In support of San Nicolas’ bill

I read the story in Sunday’s Tribune titled “PSS opposed to teacher fair dismissal bill” and I thought the headline indicated some essential truths, notably that PSS is opposed to fairness. In the game of public relations and political spin, PSS managed to get a one-sided story past an otherwise outstanding reporter bashing a bill to give teachers some right to fair treatment. The article was published without comment from either teachers or the bill’s sponsor expressing why the bill is a good idea. The story was only about PSS opposing the bill. I was disappointed to see the Tribune do this.

I will credit PSS with at least being honest and up front about their insane process on personnel where they state that “no employee has a right to the renewal regardless of whether or not job performance is satisfactory.” And that the decision whether to extend an offer or not for employment “is wholly within the discretion of the PSS.”

In other words, PSS is king, go along with what they say and it doesn’t matter if you, the teacher, are satisfactory at your job or not, as it all is up to PSS and any whim they might have. This sounds like the exact type of thing a responsible lawmaking body would address, and I am glad they have. Hopefully it passes soon. This PSS policy on renewal doesn’t exactly breed an environment of dedication when teachers know doing their job well doesn’t guarantee they can keep it.

Reading about this policy I also have a better understanding on why a meeting of teacher representatives Friday yielded only four participants. PSS makes it very easy to remove squeaky wheels from the system. My principal, not me, has already received calls regarding my comments to the newspaper from the commissioner and board chairman, and I’m fairly confident my comments, not my teaching, will lead to pressure on my principal from the higher powers in the system not to renew me when my contract ends this year. This is also why I will be filing claims with the appropriate federal regulatory bodies and my own legal counsel when this game of politics kicks off in the spring. It is also why I will be actively supporting this San Nicolas bill and why I will be fighting any more despotic claims and policies of PSS.

So, in short, I would like to commend Sen. Henry San Nicolas for doing something to help ensure freedom of speech and to help set up a framework for dealing with teachers fairly, which is much more than I can say for PSS.

Jeffrey C. Turbitt
As Lito