days, but many feel that the Chicago union and other unions across the country may pay a price for the walkout. Dyrli: What was the Chicago Public Schools teachers’ strike really about? Collins: On the surface, the strike was a labor dispute over job security, so laid-off teachers would be hired back by seniority, merit pay, and about tying teacher evaluation to student achievement as measured by test scores. Ultimately, the strike was part of a debate taking place across the county between teachers unions and education reformers pushing for teacher evaluation and tenure reform. This was therefore a bottom-line struggle on who controls schools and classrooms, and that affects every district. What can other superintendents learn from the strike in Chicago? Collins: I see two major messages: 1) negotiations must never be personal or based on personalities, which backs people into corners, and 2) how reform is implemented is of paramount importance. In Chica62 November 2012
go, the Mayor tried to impose reform unilaterally, which absolutely did not work, and the union president resisted, perhaps influenced by what she thought happened in Rochester (where the teachers union gave Brizard a vote of no confidence, before he came to Chicago). I know and have worked with Jean-Claude on the AASA Executive Committee, and always found him to be reasonable. Frankly, the initial proposal to lengthen the relatively short school day should have passed without difficulty, but instead, it set the stage for a heated conflict.
Collins: This is a direct result of our nationwide concern with public accountability, which has to involve schools too, but again it matters how such proposals are introduced and implemented. Many districts are willing to pay to get reform, but while teachers are, of course, willing to take the money, they may be unwilling to deliver the reform. Taking it a step farther, I support linking administrator bonuses to student achievement. There is also a growing national resistance to highstakes testing, that superintendents will have to address. A colleague said that if district administrators acted responsibly and ethically, unions would be unnecessary. Collins: I would say that is somewhat accurate. But unions do much to improve schools, though I have found that the AFT is generally more open to change than the NEA. However, if the AFT is unsuccessful in stopping Chicago’s continuing reform efforts, the results will ripple across districts throughout the nation. Do you have any concluding thoughts about the strike that you would like to share? Collins: I believe it was not a good idea for the Chicago union to take on these issues at a time when they are receiving a healthy raise in an urban district where poverty and unemployment are common; it is not a hill that I would choose to die on. I also realize that my comments will not be entirely popular with colleagues, but that’s the way I feel, and I trust that the thoughts will initiate thinking. I look forward to talking with fellow administrators at the next DA Leadership Institute. DA
Send your comments to Randy Collins at RCollins@districtadministration.com
District Administration
Who controls schools and classrooms?
How would you have handled the Chicago negotiations differently? Collins: Brizard was surprisingly absent from the debate, which was a mistake, because I believe he would have presented a voice of reason. And Lewis predicted failure by proclaiming, “This is going to be a hot buttery mess,” when Brizard was appointed by the mayor to be the CEO. I was a superintendent for 30 years, and had to close several schools in my career, but my position was always to make sure everyone was represented at the bargaining table, and everyone was kept talking. And with the inevitable push-back on particular items, I worked hard to remain confident, composed and calm, because you will have to say the same thing hundreds of times. In contrast, the negotiations in Chicago remind me of wrestling matches where the contestants retire periodically to separate corners. Why did the Chicago union resist tying teacher evaluation and merit pay to student achievement?
http://www.daleadershipinstitute.com
http://www.daleadershipinstitute.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - November 2012
District Administration - November 2012
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Flipping the Script in K12
Sustainable Professional Development
Brave New World of Teacher Evaluation
Philadelphia’s “Servant- Leader” Superintendent
Enhancing School Access Control
New Products
Professional Opinion
New Directions
District Administration - November 2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201505_AudioVisualSolutions
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201405_AudioVisualSolutions
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da201301_AudioVisualSolutions
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da_avguide0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da1006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da-palm0606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0606-av
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pmg/da0406
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com