I've been union all my working life and I'm generally in favor of unions. But not all unions are made of the same cloth. The Boston Teachers Union seems to be run by utterly selfish people who are disconnected from the city and the rest of the country. That's not true of all teachers unions. Boston's teachers are a real trip.

The taxpayers of Boston and must protect their children against the tyranny of unions. Let's begin by cut lavish salary and union benefits to the more reasonable private sector levels.

The BTU is right! Teachers should get paid for their work. Yes, I said it rsox2007--paid, just like the private sector.

Why shouldn't any of the other schools with proven track records of success be eligible for some of that grant money? Alot of that 9 million dollars is wasted on only 11 schools. One school even gives video game systems out to Saturday school students. These "turnaround" schools are also eligible for SES (supplementary educational services), that schools that are not "so-called" underperforming are not eligible for. Additionally, unneeded admin positions are created at these schools. Undoubtedly, the principals at these schools scramble every year to "spend" every last dime, much of which could be used for programs or supplies at other schools. And yes these schools are improving. How could they not? Each school gets extra 800,00 dollars a year in TIF money (or some formula other than 9 mill / 11), a per pupil allocation of SES money, and millions in venture philanthropist dollars. There are many other schools that could desperately use another admin, extra money for updated technology, and more money to pay for extended day programs. Turnaround schools are improving, but what will happen when they are no longer labelled underperforming. They will lose all that money and have no concept of running a school with budget constraints. The way they currently operate will be unsustainable. Now the union leadership gets "blasted" for trying to speed up contract negotiations? We have been working without a contract for 21 months. Teachers have a right to see how that 9 million is spent every year, and if there is a better way. The two other 2 comments here are off base and divisive. Next time offer substance, not just anti-union sound bytes.

When it comes to under-performing schools, society cannot wait and must act quickly to motivate, mobilize and train teachers to do things differently than in the past. When unions stand in the way of efforts to improve our lowest performing schools, they show that they care more about maintaining the status quo than their students. Do the right thing for students- not just for the adults.

noone is standing in the way of efforts to improve the lowest performing schools. I think all schools should improve, not just he worst performing. Why should the worst performers get millions of dollars, and schools that do not have that label get squat? This model is unsustainable, and millions are wasted. I'm putting all kids ahead of venture philanthropists ideas. What will happen when the grant runs out? Teachers need to be supported. We are already motivated.

all about the kids huh Teachers

what do you do to help kids succeed in life?(...bashing teachers doesn't count. ) Oh what was that, nothing? I thought so, and if you do help kid,s please explain. You haven't the slightest idea of what you writing about - go away.

how about raising 3. coaching 2 teams. come from a family of teachers. And you?

The teachers union has proposed $116 million in pay raises. The city has said it can only afford $32 million. Other unresolved issues include the length of the school day and teacher evaluation methods.

I've taught for past 8 years. Numbers are school dep't figures, they are inflated and cover costs 4 years, not 1. We've already worked w/out a contract for almost 2. School dep't is trying to extend school day without compensating teachers. If you come from a family of teachers you should know that teachers work hard, and the day doesn't stop when the kids leave. there is no problem with evaluating teachers, problems are how teachers are evaluated. value added evals that focus on test scores and merit pay are destructive to ed. furthermore, principals do not do their evals as it is - that needs to change as well. the negotiating team will not sit down with the union, our contract is long overdue and a compromise needs to be made. Now the super. is trying to say 9 million dollars a year is off the table? Alot of that money is wasted in the 11 schools it goes too. Other schools, better performing schools like mine, deserve a piece of that pie in order to expand our successful programs. so yeah, it is about the kids - all kids not just ones in so called "turnaround" schools. And excuse me for not wanting to work for free, do cops or firefighters? Do you? i have student loans, rent , and food to put on the table just like everybody else. Extend the day without pay is exploitation.

As I've said before , unions are ruining this country and are run by selfish, fat, uneducated morons. the BTU should be told if you don't like it too bad, we're doing what's best for the students and the hell with union 'leadership'.

Hey columwhyte! What do you do to help kids succeed in life? Teach them that they shouldn't listen to opinions that disagree with yours? Teach them to advocate suppression of contrary views? Education should be just the opposite of that. Telling people you disagree with to "go away" indicates to me that you wouldn't be qualified to teach.

Most of us work 40 hours a week except for two or three weeks of vacation. Maybe teachers should try that. You've become very spoiled.

Your problem is that you lump all unions together. You read something about one union and you apply it to all unions. That's like saying because one business cheats its customers that all businessmen are crooks. It's known as bigotry.

Hey who-cares: Name one union that's not just looking out for itself. I bet you can't.

I am very disappointed in Dr. Johnson, character assassination as a tool for compliance! As usual, columwhyte said it best! Years ago we had a much better system where all BPS schools were awarded a flat sum of money for improvement. Teachers at the school came together and decided what to spend it on. One year my school spent our award on desperately need overhead projectors and another year on computers for the library. It was a worthy endeavor and everyone in the school community was united in meeting the criteria. On the teacher level, a principal would quietly give a teacher a class set of markers or a "Cram Globe" for doing extra things or going the extra mile, it was a token of appreciation and acknowledgement. This TIF money is just "in your face reward power" for turnaround school principals. It is meant to be insulting to every teacher who doesn't get it, and is meant to setup adversarial collaborative communities within a school. At turnaround schools, video games systems are the least of it. It is the money that is handed over to c"non-profit" educational vendors ("partners") that reeks of waste at turnaround schools. Non-profit does not mean charity, and these "non-profit" educational vendors have lined up at the BPS trough. The principal at one turnaround school paid a "non-profit" educational vendor, $180,000. out of the schools turnaround money, for "leadership training." Any administrative "leadership training" could and should have been provided by personal at Court Street. This $180,000 was in addition to a private grant this "non-profit" education vendor wrote, and was awarded, IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS NAME, to "service" the school with data collection and redundant professional development. As three, Boston Teachers Residency (BTR) teachers said at a faculty meeting "we had lesson planning in college, we have lesson planning at the BTR workshops, why are we doing it again with them!" Professional development to teachers could have been provided by Court Street or qualified personal in our school. When our teachers on the School Site Council voiced their concerns to the principal, and noted that this ed vendor violated a Superintendents Bulletin, they were all excessed! To add insult to injury, and even though BPS has a department that does this, this non-profit educational vendor even charged the school for "servicing the grant." Parents whose children are assigned to turnaround schools, in fact, all Boston Public School parents, need to TALK TO TEACHERS! We are the people who are educating and taking care of your children. In the spirit of "transparency," call Superintendent Johnson and request that your school's FULL BUDGET be posted on your school's website. This will contribute to solving the problem, of finding the money for a fair an equitable resolution of the MUTUAL BPS/BTU CONTRACT. It will also rein in those, paternalistic principals, who arrogantly think they can spend school funds on private interests, t

Continued: Parents whose children are assigned to turnaround schools, in fact, all Boston Public School parents, need to TALK TO TEACHERS! We are the people who are educating and taking care of your children. In the spirit of "transparency," call Superintendent Johnson and request that your school's FULL BUDGET be posted on your school's website. This will contribute to solving the problem of finding the money to a fair an equitable resolution of the MUTUAL BPS/BTU CONTRACT; and rein in those, paternalistic principals who arrogantly think they can spend school funds on private interests, that are not in direct service to our students, without the oversight of parents and teachers at that school. This is public information, let's not hide it!

What I would add, that people might not be aware of, is that students assigned to turnaround schools have an "opt out" option and do not have to follow the BPS transfer guidelines. Last year at my turnaround school, 30+ low scoring, behavior problem students, were taken, as a group, on a field trip to BPS schools they might entertain the idea of transferring too (read counseled out). Teachers found out about the "field trip" after the fact, from the kids! Voila! The scores increased and staff received a bonus of $300. No one yet is being "transparent" on the "turnaround administrative bonus" under TIF, but I'm sure there will be more of these "field trips" if TIF funds are only allocated to turnaround schools.

40 hrs a week, i'd love that. I'd also love to be paid for all the hours I put in. It's a 24/7 job, and if you don't think it is you are not a teacher. "spoiled"? come do my job for one day, then we'll see who's spoiled. Gimme a break! That tired argument is getting old. When do you think teachers go to professional development - summers. Teachers work summer school. We don't have as much time off as you'd think, and we certainly work a hell of alot harder than you give us credit for. Show some respect pizza man.

the private sector has ruined this country, unions protect jobs and workers...big business ships jobs overseas because ceos are greedy. to hell with with union bashing, add substance to your argument not sound bytes.

i'm not qualified to teach because I stand against those who bash us? Say what you want, but do not attack my teacher qualifications. You have absolutely no basis to do so. I dedicate my life to my job and could "care less" about your flawed indications. I guarantee, without any doubt, that you are not qualified to teach. You are misinformed. STOP ATTACKING TEACHERS! We are all sick of it. GO AWAY!

it's time to settle this contract...21 months is a disgrace

I am convinced the teachers unions need to be broken. They have delivered inferior academic results for decades. New schools, contractual incentives along with teachers aides have resulted in failure to deliver promised results. And please don't cry about how difficult it is to educate a child. Most of your union dues are donated Democratic politicians who have destroyed the family structure with their failed liberal policies. This state needs the right to work laws that many states are enacting.

A union united will never be defeated...inferior results? The states with the least percentage of union teachers have the worst results. The most unionized states have the BEST educational results. These are facts. Finland, the world's highest achieving educational country, has a teaching force that is 97 percent unionized. Please tell me exactly how teachers unions have destroyed the family structure in the United States. And right now I disagree with most politicians, not just republicans. You must be rich, otherwise I cannot begin to understand your point of view. Do you, by chance, work with the heartland institute?