Ed Notes Online
Left-Leaning CUNY PSC Leadership Sells Out to Mulgrew
Of course, the signatories know full well that Mulgrew and company have no such analysis and no such “willingness to organize the real power of the rank-and-file.” So a potentially good statement ends up cynically supporting the very people who would never have written such a statement!....PSC member in private emailWhile not surprised that the leadership of the supposedly progressive Professional
Mills TA Calls on NYSUT to Lead Statewide Boycott of Grades 3-8 Assessment
While parents have been opting out, teacher organizations are beginning to revolt too. Can they pressure Iannuzzi to make this move? I'm guessing most likely not. When the Mulgrew pro-Cuomo team wins, NO CHANCE. Before you read the resolution check this sample Common Core 1st Grade Question. I still can't figure out the answer. My first choice was none of the above since I didn't see 8+6. Can 10 +
Saturday Special: Savaging Common Core - New Content at SusanOhanian.Org!
Here is Susan with some weekend reading for your idle hands. Much better than watching the olympics or snow fall. She comments on an article in the Wall St. Journal by NYC High School teacher James Samuelson, who writes about the pleasure of teaching to the test. Has he tried it with 4 year-olds? Susan takes him to task.Some appetizers from Susan O: Feds Put Pre-K into Race to the Top Tote that bo
Norm in The Wave: A New Educational Landscape
A New Educational LandscapeBy Norm ScottMy major problem in writing about education in this space recently? EIO – Education Information Overload. So many education issues, so little time – and space in this column to cover them. The most obvious change in the educational landscape has been a new mayor and chancellor, the Bill de Blasio/Carmen Farina team. Farina held just about every type job in h
YESTERDAY
MORE Jumps into NYSUT Fray: MORE and PJSTA Announce Joint Slate
Beth Dimino, Julie Cavanagh, James Eterno, Jia Lee, Francesco Portelos, Lauren Cohen, Mike Schirtzer challenge incumbent NYSUT Directors to oppose Revive NYSUT slate.We want to make it clear that we are not seeking Unity Caucus endorsement as we oppose one party systems that limit democracy within our statewide union. We believe in an active and informed rank and file. We believe in true democra
FEB 13
One of the Constants in Life: Chris Cerf is Still a Crook
Chris Cerf jumps around more than a bedbug. Now he is leaving as NJ State Ed Commissioner. And everywhere he goes he leaves scandalous doo-doo in his wake. After a tenure working for fellow crook Chris Christie, Cerf is jumping the Christie ship and going back to work for his former crook boss, Joel Klein, to run Amplify into the ground. Cerf helped chose Cami Anderson as Newark Supt, who also wo
Carol Burris Calls For Accountability at the Top for Common Core Mess
...the Regents are “rolling back” what they never did in the first place..... Like Lucy holding the football for poor Charlie Brown, the Regents and Commissioner King have repeatedly set up parents and educators.... Carol Burris Why do you think the Regents and King and Cuomo are doing this dance? To confuse, obfuscate and derail the growing threat. These tactics work by making the public think t
NYC Teacher Writes to Iannuzzi and Mulgrew Regarding Cuomo
Any teachers' union in the State of New York that claims to be on the side of its members while simultaneously stroking Cuomo's extra large ego serves as a lesson in the true meaning of hypocrisy... [we] are FED UP and want some evidence that our union leaders are on our side and capable of standing up and fighting for what's just and fair for teachers.... Roseanne McCosh, former Chapter Leader, P
FEB 12
Peter Lamphere: New York takes on Common Core
UNFORTUNATELY, THE New York State United Teachers actually has a mixed record on Common Core. Led by its largest affiliate, New York City's United Federation of Teachers (UFT), the union officially supports the Common Core, but disagrees with the implementation that has occurred, calling for a three-year moratorium on high-stakes consequences to teachers and students for the new tests, so that the
FEB 11
NYSUT and the NEA: Historical Background, Part 1
People have been telling me they are confused about what is really going on in the NYSUT split. To better understand what is happening in NYSUT some of the history might help. Much of the info comes from WikiPedia, plus whatever memory I have left.This is a long one, so hang in there if you can. But I bet if you do things will be a little clearer. I will follow up with a Part 2.First up in the ser
What's it All About, Jenny? StudentsFirstNY Leader On What Common Core is Really About
Jenny Sedlis, executive director of the group StudentsFirstNY, which lobbies for tougher teacher standards, said the Regents' decision weakened teacher evaluations. "They've given ineffective teachers an out clause," she said, adding it sends a message to school districts: "Don't even try and terminate any ineffective teachers."... Wall Street Journal on NY Regent delay on comm
Staten Island FIRST LEGO League Robotics Qualifier
Francesco Portelos coordinated the Staten Island Robotics Qualifier this past Saturday for the second year in a row.See: http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/solutions_to_real-world_proble.html#commentsI've been working as a volunteer with FIRST since I retired in 2002 and as we kept growing through the years we were forced to set up borough events with the 80 finalists going on to the NY
FEB 10
Breaking: Arthur Goldstein Runs for NYSUT VP Against Unity's Andy Pallotta
This, ladies and gentleman, is an example of true grassroots unionism. A rank and file teacher, who has been in his classroom teaching today, finding an avenue to make his voice heard. Bottom up, member driven unionism at it’s finest. Posted on the Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association blog. I've been telling reporters calling about our coverage of this story that there are surprises comi
The Closer: Murry Bergtraum Principal Lottie Almonte Pushout Program Would Help Moskowitz Takeover
De Blasio/Farina MUST reverse the Success invasion of Bergtraum immediately.Was Lottie making space for Eva Moskowitz's Success Charter? The NY Post had an article on the so-called "Blended Learning" program. Chalkbeat reports:Troubled Murry Bergtraum High School's "blended learning" program has 475 students registered for classes with one teacher.New York PostWe wrote about Be
Baltimore Teacher Union Follows Unity Caucus Script in Attempt to Suppress Opposition Voices
The Baltimore Teacher’s union has demanded exclusive rights to teachers’ interdepartmental emails and mailboxes in a new contract with the district to be ratified Thursday, the Baltimore Sun reports Other than some Unity slug chapter leaders here in NYC who claim only they should be able to use the mailboxes, the UFT leadership, while possibly egging them on behind the scenes, has never tried to p
New Jersey Teachers Challenge Tom Moran/Newark Star-Ledger Integrity
Mr. Moran: You repeatedly parrot [Cami] Anderson's talking points, which is shoddy journalism at its best... Newark teacher.The Star-Ledger’s passionate, public love affair with Cami Anderson is now sliding into political porn. .. Bob BraunCamiGate heats up.My Dear Mr. Moran,I admire your unwavering support for State Superintendent Anderson. However, as a journalist, it would behoove you to exami
FEB 08
UFT Dues Structure: Regressive for Everyone But Retirees
As to the calculated rate for teachers and other inservice groups, why should it be aligned to the salary of a near maximum teacher (i.e. 8B, L20) instead of being a percentage of a person's actual salary?... As to the pass throughs from the state and national unions, they are voted on at their respective conventions without direct membership approval. Not the last point -- a chunk of the dues is
FEB 07
Newark Update: Cami Anderson Closes Schools While Still Engaging in Chris Christie-Like Thug Tactics
Newark parent leader arrested, jailed, after criticizing state plan to close schools....Before we get to that story there is this from a Newark teacher:Inclement Weather - Schools Closed February 5, 2014In the interest of the safety of our students, and due to hazardous weather conditions, all Newark Public Schools are CLOSED on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. All events, meetings and after school pr
Inside Buffalo: More Rumors on Rumore (Phil)
Even those trying to follow the NYSUT soap opera are emailing asking me wtf is going on because I seem to be nothing more than confusing them. But that is my job. Here is another dispatch from a credible source on the Buffalo Teachers Federation leader Phil Rumore's relationship with Dick Iannuzzi and why Rumore is leaning toward the Revive NYSUT/Mulgrew/UFT slate, which if you read some of my pos