Have you ever seen a "Work to the contract" action by teachers?

[Godhumor]

Essentially, only perform duties as specifically laid out by the employee contract. No grading at home, no staying even a minute past allowed dismissal time, no volunteer time whether for clubs or just to be there, etc.

It is one of the most effective ways for teachers to drive home just how much they actually do, because no one can believe how much is lost when they stop.

Somehow, I think Walker might be finding this out firsthand shortly.

[TomClash]

1. Work to rules

You're right - it can be very effective.

They'll pass legislation to stop that. The only rule will be to do whatever they say.

And recalls.

And everything else they want.

[ingac70]

2. If collective bargaining rights are stripped....

is there even a contract anymore?

[buddysmellgood]

7. That's a good question. What becomes a fire-able offense?

[Orlandodem]

3. It's prom season. I think teachers should decide not to volunteer to chaperone.

Don't volunteer to coach. Don't volunteer to sponsor clubs after school. Don't spend 1 minute doing school stuff beyond the school day. To all the supportive parents and students, I'm sorry. I apologize but it's time and it has come to that.

The War on Teachers must stop.

[roody]

40. +1

[bluestateguy]

4. And no buying school supplies out of the teacher's own pocket

Want classroom supplies? All of the Republican parents hold a bake sale to raise money for it.

The teacher will now need that extra $300 a year to (partially) make up for the loss of income caused by this bill.

I don't often Rec. posts, but I recced this one.

[Neurotica]

5. It's happening in my area right now

I don't know, however, that it has been very effective because not all teachers are doing it.

I live in a "right to work" state, so that may have an influence on how this policy has been implemented. The local teacher's group (no formal union here) encouraged "work to the rule" to emphasize how much budget cuts are hurting public education. Teachers haven't had raises in several years, class sizes have increased, programs have been cut, etc.

Unfortunately, this action has seemingly resulted in more of an anti-teacher backlash -- lots of commentary about "greedy teachers" etc. This could just be the vocal minority, though, because this is a well-educated population with lots and lots of kids.

Our problem has been unrestricted growth (allowed by previous developer-friendly, Republican local government officials). More houses=more kids=more schools/teachers needed.

[Godhumor]

9. Yeah, "Work to" needs a formal and concerted effort to work

So, a union action. It doesn't work if there isn't a 100% commitment, ususally.

[buddysmellgood]

6. Well we'll just get the national guard to do all that stuff.

[gkhouston]

20. Well, okay, but the cost of shipping homework to Afghanistan for grading's gonna be a bitch. n/t

[adigal]

8. I worked in a district that did this once

Every teacher waits outside until the mandated time to come in. The teachers all walk in together. They all leave together at the exact time in their contract. They don't give up their lunches to help students. They don't stay after to help students. They don't volunteer, as I do, to host a club in my classroom for no money. They don't have after-school tutoring on their own. They don't chaperone for the prom, they don't chaperone for basketball games and dances. Nothing extra. Nada.

It is very powerful and shows Republican parents just how much teachers do, both with their time and their money. It does make the community angry, but they do need to see how much extra teachers do every single day. Once the extra work is not being done, they suddenly see what we do. I think this would be a great first step for Wisconsin teachers. And they canNOT be fired for this - they are working their contract, not a minute over or a minute under.

Great idea, recommended thread!

[Bigmack]

10. In my experience.. it won't work.

Teachers do stuff for kids.

I know that sounds trite, but most people who go into teaching because they want to do stuff for kids.

A kid needs help.. teachers do it.... provide the materials... write the recommendation... whatever.

Coaches realize that if they don't coach, a kid could lose out on a scholarship...

A teacher's association isn't a union.. by a long shot.

[Demoiselle]

12. I like your description of teachers, Bigmack.

Which is why I don't understand why you think an across-the-board refusal to do all those things wouldn't "work."

[FBaggins]

25. I think that Mack is saying that they care more about the kids

than about an 8% paycut.

Let's face it... if these folks were in it for the money... they wouldn't be "in it" at all.

I think he's saying that they won't be able to bring themselves to do it.

I'm not sure that I agree. I don't think that they could bring themselves to strike statewide for a significant period of time... but "work to the rule" is possible.

[Godhumor]

13. Funny, I've been involved in these, and they do work

Being yelled at to do your job and responding, "That's what I am doing--I think you're asking me to do more than my job" is very powerful indeed.

[bluestateguy]

15. Imagine no teachers writing college letters of recommendation

the effect would be especially felt in affluent suburban districts.

Teacher: "Oh, I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Rich Republican parent, my contract does not authorize me to write a letter of recommendation for your daughter's application to USC."

That would get noticed, trust me.

[FBaggins]

26. I agree that it would get noticed.

The question is whether the parent (and let's not pretend that parents of smart kids are all republicans) would look at that action and say "darn that Gov Walker!" or would blame the teachers.

[Godhumor]

31. Messaging is very important. Many use work to cpntract/rule to then go protest

i.e. Teachers all leave school together to protests in front of the hall/office/whatever. It shows it is a job action and doesn't let the public forget the reason for it.

It works when done correctly.

[FBaggins]

32. It also needs to be more than just the teachers.

They've been carrying a big portion of the load lately and dealing with more than their fair share of public scrutiny.

It wouldn't be right for whatever labor action (if any) follows this law to be primarily on the teachers' shoulders.

[w4rma]

37. They'll have to blame Walker, because they can't blame every teacher.

Someone has to teach their kids and that *will* be a teacher.

[adigal]

16. It works...teachers get MAJOR grief from the union reps

if they try to stay later, or come in earlier. The reps will go to their classroom and all but drag them out of them.

Coaches are generally paid, so sports don't count, but the teachers no longer will chaperone the events, so either parents do it, or there are no chaperones except the administration.

[Godhumor]

17. Absolutely 100% right

Our union reps had the building emptied within 5 minutes of the last bell ringing.

[Yupster]

38. Equally important

Parents think their kids' teachers are there to help their kids.

If teachers refuse to do extra things to help kids, they're going to lose the support of the parents.

[drmeow]

11. Work to rule

Work-to-rule is an industrial action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of a workplace, and follow safety or other regulations to the letter in order to cause a slowdown rather than to serve their purpose.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work-to-rule

I think it is a great idea.

[msongs]

14. teachers have willingly allowed themselves to perform more duties than they are hired to perform nt

[Snoutport]

18. But I want to be the best teacher I can be

I hate the idea of my students getting anything less than my absolute best!

[auntsue]

24. Such action, if there is untiy , wouldn't have to last long -

People don't really get how much voluntary stuff there is beyond the on-site requirement. If teachers ALL stopped for just a while it would be powerful. I used to get asked to do more and more - until I started saying "I'm sorry that's not in my job description. One principal kept "forgetting" to schedule my planning time - So everytime she's suggest an extra task for me I kept saying "I'll do it on my planning time" she finally asked when IS you planning time?" - I said "You have said many times you would get right to it so I'm waiting for you to find time to do it, and let me know when it is."

[adigal]

29. If they bust the unions, students will get screwed!!!

Teachers who are fired for disagreeing with the principal, for having "liberal" political views, teachers with more experience and higher pay getting fired, a whole building of new teachers for less pay. Chaos, especially at the middle and high school level. Experienced teachers may not always be the ones with the most bubbly personalities, but they are experienced and generally know how to handle kids. It takes most high school teachers five or more years to really learn how to manage a classroom effectively.

So it is a little pain now, or total chaos and destruction of public education later.

[DeadEyeDyck]

19. the problem is unemployment

teachers that do a work slow down minimal performance can be fired (now) and there are 500 waiting in line to take their job. Once the union looses its teeth (as it has) teachers become no different thatn Wal Mart workers.

[Godhumor]

27. But it is not a work stoppage, and the teacher does absolutely everything laid out by the contract

In states where teachers are not able to lawfully strike, it is a very powerful tool.

[City of Mills]

21. Yep, used against Romney in Massachusetts a few years ago

http://www.qcc.mass.edu/mccc/Work_to_Rule/Work-to-Rule%20Guide%2010-7-04.htm

[LucasD]

22. My wife is a Wisconsin high school English teacher.

My wife is a Wisconsin high school English teacher. She will normally grade papers until 7:00 PM or 10:00 PM on weekdays and at least for a couple of hours over the weekend. I drop her off at school at 7:00 AM, so her normal work day is twelve to fifteen hours, with breaks for lunch and dinner. She grossed $34,000 last year. She won't make much more unless she goes for a Masters degree, but we can't afford that since we're still trying to pay off the student loans from her Bachelors degree.

She likes her job, despite some unwilling students with helicopter parents. Occasionally, being called a bitch (or much worse) or having to deal with a parent demanding that their child get an A when the kid hasn't turned in a single paper gets to her, but then she will read a paper written by a student who shows real promise and things improve.

I asked her if she will continue to volunteer at prom and homecoming, or read papers late into the evening. She responded "if the kids made an effort to get the papers written on time, then she should make an effort to return them on time. Making the kids suffer because of Walker isn't right."

She works with teachers who are the "eight and out" type, but they can usually grade their students tests during their prep. time, because the tests have right or wrong answers.

She talks about finding a different job sometimes... Maybe that time will be sooner rather than later.

Oh, and... Walker's kids attend a high school in the same district. I suspect that he will soon pull them out and send them to an exclusive private high school.

[aikoaiko]

23. my Ph.D. college professors did.

Fortunately, they didn't not serve on dissertation committees.

[DebJ]

28. The union did it here in York Pa. Net effect: more people

thought less of teachers, and the students were hurt.

[adigal]

30. The teachers were just doing what was required

If people thought less of them, then their union reps should have been talking to the media every day, telling the taxpayers that the teachers do all that other stuff for free, because we care. Generally, it wakes up the community to how much a vital school is part of their community. How much teachers do every single day. For no pay.

And as far as hurting the kids, these are things the teachers are NOT required to do by contract - like extra tutoring after school, chaperoning. If the parents had to pay for the tutoring, it would cost them hundreds a month. If they had no teacher chaperones, the parents would have to help out themselves, rather than sitting at home in front of the fire with a nice chardonnay while Mrs. Teacher watches little Johnny at the dance.

[DebJ]

35. I understand what you are saying. But these are inner city

kids, and 'hundreds a month' is just never going to be on the radar. Not for tutoring, nor anything else. Some of my kids don't eat with any regularity when school is out. Nor get their clothes washed. I'd be surprised if there was more than a small handful of 'middle class' families in our thousands of students. Our local paper was bought out by major Republican people just before the 2004 election.......was very obvious....for two years all of the articles were extremely liberal, then 3 months before election day, the paper endorsed GW.

If such actions here were effective, I'd endorse the short-term pain for the long-term benefits.

What we really need is a new school board, and not much else will help.

We are facing a 25 million dollar deficit next year, thanks to the morons who elected our new Repuke Governor. Other districts are screaming because they now have a 4 million deficit....bah! We have this deficit because our school board is comprised of ..............fill in the blanks. Oh no, wait.....it's all teacher salaries, I forgot.

[CreekDog]

33. customers at McDonalds would think less of the staff there if they all left instead of feeding the

except that's exactly what needs to happen everywhere.

The Americans that do not yet know need to realize that they it's wrong to exploit people in this society in the way that it's done.

too often in this country we get more than we pay for...more than we deserve --not from companies but from underpaid people who can't get buy on what we're paying them.

[Dan]

39. The Teachers must defend themselves...

to do less is to condone what is being done to them...

[WillyT]

34. Yep... Was In One...

:shrug:

[CanonRay]

36. Perfect civil disobedience action

I hope that they do it.