Unions and charters are strange bedfellows
When you ask the leader of an allegedly high performing charter school what makes them so successful, they generally say that they have more flexibility with hiring and firing since they are free from pesky union contracts. This is why I found it quite odd that I received an announcement with job openings at a charter school called Green Dot High School the other day from the New York City teacher’s union, called the UFT.
It turns out that some charters do have teachers who are in the union. I’m not sure how many charters are like this in New York City, but in addition to this Green Dot High School, there is actually one called ‘The UFT Charter School’ which, much to the glee of ‘reformers’ is one of the lowest rated schools in the city and nearly had its charter revoked recently, but has been given two years to shape up.
Anytime I see the name ‘UFT Charter School’ I chuckle a little as I imagine a Saturday Night Live skit about what must go on in this school: The teachers all show up at exactly 7:52 AM and leave at 3:32 PM. Nobody ever helps students on their ‘duty free’ lunch. Everyone knows the contract by heart and anytime an administrator
It turns out that some charters do have teachers who are in the union. I’m not sure how many charters are like this in New York City, but in addition to this Green Dot High School, there is actually one called ‘The UFT Charter School’ which, much to the glee of ‘reformers’ is one of the lowest rated schools in the city and nearly had its charter revoked recently, but has been given two years to shape up.
Anytime I see the name ‘UFT Charter School’ I chuckle a little as I imagine a Saturday Night Live skit about what must go on in this school: The teachers all show up at exactly 7:52 AM and leave at 3:32 PM. Nobody ever helps students on their ‘duty free’ lunch. Everyone knows the contract by heart and anytime an administrator
