DC teachers union head decries Rhee's comments - Associated Press Article

WTU Members:
Please read yesterday's Associated Press article below that includes comments from Washington Teachers' Union President George Parker about Chancellor Rhee's statements on the Oprah show that administrators have to "basically meet a criminal standard" to fire ineffective teachers.
Thank you.


DC teachers union head decries Rhee's comments
Associated Press
09/21/10 7:40 PM EDT

WASHINGTON — The head of the Washington Teachers' Union says D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee has more authority to fire teachers than most superintendents in urban districts.
Speaking on Oprah Winfrey's show on Monday, Rhee said administrators have to "basically meet a criminal standard" to fire ineffective teachers. She also said rules with the union have become a bureaucracy that are hard to overcome.
WTU President George Parker said Tuesday that Rhee's comments are an "over-exaggeration." He says she has many tools on hand to fire teachers.
Parker says Rhee has control over designing teacher evaluations used to remove teachers, and the union has no role.
He also says the union's contract more heavily weighs a teacher's performance over seniority as the basis for elimination.