Tag Archives: news

Kudos to UFT Leadership: Understanding the Art of Politics

Many decades ago the Delegate Assembly determined contract bargaining demands at monthly meetings, delegates would step to the microphone and move to add a demand, an up or down vote, the list of demands was long, very long. A delegate asked, “Al, if we get everything, how much would it cost?” Shanker stepped back fromContinue reading “Kudos to UFT Leadership: Understanding the Art of Politics”

Will the Changes in NYS Graduation Requirements Better Prepare Students for the Post High School World? Part 2

The NYS Board of Regents has made sweeping changes to high school graduation requirements, with the implementation details “to be decided.”  Will these changes improve outcomes for students? The major changes are confusing, *A range of options will be offered in addition to the regents exam to meet graduation requirements.  New York State is shifting toContinue reading “Will the Changes in NYS Graduation Requirements Better Prepare Students for the Post High School World? Part 2”

A Fourth of July Fable

On July 4th President Trump’s Favorability Rating (FR) was at 38% and the stock markets hitting all time highs. As the summer edged closer to the November 3rd midterms his FR trickled down a few points although the president appeared unconcerned, after all the campaign actually begins after Labor Day. On Labor Day the president’sContinue reading “A Fourth of July Fable”

How Would You Rate the Chancellor?

At the end of a school year the pedagogical staff is assessed, for teachers the Matrix, for supervisors the Principal Performance Review and for the Chancellor, well ChatCPT says the mayor with input from the Panel for Educational Priorities, a majority of whom are appointed by the mayor. In elementary, 6-8, 6-12 and 9–12 schools parents, teachers andContinue reading “How Would You Rate the Chancellor?”

Hail to King Zohran

Since the founding fathers politics has been run by the machine, meaning the power brokers within the party. Neighborhood political clubs, captains on every block, candidates selected in the proverbial smoke-filled room dominated the political landscape. With the SCOTUS Citizens Unlimited decision the landscape began to change, unlimited “independent expenditures” flooded campaigns with dollars. The shadowyContinue reading “Hail to King Zohran”

June 23rd Democratic Primary: Your Vote Matters and Activism is Essential

Let’s begin with a stand up and shout moment watch the Robert de Niro speech, you’ll love it and on an ominous note, Paul Krugman asks whether we are living in the repetition of a point in history, So in a real sense we are living in the midst of a reenactment of the decline and fallContinue reading “June 23rd Democratic Primary: Your Vote Matters and Activism is Essential”

Does the Race of a Teacher Impact Student Outcomes? Is Supporting Black Teaching Candidates Discriminatory?

The NY Daily News reports,  The Trump administration is investigating the City University of New York over allegations of racial discrimination, the U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday. The agency’s civil rights arm said it received reports alleging CUNY’s Black Male Initiative gives preference to some students over others on the basis of race. “Race can neverContinue reading “Does the Race of a Teacher Impact Student Outcomes? Is Supporting Black Teaching Candidates Discriminatory?”

Engaging the UFT Membership in the Upcoming Contract Negotiations

The current UFT Contract ends 11/28/27; however, the terms and conditions of the current contract remain in full force and effect until the successor contract is ratified.  In NYS public employee labor agreements, aka, contracts, don’t expire, they just designate a date to negotiate the next agrement. Prior to the Taylor Law contracts did expire andContinue reading “Engaging the UFT Membership in the Upcoming Contract Negotiations”

Is the Mayor Planning to Defund the Affinity District Partner Organizations?

The NYS budget cycle is April 1 to March 31, if the governor/legislatures fail to reach an agreement the legislature passes a “continuing resolution” to keep the state solvent, meaning the ability to pay bills and pay state employees. Cuomo prided himself on timely budgets, each of Governor Hochel’s budgets has been late and thisContinue reading “Is the Mayor Planning to Defund the Affinity District Partner Organizations?”

A Primer: Who Manages Our Pensions? How Does the System Work?

In the last Constitutional Convention, in 1938, the phase “…public employee pensions may not be diminished or impaired,” was added to the State Constitution.   Changing the constitution requires votes in both houses of the state legislatures in two consecutive sessions followed by a statewide referendum of voters. In other words our pensions are secured by theContinue reading “A Primer: Who Manages Our Pensions? How Does the System Work?”