If The Job Isn’t Getting Done…You Should Be Gone

An article today by the Associated Press entitled “All Teachers Fired at Underperforming RI School” probably touched off a lot of nerves from teachers unions…I think we will definitely see more comments and posts about this one.  Here goes…

Correct me if I’m wrong but high schools, whether they are traditional or the new virtual ones, pretty much have one goal in common…to educate students with the standard academic requirements needed in order to bestow a high school diploma which will enable them to move onto post secondary options or give them a decent leg up to build upon if they choose to directly enter the workforce.  Now if we, collectively, are successful at creating a learning environment that can support and encourage the process of how to learn then we’ve essentially surrounded students with a suitable atmosphere, environment, and adult mentoring in which learning should almost happen by default.  I’m not saying that just because a student is sitting in this type of school without putting forth any effort that they will be successful…not at all.  These factors together should act as a catalyst to stir a student’s inquisitive nature to want to know more.  If they want to know more than they will learn how to read, how to write, how to communicate, how to socialize, how to organize, how to manage their time, how to set goals, and how to articulate where this will take them in the future.

If we fail as adults to participate in the process and think that just showing up for work each day is “good enough” for kids, then why shouldn’t we find adults who are willing to do what it takes to help students succeed?  Especially if the school and administration are more than willing to support that goal as well.  Yes, it’s much more difficult when teachers have the creativity and motivation but are struck down by administration.  That’s something well beyond that teacher’s control (right teacher, wrong bus).  Now that you have a foundational shift in thinking (e.g. new school administration) teachers either need to adapt to this new philosophy or find something else (wrong teacher, right bus).

Reality is that the current unemployment rate is still high and many folks are without work.  So to that I say why wouldn’t you be motivated to make yourself more valuable in your position?  It’s not about tenure or job security based on how long you’ve been somewhere…bottom line is we still need to be held accountable for the goals within our job responsibility.  If not, then who cares if anyone graduates at all?  No consequence, no change, and here comes complacency.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan applauds the decision and says "when schools continue to struggle we have a collective obligation to take action."  I think it’s more than action…it’s shaking things up and letting people know that “doing the same thing over and over again” without regard to positive progress is not working.  Not working means that we need to do something different.  Doing something different means that either you get on board with the new plan or you pack your bags.  We tell students that they need to be accountable when they do something inappropriate in school or when they fail a class and need to make it up.  We need to hold adults in education to the same standard as well.  Well done Central Falls High School!