It\u2019s the first day of school today in the Columbus City Schools.\u00a0\u00a0As a teacher, I know how important that first day is.\u00a0\u00a0Sure, it\u2019s mostly \u201corganizational\u201d, 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.\u00a0\u00a0As a teacher in middle and high schools, I always thought of that first day as setting the \u201ctone\u201d for the rest of the year.\u00a0\u00a0In each class there was always an opportunity to establish \u201cthe atmosphere\u201d, and demonstrate what I wanted for our class.\u00a0\u00a0My goal for the first day was respect for each other, and myself as the teacher, and an openness to questions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s little nurturing going on walking the picket line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, Columbus is starting school \u201conline\u201d, with seven hundred substitutes and administrators. You can count on it: nothing much is getting done. I guess you can show a \u201cmovie\u201d on Zoom, but why would the kids watch?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was a \u201cteacher association\u201d member (read: union member) my entire career. I served my time as an officer in our Local; as the \u201ccampaign\u201d 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 \u2013 they maintained that while they wouldn\u2019t back my actions as an \u201cadministrator\u201d, they wouldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We never had to strike.\u00a0\u00a0We did pack up our classrooms and take all of our personal stuff home. That was a lot, even for a high school teacher.\u00a0\u00a0For elementary teachers it was more than half of the supplies.\u00a0\u00a0The rooms seemed empty.\u00a0\u00a0We \u201ceducationally picketed\u201d school board meetings and even in front of the buildings before school started.\u00a0\u00a0We took strike votes that overwhelmingly passed.\u00a0\u00a0But our negotiations teams and the school board always found a \u201cdeal\u201d that kept us in the classroom.\u00a0\u00a0We never had to take that final step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just for the record, striking is generally not a \u201cpositive\u201d financial move. If the District can remain open, then days on strike are \u201cno pay\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So why are the Columbus teachers on strike today? It doesn\u2019t seem to be about money. Columbus teachers already have a decent salary schedule, with entry teachers paid $45600 a year, and the \u201ctop of the scale\u201d over $100,000. (For contrast, my old District salary starts at $40,203 and tops at $92,487). It\u2019s not directly about \u201cpocket\u201d money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s why school districts will raise salaries, but refuse to lower class size, even though it is absolutely the most effective way to improve educational \u201coutcomes\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Columbus teachers are striking because they don\u2019t want to be packed into steaming (or freezing) classrooms with too many kids. Sure that\u2019s uncomfortable as a teacher (and as a kid) but more importantly, it\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ninety-four percent of Columbus Association members voted to strike.\u00a0\u00a0They are hanging together.\u00a0\u00a0Now the school district needs to figure it out.\u00a0\u00a0Administrators say they are committed to making building and class size improvements as well, they just don\u2019t want it in a contract.\u00a0\u00a0Maybe putting it in writing \u201cconfines\u201d them too much.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But the Columbus City Schools need to be more committed.\u00a0\u00a0After all, teachers and administrators are all trying to achieve the same thing.\u00a0\u00a0As my old mentor and principal used to say \u2013 it\u2019s time to do what\u2019s right for kids.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"