Coaches Protest Teachers' Union

[tugurbio]

If I had the bad taste of collecting the last 7 years of UTLA newspaper, i would certainly point all of them. I do not waste my time on that so , if you provide the copies I will gladly point out the attacks.

[hrdnose]

Tugurbio: still waiting : in which month were the negative innuendos written? I read the paper and I never saw anything like you claim or are you just repeating what someone said to you? Everyday coaches are getting classroom jobs, so you are being treating actually better than the current classroom teachers.

[tugurbio]

Last issue, in June. Talking points by UTLA....more out the classroom ...than teachers hired...aren't we teachers also?

[priceless1998]

Talking points ARENT the UTLA newpaper. Your talking about the school that bought out of classroom positions than teachers, refering to class size reduction teachers. I dont think that is a negative against out of classroom teachers but more so that many, many schools were NOT doing the budget correctly and sneaking in these positions. Out of classroom teachers still have a job so what is the real problem.

[tugurbio]

Mr. Duffy's press release about this protest is the key. Either he is really mean spirited or he is cluless. He has, again missrepresented what he was told on his own behalf. He has the means to do so, unfortunately we don't even have the right of rebuttal.Hear this , and then as an intellgent reader tell me where is the correspondance with the press release.

[hrdnose]

Yes, the operative words here are "now the schools have the power". Why would a school want to help these mean spirited people who think they are administrators? Maybe if they had been nicer people then the school would want them to stay. Some schools who liked their people have done just that. If you werent pick then what does that tell you. Classroom teachers and parents are sending a message, you didnt want in the classroom you got what you wanted so dont cry now. Cant have it both ways.

[tugurbio]

Your comment comes to prove the idea that our union has of coaches. We are not mean spirited, and we are not administrators. I don't know what you think our job is but I guarantee you that like you many teachers who did not understand our role saw us as detrimental.Your idea of coaches is way too simplistic and missguided. No wonder that with oppinions like this we have been vilified without reason. Inform yourself please!!!!!

[cathye661]

You have to understand the real issue. It has nothing to do with coaches "having" to go back to a classroom. It is about the unfair way that coaches have been treated at school sites now that schools have the power to buy back positions. The contract has no provisions to protect the return rights of coaches who have been out for more than a year.

[cathye661]

The District and UTLA need to do more to assist coaches (who for dues paying purposes are considered teachers, but for representation purposes are considered a "special interest") to secure a position at a school site. Literacy and Math Coaches have had a positive impact at most schools and don't deserve the treatment (or lack thereof) by the Union and the District.

[hrdnose]

the operative words here "now the schools have the power". Yes classroom teachers are sick and tired of the way they have been treated by most coaches. Why would classroom teachers want to help people who are mean spirited and think they are administrators? Maybe if they had been nicer people, then the school would want them to stay. Some schools who liked their people have done just that.

[Sourpuss135]

Wasn't it Cortines who said in his first televised broadcast on the budget that many coaches were being used as administrators and that he wasn't recommending keeping the literacy department? How about joining with the union to protest against the district instead of taking a stand against teachers—the very people you're supposed to be supporting?

[priceless1998]

I am so glad that other schools are having the same issues that we are.....thanks so much for posting.

[tugurbio]

We are teachers and we support teachers, but what you do not understand is that our own union does not miss a chance to directly or indirectly missrepresent us and vilify our job.We did not create the divide.

[Sourpuss135]

What you do not understand is that I AM a literacy coach and your condescending attitude is what has given some of our colleagues a bad name.

Complaining about moving from B-Basis to C-Basis and having to find a new school at a time when teachers are losing their jobs altogether is selfish and does not meet my definition of supporting teachers.

I owe my job and all the benefits to the union. Being a loyal member of a union is more than just paying dues.

[priceless1998]

Maybe at your school it is different. At my school, the coaches have become "spies" for the administration. None of our out of classroom teachers worked with kids until recently when they found out that a new intervention teachers was coming and then all of a sudden they jump at the chance to work with kids. They didnt before, not in the job description, but when it may fit them to get a job all of a sudden now they ignore their job description and work with students. What does that say!!!

[priceless1998]

Supporting teachers, yeah, that is our concern too, when coaches have keys to all rooms, look at your stull lesson plan with the principal, and walk through your room with the admin and then talk about what they saw, you tell me if coaches are then supporting the teachers

[hrdnose]

Duffy always advocated for coaches. At no time did he ever say anything against coaches. Coaches choose to remove themselves from the classroom. Most thought they were on the administrator tract. Now they are forced back to the classroom where they didnt want to be. Now they want to push teachers who remained in the classrooms out because they think they have more rights. They have been gone! You didnt think you would ever have to come back to a classroom! Got REGRETS now?? Deal with it..

[priceless1998]

AMEN!!!

So true, so true!

[tugurbio]

No regrets, but if you were wearing our shoes you would see how misstreated our position has been from our own union.If you don't believe me just back track the abundant negative innuendos , and not so innuendo, news remarks,and commentaries about us in our own newspaper. yes a newspaper that as a union member I also help to print with my dues.

[priceless1998]

Care to share in which UTLA paper that was. I read it all the time and dont recall any negative remarks made.

[tugurbio]

I was there protesting.I am proud of it.!!!

Mr. Duffy has been allowing for years, as well as instigating, an unfair and abusive treatment of coaches. If he were the leader he says he is, he would understand the notion of fair representation. He does not. He is a true demagogue.

Fair Treatment Now!!!!!

[maderapinopanda1]

Mayor Villaraigoisa and Superintendent Cortines along with all of Los Angeles City Schools should be celebrating that teachers who have gained sooo much knowledge as coaches will now be sharing it directly with students! Yes, go back to the neediest classrooms and raise the test scores. It's a great day for Public Education in LA.