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Getting paid not to teach
Wasting taxpayers' money certainly isn't the special province of the Treasury Department. The LA Times reveals that 160 teachers in the Los Angeles public school system are getting paid to do absolutely nothing. They've all been accused of some kind of misconduct, but at least one of the teachers whose case is unresolved has been getting paid for seven years.
From today's LA Times story:
The housed are accused, among other things, of sexual contact with students, harassment, theft or drug possession. Nearly all are being paid. All told, they collect about $10 million in salaries per year -- even as the district is contemplating widespread layoffs of teachers because of a financial shortfall.
Most cases take months to adjudicate, but some take years.
The Times says legally, it's extremely difficult for the district to fire teachers, who are union-protected.
It's a problem in other districts as well. Probably the first story about this came from Radio Diaries on the public radio program, This American Life, last year.
The program told the story of little-known rooms in the New York City school district, known as Rubber Rooms. Hundreds of teachers spend their school hours sitting there, waiting for their cases to be resolved, at a cost of $35 million a year.
The violations range from the ones mentioned above to unpaid parking tickets, "perceived incompetence," and excessive lateness.
Radio Diaries is working with some filmmakers to produce a documentary about the Rubber Rooms. They have a website with more information.
Obviously, these teachers are owed due process. But come on, death row adjudication moves faster in some states.
Based on the hundreds of comments on the LA Times investigation, I'd say there's a fair amount (and fair) outrage about this.
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I bet the problems would be resolved much faster if the top administration and school board took a hit to the paycheck for failing to clear cases in 30 days. And keep taking that hit every month that it continues to remain unresolved. If you can prove your case in 30 days, you probably don't have one.
I've sent my thank you note to the appropriate union!
In essence, we have to sacrifice our children's education to pay misbehaving, incompetent teachers to stay home.
Nice, cushy job. How do I apply for a teacher's position?
Miss your voice in the mornings, Scott!
I think a few misbehaving teachers are the classic "Straw Man." You and other Californians are being played by the Schwarzenegger administration to distract you from wider issues. It's also probably a long-term political strategy to steer public opinion away from schools so the state can make cuts that are a lot bigger than $10 million.
Don't fall for it. Make them stick to the big issues!
When you've got a large number of people, you're hard-pressed not to run across a few extreme cases. Why not focus on the part that says: "Most cases take months to adjudicate," instead of the part that says: "but some take years"
Sounds like more clever distraction tactic / union bashing tactic. Blame the teachers for wasting a few million while the state is wasting billions. Get public opinion against the schools so people won't complain when you decide you have to cut money that actually goes to the kids.
The thing is, the amount of money that is paid to these people waiting on adjudication row is substantial.
In a time where economic penny-pinching is as rampant as Manchester United were over Arsenal in this week's Champions League semi-final, surely it is prudent to highlight the areas where education funds are wasted - especially when you consider that many districts are being forced to lay off teachers, etc.
I don't disagree, but I've worked in state government and I recognize political tactics when I see it. This stuff happens all the time.
Here's what I think happened: The state is probably negotiating concessions with the teachers union and/or is faced with having to cut education dollars, which is going to be unpopular.
The "factfinder" for the state, who's job is more about digging up mud to throw in the negotiations than to find "facts" found this nugget and released it to the media. It's a psychological volley to demoralize the other side and weaken public support.
Again, I'm not saying there's not waste here, I'm saying the state decided to make this an issue for political gain. On any given day you can find 20 things like this in government. They just chose this one at this time for political reasons.
The media by sensationalizing it is achieving just what the state wants.
An issue such as cutting education dollars is in itself unpopular. It automatically weakens public support for those responsible: teachers' unions and state politicians alike.
Slinging mud to demorolize the responsible parties is merely icing on a scorched cake.
We have the media to thank for disclosing the hidden evidence.
PS to James: I remember Man United from the George Best days!
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