1. Boston, MA 02111
Suite 402
38 Chauncy Street
AFT Massachusetts
December 2011
Future Unclear for Lawrence Schools
A
palpable sense of anxiety hangs
over the Lawrence Public
Schools these days. Last month,
state education officials designated
three more schools in the city as
“Level 4,” bringing the total number
of chronically underperforming
schools there to five. Officials also
announced that they are considering a
state takeover of the entire district, a
move backed by William Lantigua, the
embattled mayor of Lawrence.
If the Lawrence Public Schools
are indeed placed into receivership—
meetings of union leaders, School
Committee members, teachers and
parents to discuss the issue were
scheduled for late November—it will
mark the first time that the state
has ever taken over a district. But
IN THE BALANCE State officials recently designated three more Lawrence In This Issue
schools as underperforming, including two small schools that are part of
for educators and students in the Lawrence High. Now the mayor of that city is calling for a state takeover.
city’s schools, the news comes as 2 President’s Column
just the latest in a series of headlines “We have an unbelievable lack of another: “It’s terrifying not knowing Bold Print
leadership at the top in Lawrence. what’s going to happen next or even
and setbacks. Former schools chief
Wilfredo Laboy is awaiting trial for There is no one at the helm,” says how the decisions about our future are 3 Protesting “Rhee-form”
McLaughlin, who notes that educators going to be made.” AFT MA Scholarships
charges of fraud and embezzlement,
in the city have been without a
while a search to replace the interim
superintendent, Mary Lou Bergeron, contract for two years. “Morale is as Demographic challenge 4 Diary of a New Teacher
low as it’s ever been and teachers feel To spend even a little time in
was recently suspended. Mayor
Lantigua, who heads the school totally demoralized.” a Lawrence public school is to be 5 Behind the Scenes: Want no
On a recent tour through several made aware of the immensity of cost and low cost classroom
committee, is the target of a federal supplies? Meet ExCL
Lawrence Public Schools, the theme of the challenges facing educators
corruption probe.
a leadership vacuum was echoed again here. Ninety percent of students are
A lack of leadership and again by teachers, most of whom Hispanic, most with origins in the 6 On Campus: ‘The times they
Dominican Republic, and few speak are a-changin’
Frank McLaughlin, president of asked to remain anonymous, fearful
the Lawrence Teachers Union and of the consequences of speaking on English as a first language. It is not
uncommon for students to arrive from
7 Retiree Corner
The Golden Apple: Cartoonist
a history teacher at Lawrence High the record. “We need support in our
School, says that the schools don’t classrooms and we need leadership,” the Dominican Republic in the middle Joseph Quigley
need receivership but leadership. said one high school teacher. Said of the school year. Continued on page 8
Unintended Consequences
A contradiction between state law
and one agency’s regulations
As more communities
is causing some part-time workers,
including librarians and educators join the Group Insurance
If you’d like to receive an
who work more than 20 hours a week Commission, a growing
but less than full-time to lose health electronic version of the
insurance benefits. The problem is number of part-time Advocate, send an email to
an unintended consequence of recent employees are losing advocate@aftma.net. Please
laws passed on Beacon Hill that make
it easier for cities and towns to move
their health insurance. include your home mailing
public employees into the Group address for identification.
Insurance Commission or GIC. says Powell.
While state law requires that As more cities and towns seek
municipalities provide health to shift their employees into the Did you know that your
insurance to employees who work 20 Group Insurance Commission in an AFT MA membership
effort to save money, this problem is
hours a week or more, the GIC requires
likely to grow. In Wakefield, where
entitles you to discounts
that employees must also participate
in a state or local retirement system town employees including teachers, on insurance products?
in order to be eligible for insurance. librarians and firefighters are being
STAND OUT Kirk Womack and For more information visit
shifted into the GIC effective January
And that’s where the problem lies, says
1st, 13 part-time employees will lose
Russell Paulding from the Urban the benefits page of our
AFT Massachusetts municipal health Science Academy in West Roxbury
their health benefits unless a remedy is participate in a recent protest
website:
insurance specialist Andy Powell.
“In cities and towns where these found. Nearly 100 full-time long-term intended to call attention to the www.aftma.net/member-
employees aren’t part of the retirement substitute teachers and building based fact that teachers in the Boston benefits/
educators have already lost health Public Schools have been without a
system they’re losing their health
coverage in Lawrence, which moved its contract for more than a year. More
insurance. Joining the GIC shouldn’t
employees into the GIC last year. than 4,000 Boston educators joined
cause harm to municipal employees the early morning action.
but that’s exactly what’s happening,” Continued on page 2

2. BOLD
taken effect.
Basically the new law requires
public employees to work longer
for a smaller pension. The public PRINT
Thomas J. Gosnell sector unions were able to prevent
more severe measures from being
President, AFT Massachusetts enacted, but particularly for lower paid Best laid plans
employees pensions will be lower than Richard Christiano, professor of
current employees will receive. facilities planning and management at the
Challenges Here, There, Everywhere Some good items are in the bill.
Currently the cost of living allowance
Wentworth Institute of Technology and
a member of the Wentworth Faculty
Federation, was recently honored with
T
his school year and the next an award from the International Facilities
school year will continue to pose Management Association (IFMA), Boston
challenges that will require us to chapter. Christiano, who served on
continue to fight hard and smart, to IFMA’s Sustainability Committee before
think creatively, to work collaboratively being appointed as vice president of
when we can, and to get for the education for the Boston chapter, won
students the resources they need to an award for Education and Professional
Development. File under good planning!
obtain a superior education.
New evaluation system
The development of a new
Leading in Lynn
evaluation system for teachers
Phil McQueen, an English teacher in
continues to be a center stage issue.
Lynn and a member of Lynn Local
Allegedly every school system must be 1037, recently completed training in
moving toward an evaluation system the AFT’s Education, Research and
that will comply with the requirements Dissemination or ER&D program at
set by the Board of Elementary and The Maritime Institute in Baltimore.
Secondary Education - For example McQueen has been teaching English, ESL
the only allowable evaluation marks ELECTION QUESTION Candidate for US Senate Elizabeth Warren meets and AP Language and Composition in the
are exemplary, proficient, needs with members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Lynn Public Schools at the middle and
improvement, and unsatisfactory. high school levels for the past 14 years.
The latter two marks are considered while at the same time will ensure applies to the first $12,000 of a He previously taught in Japan. McQueen
unacceptable and will require teachers that due process protections against pension. Now it will apply to the first says that he’s thrilled by the opportunity
arbitrary and punitive actions are in full $13,000. AFT MA will send out a flyer to provide quality professional
to enter a program to demonstrate
operations. development to the members of his local.
immediate improvement. explaining the bill.
Congratulations Phil.
Teachers know better than anyone
Bargaining still applies else what an outstanding teacher is. Senate election
Even though new statewide While we do not applaud all aspects of Next year’s Senate election is
requirements exist, collective the new system and indeed are quite important. AFT MA will carefully
Porter Prize
bargaining still applies in many areas. vocal in our opposition to aspects of it, review all the candidates’ positions
The UMass Faculty Federation, Local
Therefore, local communities and opportunities do exist for us to put our to determine whether we can find a 1895 has presented the Jay Porter
candidate who will fight for working
▪
unions can negotiate about many imprint on what happens this year. scholarship to two undergraduates
aspects of evaluations. Local unions women and men. sophomore students at the University of
can put forward proposals that will seek Pension changes If you have any questions or Massachusetts Dartmouth. The awards
to establish a system that will enable all A new pension law for those hired comments, email me at tgosnell@ are named in honor of Jay Porter, a long-
teachers to become even better teachers on January 1, 2012 and thereafter has aftma.net. time AFT MA field representative who
worked with faculty and staff at UMass
Health Law Has Unintended Consequences Dartmouth. This year’s winners are
Cody Potvin, a sophomore student with
Continued from cover a 3.7 grade point average and Jordan
Part-timers on the rise
Benson also a sophomore student
City officials there have filed a so- For municipal employees, the
with a 3.8 GPA each received a $500.00
The official publication of called home rule petition to remedy change in the insurance law coincides scholarship in memory of Jay Porter, long
AFT Massachusetts, AFL-CIO the situation. with a rise in the number of part- time AFT/MA filed representative to local
For part-time municipal employees time workers employed by cities 1895. Both students have a parent who
Thomas J. Gosnell, President
who suddenly find themselves without and towns. Librarian Dan Haacker, are AFSCME members with an additional
Mark Allred, Sr., Secretary-Treasurer health insurance there are few good who serves as the vice president parent who is a member of Teamsters
VICE PRESIDENTS options in a state where the cost of of the Massachusetts Library Staff local 140. Jay would be proud!
insurance ranks among the highest Association, which represents
Patricia Armstrong
Deborah Blinder in the country. Notes Powell: “We employees at public libraries across
Sean Bowker live in a state that mandates that the state, says that libraries in
Kathryn Chamberlain Massachusetts residents have health particular are seeing once full-time School on the move
Brenda Chaney Congratulations to the faculty and staff
insurance and suddenly, through employees replaced by part-time staff
Kathy Delaney at the Clarence R. Edwards Middle
no fault of their own, we have part- as cash-strapped cities deal with a
Catherine Deveney School in Charlestown. The school is
Patricia Driscoll time employees who are seeing their rising tide of red ink. “When a full- the recipient of the 6th annual $100,000
Marianne Dumont coverage dropped.” time person retires a part-timer is Thomas W. Payzant School on the
J. Michael Earle hired in their place,” says Haacker, Move Prize. The prize was awarded by
Margaret Farrell Question of authority who is the assistant director of the EdVestors, a Boston-based school change
Mary Ferriter Last summer lawmakers passed a Milton Public Library. organization focused on sustaining
Jenna Fitzgerald
bill that makes it far easier for cities improvement in urban schools. The
Richard Flaherty
Paul Georges and towns to move their employees Be prepared first middle school to qualify for the
Alice M. Gunning into the GIC. But the GIC’s regulation With many more municipalities prize, the Edwards has seen consistent
Daniel Haacker that an employee must belong to a likely to be joining the GIC in the improvement in recent years and is
Joyce Harrington retirement system has created a huge coming year, it is inevitable that considered a model for collaborative
Susan Leahy education reform. Last spring AFT
gap in health insurance coverage for more part-time employees will find
Francis McLaughlin president Randi Weingarten visited
Bruce Nelson part-time municipal workers whom themselves facing the loss of health
the law says are entitled to health insurance coverage. That makes it the school to call attention to the role
Catherine Patten
of its faculty and staff for leading the
James Philip insurance. Because local retirement essential for local unions to identify
Bruce Sparfven successful school improvement initiative.
boards are not required to include early on exactly who among their
Richard Stutman Congratulations to everyone at the
part-time employees, these employees members is likely to be affected and Edwards for their hard work!
Gale Thomas
are now faced with loss of health try to negotiate a remedy as part of
Jennifer C. Berkshire, Editor insurance coverage if their community any agreement with the city or town,
38 Chauncy St., Suite 402 decides to join the GIC. says Powell. “Municipalities aren’t The Advocate loves good news. If you’ve won
Boston, Mass. 02111
“It isn’t realistic for every city and joining the GIC so that they can see an award, attended a conference, given a
Tel. 617-423-3342 /800-279-2523
Fax: 617-423-0174 town that runs into this problem to go their employees lose coverage but performance, etc, let us know. Send your
directly to the legislature,” says AFT that’s the unfortunate consequence of good news to advocate@aftma.net or call
▪
www.aftma.net
advocate@aftma.net MA general counsel Haidee Morris. the new health law.” 617.423.3342 x 235.
2

3. Educators, Students Give “Rhee-form” a Failing Grade
took the stage.
Former chancellor of the Rhee was greeted by a crowd of
Washington DC public educators and students who were
protesting outside. Among them were
schools Michelle Rhee members of the Boston Teachers
continues to provoke Union, the Teacher Activist Group,
Alliance for Educational Justice and
controversy and strong the Boston Area Youth Organizing
opinions. Her admirers Project, which represents students in
and detractors were both the Boston Public Schools.
“The outpouring of demonstrators
on hand when she visited shows there are a number of true
Boston to speak on education reformers who think
[Rhee’s] policies are bankrupt,”
education reform.
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Mainardi
suggested Richard Stutman, president
By Matthew Robinson of the BTU. Jennifer Doe, an organizer
Advocate correspondent from Massachusetts Jobs with
T
Justice which sponsored the protest,
o her admirers, Michelle Rhee, argued that the policies that Rhee
the former chancellor of the implemented in Washington created
Washington DC schools is a havoc for students, teachers and the
miracle worker who led that district community in general. Said Doe:
from among the worst in the country “We believe that teachers and parents
to one that saw surging test scores, should work together to create a
enrollment and graduation rates. system with adequate staffing that is
To her detractors, the woman who PROTEST PARADE Protests greeted Michelle Rhee, the controversial former
supportive of all students.”
was featured in the film “Waiting chancellor of the Washington DC schools, when she visited Boston last
for Superman” is anything but a Difference of opinion month. Protestors charge that Rhee has demonized public school teachers
and created a culture of cheating and test score inflation.
heroine. They regard Rhee as a Others said that they were moved
union buster who has demonized to join the protest because of Rhee’s issues. Tenured teachers are the first speak as he pushed his way toward the
teachers and stripped educators of key positions on specific issues affecting to stand up in the face of bad policy entrance of Symphony Hall.
workplace protections. As for those teachers. Ross Kochman, a sixth grade decisions for our students. If we lose Though Rhee may have been the
much vaunted test scores? Rhee’s ELA teacher at the Harbor School in tenured teachers because we abandon focal point of the protest, Framingham
critics point to mounting evidence of Dorchester and a co-founder of the seniority-based layoffs than our special education teacher Amirah
cheating on standardized tests in the Boston chapter of the Teacher Activist students lose some of their strongest Goldberg suggested that the protest
DC public schools. Group, criticized Rhee’s campaign to allies.” was really about ‘reframing the
Both camps were on hand when eliminate tenure. “I disagree with her On this night of protest and discussion’ about education reform.
Rhee spoke at Symphony Hall last assumption that great teachers are provocation, however, even that view “Rhee and others want us to believe
month as part of the Boston Speakers lost through seniority based layoffs,” was controversial. “Nobody has a that the problem with our schools is
Series. And even Rhee admitted to said Kochman, noting that he himself job for life,” announced a ten-year ‘failing teachers’ and the teachers’
being “highly controversial” when she had been laid off due to seniority teacher who’d come out to hear Rhee union. But the real issue in our
schools is that we’re being asked to do
more with less.” Goldberg says that
her caseload has been getting bigger
2012 AFT MA Scholarship Program every year, even as the programs
and support staff to help struggling
O nce again AFT Massachusetts teacher, or principal by Monday, students are eliminated.
will be awarding scholarships December 13th. A packet including Wanted: civilized dialogue
to eight eligible high school seniors one labor history study guide and
To hear Rhee say it, though, she and
who are dependents of AFT MA one application is sent to each high
her detractors may not be so far apart.
members. Every year AFT MA school in the state in November. A
As the protestors paraded outside,
awards eight $1500 scholarships study guide is also available on our
Rhee told the audience that she too
on the basis of a labor history exam website.
wanted to cooperate and collaborate
administered by the Massachusetts This year’s labor history exam
in the name of children. “Teachers
AFL-CIO, in cooperation with will be given on Wednesday,
know our system needs to be changed,”
the Massachusetts Department February 1. Once a student has
Rhee suggested. “The only way that
of Education. One additional submitted an application to AFT
can happen is to come together and
scholarship is being awarded by the Massachusetts and notified a
have civilized dialogue.” Continued
AFT MA Professional Staff Union in guidance counselor, he or she is
Rhee: We need to “honor, respect, and
memory of long-time AFT MA field considered registered for the exam.
recognize teachers for the incredibly
representative Jay Porter.
To be considered for the Additional scholarships difficult work they do every day.”
Additional scholarships But the educators gathered
scholarships, named in honor
are also available through the outside charge that civilized dialogue
of Albert Shanker and Sandra
Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Be sure is impossible as long as self-styled
Feldman, both former presidents
to visit www.mass.aflcio.org/ reformers like Rhee paint public
of the American Federation of
scholarship-program to learn school teachers as the enemy. “Real
Teachers, and Jay Porter, the
about other opportunities. school change can’t happen when
student must be a dependent of an
Last year ten children of AFT you insult and dismiss educators and
AFT MA member and a high school
Massachusetts members were families,” said Jen Rose-Wood, an
senior. The student must also attend
awarded $1500 scholarships. English teacher at Brookline High
a college or other post-secondary
The 2011 winners include Moira School who helped to organize the
school in the fall of 2012.
McCrave, Marysa Angelli, Emily protest. “We are valuable people with
Applications LaRochelle, Eric Muench, Deirda valuable experience and we should
be a powerful voice in the process of
▪
Applications for the 2012 McLaughlin, Sarah Stutman,
scholarships are available on the Samantha Torpey, Elizabeth Parks, change.”
AFT MA website: www.aftma. John Powers and James Fiore.
net. The deadline for submitting Congratulations to last year’s Matthew Robinson teaches English
applications is December 19. winners and good luck to all of this and journalism at Burke High School
To take the labor history exam,
students should apply directly to
year’s applicants.
▪
For more information call
in Dorchester. Send comments to ad-
vocate@aftma.net
their guidance office, social studies 617.423.3342.
3
December 2011

4. Diary R
emember when you were young
and everyone asked you what
you wanted to be when you grew
up? I do. I played games like house
and would always insist on being the
of a New Teacher mom, but my playmates would tell me
that wasn’t enough; I had to have a real
job too. I always chose to be a teacher
By Joyce Melker because it was the one job that let me
Special needs paraprofessional, be with the younger children that I so
Watson Elementary
enjoyed.
Fall River, MA
Flash forward to today and I am a
wife, a mother and an educator. I am
Meet the 2011-2012 a paraprofessional in the Fall River
New Teacher Diarists school system—and I love it. This year
I began working at Watson Elementary
Bill Madden-Fuoco and my new appointment has placed
A humanities teacher at the Urban Science me in a position where I feel that I can
Academy in West Roxbury, Bill was also a
be of the most use. It’s a well-known
semi-finalist in the state’s 2012 Teacher of
fact that if students aren’t able to grasp TEACHER IN TRAINING Fall River paraprofessional Joyce Melker is studying
the Year contest.
the basics taught in elementary school, to become a teacher through the JET program at UMass Dartmouth.
Robert Tobio they will continue to fall farther and
but also nineteen sisters and one have become a woman on a mission: to
Robert teaches math and special education farther behind in the upper grades. As
at the Mary Lyon Pilot School in Brighton brother who share my enthusiasm for continue my work as a special education
a special needs/inclusion para I work
and previously taught at Monument High in teaching. We support and encourage instructor and help the children who
with children who face tremendous
South Boston, which closed last spring. one another when the trials of being need me the most.
challenges in school. Sometimes we
students, teachers and parents begin This May I will graduate with a
Melissa McDonald have a diagnosis and documentation
to pile up. We’ve even a slogan: “Don’t bachelor’s degree. But it doesn’t end
A fifth grade teacher at the Parthum of a learning disability; other times
be a baby duck! Lead. Teach.” For us there. I’m also working on my master’s
Elementary School in Lawrence, Melissa learning problems are the result of
the image of a brood of yellow fluffy in teaching as well as a certification in
is returning to teaching after a year of stress and anxiety over situations
ducklings following along behind the special education for children with mild
maternity leave. outside of school. Regardless of the
mother also represents that of a teacher to moderate disabilities.
cause of a child’s learning difficulties my
Joyce Melker and her eager students. As I look forward to graduation I’m
goal is simple: I want to be the teacher
A paraprofessional at the Watson Elemen- Some people are really good at conscious of the fact that for me this
who encourages children to look past
tary School in Fall River, Joyce is a student sitting back and taking it easy. Not me. is only the beginning. As a life-long
their current problems and see the
in the JET teacher training program at I am happiest when my plate is full and resident of Fall River and a product of
potential in themselves that I see.
UMass Dartmouth. I am in a constant state of motion. In a public school education, I know that
While working at the Henry Lord
Matthew Robinson 2001, I learned the most difficult lesson there are quality educators in our city
School in Fall River my principal
Matthew is beginning his second year of my life: Life is short and there are no who truly care about the work they
encouraged me to apply to the Journey
teaching English and journalism at the second chances. That year my mother do. It’s a challenge and an opportunity
into Education and Teaching program
Burke High School in Dorchester. died after a short illness, and our son, for me to give back to the city I am
at UMass Dartmouth and become a
now thirteen, was diagnosed as severely proud to call home. For me, there is
Riana Good teacher. It crossed my mind at the
and profoundly autistic and showed no better feeling than breaking through
While Riana is technically no longer a new time that maybe I was getting too
very few signs of ever improving. The the barriers and seeing the light bulb of
teacher, this Spanish teacher at the Boston old to go back to school, but with the
combination of these two events has acknowledgement go on in the eyes of
Teachers Union School in Jamaica Plain says encouragement of my husband I took
changed the course of my life and a child with a learning disability. I can’t
that she still feels like a ‘newby.’ a shot. The JET program uses a cohort
turned me into a crusader for children, think of a better challenge than that to
model and it has been wonderful. I
have not only gained more knowledge,
especially those with disabilities. I take on every day.
▪
Lesley University School of Education
4
The AFT Massachusetts Advocate

5. BEHIND A
re you looking for free supplies EXTRAS Lindsay
and materials for your classroom? Keyes, executive
Extras for Creative Learning
THE SCENES can help. The nonprofit organization,
director of Extras
for Creative
which recently relocated from Boston Learning, surveys
to Lynn, takes materials that area a calendar clock.
Extras for Creative businesses no longer want and ExCL which
recently relocated
provides them to teachers at little to
Learning no cost. On a recent weekday, Jodi from Boston to
Schmidt and Lindsay Keyes, who Lynn, accepts
donations of
www.exclrecycles.org oversee the operation, were celebrating
materials from
the arrival of hundreds of pounds
area businesses
of sidewalk chalk, a pile of calendar for teachers and
A Lynn nonprofit takes clocks and thousands upon thousands artists to use in
donated supplies and of popsicle sticks. Explains Schmidt: their classrooms
materials from area “We have all of these interesting tactile at no or low cost.
things for teachers and artists to use,
businesses—and gives and because we get them in bulk you’re
them to teachers and able to get all of what you need.” currently able to join for $25 thanks While most of their patrons are
artists for use in the The thirty-year old organization, to a generous donation for the local teachers, ExCL also welcomes artists
classroom. which had its headquarters in the United Way). The membership entitles for whom the cost of supplies can
basement of the Boston Latin School teachers to six shopping trips, during be prohibitive. Schmidt became a
until this fall, is one of several in New which they can take away as much passionate ExCL member as a result of
England that provide surplus materials as they like. During a typical visit a her experiences teaching art in several
for use by educators and artists. The teacher leaves with an average of $224 Massachusetts public schools. As a
concept is simple: businesses, from worth of materials, says Schmidt. And young teacher in Worcester she taught
small offices to major manufacturers, while some objects obviously lend 30 art classes per week on a budget
donate supplies that they no longer themselves to classroom use others that amounted to less than a dollar
have use for. “It could be paper that’s require a more creative approach. And per child. “This is a way of making art
headed to the shredder, binders, that’s part of the fun, says Schmidt. projects affordable,” says Schmidt.
even the contents of a desk,” explains When a local company donated “Teachers get free supplies, kids get
Keyes, who serves as ExCL’s executive thousands of cell phone cases it didn’t materials, and businesses get rid of
director. “It doesn’t make sense for take Schmidt and Keyes long to come stuff they don’t need. It really works for
them to throw away staplers and tape—
those are things that teachers need.”
up with a function for them. “They
make a perfect carrying case for flash
everybody.”
▪
Businesses that donate their leftovers cards,” says Schmidt. There is also Extras for Creative Learning is located
get a tax write off, while educators an area of for-sale items, including at 20 Wheeler Street in Lynn. Contact
get access to a limitless—and ever furniture. The most expensive item at them at 781.599.9939 or visit www.
changing—array of items for use in the present is a top-of-the-line wooden exclrecycles.org for more information
classroom. white board that ExCL is selling for about hours of operation and
Individuals pay $50 for a 12 month $50. “Even the items that we charge for membership.
membership (Lynn teachers are are very low cost,” says Keyes.
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5
December 2011

6. On Campus
Dan Georgianna, Political Director
UMass Faculty Federation, Local 1895
For Higher Education, Times are A-Changing
“Massive college debt RISING COSTS by faculty “anxiety that they’ve lost
control of the institution.”
threatens not only col- The cost of higher education
Both books agree that there are
lege students’ futures but is growing at double or more too many administrators who create
the rate of the cost of living.
the financial health of the unproductive work for productive
The rising cost of college— faculty and staff. Higher Education
economy. I see little dif- and the uncertain job pros- quotes statistics showing that college
ference between college pects for college graduates— administrators per 1,000 students has
debt and mortgage debt is proving to be a combustible doubled since 1976.
combination. It is easy to see both books as
in a long term recession. laments for the loss of the good old
Both give hostages to the days when liberal arts professors
tenured and tenure-track faculty. our money and failing our kids”: cut
future.” They add that administrators make costs and reduce reliance on student
ruled. Still, the excessive reliance on
loans, the peculiarity of tenure, and
work for themselves at excessive loans, eliminate courses that focus
M ore than at any time since the the surfeit of administrators ring true
salaries, their numbers increasing on training rather than on education,
mid 1960s, “the times they are with me.
exponentially as the number of full- abolish tenure because it doesn’t
a-changing.” Unlike the 1960s, few time faculty are decreasing, and most protect academic freedom, eliminate Mortgaging the future
of these changes appear promising. college staff, especially those in sports sabbaticals and research that detracts Colleges are too expensive, and
Global warming, a financial crisis that and non-academic student services, from teaching, and spin off university massive college debt threatens not
doesn’t seem to end, and the world- don’t contribute anything to higher research centers. Given the choice only college students’ futures but the
wide recession that it caused evoke education. between funding research faculty or financial health of the economy. I see
images of sea water lapping at our adjunct faculty, they want adjunct
Broken promises little difference between college debt
door steps, worthless currency, and faculty paid more, with office space and mortgage debt in a long term
unemployment. The authors’ central concern is and other facilities. recession. Both give hostages to the
Higher education also doesn’t seem the rising cost of higher education,
The fall of the faculty future.
as promising for faculty, staff and growing at double or more the rate of
Tenure does not protect academic
students as it did a generation ago. the cost of living. Four years of college The Fall of the Faculty: The Rise
freedom for the 2/3rds of the faculty
As its title suggest, Higher costs anywhere between $50,000 and of the All-Administrative University
who are not covered by the tenure
Education: How Colleges are Wasting $250,000 and few graduate in four and Why It Matters by Benjamin
system. The end of tenure would be
Our Money and Failing Our Kids years. College cost is rising because Ginsberg, also a college professor at
a terrible blow to academic freedom,
- And What We Can Do About It is students and their parents are willing a major university (Johns Hopkins),
but privileges for the few cannot long
not a comfortable read for people to pay, mostly by mortgaging their agrees with much of the problems
survive restrictions for the many.
who work in higher education. The futures. Student debt approaches $1 in college education portrayed by
There are too many administrators,
authors (Andrew Hacker and Claudia trillion in the U.S., about double the Higher Education, especially the
and they have too much power. The
Dreifus, one full-time and the other national debt of Greece that threatens declining quality of education, but
model of faculty and administrators
part-time professors at Queens the economies of Europe and the rest places the blame squarely on the
on leave from teaching determining
University) portray most faculty as of the world. increases in numbers and control
curriculum and pedagogy has mostly
self-serving and overpaid, especially The authors’ solutions to “wasting by administrators. The author sees
disappeared. More troubling, teaching
the major problem as
is only one of many divisions at most
confusing ends with
universities, often on an equal footing
means. For faculty,
with administration and finance,
human and physical
student services, fund raising, and
structures in colleges
athletics.
and universities are
Other, more positive, changes
a means to the twin
are occurring on college campuses,
goals of teaching and
however. The faculty who were
research; for college
hired in the 1970s had to fight for
administrators,
academic freedom and control of
teaching and research
the curriculum in the golden age of
are the means to the
tenure-track appointments. Younger
end, the financial
faculty, both tenure-track and adjunct,
viability of the
who replaced them came through a
institution.
tougher process. They will either keep
He wants faculty
their heads down in the self-seeking
to take back control
environment of the modern university
of education and
or join together to create a new, better
research by convincing
paradigm of teaching and learning. My
boards of trustees,
the media, students,
parents, and alumni
money’s on the latter.
▪
Dan Georgianna is the Chancellor
that administrative
Professor of Economics at UMass
power is misplaced and
Dartmouth. Share comments with
focus should return to
him at dgeorgianna@umassd.edu
teaching and research
driven by faculty
control. By contrast,
Higher Education
argues that research
subtracts from
teaching and much
shared governance
is wasteful, driven
6
The AFT Massachusetts Advocate

7. Retiree Corner SENIOR SEMINAR
Preparing for Retirement
Marie Ardito, Co-founder Are you planning to retire in the
Massachusetts Retirees United near future? Learn the ins and outs
www.retireesunited.org of preparing for retirement, includ-
ing Medicare, working in retirement,
pensions and other issues. Don’t be
Celebrating a Legislative Victory caught by surprise!
When: Thursday, January 12 (snow
A sk and you shall receive” may
work in prayer but when it comes
to legislative issues one should not
between what your pension is and
your salary would have been had
you remained working plus $15,000
to January 1975 and were you
forced to take unpaid leave for
maternity reasons prior to that
date: January 18)
Where: Billerica, MA, location and
only ask to have a bill filed but also additional. This bill took close to four date?
time to be announced.
work to get it passed. In between the years to bring to completion. 2. Did you have a child within 9
“asking” and the “receiving” are years The second bill, The Maternity months after leaving?
Contact Marie Ardito for details at
of research and education on the issue Bill, took over ten years to reach the 3. Did you return at some future
1-617-482-1568 or e-mail mardito@
to justify the bill’s passage. Governor’s desk. It was first filed date to teaching in a public
retireesunited.org.
Massachusetts Retirees United by now Registrar Rachel Kaprielian school in Massachusetts?
is very proud of the efforts of all its while she was still a representative, 4. Did you retire with less than
members in getting two bills filed and and would have allowed those who 80%?
We have no problem with that
included in the recent Pension Reform were still working to purchase up to 5. Did you retire prior to
as it will allow the MTRS time to do
Bill. Hopefully, by the time you read four years of their unpaid maternity September 2000?
this additional work. I have offered
this column Governor Patrick will leave as long as the leave began
to help the MTRS unofficially in the
have signed it. no later than January 1975. Her If you answered yes to all the above
process so please direct any questions
The first bill will benefit retirees argument was that women retired on you will probably receive an increase
to me mardito@retireesunited.org
who wish to continue working in much lower pensions than their male in your pension. The following is the
and get the word out to those who
the public sector after they retire. counterparts because they were forced process that MTRS plans to use. First
retired prior to September 2000. I
Presently, one can work up to 960 by contract to leave teaching because they will send out an announcement
have a database to keep those who will
hours or make the difference between of pregnancy. In some instances and questionnaire, most likely
benefit updated on the process.
what your pension is and what your teachers had to leave as soon as they in January. If the answers to the
When one retires the various
salary would have been had you became pregnant. One teacher told questions above show that you qualify
retirement groups in the state send
remained working in the position from me that her administrator warned her for the benefit, they will pull your file
letters of invitation to join their
which you retired, whichever happens “not to dare to wear maternity clothes to verify the information. They will
organization. They promise a lot
first. In other words yearly raises for to school”! then add to the creditable service
but Massachusetts Retirees United
active teachers increase what they can This bill, for which MRU is solely you had at the time you retired the
delivers. Thanks to all who helped
earn. This is calculated on a calendar responsible, will extend the same number of years for which you qualify
with their emails and phone calls
year not a contract year. The bill that benefits to those who were retired at (up to a maximum of four years)
to bring these two bills to fruition.
MRU was instrumental in getting the time the original bill passed. You and recalculate your pension. The
Persistence pays off and unity brings
filed and re-filed yearly increased that
amount by $15,000. So going forward,
assuming that the Governor signs it,
are probably eligible if you can answer
yes to all of the following questions:
1. Were you teaching in a public
House version of the bill says that the
increase cannot occur until July 2012,
however the Conference Committee
success!
▪
you will be able to earn the difference school in Massachusetts prior version uses an April 2012 date.
The
Golden with whom we came in contact within
and beyond the classroom. The adage
about life being an education was more
no limit to what could
be brought into the
classroom. My students
Apple than a platitude. It was reality.
Having come from various
backgrounds and experiences our
may not have been as
lucky as I had been, but
that did not mean they
teachers instilled in us a desire to should be limited. The
By Joseph Quigley learn as much as we could so when it suits of armor, harpoons,
came to our turn to teach, we would go model ships, biological
W
hen I was young I wanted to beyond what the curriculum called for specimens, old books,
become a priest, not odd for a and educate the whole person. historic artifacts and
boy growing up Boston Irish We had teachers who had spent other such items that
Catholic in the 1950’s. I came to know their youth in such settings as the comprised the furniture
the Salesians of Don Bosco, whose Spanish Civil War, Europe before, and decorations in
mission was to teach youth. Its founder during, and after World War II, the my homes during
started by gathering abandoned youth Middle East, and parts of Asia, and the summer months
in Italy and teaching them a trade some had to escape before the Iron made their way into
along with academics. Curtain came down. Our curriculum my classrooms during
I attended a “Juniorate,” a type of was typical of any high school, but the year so students
boarding school, in historic Ipswich, it was supplied by people with life could see, touch, and
Massachusetts, housed on what had experiences beyond anything we might experience what they
been the estate of the descendants of have experienced in our home towns, encountered in textbooks.
John Proctor of Salem Witch Trial and often delivered in unconventional the cultures from which our students It was as if the teachers I had in high
fame, and the international aspect ways. would come, and to respect and school were in the room with me, and
of the order meant that we not only History was learned through its address students in accordance with I was often able to pass on what I had
had a faculty from the United States, participants. Because of the multi- how they were raised and influenced. received from first hand sources.
but from countries around the world. acre nature of our school’s property What was instilled was the necessity Sadly, though, with the present
The students were also from many we learned from, and to care for the of educating the whole student, going emphasis on testing and test scores,
states, including a few from Canada. environment. Astronomy was learned beyond the strict confines of the this approach has been condemned by
Our school’s relationship with similar during night walks as the meanings curriculum. Where students might not those who want us to teach to the test
schools allowed exposure to teachers and histories of the constellations be able to go out into the greater world, and use all the classroom time for test
and students from all over as well. were explained to us. Science was we were to bring it to them. Students preparation. And the students have lost
We were visited by international
personalities, and, because of the
a firsthand experience as the lakes,
rivers, and wetlands in the area served
would learn what was presented, so it
was important to present as much as
out.
▪
Salesian mission, education in all as our laboratory. Our environment humanly possible, and to sometimes do Joseph Quigley is a retired teacher
things was at all times paramount. became a resource, and we were lucky it in unconventional ways. and political cartoonist. His cartoons
Education was not limited to to have had it. When I first entered teaching appear regularly in the Advocate.
academics, but included whatever Because our influences were as an English teacher and later as a
lessons could be learned from those multi-cultural, we learned to respect special education teacher, there was
December 2011 7