LETTERS

Nadeau’s ‘misleading‘ comments

Posted 11/24/15

To the Editor:

I believe the heading Paid Advertisement was left off Matt Bower’s article “‘Work to rule’ a school loser.” This one-sided story depicted by Mr. Nadeau was about as …

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LETTERS

Nadeau’s ‘misleading‘ comments

Posted

To the Editor:

I believe the heading Paid Advertisement was left off Matt Bower’s article “‘Work to rule’ a school loser.” This one-sided story depicted by Mr. Nadeau was about as inaccurate and unsubstantiated as possible. It clearly shows how much Mr. Nadeau fails to have his finger on the pulse of the educational system in Warwick. I would love to see him walking our schools to see what is going on instead of hearsay from others.

Never once has the union voted or declared that they were “working to rule.” I am not sure where this fabrication originated, Mr. Nadeau. The Warwick Teachers Union is currently working under the terms of their expired contract, and I assure you that the teachers in our great city come to school and make every effort to do our job to the fullest. This is difficult under the uncertainty of consolidation in our system and the frustration of hearing and seeing the lack of support from school committee members.

I see fellow teachers and coaches going above and beyond on a daily basis, and yes Mr. Nadeau we are writing recommendations. It is tough to ask teachers to volunteer their time away from their families when such a high level of disrespect is prevalent. There are events every night at our schools, and to pick and choose ones that we are not at to express your point is misleading to the public. As far as I know, in my 18 years of teaching, parent conferences have always been held over the course of the school day.

Mr. Nadeau wants us to “quit this and get back to teaching.”  Please consider this an open invitation to come observe anytime.

William Russo

Teacher & Coach

Toll Gate High School,

Warwick resident

and parent

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    The truth hurts.

    Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Report this

  • FedUp

    Bravo! Thank you for saying this. Nadeau (and the School Committee in general) seem far removed from the actuality of the classroom and the education of our children.

    In the 13 years that I have had children in the Warwick School system, we have never had a parent/teacher conference outside of school hours.

    All I can say is that every time Nadeau seems to open his mouth, it is inevitably filled with his foot!

    Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Report this

  • MadInWarwick

    You're not serious are you? The saddest part is that my kids come home and tell me all the things they can't do because the teachers are under "Work To Rule" aka only do what is outlined in writing in the contract. My youngest is in 4th grade. If the teachers want to stop doing "extra" things that's one thing. To discuss "Work To Rule" and the lack of a contract with my 4th grader is another. They don't need to know about labor contracts in the fourth grade. We all know you're working under the expried contract believe me. We see you standing outside school waiting till the bell rings before you enter the school, I've seen it with my own eyes. Do some teachers still do things not in the contract, thankfully they do. I don't know if the union ever explicitly stated they're operating under "work to rule" but they sure talk about it a lot and their actions show it as well. Why weren't teachers at Open House this year? "Work to rule". Why are they not taking kids on field trips (during the day)? "Work to rule". If you want parents support, be open and honest about it. Say hey if I do this the union will take it out on me, I can understand that. Attending open house wasn't in the contract last year or the year before, but I sure hope it will be in the new contract. Not attending only hurts the parents and children, and of course the teachers as well. Instead of talking to each parent and let us know how the kids are adapting, every parent has to request an individual conference? I'm not defending Nadeau nor have I read everything he's said.

    Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Report this

  • JenaFred11

    @MadInWarwick, if you are mad about the teachers not going above and beyond what they are contextually obligated to do, then write to the school committee and tell them, as your elected officials, to present a reasonable contact for the teachers. Just so you know, the only thing they presented to the teachers was for zero raises, including NOTHING for cost of living, larger classes with no weighting on students, increase in insurance coverage payments, and more. Would you take such a contract, and "be grateful you have a job," as Mr. Nadeau basically wrote in the original article (which you should read if you want to see the list of things that are not in teachers contracts, yet they do FOR FREE)? They do things outside of the contract every day, so when they "Work to Contact" it means they feel disrespected, and who wants to volunteer to do more than they get paid when their administration degrades them? Would you? Believe me, most teachers do NOT want this, it hurts them to not be extra involved with the students! You should be upset, and rightly so, because the school committee WE voted into office is NOT doing what's in the best interest of the residents or the students in Warwick. You can find the email addresses for each school committee member on www.Warwickschools.org. I encourage you to express your displeasure to each and every one of them, and the new superintendent as well. Who, by the way, told teachers at the last meeting that they were replaceable of they didn't do what the school committee decreed.

    Also, your can attend the public meetings and make your voice heard! Let them know how you feel.

    Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Report this

  • MadInWarwick

    CaberChick, yes I'm pissed off. Mostly at the mayor for his outrageous spending on the city side of the budget for the last oh 13 years. The school committee could do a lot more if the city would increase funding to the schools or at least not cut it as they have done in the past. The spending problem in Warwick is in the city council, not the school committee. If you were on the school committee what decisions would you make given no increase in the budget and teachers getting automatic step raises every year for 10 years? When teachers have healthcare that covers everything 100%, being self insured, and pay such small co-pays they should feel lucky to have those benefits. I have to pay over $12k for benefits every year in the private sector and then have to pay the first $6500 out of pocket. I have attended many school committee meetings to express my thoughts. Unfortunately I can't see what is being proposed in the teacher contracts. I would love to know more about the contract negotiations. Some of the things I would back the teachers on, others I would not from the items I've heard. I don't want 40 kids in a class believe me. I didn't vote the school committee members into office, I didn't vote for one of them currently in office so don't put me in that category. I write to the school committee members regularly. We need to get rid of automatic step increases and have pay for performance like the rest of the world does. I'm sure as a teacher you're against that but it's what the system needs like it or not. I want the best and brightest teachers for my children, not the ones with the most tenure and I'm willing to pay them very competitive salaries. Teachers making 80-90K for working 7 months aren't getting paid enough? Quit and I'll take your job with the 20% copay.

    Friday, December 4, 2015 Report this

  • FASTFREDWARD4

    4-5 yrs @ 25k a yr local undergraduate school. 20k more for master deg Would you tell a lawyer when he says he wants 40% to take care of you personal injury case. YOU say 15% he or she would say there the door. And you want to be a teacher you may have a high school paper PLease lady go to the back of the bus.

    Saturday, December 5, 2015 Report this

  • FASTFREDWARD4

    4-5 yrs @ 25k a yr local undergraduate school. 20k more for master deg Would you tell a lawyer when he says he wants 40% to take care of you personal injury case. YOU say 15% he or she would say there the door. And you want to be a teacher you may have a high school paper PLease lady go to the back of the bus.

    Saturday, December 5, 2015 Report this