President Obama has enraged NEA, the national teachers union, by voicing his support for terminating teachers in districts that have repeatedly failed to meet minimum education standards for the students. He specifically referred to a Rhode Island district which has fired the entire staff of the state's worst performing school.
The local teachers union, of course, has filed legal action to halt the firings.
Central Falls Teacher’s Union Files Appeal
By Stan Sundel ⋅ March 2, 2010
The Central Falls Teachers’ Union filed three unfair labor practice charges with the state Labor Relations Board Monday. In the complaint, the union accused the school district of failing to bargain and not providing the teachers with enough information. This is the union’s first attempt to appeal the mass firings of 93 teachers and staff at the school.
We all know that in his heart, Barack Obama doesn't see the wholesale sacking of teachers as the solution to our nation's education problems. But he deserves great credit for standing up to the teachers unions, who have provided unswerving loyalty to Democrats in exchange for a hands off policy on teacher accountability. I think now they know he's serious, and hopefully will agree to some reasonable expectations so that gaining tenure doesn't mean a teacher is bulletproof and can cruise on down to retirement without ever having to be held accountable for their performance- or behavior- again...