First Day of School
It’s the first day of school today in the Columbus City Schools. As a teacher, I know how important that first day is. Sure, it’s mostly “organizational”, making sure kids are in the right places, pronouncing names and creating seating charts, and helping them negotiate their way to the next class or figure out lunch. As a teacher in middle and high schools, I always thought of that first day as setting the “tone” for the rest of the year. In each class there was always an opportunity to establish “the atmosphere”, and demonstrate what I wanted for our class. My goal for the first day was respect for each other, and myself as the teacher, and an openness to questions.
But teachers in the Columbus City Schools are on strike today. I can absolutely guarantee that not one of those teachers wants to be on a picket line, instead of in the classroom. They are teachers because they have a mission, and a job, to educate and to nurture. And there’s little nurturing going on walking the picket line.
Instead, Columbus is starting school “online”, with seven hundred substitutes and administrators. You can count on it: nothing much is getting done. I guess you can show a “movie” on Zoom, but why would the kids watch?
The Association
I was a “teacher association” member (read: union member) my entire career. I served my time as an officer in our Local; as the “campaign” guy, Vice President, and ultimately President of the Association. Even when I became the Dean of Students of the High School, I remained a member. The Association refused to let me go – they maintained that while they wouldn’t back my actions as an “administrator”, they wouldn’t let the position become non-union. So, like it or not, I was in the Association for my entire thirty-five and a half years.
We never had to strike. We did pack up our classrooms and take all of our personal stuff home. That was a lot, even for a high school teacher. For elementary teachers it was more than half of the supplies. The rooms seemed empty. We “educationally picketed” school board meetings and even in front of the buildings before school started. We took strike votes that overwhelmingly passed. But our negotiations teams and the school board always found a “deal” that kept us in the classroom. We never had to take that final step.
Just for the record, striking is generally not a “positive” financial move. If the District can remain open, then days on strike are “no pay” days; money lost forever both in-pocket and in retirement. Insurance payments and other benefits are suspended. Only if the schools are forced to close their doors and make up the days later, do teachers makeup some of what they lose on the picket line. If things go on for a long time, the Association will pitch in to help in emergencies, but when we considered striking, I made arrangements to borrow money against my home, just in case.
Not About Money
So why are the Columbus teachers on strike today? It doesn’t seem to be about money. Columbus teachers already have a decent salary schedule, with entry teachers paid $45600 a year, and the “top of the scale” over $100,000. (For contrast, my old District salary starts at $40,203 and tops at $92,487). It’s not directly about “pocket” money.
Columbus teachers are striking over building conditions. Buildings that are over a century old, without adequate ventilation in the post-Covid world. Schools that are without air conditioning in mid-August in Ohio, schools with falling ceilings and moldy walls.
And they are striking about class size. They want the District to commit contractually that kindergarten through fifth grade classes will have no more than twenty-eight kids. Currently Columbus can have elementary classes of thirty and middle school and high school classes of thirty-five. (In my old District, class size is K-3 is twenty-two; 4-5 twenty-seven; and no more than thirty 6-12.)
Why does class size matter? Studies show that the more individual attention students get, the more success they have in learning. Especially at the youngest levels, smaller classes give kids the best opportunity to improve, and teachers the best chance of intervening to resolve learning issues. But class size is the most expensive solution to improving education. And that’s why school districts will raise salaries, but refuse to lower class size, even though it is absolutely the most effective way to improve educational “outcomes”.
Shared Goals
Columbus teachers are striking because they don’t want to be packed into steaming (or freezing) classrooms with too many kids. Sure that’s uncomfortable as a teacher (and as a kid) but more importantly, it’s a lousy way to learn. Columbus teachers want to fulfill their mission, to educate the best way they can. And they need the District to provide conditions that will let them achieve that goal.
Ninety-four percent of Columbus Association members voted to strike. They are hanging together. Now the school district needs to figure it out. Administrators say they are committed to making building and class size improvements as well, they just don’t want it in a contract. Maybe putting it in writing “confines” them too much. But the Columbus City Schools need to be more committed. After all, teachers and administrators are all trying to achieve the same thing. As my old mentor and principal used to say – it’s time to do what’s right for kids.
