Philly Teachers Need Anger Management?

I started this blog just before the new contract was signed with the Philadelphia teacher’s union.  At the time, I was supportive of the contract and the innovative/proactive changes to the traditional structure of the contract.  It also seemed like public and media reaction was generally positive.

Now that the new contract is off of the front pages, however, there is a vocal group of teachers who seem to be quite unhappy with the new contract.  Reading several Philly teacher blogs and news articles out there, it is clear that teachers are experiencing a  wide range of emotions–fear in some cases, distress or jitteryness.  Yesterday, this blog received an anonymous submission

Reactions to the New Philadelphia Teachers Contract

I posted before that I feel positive about the contract from what I had heard at that point but that I was interested to hear what the experts had to say.  Here are some more reactions from local media sources.

• Valerie Russ, The Daily News, 1/23/2010, Teachers, school district approve contract
• Dale Mezzacappa, The Notebook, 1/23/2010, AFT president: New contract a breakthrough
• Ron Whitehorne, The Notebook, 1/24/2010: A Qualified Thumbs Up for the Contract in which he praises in part, the extension of the site selection process.
• Susan Snyder, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/25/2010, Plaudits for Philadelphia Teacher’s Contract: “Groundbreaking” pact may help win federal Race to the Top money
• Pat Loeb, KYW 1060, 1/25/2010, New Teacher Contract Amazes School Reform Advocates

The reactions seem to be generally positive across the board for the contract itself, though some teachers were (rightfully, in my opinion) unhappy at the way that the contract was presented to them.  I am hopeful that this contract is steering the School District of Philadelphia in the right direction for the long term.  As I read more and more about the contract, I feel more comfortable with the idea of enrolling my kids in the Philadelphia public school in the coming years.

New Philly Teacher Contract Has Performance Incentives

The new teachers contract includes additional pay and pretty draconian measures for schools that aren’t up to snuff.  The Inquirer reports:

In schools targeted for the “Renaissance Program,” the entire staff can be forced to transfer out and only up to 50 percent rehired at the school by its new management. Teachers working in those schools, which are to be identified in the coming months, also will earn more