It's unbelievable how hard the union fights against even the most obvious evaluation system – it just underscores that they're not interested in finding out who are the best teachers and who are the worst, because it undermines "union solidarity":

School districts around New York state are discovering new challenges in creating teacher-evaluation systems, clashing with unions over details after a broad statewide deal announced to great fanfare last month by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In Buffalo and Rochester, teachers are insisting they shouldn't be held responsible for test scores of chronically absent students. The Rochester teachers union is also at odds with its district over how much power to give principals in judging teachers. And some school officials said wealthier districts could determine the whole endeavor isn't worth the trouble or the cost.

The disagreements illustrate the difficulties many of the state's 700 school districts could face as they try to launch a complex new system.

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