Comments on: Who’s Climbing the Education Career Ladder? http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/05/13/whos-climbing-the-education-career-ladder/ A listening post monitoring public education and teachers' unions. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:51:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Nancy Flanagan http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/05/13/whos-climbing-the-education-career-ladder/comment-page-1/#comment-2667 Nancy Flanagan Wed, 20 May 2009 18:48:03 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=1880#comment-2667 Not that anyone particularly cares--but I think Robert and Lisa each have it about half-right. I do believe teachers who get involved with the union have an internal desire to have influence, to step out from their peers, to lead--and usually have the personal confidence to believe that they will see at least some of their ideas come to fruition. For many teachers, the only defined leadership roles they see are attached to association work. Lisa is right when she says that many excellent teachers have zero desire to become administrators-- they are gratified and challenged by teaching, and realize that being an administrator is an entirely different skill set. On the other hand, many local union leaders choose to lead strictly for the power and influence--especially the power to counter what they see as adversarial administrators and bad decisions. It may or may not have anything to do with advocating for the profession, let alone instruction, curriculum or work-embedded critical issues. Sometimes, it's just about choosing sides and/or winning. Robert and Lisa, although polite, have just provided a model of that kind of adversarial thinking. Not that anyone particularly cares–but I think Robert and Lisa each have it about half-right.

I do believe teachers who get involved with the union have an internal desire to have influence, to step out from their peers, to lead–and usually have the personal confidence to believe that they will see at least some of their ideas come to fruition. For many teachers, the only defined leadership roles they see are attached to association work. Lisa is right when she says that many excellent teachers have zero desire to become administrators– they are gratified and challenged by teaching, and realize that being an administrator is an entirely different skill set.

On the other hand, many local union leaders choose to lead strictly for the power and influence–especially the power to counter what they see as adversarial administrators and bad decisions. It may or may not have anything to do with advocating for the profession, let alone instruction, curriculum or work-embedded critical issues. Sometimes, it’s just about choosing sides and/or winning.

Robert and Lisa, although polite, have just provided a model of that kind of adversarial thinking.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/05/13/whos-climbing-the-education-career-ladder/comment-page-1/#comment-2664 Lisa Tue, 19 May 2009 16:12:56 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=1880#comment-2664 The administrator's comment is offensive and misguided. Being a union leader and a school administrator are totally different jobs - apples and oranges in terms of what they actually do on a day-to-day basis. To assume that they did not want to "take the necessary steps" is offensive. Also offensive, is how you characterize the union leaders "need to lead" as opposed to the more benevolent need of the administrators to "exert a greater influence on the outcomes of teaching and operations of schools". As a union staff person, I have seen that union leaders are typically motivated by a desire to be an advocate for the teaching profession and their colleagues, not a need to lead. Most of the time the very thing that keeps them from being involved as a full-time union staff person is their desire to continue teaching their students. The administrator’s comment is offensive and misguided. Being a union leader and a school administrator are totally different jobs – apples and oranges in terms of what they actually do on a day-to-day basis. To assume that they did not want to “take the necessary steps” is offensive. Also offensive, is how you characterize the union leaders “need to lead” as opposed to the more benevolent need of the administrators to “exert a greater influence on the outcomes of teaching and operations of schools”. As a union staff person, I have seen that union leaders are typically motivated by a desire to be an advocate for the teaching profession and their colleagues, not a need to lead. Most of the time the very thing that keeps them from being involved as a full-time union staff person is their desire to continue teaching their students.

]]> By: Robert http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/05/13/whos-climbing-the-education-career-ladder/comment-page-1/#comment-2663 Robert Tue, 19 May 2009 13:05:04 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=1880#comment-2663 As a long time school administrator I have observed that union leaders come to their positions from a need to lead but do not want to take the necessary steps to become an administrator; i.e., courses, credentials, service as curriculum leaders. Administrators on the other hand come to their positions from a need to exert a greater influence on the outcomes of teaching and operations of schools. Of course, administrators also are motivated by higher pay and greater authority. Union leaders who complain about the higher pay and greater authority of administrator obviously have made a choice not seek those positions. As a long time school administrator I have observed that union leaders come to their positions from a need to lead but do not want to take the necessary steps to become an administrator; i.e., courses, credentials, service as curriculum leaders. Administrators on the other hand come to their positions from a need to exert a greater influence on the outcomes of teaching and operations of schools. Of course, administrators also are motivated by higher pay and greater authority. Union leaders who complain about the higher pay and greater authority of administrator obviously have made a choice not seek those positions.

]]> By: anon http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2009/05/13/whos-climbing-the-education-career-ladder/comment-page-1/#comment-2661 anon Mon, 18 May 2009 18:08:08 +0000 http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/?p=1880#comment-2661 Don't you think she was talking about getting involved with the professional issues side of union work? Don't you think she may be talking about improving her teaching?. You make so many assumptions with her statements. I knew you were unbalanced in your posts but this one discredits you forever. Good day sir. Don’t you think she was talking about getting involved with the professional issues side of union work? Don’t you think she may be talking about improving her teaching?. You make so many assumptions with her statements. I knew you were unbalanced in your posts but this one discredits you forever. Good day sir.

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