Catherwood LibraryILR School

At an event for America's Promise Alliance, a group dedicated to curbing the nation's dropout rate, President Obama supported a move last week that led to the firing of 93 teachers and staff members at a Rhode Island school. The president's statements, praising the school district for taking action in the face of poor performance drew fire from Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers which represents about 1.4 million members. Weingarten said that firing teachers for poor performance is not going to help, and that the only way to help students and teacher sis to provide more resources. Weingarten's comments mark a departure from the amicable relations the AFT and the National Education Association have had with the Obama administration. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has continually expressed interest in working with the NEA and the AFT, but many members are skeptical of the new policies proposed by Obama.