"Working to the rule" and classroom set-up

[katfco]

Our union is in negotiations right now, and they've been asking all members to only "work to the rule," which means not do any early classroom set-up. While I support the union and the idea of working to the rule during contract hours, I can't imagine getting an elementary classroom ready on only 7.5 hours. 

I had a conversation with the union VP today about something else, and it came up that I'd been in my classroom some this week, and we had a 30-minute conversation with him trying to convince me that I should be working to the rule, and me explaining that I can't fully serve my students if I do that. 

Would you work to the rule because the union asked you to or would you say, "Students come first" and do what you needed to do?

[UMaineTeach]

I would tell them that if I worked my contract, no federal and state required paperwork gets done and the school will have to deal with being out of compliance. The children wouldn't suffer at all.

As for straight setting up the room, I can do it in 7 hours. We draw a map at the end of the year and the custodians put furniture where you want it. I just have to take the paper off the shelves and get the book boxes from the closet. The biggest problem is making the schedule. That will take days.

I understand the difficult situation. I think in the end the kids would win. I'm such a bad union member.

[katfco]

Aug 16, 2017 20:58:27 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

I would tell them that if I worked my contract, no federal and state required paperwork gets done and the school will have to deal with being out of compliance. The children wouldn't suffer at all.

As for straight setting up the room, I can do it in 7 hours. We draw a map at the end of the year and the custodians put furniture where you want it. I just have to take the paper off the shelves and get the book boxes from the closet. The biggest problem is making the schedule. That will take days.

I understand the difficult situation. I think in the end the kids would win. I'm such a bad union member.

I can understand  being able to set up a high school or middle school classroom in 7 hours. But I'm in a self-contained classroom this year, which means I'm picking up 2 new subjects this year. I'm also just starting my 2nd year in this school, and only my 3rd year total. 

I don't have set decorations I always use that I can throw up, or a set way I know my classroom is going to go. I spent an entire day just arranging furniture and covering bulletin boards with butcher paper. 

[UMaineTeach]

I don't decorate, as we discussed in another thread. A couple owl clings and some rules posters with owls. And a math calendar. Lazy elementary teacher.

It did take several hours to decide on a layout at the end of the year. I agree when the rubber hits the road I will always side with the kids and what I know is right over what the Union wants. And that's why we have a weak union.

I would have a much bigger conflict during the year, and to just leave at 3 and be done.

Good luck

[flamingeaux]

It would kind of depend on the situation, for me. As a consistent status quo, I don't think I could do that. But if it were part of a campaign to negotiate more paid time to do things like set up classrooms, then I could do something like that. And just have all my decorations on stand by, for a minute here or there throughout the school year.

[katfco]

Aug 16, 2017 22:12:22 GMT -5 flamingeaux said:

It would kind of depend on the situation, for me. As a consistent status quo, I don't think I could do that. But if it were part of a campaign to negotiate more paid time to do things like set up classrooms, then I could do something like that. And just have all my decorations on stand by, for a minute here or there throughout the school year.

It's not about classroom set up, but rather teacher pay and teacher work days during the school year. 

I took hours just to sort my classroom library books and put butcher paper on my walls. 

[justkeepswimming]

I am going into my eleventh year and this would still stress me out to tears, so I get the near-panic you must be feeling. I try to be a team player, but ultimately I would put the kids first, every time. In your situation, I'd try to strike some kind of internal compromise. Decide what NEEDS to get done in order for you to feel like you can do your job to your own satisfaction. I'd also go in and try to collect as much as I could to work on at home (cheating, but at least it wouldn't be as visible!). No matter what you decide, good luck, work to rule is miserable!

[nellgirl]

Geez- I've been through a bunch of contract negotiations (long term unsympathetic gov't and fairly militant union = labour unrest).
I always though it was called 'work to rule', like we're going to be in charge or something. Work to THE rule makes so much more sense!

Anyhow, what I've done is to make my class functional (if not attractive, then picked away at the cosmetic stuff. It's super frustrating, especially when you're new somewhere.

[imimahoney]

We call it Work to Rule here.

While it sucks, the objective is to show how limited the contract is in fairness to teachers SO only doing what the contract says should have an impact.

By devaluing a teachers worth, your community has already shown that they don't care about the students... just saving money.

When we did work to rule some teachers followed it and others did not. It is really hard to be apart of. I followed it as best I could but we also had non-union department chairs making our photocopies for us.

[cherryvalance]

We call it "working to contract." It's reserved as a last resort for us, partially because it's so burdensome during an already stressful time and partially because not everyone will do it and it's only effective en masse.

I do it. If we've resorted to working to contract, negotiations have devolved. The last time I sat on the negotiations team, the BOE said, verbatim, "We don't think you deserve a COL increase, we're tired of paying for your health insurance, and that's our bargaining position." So, yeah. Sometimes you need to do something visible for the community to see all of the voluntary work you do for the kids.

I also don't think classroom set up is that important, though. I enjoy having my bulletin boards done and a clean, organized workspace, but in the end, I could still do my job with the materials I have (albeit more stressed!).

[Jalapeñomel]

Aug 17, 2017 6:55:53 GMT -5 imimahoney said:

We call it Work to Rule here.

While it sucks, the objective is to show how limited the contract is in fairness to teachers SO only doing what the contract says should have an impact.

By devaluing a teachers worth, your community has already shown that they don't care about the students... just saving money.

When we did work to rule some teachers followed it and others did not. It is really hard to be apart of. I followed it as best I could but we also had non-union department chairs making our photocopies for us.

I'm here. If you don't show them how much you do after hours, they will not see the value in changing the contract.

And I know that set up is important to a lot of elementary teachers, and I am not an elementary teacher, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm guessing your students can function in a classroom that is not decorated.

[bugandbibs]

Yes, I have done it. Frankly, I have been really working on setting boundaries based on my contract in the last couple of years. Things don't have to be perfect day one. Oddly, I'm more respected by admin the more boundaries I set. Plus, when I do go above and beyond it's noticed and appreciated.

[stephm0188]

I wouldn't like it, but I'd go with the union. It stinks

[katfco]

I'm going with the union starting Monday, when we officially start. They sent out a list of what's expected, and in addition to not working outside contract hours, we're not to be spending any personal money (so, if your kids don't have supplies, too bad); not putting anything up outside the classroom (so, ugly, bare bulletin boards), and a host of other things.

I understand why they're doing it, but I think there must be other ways to make the point. Maybe encourage teachers to itemize all the hours and money they spend outside the classroom? I'm thinking as the parent of schoolkids how my kids would feel if they walked into class and the room was completely bare.

[stephm0188]

They don't care about itemized lists. The response many would like give is "Well, no one asked you/told you to do it."


What they care about is community reaction. Like you said, as a parent you think about how your kids would feel. That's exactly why the union is asking for no work outside of contract hours.

[erbear]

I had a similar situation my first year of teaching. I am pretty anti-union, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm not into hurting kids to put pressure on adults. I wouldn't do it.

[katfco]

Aug 19, 2017 17:32:53 GMT -5 erbear said:

I had a similar situation my first year of teaching. I am pretty anti-union, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm not into hurting kids to put pressure on adults. I wouldn't do it.

I'm definitely pro-union, but the idea of being totally unprepared for the school year is unacceptable for me. 

[UMaineTeach]

Aug 19, 2017 18:19:25 GMT -5 katfco said:

Aug 19, 2017 17:32:53 GMT -5 erbear said:

I had a similar situation my first year of teaching. I am pretty anti-union, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm not into hurting kids to put pressure on adults. I wouldn't do it.

I'm definitely pro-union, but the idea of being totally unprepared for the school year is unacceptable for me. 

And honestly, working to contract will hurt your evaluation. The job is not doable in the hours allowed. There are several areas of our rubric that have to do with being prepared and timely.

[katfco]

Aug 19, 2017 18:25:34 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

Aug 19, 2017 18:19:25 GMT -5 katfco said:

I'm definitely pro-union, but the idea of being totally unprepared for the school year is unacceptable for me. 

And honestly, working to contract will hurt your evaluation. The job is not doable in the hours allowed. There are several areas of our rubric that have to do with being prepared and timely.

That's another thing. The principal wanted me on an improvement plan this year, but the results of my student achievement didn't allow for it. I don't want to tick him off, because I'm up for possible reassignment this year. 

[The Foozzler]

I am the VP of my local and I have done the last few rounds of contract negotiations, so I understand the logic behind this. It is not a thing that has ever been done in my district that I know of, and I am sure a lot of elementary teachers would have a hard time. We all come and go all summer long working on things.

I do love setting up my room and getting ready for a new year. Those quiet days in August are some of my favorites. Everything is new and full of promise and potential. It makes starting off the year so much easier.

But on the other side, I could be ready for the first day without anything. I use a Responsive Classroom model, and everything I hang on the walls and bulletin board is student created over the first 6 weeks of school. So on the first day, the room is pretty basic. It looks much different by the end of week 2. I follow the Responsive Classroom plans for the most part for the first 6 weeks.

[irishbride2]

I ignored my union when I had one. They were terrible. Students come first

[Jalapeñomel]

Aug 19, 2017 18:19:25 GMT -5 katfco said:

Aug 19, 2017 17:32:53 GMT -5 erbear said:

I had a similar situation my first year of teaching. I am pretty anti-union, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm not into hurting kids to put pressure on adults. I wouldn't do it.

I'm definitely pro-union, but the idea of being totally unprepared for the school year is unacceptable for me. 

Can you ask the students to help you?


Our union is incredibly powerful here, and most of the things they have fought for, they've won. I cannot imagine working without one.

[thejackpot]

My union has been instrumental in so many positive changes that I would not want to go against them. I think a room can be welcoming without the decorations. My son is in Montessori and there is practically nothing and yet he sees his room as a special place.
I say don't go crazy with decor, throw up the bare minimum. Parents and thus the community only supports your efforts when they realize how much you do. Gl with your new year!

[court26]

I can't imagine it myself, but I moved buildings due to my position being moved and we were not compensated for any packing or unpacking. The union encouraged us to do it during end of the year fun when kids were occupied or while showing a movie. I couldn't do it. I wanted to be present with my class and maintain the professional learning/teaching environment. I am about 30 hours into this pack/unpack on my own time. I still have about 20 boxes to go AND I had to clean out the classroom from the teacher before me which added hours. I anticipate the entire thing will be 40-50 hours and it makes me a little crazy that they wouldn't even pay for what they used to pay...1 day to pack and 1 to unpack. So ultimately, I feel the union can say what they want, but some things just have to get done! I also have open house before the kids start, so I feel all the pressure to have things perfect!

[nachos]

Aug 17, 2017 8:22:12 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Aug 17, 2017 6:55:53 GMT -5 imimahoney said:

We call it Work to Rule here.

While it sucks, the objective is to show how limited the contract is in fairness to teachers SO only doing what the contract says should have an impact.

By devaluing a teachers worth, your community has already shown that they don't care about the students... just saving money.

When we did work to rule some teachers followed it and others did not. It is really hard to be apart of. I followed it as best I could but we also had non-union department chairs making our photocopies for us.

I'm here. If you don't show them how much you do after hours, they will not see the value in changing the contract.

And I know that set up is important to a lot of elementary teachers, and I am not an elementary teacher, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm guessing your students can function in a classroom that is not decorated.

This.

I know that it's such a hard thing to do, and that's why it's used as a last resort in so many places. 

I'm an administrator AND the VP of our local union branch, so I see it from both sides, but will always stay on the side of working to rule - simply because of the bolded above.

Students don't really care if the bulletin boards are nice and the room is decorated. They, and parents, care when things like after school activities disappear and tests don't get marked. It takes time, but eventually this method incites parents enough to get THEM on the school board's case, and that's when things start to change. 

Parents are the stakeholders with the most sway, because they elect the people who put contracts in place for teachers, and they'd like to keep their jobs.

It isn't easy on most teachers, but it IS an effective negotiation tool.

[klassygoosey]

Work to rule does not work unless everyone does it.

Since I am not anonymous on this forum I can't go into detail....but I would highly encourage any teacher to do their best to come as close as possible to WRT completely when they can.

Having been through it several times, I will say that I made some small exceptions BUT there is a gray area (some extra pay) that went against the grain.

It is also a good way to assess how much EXTRA unpaid you are really willing to do. But if most teachers don't do it, then no statement is made.

[klassygoosey]

Also ---- students love decorating classrooms. Great bonding project.

[irishbride2]

This thread reminds me why I now only like working in non union teaching jobs.

I'm a terrible union me member.

[erbear]

Aug 23, 2017 16:39:53 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

This thread reminds me why I now only like working in non union teaching jobs.

I'm a terrible union me member.

Saaaaaame.

[mmp]

Aug 23, 2017 16:39:53 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

This thread reminds me why I now only like working in non union teaching jobs.

I'm a terrible union me member.

Right there with you....