DOE Contract Demands Giving Up Of First Born Child

Gotham Schools has a leaked, or some would say, a planted copy of The Reich's, er, I meant DOE's contract demands. Though draconian in their scope, worse the demands show just how little Klein and Bloomberg think of teachers.

These demands include:

Teachers would have higher raises in the early and middle steps of their careers.

Makes sense. Why not keep all these young, single teachers that want to live the Manhattan live style? Again shows what the DOE thinks of veteran, experienced teachers.

The city would institute a career ladder, labeling teachers “apprentice,” “practicing,” “mentor,” and “master,” and would pay them according to their position on that ladder.

Big mistake. The DOE should have labeled the "career ladder" as; youngling, padawan, knight, and master. But if it was up to me that would be acceptable only if Bloomberg is henceforth known as a Sith lord, and Klein, loses the title chancellor and his known as a Sith apprentice. Of course all those who work at Tweed, ATU, Mike Best, etc... will be known as clone warriors. Or Ewoks.

Once a teacher is excessed, he will have four months to remain on the city’s payroll while he finds a new job. Once those four months are up, he’ll lose this pay check and benefits. Today, there are about 1,200 salaried teachers who have been excessed, are looking for work in the system, and are working as substitutes.

Perfect method into removing any teacher over 40 and making over $70K. Also will save big bucks on pensions. Do they honestly think that any principal in their right mind will hire a teacher that is too knowledgeable and makes too much money?

Teachers who have charges brought against them will be suspended without pay unless they can prove that the DOE is unreasonably delaying the hearing.
So let's see. Principal A who is 27 years old has no experience in teacher and feels threatened by a 49 year old 24 year veteran teacher. Gee, I wonder what shall happen? Anyone care to guess?
Instead of using "just cause" in 3020a hearings of incompetence, the city wants to lower the standard to an “arbitrary and capricious” one, meaning the DOE’s decision to fire the teacher is assumed to be reasonable and just unless the teacher can prove otherwise.

"Just Cause" generally means; "the arbitrator first asks whether the employee's wrongdoing has been proven by the employer, and then asks whether the method of discipline should be upheld or modified." However in 1966, arbitrator, Professor Carroll Daugherty expanded this into seven tests that are frequently used by arbitrators. They are:

• Was the employee forewarned of the consequences of his or her actions?
• Are the employer's rules reasonably related to business efficiency and performance the employer might reasonably expect from the employee?
• Was an effort made before discharge to determine whether the employee was guilty as charged?
• Was the investigation conducted fairly and objectively?
• Did the employer obtain substantial evidence of the employee's guilt?
• Were the rules applied fairly and without discrimination?
• Was the degree of discipline reasonably related to the seriousness of the employee's offense and the employee's past record?

But now, Tweed, not only wants to change the rule of law as we know that the prosecution has to prove guilt, to the teachers proving their innocence, but wants to change state law and the laws of physics as well. Arbitrary is defined as;

• depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by law
• marked by or resulting from the unrestrained and often tyrannical exercise of power

Capricious is defined thusly;

• sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action
• a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes

What is frightening is that Mike Mulgrew will actually accept this.

Oh and the best, but not certainly the least. Hearings will be conducted before OATH hearing officers.

What is OATH Uncle Teacher in the Bronx? OATH boys and girls is an acronym for Office of Administration Trials and Hearings. Yep, you guessed it. A city agency, whose hearing officers are paid by the city.

Mulgrew, what is the word you have been trained to respond to so you can turn over have have your tummy rubbed?

For those that want a good laugh, here are the rest of the demands.

DOE Contract Demands