Guess what New York City gave 825 unqualified teachers?
Well, it only took thirty years to get around to it. On the positive side, however, they've attracted about 90 teachers with that signing bonus.
I think it's a step in the right direction. Perhaps another step might be competitive pay. Although Randi Weingarten, UFT President, claims we've caught up with the suburbs, she's laboring under a misconception. This is well-demonstrated by the case of a teacher leaving Lawrence for NYC, and even better by NYSUT's list of Nassau salaries.
Once, NYC paid the highest salaries, had the highest standard for teachers in the state, and was one of the best school systems in the state, a model for the world. The city's 30-year flirtation with the lowest salaries in the area (and the lowest standards for teachers) has been an abysmal failure.
We're saddled with the remanants of that policy for some time to come. But bargain-basement shopping for teachers, as shown by the bonus system, the 800 numbers and the endless job fairs--that's not how you do it. How you do it is by emulating what works.
And anytime Mayor Mike gets curious enough to see what that is, he can just have his chauffer drive east till he crosses the Nassau line.
Muchas gracias a la gal de la escuela
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