Well it looks like a judge has struck a huge blow against teachers in California. In his ruling, Judge Treu wrote, “All sides to this litigation agree that competent teachers are a critical, if not the most important, component of success of a child’s in-school educational experience.” And that’s true. So are paper, textbooks, and pencils but he didn’t have anything to say about resources. He went on to write, “There is also no dispute that there are a significant number of grossly ineffective teachers currently active in California classrooms.” And how is that?
Granted I live in New York, and “first in last out” exists here too but that applies to layoffs. Administrators can certainly fire teachers. Tenured teachers simply have the right to appeal and force the administration to prove that they weren’t fired arbitrarily or for personal reasons.
Treu went on to say “Substantial evidence presented makes it clear to this court that the challenged statutes disproportionately affect poor and/or minority students.” What I’d agree with is that poor and minority students are effected disproportionately to their peers. Schools in poor districts see less funding, support and far more pressure professionally than do their richer counterparts.
Before his ruling did this judge visit a school? I mean where is the “significant number of grossly ineffective teachers”? Because at my school teachers get to school hours before the kids and stay hours after to finish their work. Teachers sign up for workshops on their own time over the summer and pay with their own money to continue learning or to refresh teaching strategies. Teachers stay up late or use the weekends lesson planning and their evenings grading homework and papers. Has this man met a teacher?
And let’s not pretend that this has nothing to do with an attack on public education. In 2010, California enrolled more children in charter schools than any other state and those schools are just waiting to pounce on those schools in poor communities deemed “failing” by a system set up to help them fail.
But maybe I’m too quick to judge and Treu just has nothing but good intentions for the children of California. Oh wait, in 2009 Treu denied justice for 19-month old Suzie Pena who was killed by an LAPD SWAT officer. The night of Suzie’s murder her mother, Lorena Lopez, begged the officers not to shoot her husband and child before they opened fire. And just minutes before the Lopez trial against the LAPD, Treu decided that the LAPD “have the discretion to use deadly force ” and that the only possible option a jury would be able to find is that the police were right so he dismissed the trial.
This scam artist should not be allowed to call himself a judge. It is clear that his only intent is protecting the government of California to the detriment of its people. “Judge” Treu, you have successfully hurt teachers and students. You’ve successfully protected private education and the LAPD. But let’s be real, you know what you’re doing. At least your biases are clear.
