Steven Sawchuk
National Slide Into Pink Slip Purgatory Has Consequences
Published Online: March 31, 2011
Education Week
Complete URL: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/31/27slip.h30.html?tkn=UOVFrJw%2FqgY%2FciFmmgYOuVVtC9mSCzE8MDul&cmp=clp-edweek
Pink slips go out by the thousands and morale goes in the toilet. Teachers feel their lives are on hold, they are holding their breaths. Pink slips are given out long before budgets are finalized, and often don't accurately reflect the number of teachers who will actually loose their job. "The warnings of prospective layoffs are generally required by state law and sometimes by local collective bargaining agreements; they are intended to give teachers adequate notice that they may need to search for other employment." The problem is so many pink slips are given, teachers are left to wonder if they are really in jeopardy of loosing their job. Plus with so many districts sending out pink slips - where are teachers supposed to go to look for employment - if in fact their job is cut.
The article also made mention of pink slips "being used as a policy tool" - to put pressure on districts, teachers' unions, and voters.
I think the damage is far to great. Possibly there is a better option. Instead of a pink slip - maybe a letter explaining the different budget scenarios - the probability of job loss. That way teachers have a heads up without the hovering pink slip. Should they choose to look for different employment based on the information they receive that would be their choice. They might feel more valued if the first response is not a pink slip.
This article is relevant to the general population. After all education is the future. The intended audience is also the public at large.
The title of this article caught my attention. I know a teacher who received a pink slip recently. The stress has been tremendous. I feel for this person. I know the law is to send out pink slips - to give advanced notice. I just think they go out so soon - maybe that shouldn't be the first step. I wonder about the "hidden message". Kinda like the "hidden curriculum" we talked about in Ed Psych.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the idea that pink slips are used to put pressure on districts, unions, or voters. At what cost? Does the public become untrustful? Is the emotional stress suffered by teachers - really worth it? I think honest dialogue would be much more productive. Pressure and scare tactics seem underhanded and mean-spirited.
I haven't worked in a school before, so I don't really know the general policies and relationships between employer (district, super intendants) and employees (teachers). I bet that there are those few teachers who they really know they want to fire, in which case talking with them and serving them a pink slip would be appropriate, but also just pressure on the schools to cut people, and based on however they decide who gets to stay, even if they are great teachers, a pink slip to get the message out like "hey, don't really wanna fire you, but this is just a heads up in case I have to, due to budget cuts" might be a good idea? Or maybe vice versa, those who really need to be fired get the slip and those who might get the talk? I don't know, this is a tough thing to work out and I am glad you posted this, really gives a good insight as to how the schools and teachers especially are being affected by all the mess in the education system!
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