This Week In Education Media: "Teacherpocalypse 2010

This Week In Education

Media: "Teacherpocalypse 2010"

by Alexander Russo

Kudos to Reason for coming up with a name for the saturation coverage of possible job cuts in education: Teacherpocalypse 2010. Most of the numbers you're seeing in the paper are speculative, possible cuts, not actual job cuts. The numbers are being put out there to pressure for more money. Some teachers have lost their jobs, no doubt, but the actual job losses are unknown and probably small in proportion to the 6 million Americans who are already out of work. Let's have some perspective, and some transparency from the media about where the numbers are coming from.

Thompson: New Rules for Replicating D.C.'s "Pathbreaking" Contract

by john thompson

School leaders seeking to replicate the District of Columbia's innovative contract need to take a few simple steps.  Firstly, amend the Constitution so that Congress can prohibit collective bargaining on teacher evaluation.  Go on an "unauthorized hiring spree," adding 900 teachers in advance of terminating 266 others, due to a supposedly "unforeseen" financial deficit of $150 million.  Then seek a judicial venue which will permit the firings to stand, despite a seemingly false rationale, because reversing the improper actions would cause further harm. (This is doubly important when the district's leader persists in making contradictory statements, even under oath, regarding the reasons for the