Comments on: Is DCPS Continuing to Hire Teachers After Firing 229?

By: ReformMindedCitizen

ReformMindedCitizen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:56:04 +0000

I would qualify the 23 school consolidations and firings of 98 central office staff, 24 principals, and hundreds of teachers and aides within about a two year time span as "massive and unprecedented change." I'm on the younger side, so please correct me if a downsizing of this magnitude has occurred previously in DCPS that I'm unaware of. I agree with what you said in the second paragraph but do not understand your argument about the "privatized education system."

By: Tired of the BS

Tired of the BS — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:24:24 +0000

So, um, what's the data supporting the claim of "massive and unprecedented change?" You're right on one count, though, the Council will content itself with ritually chastized Rhee and won't ever pull the plug. Because then the claim would be "if only Rhee had been allowed to finish the job, DCPS would be a model school system by now." Truth is, if Rhee sticks around to finish the job, there won't even be any pieces left to pick up. But it won't be the Council's fault and, as today's hearing suggests, that's what concerns most of them -- who gets the blame. Meanwhile, Rhee will remain a heroine in some quarters because out of the ashes will arise a privatized education system. Mission accomplished! Another profit center for American enterprise and a safe haven from foreign competition (for at least a few years).

By: ReformMindedCitizen

ReformMindedCitizen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:02:50 +0000

@angryalgonzales This letter doesn't definitively prove anything in court. To your knowledge they haven't actually hired any teachers yet. It is just as possible that it could have been an administrative error as an act of formal hiring. At best, it will have a political impact if Parker can exploit it correctly. And @Tired and Scared - please provide support for your claims that they are "just plain incompetent" and that "there is no improvement" with relevant data. The Council didn't do anything more than complain about Rhee's "attitude" today because they know she is the only shot they have in the present or near future to get this city's schools in shape. Any attempt to slide back mayoral control or Rhee's ability to manage DCPS properly will result in thousands of current and future DC students with dismal academic and life prospects, and of less importance, will jeopardize their jobs. Wake up people! Start paying attention to the data and realize that some people are going to get hurt in the face of massive and unprecedented change.

By: Tired and scared

Tired and scared — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:03:41 +0000

This situation is very scary for ANY teacher in DCPS. No matter what age or color.
They continue to hire? That means they have no clue of the impact on people'd lives and no business sense. It is a waste of money to hire today and fire tomorrow. I don't think they are trying to recolor the system. They are just plain incompetent. Always were, still are. This mess proves Rhee did not improve DCPS. Unfortunately there is no improvement.

By: Mike DeBonis

Mike DeBonis — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:09:06 +0000

yes, please: lips@washingtoncitypaper.com

By: ‘No Trust’ In DCPS Contract Talks: Loose Lips Daily - City Desk - Washington City Paper

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:09:50 +0000

[...] IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—’Is DCPS Continuing to Hire Teachers After Firing 229?‘ [...]

By: Marciela

Marciela — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:41:58 +0000

@DC Teacher: Tell MDB offline what school you teach for. This nonesense will NEVER stop until people report these incidents. Also report this to the Inspector General.

By: DC Teacher

DC Teacher — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:52:14 +0000

I find this incredible since at the school I teach at, we are still understaffed. As of today, we still have 3 vacant positions that are APPROVED in our budget. If this is such a budgetary crisis, why didn't they relocate the teachers they had already hired to areas that still need teachers instead of firing so many? Why is HR so much more concerned with laying off teachers than making sure the positions are filled?

By: Marciela

Marciela — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:37:42 +0000

Rhee's lies have gone on and on for years now. She was planning to lay off/riff/whatever more teachers so she could continue to recolor DC with a "better fit." She is going to cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars with her questionable and illegal hiring processes. Schools were not ready on time -- Burroughs for example. Most employees who are riffed/terminated are escorted out by police. Children have been greatly impacted by her egregious acts.

I am surprised no one has whipped her ass like it ought to be beat. That is shocking and LONG OVERDUE.

By: DCPS parent

DCPS parent — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:09:54 +0000

Of course Rhee's office is going to deny this. How many more lies to we have to be told before Rhee gets fired?

She lied about classrooms having the right books and supplies; she lied about schools being ready on time last school year; she lied about teachers being escorted out by police; she lied saying that children being impacted from the RIFS. And we could go on and on.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:40:04 +0000

It seems a little odd for DCPS to blame the recruiter when the website she directs people to includes the same language about the "selection process".

By: Angry Al Gonzales

Angry Al Gonzales — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:16:57 +0000

In litigation, this destroys any defense the District could use on "legitimate business necessity" because it shows that the so-called "budget" reasons for the terminations were, in fact, fictitious. This is a "smoking gun" the teachers' lawyers can use to prove their case.

By: Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:14:43 +0000

Everyone who reads this -- click on the link in the article and put in some bogus name to f&ck with these a$$holes who are playing games with teachers' lives by firing them.

By: Comrade Al Gonzales

Comrade Al Gonzales — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:44:40 +0000

This proves Rhee is a liar. Also, it establishes a prima facie case of discrimination on the basis of union activity. Look for the District to pay millions to settle the litigation over this.

By: huh?

huh? — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:43:34 +0000

Wow. Rhee really doesn't give a fuck what anybody thinks. Absolutely astounding.