Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:
Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Keeping retirement weird.
This is the time of year that Anne and I try to catch up on the movies nominated for Oscars. There are a few I have no interest in seeing. Like the one about a guys love affair with his iPhone. But in the last few weeks we have seen American Hustle and The Dallas Buyers Club and Inside Llewyn Davis. Yesterday we caught a late afternoon showing of 12 Years a Slave. I thought 12 Years a Slave is
How’s this for cynical? Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post writes about Illinois’ attempts to raise Special Education class size limits.
Valerie Strauss’ blog, The Answer Sheet in the Washington Post. How’s this for cynical? The Illinois State Board of Education wants to remove class size protections for students with disabilities. If the proposal (officially known as changes to state administrative rule Part 226) is approved, there would be no statewide limits on the size of special education classes, or the percentage of students
Join me and other teachers tomorrow for Will Guzzardi.
Everyone agrees that the 39th Illinois House race is the one to watch in the March primary. Progressive Will Guzzardi is challenging Machine Daughter Toni Berrios. For teachers, this is a particularly important electoral contest. No candidate has been more active in the fight against school closings, supportive of Chicago teachers during the 2012 strike and consistent in defense of our constituti
Illinois Retired Teachers amend their law suit.
Last week I posted the statement of IEA President Cinda Klickna and IRTA President Bob Pinkerton regarding the legal challenge to Senate Bill 1. It was a statement of unity in the face on the legal assault on our pension. Today we received a notice from IRTA. Within the next week, we will file a motion for leave to file an amended complaint. The change to paragraph 11 is simply intended to clarif
Union leadership trapped in an abusive relationship.
The endorsement of Pat Quinn and other pension-cutting state officials by the AFL-CIO leadership is just one more example of much of our union leadership being trapped in an abusive relationship. In the last gubernatorial go-round, the IEA through their political action committee IPACE, gave Republican and Illinois state chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council, our endorsement. Liste
John Laesch. We should be unified behind something other than the lesser of two evils.
- John Laesch I talked to some friends about the endorsement session in Burr Ridge. Apparently it was a heated discussion with lots of verbal arguments. The folks in the building trades still love Quinn because he passed the capital bill. This is a clear reflection of where labor is at – division. I wonder if it was like this during the first death blows dealt to manufacturing unions post NAFTA –
The state’s unions endorse pension thieves.
Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael T. Carrigan. The Illinois AFL-CIO, which includes the Illinois Federation of Teachers, announced their endorsements for the March primary races. The Illinois Federation, made up of member unions representing 1.5 million workers – with many members being state employees whose pensions have just been stolen, endorsed Squeezy Quinn who was a leader of the pension
JAN 16
Bob Busch. The U of C and me.
- Bob Busch It was a cold November day when the four of us piled into the V.W. Bug.
There were three men and one women. We were assigned to the University of Chicago Lab School for (pre-service) observation. When we arrived the lady in charge looked down her nose at us and asked where we were from. “Chicago Teachers College,” we all said. Her only
response was “Oh.” Then we got the five-minute spi
A view from the bottom of the academic barrel.
Hey. This is me. Down here at the bottom of the academic barrel. Or so says Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Arne grew up in Hyde Park, a Chicago neighborhood encompassing the University of Chicago. His father was a psychology professor at the university and his mother ran an after-school program primarily serving African-American youth in Kenwood. Duncan attended the University of Chicago Lab
Illinois unions say no to lifting Special Education class size limits.
January 15, 2014 By IEA News Today, Illinois’ largest education employee unions came out in strong opposition to a proposal from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to remove class size protections for student with disabilities. With this change, school districts could reduce staff and increase the number of special education students in every classroom. The measure is expected to be vot
JAN 15
USA Today: 7 scams retirees too often fall for. No. Make that 8 scams.
USA Today today ran a an article on the front page of their USA Today Money section: 7 scams retirees to often fall for. But, you know USA Today. They make all the news short. Sometimes shorter than they should. Take the 7 scams: 1. Never pay for anything you didn’t order. 2. Someone calls claiming to be a grandchild asking for money. 3. Scam charities asking for cash. 4. Computer scams claiming
Andy Velez and the generosity of Bruce Rauner.
From the Beachwood Reporter. Andy was a sophomore. He played left field. Couldn’t hit much but he could go after a fly ball with dexterity, and as my leadoff man, he walked frequently and could steal a base. He also lived right across the street from the school in the 4500 block of West Wrightwood. If Andy was late to a game or practice, which was infrequently, I could always knock on his front do
The Trib’s Eric Zorn. “Bruce Rauner is generous.”
From Mike Klonsky’s blog: No surprise here. It’s the Trib’s Eric Zorn. He identifies with the Republican billionaire’s clout problems. I didn’t have to play that game with my elder son, who easily tested into Payton in 2004, but I can’t blame many of those who did. “Nothin’ wrong” with asking for a favor, after all, when favors were going to be doled out anyway. Was it seemly for Bruce Raune
Remembering Dr. King on his birthday.
I posted this a year ago on Dr. King’s birthday. Tomorrow starts my second year of teaching uke to K-1 students in the same Chicago public school. Our first song will be, “This Little Light of Mine.” My latest retirement project is volunteer teaching ukulele to a mixed kindergarten and first grade class at a public school in Chicago’s Little Village. Once a week on a Monday for about an hour. More
JAN 14
Thousands of teachers in Puerto Rico strike against pension cuts.
Thousands of teachers across Puerto Rico walked off their jobs Tuesday in a noisy two-day strike over cuts to their pensions that the island’s government says are necessary to avert financial disaster but that educators say will force many of them into poverty. The teachers gathered with tambourines, cowbells and bullhorns outside public schools across the island on the first day of classes afte
Real world math.
“I do not understand your last post. How do you figure the $10.00,” writes a friend about my assertion that SB1 means $10 an hour for retirees. That’s Squeezy’s proposal for a minimum wage. Let me do the real world math. If the average retiree is getting $48,000 a year now, what will that be worth in 20 years. Why 20 years? Because pensions are all about future earnings. The end to our cost of li
IEA and IFT joint statement on Special Needs class size limits.
Joint letter from Cinda Klickna, President, Illinois Education Association, and Dan Montgomery, President, Illinois Federation of Teachers. The IFT, IEA and our members oppose the State Board’s proposed 226.730 Staffing Plan. We believe in providing students with disabilities access to the most effective and appropriate education within the least restrictive environment. We further believe all
I’m thinking about the minimum wage and my pension.
Nothing good will emerge from the race for Illinois Governor. No matter who wins. I was driving home from the gym yesterday afternoon and there was another discussion of Bruce Rahmer’s disastrous comments on the topic. The fact is that in spite of all the shouting about Bruce Rahmer’s flip-flop, none of the Republican candidates support raising the minimum wage. In fact they don’t support a mini
JAN 13
When the members demand unity in the fight for our pensions, our leaders will unite.
A good statement from Illinois Education Association President Cinda Klickna and Illinois Retired Teachers Association President Bob Pinkerton. We the presidents of IEA and IRTA, respectively, wish to express our commitment to successfully defending our organizations’ members against the unfair and unconstitutional Senate Bill 1. Our two organizations have different constituencies, therefore it’s
Keeping retirement weird. 450 years of teaching experience.
When I retired from teaching in June of 2012, I walked out of my building on the last day of school with nothing in my hands. Anne picked me up and we drove to the airport. All the retirement celebrating had been done. My union honored me and my retiring colleagues. The staff in my building honored us. I even threw a memorable party for myself at the Red Line Tap. Tony was there. But my district’
Chicago Teachers Union moves to establish an Independent Political Organization.
Resolution for the Chicago Teachers Union to Launch an Independent Political Organziation (IPO) Whereas, the Chicago Teachers Union hopes to transform the traditional means of engaging in politics and legislative activities in Chicago and Illinois to engender authentic political engagement to amplify the voice and representation of working and poor people in politics and legislative process, and W
ISBE Special Education class size limits. Who to call.
The vote to eliminate State special ed class size limits, and to eliminate the State 70/30 rule - the 30 percent limit on the percentage of students with an IEP that can be in a regular general ed class - will be first at the Board of ISBE, and then at JCAR. On Wednesday, January 22, and on Thursday, January 23, at the ISBE office at 100 N. First Street in Springfield, the Board of ISBE will first
JAN 12
Michelle Gunderson. Special Education class size limits.
Michelle Gunderson (right). Photo: Fred Klonsky From Anthony Cody’s Living in Dialogue. - Michelle Gunderson is a Chicago teacher, activist and leader in the CTU. Every child who enters my first classroom is treated with dignity and respect and learning takes place in an atmosphere of joy. Children with special needs are supported through a matrix of services with other professionals. Most of t
Sunday reads.
There is no such thing as clean coal. A tiny padded room at KIPP Star Washington Heights Elementary School was a real-life nightmare for two young boys who were repeatedly detained in the tot cells. Parents and students charged Chicago charter schools Tuesday with targeted expulsions intended to raise their test-score averages. Sad to hear about the passing on Friday of noted art educator and Sta
JAN 11
John Dillon. The new reality.
From John Dillon’s blog. In the New Reality, some of the biggest backers of accepting the Boeing demand(forget proposal) to move new workers to 401K programs, to lose on healthcare costs, etc. were the national leaders of the International Association of Machinists. In fact, the rift is palpable between the two, national administrators recommending the local vote yes to Boeing’s demands. On t
Wendy Katten. Stop the ISBE’s attempts to end class size limits for Special Education. Call ISBE President Gery Chico.
ISBE President Gery Chico. From Wendy Katten. ISBE tabled the vote to eliminate special ed class size rules and the 70/30 rule in September. It looks like they are about to sneak the vote through at their 1/22 meeting in Springfield. You can email isbe (rules@isbe.net) or you can call Gery Chico at work and leave a vm – 312-884-5666. I doubt he’ll be reading the emails that come in and over 5500
Keeping retirement weird.
The week started with a foot of snow. Then more snow. Then a polar vortex. Last night it rained, melting half the two feet of snow faster than the sewers could swallow. Stepping out of the car, I sank into a half a foot of ice water, protected by my Eddie Bauer boots I spent a fortune on last winter. Best purchase I ever made. Anne and I went out early to hear CPS parent and education activist Ma
JAN 10
Bev Johns. Another attempt at raising Special Education class size.
Bev Johns is a long-time Special Education activist and advocate. From: Beverley Holden Johns Date: Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 12:41 PM Subject: new ISBE plan to eliminate special ed class size The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) staff has a new proposal to ELIMINATE State special ed class size limits, and ELIMINATE the State 70/30 rule - the 30 percent limit on the percentage of students with
School administrators: “We are working in concert with all the parties.”
From Glen Brown’s blog. Pension Reform Message to Illinois Association of School Administrators Members (from Executive Director Dr. Brent Clark). I’m paraphrasing, but Judge DiVito believes that the courts would have to ignore years of applicable case law and the intent of the pension protection language that was approved during the 1970 Constitutional Convention. In the next few days we will be
My support for this court fight is without reservation.
Some of my colleagues have raised questions about the particulars of the legal strategy in defending the pension protection clause and fighting Senate Bill 1. I could and did share my opinion about how to pursue the political fight before SB! was passed and signed by the Governor. But I don’t know anything about the current legal particulars. I’ve heard from the lawyers andI’m confident that our
Chicago Teachers Union endorsed Will Guzzardi for 39th House Rep.
In a major development in the campaign for State Representative in the 39th District, the Chicago Teachers Union announced its support for progressive Democrat Will Guzzardi. “From opposing school closings to working for an elected school board, Will Guzzardi has stood side by side with us and fought passionately to defend quality public education,” said CTU president Karen Lewis. “Guzzardi is th