Teachers Identify Outdated Programs to Lessen Workload

At the schools' request, the district has been adding new programs that are geared at promoting educational and life skills for students in grades K-12.

But teachers are saying the new initiatives, coupled with existing programs, are leaving them stretched too thin.

Teachers have said that the programs are great additions but that some of these services take away from their main task in the classroom: teaching.

At the request of administrators, teachers recently sent e-mails to the school district suggesting that some programs be cut to lighten the load on teachers.

Last week, administrators of the school district asked school officials, teachers and teacher organizations to compile a list of services and outdated programs that they think are no longer necessary at the schools.

"The administration asked them to present items that they feel are not as helpful to the students," said Board of Education member Maryanne Rosenman.

Board member Nick Didow said the point of gauging teachers' sentiments is twofold.

Didow said this would give the school board an opportunity to pinpoint which programs are successful and which ones could be improved or disregarded.

"We are attempting to identify which activities and assignments are preventing our teachers from tending to the higher priorities," he said.

Recently, the school district has been giving the minority student achievement initiative top billing in the district.

As a part of the minority student achievement project, numerous services have been implemented to fight against reports that have indicated that local schools fall short in terms of minority achievement.

Mary Glenn Benton, president of Frank Porter Graham Elementary's PTA, said the minority achievement program is just one example of the increased pressure that teachers face.

"There is no doubt the teachers are overburdened," Benton said. "With the minority achievement initiative, even more responsibilities are placed on the teachers."

Rosenman said teachers are concerned with striking a balance between all the responsibilities of their workload.

"Teachers said to us that for us to add programs, we also must take some things away," she said.

But Rosenman said the school district is partly to blame for the unhappiness of the teachers.

"Teachers had mentioned before that as new things are added, the expectation is for the teachers to take advantage of them," Rosenman said.

"But we neglect to realize that the old programs don't go away."

Rosenman said the school district is in the data collection process, which involves polling teachers.

"We are asking the teachers questions like what things they consider less important to their teaching," she said.

Rosenman said she is not certain when the school board will take action on the issue.

"We are still looking at all the options, and we will then decide which programs to cut," Rosenman said.

The changes to be made will be done collectively by the school board and the school district.

Benton said the school board needs to remember that teachers are the district's most valuable resource.

"They are asked to do everything from socializing with the students and helping them to get good grades."

The City Editor can be reached

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