Ed Notes Online
UFT Contract: MORE in the Media
WNYC: http://www.wnyc.org/story/delegates-recommend-yes-vote-teachers-contract/The Nation: http://www.thenation.com/blog/179726/should-new-york-teachers-reject-de-blasios-proposed-contractTHE AP WIRE - story is in the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/AP31f7a75d7fba46aeb4863df7d1616d35.htmlSan Francisco Gate:http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/NYC-teachers-panel-approves-proposed-
Portelos an ATR as DOE Violates Hearing Officer Mandate - Which is OK With UFT
For those of you who are voting YES on the contract and don't think things can be fixed if we send the negotiating committee back to the bargaining table -- how about all the loopholes and leavouts in our current - and future contract? I have a list - starting with curbing the unfettered power of principals.Here is the irony that Francesco was the legal chapter leader of IS 49SI, the only bulwark
MORE Contract Meeting Today
Organize the No Vote Against this Contractby morecaucusnyc Saturday, May 1012:00 - 3:00pmYa-Ya Network224 W. 29th St., 14th Fl.Come to a meeting with UFT Chapter Leaders and Contract Committee members to hear a breakdown of the proposal, ask questions, and organize against the proposed contract in our schools. Join us in fighting for The Contract NYC Educators Deserve!RSVP on Fa
Rallies Scare Cuomo into Meeting with Stronger Together
As momentum built toward’s the April 28th rally at Villa Lombardi’s to protest Governor Cuomo, one of the governor’s top aides, Joseph Percoco, reached out, through an intermediary, to the President of the Connetquot Teachers Association Tony Felicio. Percoco offered Felicio, one of the rally’s organizers, a meeting with the governor to air his grievances in exchange for canceling the rally. Fel
YESTERDAY
Class Size Sellout as UFT Contract/Farina Endorse Continued High Class Sizes
Mulgrew claims to be against ed deform are smoke as the contract clearly supports the ed deform emphasis on PD while disparaging class size reform.Video of Farina comments on class size below. I'm home today and have many posts to go so take your time and read them all. With Ravitch having her knee replaced today - did ed deformers CAP her?, I have to make up the difference. And good luck Diane.
A Parent Exposes New NYSUT (Revive) Pro-Cuomo Leadership Phony Militancy at Lake Placid
The most obvious giveaway that NYSUT had completely sold out came when the NYSUT photographer wanted to take a picture of a child who was wearing a sign that said, I "heart" public school, but he wouldn't take a picture of the child's brother whose sign said, No Mo Cuomo. The photographer explicitly stated that NYSUT wouldn't publish anything against Cuomo!.. NYC Parent, Change the Stake
Harris Lirtzman Sees Ugliness of Unity Machine as he Thanks James Eterno
I came out of that DA meeting with an overwhelming feeling of self-satisfied and corrupted power that is prepared to roll over anything that gets in its way.... this is a vicious crew that will not stand for the slightest difference of opinion and we better recognize that....as still a relative "newbie" to the process it was, shall we say, a sort of "road to Damascus" awakening
MAY 08
UFT Contract: Jeff Kaufman Disects the ATR Issue Plus a Video Interview - Should All Teachers Be Frightened? HELL YES!
Jeff does a great job in tearing apart the ATR agreement in the new contract at the ICE blog.After the DA he was interviewed by a reported for The Chief and went into the problems with due process in both the old and new contracts, pointing to how the DOE plays political games with teachers.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1uGevRjTb0&feature=share&list=UU9iVb99ewF1omA6LbPUWEOghttp://iceuftb
MORE Press Release: UFT CONTRACT: NOT A DONE DEAL UNTIL THE MEMBERSHIP VOTES
I should be at the MORE press conference outside the Hilton as this is published at 6PM just after the Unity Caucus dominated Delegate Assembly votes YES without having had a chance to read the full 46-page Memorandum of Understanding. (If I'm not check local hospitals.) Watch the Unity trolls throw everything they can against the wall trying to disparage the MORE campaign. Readers know that I hav
Portelos Verdict - Despite Enormous DOE Assault and Expense....
Respondent’s admissions, conduct, demeanor and demonstrated commitment to education persuade me that, if given the chance, he can resume his career as a highly effective educator. Finally, the record is replete with evidence of Respondent’s exceptional teaching and abilities from the administration, colleagues, parents and students. After two years of reassignment, it is important that Respondent
Julie Cavanagh Video at MORE Press Conf and at WNYC: Here's Why NYC Teachers Should Reject Labor Contract
Union members have been without a contract for more than five years. We, along with the communities we serve, have faced a tidal wave of attacks on our neighborhood schools. A new contract has the power to right these wrongs....Many teachers I know would have happily conceded some financial compensation in favor of a greater improvement to teaching and learning conditions. Given this contract exte
Elfrank-Dana Slams Mulgrew on DA
Dear President Mulgrew,I was surprised by your insinuation that I am against people's right to vote when I objected to retirees voting last night. Are you going to let me vote for my District Rep instead of appointing her/him? Are you going require high school VP to be elected only by high school members instead of having their votes disenfranchised?Are you going to be concerned that you are elect
Fear and Loathing at the UFT Delegate Assembly Contract Vote As Mulgrew Filibusters
Mulgrew purposely shut down the debate with Julie Cavanagh, his opponent in the UFT elections last year, waiting at the microphone to speak. Mulgrew will never let Julie get up in front of a DA -- look for them to call a fire drill if she ever manages to get the mic. Who would think that Mulgrew could turn the UFT into a more undemocratic institution than Randi Weingarten? Give me the days of Shan
MAY 07
Vera Pavone on the UFT Contract
The power of a union derives from the power of its membership acting together. But also, its ability to get the support of a wider part of the community.So, the main job of a union is to build solidarity among its membership and with its natural allies. In the case of a teachers’ union the natural allies are parents, community, students, other unions and workers, and other teacher unions throughou
Former Unity Caucus Member: Arthur Goldstein is telling the truth about loyalty oaths
Loyalty to the truth rather than Unity makes for better sleeping at night... Roseanne McCosh, PS 8X, former Unity Caucus memberThis is in response to attacks on Arthur challenging whether there is a loyalty oath. Remember when Lauren Cohen mentioned the loyalty oath at the NYSUT convention? They started booing her. Touchy, touchy, touchy.There are Unity Caucus people who agree with us. I know beca
Roseanne McCosh: Why I Am Voting No to the UFT Contract
Roseanne has been in touch for a number of years - she follows issues very closely and shares them with her staff at PS 8 in the Bronx. She was chapter leader for a number of years before passing it on to the next gen. She shared this with teachers in her school. She has never been to a MORE meeting. So Roseanne represents rank and file teachers. So when Unity attacks the opponents of the contract
MORE Press Advisory: NYC Public School Educators to UFT Leaders: “Go Back to the Bargaining Table!”
This was sent out to the press last night. Even if you are not part of MORE, join the campaign by downloading and printing leaflets for your school. MORE is willing to help organize events in your local area around your school to discuss the contract to counter the Unity spin.FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: May 6, 2014 CONTACT: Harris Lirtzman (917)806-8233 (during the school day) OR Megan Moskop (252)367-
MAY 06
MOREista Brian Jones to Run for Lt. Gov on Green Party
Well, I guess the UFT won't be endorsing the Green Party against Cuomo and Duffy, his Lt. Gov ed deform slug who tried to shove the mayoral control shiv into Rochester when he was mayor there.I am excited to let you know that Brian Jones has stepped up to run as the Green Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor.Brian would not just balance the Green Party ticket. He will multiply it.To be sure, ba
Press Conf Protesting Charter Law at 9AM/ Charter Gold Rush to Come in NYS
9AM: presser starting now, followed by 10AM City Council hearing on charters.WHAT: Press conference to protest new state law requiring New York City to give charter schools preference for space and resources, while schools in community school districts need space and resources to properly serve public school students. WHO: NYC public school parents, City Council members, el
Factless Danny Feldman is Outraged at Arthur Goldstein Over Contract Crticisms
WHAT DID YOU EVER DO BESIDES WHINE AND TALK ABOUT FALSE LOYALTY OATHS? -- Danny Feldman accusing Arthur Goldstein, who actually does something as chapter leader of one of the largest schools in the city, with almost 300 members.Gee, Factless Feldman, get a clue. As a union official did you actually know what chapter leaders did?Diane Ravitch, who praised the contract, also gave Arthur space to re
MAY 05
Charter WaitList Balderdash Exposed - Show Us the Names
WAIT, WAIT. DON’T MISLEAD ME! - NINE REASONS TO BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT CHARTER WAITLIST NUMBERS.”I have always challenged the charter lobby wait-list bullshit - challenging them to show is the names. They won't. So with the lobby releasing info today that there are billions and billions of parents clamoring to get their children into the charter plantations so they can be treated like serfs, it was go
WAIT, WAIT. DON’T MISLEAD ME! - Charter Wait List Balderdash Debunked
I've always maintained the charter wait lists are a bunch of lies -- ask them to show you their lists. With Obama proclaiming National Charter Week, the charter lobby is going to trumpet some more phony numbers. A message from the Ravitch bloggers network:Fellow Education Bloggers,This is “National Charter Schools Week.”Even the President is rejoicing with a proclamation: http://www.whitehouse.gov
The contract: Ravitch Raves, MORE Friendly Critic Asks Why 'NO"?
Hi Norm, In face of Diane's latest I see that MORE is planning lots of action to get folks to vote no on the contract. I wonder if this is such a good idea. Does anyone consider this is helping to isolate MORE? I have been following most of the discussion. It is hard to see where MORE's priorities truly lie except against what ever the leadership says or does... a concerned contact Well, I don'
MAY 04
A Newark Teacher Issues Warning to NYC Teachers on Contract -
It is more than mere coincidence that the challenges of the “historic” Newark contract are now being exported to New York City teachers. Do not allow Randi Weingarten to dance the minuet at your reception..... A Newark Teacher Has Randi evolved into a whirling dervish?Randi’s Dance Repertoireby A Newark TeacherIn an interview with Josh Eidelson of Salon, Randi danced the hora, circling round and r
Advice to MORE on Contract Strategy
Norm, you strike me as a realist. What are your thoughts on getting this voted down?... Roseanne McCosh PS 8xRoseanne asks a good question. Before trying to respond I want to lay down some historical points because being out of schools for a decade I don't have the best feel for the mood of the members, other than the fact that some old supporters of Ed Notes have been in touch about getting a NO
MAY 03
How Unity is Selling the Contract and A Response from a Rank and Filer Who is Not Buying
What was the union's dream contract? What were our demands? How can anyone but the mayor declare this a victory?... High School teacher responding to email from UFT organizerYou know something is shaking when people I haven't heard from in years start sending me letters they are writing saying they will vote NO. These are not the activist MOREistas who spend a hell of a lot of time on union stuf
Kit Wainer: Historical Reference to Previous Contract Struggles
Kit's history is an important starting point for the upcoming contract struggle. I have a different take on some of Kit's analysis - remember - my history of contract struggles goes back to the early 70s. But it is too nice a day and I am too lazy to get into it - though I may do a separate post at where I disagree.But a few words before I head outside.In 1995 I had just come back to activism afte
Rebecca Mead in New Yorker on Teachers Refusing to Give Test and on Louis C.K. Slam of Testing and Common Core
This week, teachers at International High School at Prospect Heights, which serves a population of recently arrived immigrants from non-English-speaking countries, announced that they would not administer an assessment required by the city. A pre-test in the fall “was a traumatic and demoralizing experience for students,” a statement issued by the teachers said. “Many students, after asking for he