I just got a call back from teachers union president Camille Zombro about reader CMR’s question of how the teachers union would encourage teachers to stay in “our most challenging schools” instead of breaking away for La Jolla. She rattled off a list of ideas:
- Reduced class sizes in disadvantaged schools.
- More nursing and counseling time at schools where children don’t have a primary health care provider or health insurance.
- More books in classrooms where kids may not have access to many books at home.
What’s not on her list? Paying teachers more to work in those schools. Cash “doesn’t give you the help you need to do the job any better,” she said. “You get paid more to put up with something.”
Thanks for your questions, and keep sending me your comments and ideas via e-mail! Even when I’m not hosting the blog, I’m still your reporter.