‘State of the Schools’

Contrary to your editorial [“State of the Schools,” January, 15, 2007], privatizing or contracting out management functions is not a good way to reform New York City’s public schools. It’s been tried in places like Baltimore, Dallas, and Philadelphia, and the evidence is pretty clear the gamble hasn’t paid off for anyone — students, parents, teachers, or taxpayers.

Indeed, privatization hasn’t made good on its promises of improved student achievement, reduced costs to taxpayers, or greater accountability.

Here are the facts: In Philadelphia, results of state tests in 2006 showed that students at the 43 privately managed schools did not outperform comparable public schools. Students at the regular district schools improved faster, and more than half of the regular schools met their yearly performance targets, compared to slightly more than a quarter of the privately managed schools.

Privately managed schools cost taxpayers more. Studies have demonstrated that in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Privatizers in Philadelphia pocketed between $450 and $881 more per student in their schools than regular public schools received. And parents have less voice in their children’s schools in Chicago, since private managers are exempt from requirements for elected school councils with parent representatives.

No, privatization is not the answer. The answer lies in improving instruction, not in changing the structure; in smaller class sizes, and in working with the people on the front lines of education — teachers and parents.

RANDI WEINGARTEN
President United Federation of Teachers
New York, N.Y.

‘Supreme Court May Uphold Limit on Use of Union Fees’

The issue at stake between teachers and the Washington Education Association cannot be boiled down to the question of whose First Amendment right is more important [National, “Supreme Court May Uphold Limit on Use of Union Fees,” January 11, 2007]. The 10 years of litigation the WEA has devoted to the fight for each dollar it can use on its political agenda clearly illustrates its priority of protecting Big Labor to the exclusion of education.

This mixed representation exemplifies the fundamental disconnect between teachers and labor unions. Teachers are not laborers. They are academic professionals like doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Industrial-style unionism neither advances the respect and compensation that educators deserve nor does it improve the quality of education for pupils.

This case shows that teachers are willing to stand up for their rights. Trying to curtail the First Amendment free speech rights of teachers is an especially egregious act for an organization that claims to represent them. Teachers deserve better.

GARY BECKNER
Executive Director
Association of American Educators Mission
Viejo, Calif.

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