In Theory...

Labor Law Absurdity

Former employees of the GAP are suing, alleging that they were illegally required to purchase uniforms (ie GAP clothes, which they receive at a significant discount) . They're probably right - this could very well be a violation of California labor law. But it doesn't feel quite right, does it? Many if not most employees at GAP stores (which includes Banana Republic and Old Navy, in additon to the GAP itself) are high school or college students, many are also firmly middle class. These students generally choose to get a job to have some additional spending money for going out with friends, and they choose the GAP for the discounts on the clothes. That's right - they actually seek out the job so that they can buy GAP clothes for 40% off (or whatever the exact discount is). One might even call this discount a form of compensation. No-one is ever left with 'no choice' but to work at the GAP and buy their expensive 'uniforms'. After all, as Eric Schlosser details in Fast Food Nation, the typical fast food employee only works there for a few months. So teenagers always have the option of going down to the nearest McD's, where the management will happily provide a uniform as part of the job. So why are we 'protecting' these workers from 'exploitation'? By any consideration, working at the GAP is a much cushier job than working at McDonalds, even ignoring the clothing discounts. Why should people at the GAP even make as much per hour as McDonald's employees?

How we treat our children's teachers

Catching up: Philip Greenspun (a while back at this point) posted part of a letter from a public school teacher friend, where she talks about the horrendous work conditions in her school. In the comments, Patrick Logan berates the woman for complaining, saying that instead, like Patrick's wife (also a public school teacher), she should do what she can to make the best of things. The problem with Patrick's position is that the source of the problem is not the parents, not the teachers, and not just the particular administrators at that school. The problem is the existing structure of American public education. As Philip points out in a more recent post, Cambridge spends $17,000 per student. Where does the money go? It goes into an endless bureaucracy, which is focused on pursuing superficial goals that ensure its own survival at the minimal cost (and maximal benefit) to itself. The teacher's unions are a big part of the problem, but the bureaucratic structure that ultimately rewards 'theories' and 'processes' rather than results is just as much to blame. If you gave every parent $17,000 and the option of sending their kid to the existing public school or to any other alternative, quality would start to pick up real fast. (And don't tell me that the poorest would still lose out because their parents are apathetic - markets can function quite well even with competition only on the margin. If the public schools start hemmoraging students and funds, they'll figure out how to improve things very quickly.) My mother is a public school teacher, like Philip's friend and Patrick's wife. She is completely dedicated to her classroom and her children, implements new teaching methods based on the latest research, is constantly spending her own money on books and other classroom aids, and always goes the extra mile for her kids. Nonetheless, when her school moved to a new building, she was personally responsible for packing up all of her stuff, despite her arthritis, and was told that anything that was not owned by the school (ie everything that she had personally purchased over the years for use in her classroom), including computers, was her responsibility to move. This lack of respect for teachers is endemic throughout the public schools. Until our public education both gives teachers the respect they deserve and rewards everyone involved based on performance (which, in my opinion, can and will happen only through competition), the quality of education will only continue to fall. Despite the best efforts of Patrick's wife and my mother, the only way that the necessary changes will occur will be through political action by concerned citizens. Just 'making the best of it' at the school will unfortunately never be sufficient. So let's continue to spread the word.

Back

Apologies for the lack of recent posts - we decided to move back across the Pacific from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Wasn't because of SARS, but can't say I'm unhappy to be further away from China right now. Now feeling fairly situated and aiming to restart regular posting.