I was pretty upset when I first heard that one of our school's unions was trying to take over the 20 or so parent-funded teaching adjuncts at El Marino Language School. But as an El Marino parent and a shameless optimist (as well as an unapologetic opportunist), I am beginning to see how this could really work out in my favor.
The current adjuncts are paid about $9 or $10 an hour, with money that is fundraised solely by parents. If the adjuncts are unionized, costs of the program would rise anywhere from 30 to 50 percent. Given the current economy, fundraising climate and anti-union sentiment, the program is guaranteed to shrink dramatically – perhaps by half – which would negatively impact hundreds of students, teachers, adjuncts, and parents.
Sounds bad so far, right?
But look: These are teachers’ assistants with years and years of experience, who are willing to work with students for $9 or $10 an hour. And many will suddenly be unemployed.
Time for Creativity
Honestly, I don't see “laid off adjunct” here. I see “extremely-affordable private tutor!”
That's why I've been talking to a handful of other parents about hiring these adjuncts as our own private tutors, should the School Board take action that ultimately causes some of them to be laid off, or if the whole adjunct program goes away. In honor of Advocates for Language Learning (or ALL), the parent group that runs the adjunct program, we're calling ourselves “AfterALL.” Here's how AfterALL works if the School Board allows the unionization of the adjuncts…
Adjunct lose their jobs. Then a small group of AfterALL parents, instead of funding ALL, uses their money to directly hire the laid-off adjuncts as private tutors for their kids.
What are the benefits of this?
1. We preserve the jobs of the adjuncts – these are good, hardworking people who deserve to be employed at something they do well. 2. The union can get some new members (if there are any adjuncts left to enlist).
Almost Everybody Wins? Sort of.
3. And a very small group of families – maybe 5 or 10 percent of the school – obtain very affordable, private tutors. Is it the same as having an adjunct in every class? No, but in many ways that kind of one-on-one private tutoring could be even better for our kids.
From my point of view, it's win-win all around, except… for the other 90 percent of the kids in school. And the teachers. But… whatever. The folks with the resources in this world win again. I can't think of anything more American than that.
It would be nice if governing bodies provided incentives for people like myself to contribute to the common good, but in this case, by unionizing parent-funded “volunteers” and raising their cost it actually provides a disincentive for us to share our wealth. Competing alternatives (such as private tutoring) are suddenly much more attractive when this happens. Instead of spending our money for something that provides a public benefit (adjuncts for an entire school), it makes more sense for us to direct those funds towards a private benefit (personal tutors), where the greater value is for us.
This may sound harsh, but it's just how markets work. Money goes to the highest value and the “best deal.” It's selfish, but the unions are acting selfishly and so are many politicians. Why not us parents?
As I see it, there are usually no “bad” decisions in government. There are only decisions that benefit the very few at the expense of the many.
The School Board is facing such a decision next week.
Next week when the School Board votes, they can decide whether they care about a few resourceful parents (like myself)… and a few new union members. Or everyone else in the school district.
It's a choice between the 90 percent and the 10 percent. Between ALL and AfterALL.
They can make a choice between an existing program that has benefited all the students and teachers in a school for more than 20 years. Or a choice that benefits… well, me.
I'm good with either decision. As for the other 90 percent, that's for the School Board to decide.
Mr. Derevlany may be contacted at johnderevlany@yahoo.com
