On Seniority

It’s a lousy time to be a teacher, and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. I’d hoped that our situation in NYC would improve after Mayor Bloomberg’s second and final term was over. And we all know how that turned out. How silly of me, to forget the possibility that a billionaire would simply buy himself another term?

Then a couple of clueless newbies show up, thinking they have all the answers (and don’t they? We all know that if you are a Teach for America teacher, the sun shines out of your ass and you are the ultimate expert from the moment you finish your six-week crash course) and that seniority rules are the true impediment to our students learning.

I wonder how these newbies (and I refuse to use their names or that of their organization; they’re getting enough attention) would have fared in my first school. My first school was a nightmare. I still can’t believe I survived without more reliance on alcohol, but that $32k salary didn’t go very far in the city, even though it seemed decent on paper. But I know how I managed to get through it: we had strong veteran teachers who held the place together through 4 principals in 3 years. Many of those same teachers reached out more than once to give me advice, help with the most difficult kids (like, a third of my class), and give much-needed pep talks. I know I wasn’t the only new teacher who was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of support from them.

My current school was really well-run when I got there. If there was such a thing as an ideal balance of new, mid-career and veteran teachers, it existed here. I visited the school for a few hours one day, after arranging my transfer, and loved what I saw. Productive activity in every room. Quiet halls. Orderly lunch lines. And yet our scores weren’t good enough, and we were eventually restructured.

Fortunately, this was prior to the 2005 contract. I remained in the “old” school, and with 7 years, was one of the less experienced teachers. We muddled through a few logistical issues, but transitioned pretty well. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the new school we shared space with. That school was being run by a Principal’s Academy person (who seemed to lack both necessary knowledge AND common sense) and was full of first and second year teachers. Fortunately we didn’t often need to venture into their part of the building, but their kids were often running through ours, vandalizing our walls and bulletin boards, having sex in stairwells.

What I’ve offered above illustrates the need for experienced teachers in all schools. We’re now several years past that restructuring, and my school has continued to succeed with the same population of students while the school downstairs still flounders, and has a rate of turnover that is significantly higher than ours.

These clueless politicians may not realize it yet, but they are creating a climate where no one will want to teach in high-needs, urban schools. Then again, that’s probably what they want. If I’d had a crystal ball, and could see what was happening today, I think I would have held out for the possibility of a suburban teaching job, even if it meant living with my parents indefinitely. As much as suburban teachers are now facing endless scorn from the taxpayers, no one’s trying to go after their rights. I truly hope that we don’t have to add seniority rights to the list of things (which already includes higher salaries, better working conditions and parental support) that they have and we don’t. No one wants layoffs. And the use of seniority may not be the ideal system, but it’s the fairest to the teachers who have demonstrated their commitment by staying in the system.