With D.C. teacher firings, the students finally come first

 Michelle Rhee certainly understands that it's critical to get rid of ineffective, especially in a system like DC that has A LOT of them.  Here's ed warrior Kristin Ehrgood with a spot on op ed in the Washington Post defending Rhee:

The recent dismissals of 241 ineffective and improperly licensed D.C. Public Schools teachers are doubtless upsetting to the friends, colleagues and family of those who have been fired. But it is important to recognize the fortitude of Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and her staff as they grapple with a tenure system that has rewarded mediocrity while allowing the country's neediest children to drop out, fail out or graduate without enrolling in college.

These students did not fail us. We failed them by providing weak standards, erratic guidance and few incentives to educators. In the year before Rhee's arrival, 8 percent of students were on grade level, but 95 percent of teachers "met expectations," and none was fired. Our students fell further and further behind.

We can close the achievement gap between middle class and low-income children within four years -- but we must ensure that every student has an exceptional teacher. Under Rhee, the public school system is beginning to do just that.

Recently, the school system fired ineffective teachers and gave minimally effective teachers notice that they need to seek additional support and training, which the school system is eager to provide, in order to improve within one year. These actions are perfectly in line with the new tenure rules agreed upon in the recently passed teachers contract. Nevertheless, the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) has already vowed to contest the firings in court. By doing so, the union demonstrates that when hard decisions have to be made, it will continue to put adults' interests ahead of children's.

The WTU has found many allies in the media. Some journalists and bloggers reflexively protect the failed status quo and offer ridiculous warnings of a conspiracy to destroy public education. By complaining that teachers are being victimized and inaccurately representing the D.C. Public Schools' evaluation system, these people weaken the institution they claim to protect. They turn their backs on eager and ambitious students -- all to preserve the job security of a handful of adults.

 

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With D.C. teacher firings, the students finally come first

By Kristin Ehrgood
Washington
Sunday, August 8, 2010; C05

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/06/AR2010080605836_pf.html