How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I did some quick research on DC's teacher. The internet can be a bad thing

I found out that she is the building union rep and this concerns me. Please don't flame, I'm thinking as a mom not a teacher and am already a mess since it's DC's 1st year in a new school

I'm just worried that she will be more concerned with protecting teachers and less concerned with her students. I worry that she will be more about the contract and less about kids.

Obviously, I want to meet her and see how she is with kids, but this concerns me.

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I'm a teacher and a mom and it wouldn't bother me if my child's teacher was a union rep. It has never even occurred to me to care!

I think you're just nervous about your child's first time in a new school and everything is making you anxious. I'm sure all will be fine!

How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I am a former teacher and was good friends with our chapter leader (similar to building rep, I'd imagine, in the city.) Obviously, it's impossible to know what she's like at this point. However, from my experience over several years:
- chapter leaders I knew were great teachers and were able to get elected because they were respected by their peers.
-the job is usually less about protecting the bad teachers and making sure all the teachers have the materials they need to do their jobs well, and make sure they get their preps and lunches so they can prepare to work- the teacher's contract helps make sure the conditions exist (class size, prep time, etc) so that teachers can do their job. If your child's school has a good administration that supports the teachers there shouldn't be any issues.

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

Teacher here and a mom. I have to say our union rep is very strict about never letting union interfere with her class. If there is a problem that is what her prep/duty periods are for unless it's a huge emergency, which in 17 years I have been at my school only happened once and that was 9-11 when a teacher lost a spouse.

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I'm just worried she will be more concerned with collecting Vote/Cope and care about how the teachers are coping with APPR than the students.

It's also that DC is starting a new school that I know so little about. I wish I knew someone else at the school

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

Honestly, my union rep is a cluster teacher because she hardly every teaches and she is always out of the building. I am in the city though so its probably different.

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

Posted by Bluechristmas

I'm just worried she will be more concerned with collecting Vote/Cope and care about how the teachers are coping with APPR than the students.

It's also that DC is starting a new school that I know so little about. I wish I knew someone else at the school

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I'm all of the above...mom, teacher, and union rep now for 3 years. To be completely honest, I don't even think about union business probably 95% of the time...it's not a very time consuming, labor intensive position. I go to a meeting once a month (at 7 pm in the evening) and meet with my principal once a month (before the kids are in school). Other than that, not too much of my time is consumed by union activities. My job is to be a teacher...and that is what I do. IT wouldn't bother me one bit to have my son's teacher be a union representative. I wouldn't give it a second thought, ever. Actually, it might actually make me feel a little comfortable knowing that s/he is involved with a position that looks out for the best interests of the children, both directly and indirectly.

Message edited 8/28/2013 10:37:05 PM.

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I would think it was a good thing.

If you're worried about distractions, honestly, you're never going to know what a teacher has going on in their personal life. You could have someone who is going through a divorce, has a house in foreclosure, has a sick family member... And that could potentially pull them away from the classroom, and/or be more of a distraction than being a union rep.

I would give the teacher a chance.

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I'm a mom, a teacher and my building rep. I honestly have no idea why you would think a teacher would care less about her class simply because she's the building rep. One thing has nothing to do with the other. First off, if the teachers need to be protected, wouldn't you want that? If they are need of a new contract, wouldn't you want that too? Union reps do their work outside of school hours. Other teachers also do work outside of school hours like tutoring and coaching. Do you think less of those teachers as well? IMO, it sounds like you are a nervous mom worried about her LO's first year in a new building. Please don't choose to focus on this though because it's honestly nothing to worry about. Good luck!

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I'm a mom, not a teacher.

I didn't like it. Not because she wasn't a good teacher or not prepared in the classroom. She knew her stuff & was a seasoned teacher. It may not necessarily be because she was a rep but a very fervent supporter.

It was because if a teacher thinks I'd look kindly upon my kids coming home & worrying about the budget of the school or talking about wages freezes, they are completely wrong.

It had the opposite effect. I was thisclose to telling my kid the teacher's salary & benefits & why I thought it was fine to freeze a budget when people were taking cuts at work.

Unless you're teaching a class about unions, keep any discussions your salary & benefits out of the classroom.

As long as the rep did that, I'd have no issue.

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

As a teacher and a mom, I'm honestly Over this post. I'm very sorry but it seems like you're looking for things to worry about or be concerned about. You even said you googled the teacher. You can have an AMAZING teacher who is heavily involved and a union rep and you can have a lazy teacher who has no involvement.
To nrthshgrl, teachers are encouraged to talk about the budget, remind students to have parents vote. It's not just that particular teacher. If she was preaching to vote yes, that's obvi wrong but talking about the budget/voting process comes down from admins.
Eta...read your post and if teacher was discussing salaries, etc. VERY wrong.
To the original poster, if you're very concerned, put a call through to the principal.

Message edited 8/29/2013 8:08:38 PM.

How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

This is not something that would ever, ever concern me.

How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I wouldn't even give it another thought. She is still a teacher and educating your child is her number 1 priority. Union time and teaching time are NOT at the same times. The only (and I mean ONLY) downside is that sometimes union reps have meetings 2 times a month and have to leave early. But the class would go to a special. But I would NOT stress myself out about that at all. Good luck!

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

I'm a teacher and mom and this never would have crossed my mind as a bad thing whatsoever. I'm sure it will be fine

Re: How would you feel if your child's teacher was the building union rep

Posted by cj7305

I'm a teacher and mom and this never would have crossed my mind as a bad thing whatsoever. I'm sure it will be fine