Work with teachers, don't fire them
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/US/03/03/rhode.island.school.firings/story.gallo.cnn.jpg caption="Superintendent Frances Gallo fired all the teachers at Central Falls High School after negotiations with the teachers' union failed. " width=300 height=169]
Esther Wojcicki
Special to CNN
Little Rhode Island made big news in the education arena last month. Superintendent Frances Gallo fired all the teachers at Central Falls High School after negotiations with the teachers' union failed.
The move was triggered by low test scores - only 7 percent of 11th-graders passed the state math tests, and 50 percent of the students at Central Falls failed to graduate in four years. Appalling numbers. Gallo wanted teachers to increase the length of the school day and spend time tutoring kids. The teachers' union was not convinced.
Even President Obama got involved and supported the firing, saying, "If a school continues to fail its students year after year after year, if it doesn't show signs of improvement, then there's got to be a sense of accountability."
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Education • What You Will Be Talking About Today |
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Do we gamble an education on working with the teachers.
A line worker in an auto factory would not be paid for unassembled doors.