So it looks like the Central Falls crisis may be coming to an end. Certainly the teachers worked over their union leadership; those pink slips were tangible proof that the administration was serious. And Dr. Gallo, who considers herself an advocate for students and teachers, must have been uncomfortable in her role as the teachers’ Grim Reaper. The teachers will have to convince Dr. Gallo and the Board of Trustees that they are willing to implement true reform. Dr. Gallo has indicated the pink slips will not be rescinded until she has assurances from all teachers.
The union leadership is the biggest loser in this standoff. A majority of the public seemed to side with Gallo, and were critical of teachers asking for more even as schools fail and the economy suffers. Now these leaders will return to the table to discuss reform (read: money) without any real job security. If the teachers try hardball tactics again, Dr. Gallo can just walk away, and allow the pink slips to take over. The union will not, however, give up its legal actions against the school district, which may increase animosity between the two sides.
I must admit I’m disappointed. While I felt for the teachers whose jobs were threatened, I so desperately wanted to see a public confrontation that exposed the true union motives and interests. It seemed we were approaching a real crossroads in education, and many teachers I know were debating the merits of both sides. I was surprised at how many, whether in person or in writing, expressed their dissatisfaction with the union position. Perhaps there’s still hope for our profession yet.
Stafford Palmieri at Fordham’s Flypaper blog agrees.
Still, it’s depressing, because here was the top brass all the way down in D.C. standing up for the very tough decision of little district’s supe. And here was the union scrambling to find a way to respond to the situation, when the stats at Central Falls HS basically spoke for themselves. And where was hard-knocking reformer RI State Supe Deborah Gist while all this reconciliation was going on?
And so goes the 24-hour media cycle. Sadly, Central Falls students are definitely no better, and maybe even worse, off today than they were earlier this week.
Education blogger Joanne Jacobs thinks a touch new principal with firing power is what CF High really needs in order to improve.
When a school is as dysfunctional as Central Falls High, it’s not just the teachers. It’s a succession of ineffective principals, faddish and incoherent curricula, poor support from parents and a lot more. A bad school drags down average teachers and drives out the most ambitious. What this school needs is an exceptionally good principal — competent is not good enough — with the authority to replace the least-effective tenured teachers. Central Falls might get a strong leader, but is unlikely to let the new principal fire the teachers who flunk those “rigorous evaluations.”
I agree with Joanne as well. I have long argued that bureaucrats and union leaders, equally, have stripped the principals of any real power to bring change to their schools. Teachers at CF have complained of the high turnover of principals at the high school. It doesn’t take long for principals to realize the hostility towards change, and the lack of any meaningful power to do something about it. Quick leadership turnover reflects badly on teachers and administrators in a school district.
The Central Falls debacle did promote a national discussion, and even the president participated. Although I shouldn’t have been, I was surprised at how much misinformation was out there. Even the respected Jay Mathews messed up, and embarrassingly admitted so. We can only hope that the needs of students someone finds its way to the center of the table as Dr. Gallo and union leaders sit down and continue their discussion about school reform.
