new teacher articles
Teach for America recruits learn professionalism, unionism go together
Aug 7, 2008 12:10 PM
UFT President Randi Weingarten gives her business card to Teach for America recruit Devin Bambrick, who told her he "always wanted to meet her."
UFT President Randi Weingarten welcomed 500 new Teach for America recruits into the profession by giving them a crash course on flying high as educators in a usually rewarding but always challenging environment.
The recruits — recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools — will work in hard-to-staff New York City public schools starting in September.
Weingarten, who fielded questions for over an hour, emphasized the compatibility, indeed the interdependence, of professionalism and unionism on educational issues.
“We have won a 43 percent raise over six years, but we have been fighting not only for pay and benefits, but also for the working conditions and the respect that make our profession more attractive and teaching more satisfying,” Weingarten said at an orientation at St. John’s University in Queens on June 26. “We’re not afraid to be held accountable, but all levels of government must be held accountable as well for providing the support and resources necessary to help all kids succeed. And educators must have a real voice in their school’s decision-making. These are keys to true reform.” .
Weingarten chats with Christina Lopez del Castillo and Jeremy Thomas.
She then cited a new nationwide survey reflecting popular opinion that public education must change, but said quick fixes and magic bullets (such as vouchers and unregulated charter schools) are not the answer. She answered questions on tenure, merit pay, No Child Left Behind and how new teachers can get involved in politics, education reform and their union.
Weingarten’s “heads up” gave the recruits reality training that sometimes dampened but ultimately refreshed their spirits. She told them that they would face oversized classes and underfunded budgets.
On the other hand, she noted that they can look forward to help from the UFT Teacher Center, mentoring programs, parental and other community support, and the readiness of the union to be at their side at all times
