On May 1 ballots in UFT leadership election will go in the mail to the 189,000 members: teachers, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, school secretaries and a number of other service providers, retirees votes are “fractional” to keep percentage of votes consistent, a long standing bylaws provision. All the officer, executive board and convention delegate positions areContinue reading “Vote in the UFT Election: The Future of Public Education and Your Personal Freedom Maybe Be At Risk”
Tag Archives: news
Preparing for the Battles Ahead and Fighting Together
Always should begin with the good news, Mayor Adams’ announcement, the city would hire 3700 new teachers to comply with the Class Size Reduction law, in addition to vacancies created by retirement and resignations. Now the disturbing news: The tornado funnel in the distance is closing in, the House just passed a budget, the SenateContinue reading “Preparing for the Battles Ahead and Fighting Together”
Storm Clouds Gathering, Rolling Thunder in the Distance
The Governor and the state legislative leaders are pushing towards a budget agreement; however, governors commonly include numerous non budgetary items into the budget. Remarkably, in spite of enormously unresolved consequential issues, at the top of the list to be included in the budget is a “bell to bell” ban on cell phones in school. Shouldn’tContinue reading “Storm Clouds Gathering, Rolling Thunder in the Distance”
Picking a Mayoral Candidate(s): A Mayoral Candidate Forum and the Race for Gracie Mansion
One of things I learned as a UFT rep is that the battle is never over, whether over a contract or with a superintendent or a chancellor or a mayor or a governor, and, now with a Congress and a President. Bitching on Facebook might relieve stress, it doesn’t change the world around us,Continue reading “Picking a Mayoral Candidate(s): A Mayoral Candidate Forum and the Race for Gracie Mansion”
Will the Elimination of the US Department of Education and Trump Budget Cuts Jeopardize My Job?
The first message Linda McMahon, the new Secretary of Education sent to her staff was we’re shutting down. What happens to the Title 1 Dollars? The 1.5 billion federal education dollars formerly going to New York State? Trump, McMahon and their acolytes shout education belongs to the states: time for a little history lesson. Yes, theContinue reading “Will the Elimination of the US Department of Education and Trump Budget Cuts Jeopardize My Job?”
What are the UFT Election Endorsement Procedures? And, Why They Matter
To the extent possible the UFT is a membership-driven organization, of course, with 190,000 members, a complex task. Only 25% of members voted in previous elections, the same percentage as the public in elections despite early voting and no excuse-absentee balloting. Unions play a major role in elections, actually in the primary election, the cityContinue reading “What are the UFT Election Endorsement Procedures? And, Why They Matter”
Would “Mayor” Cuomo Protect New York City, Our Schools and Teachers from Trump?
A few days before Christmas in 1991, two months before the “first in the nation” New Hampshire presidential primary Mario Cuomo stepped up to microphone in Albany, the plane to New Hampshire was revving its engines, and announced he would not be a candidate for the presidency. The speciation over his decision has been parsedContinue reading “Would “Mayor” Cuomo Protect New York City, Our Schools and Teachers from Trump?”
“Don’t Mourn, Organize,” We’re All Citizen Lobbyists
Who are my Congressman, state Assembly, Senators and City Council members? You probably have no idea, yet they impact life every single day. Click here for contact info for all electeds NYC PBA – Find Your Representatives A few days ago the CCNY Alumni Association sent testimony to key members of the state legislature demanding adequate funding,Continue reading ““Don’t Mourn, Organize,” We’re All Citizen Lobbyists”
Public Schools, Unions and Teachers: Facing A Yawning Abyss
Monday was the first day for collecting signatures to get on the June 24th Democratic Primary Ballot for the City Council and I’m helping a friend. You have to be a registered democrat and live in the district to sign a nominating petition. Recent politics in NYC has turned off voters, the June 24th turnoutContinue reading “Public Schools, Unions and Teachers: Facing A Yawning Abyss”
Leadership and Experience Matters: The Survival of Public Education is at Stake
The United Federation of Teachers, the UFT has almost 200,000 members, 75,000 teachers 25,000 paraprofessionals 60,000 retirees 50,000 other titles, I.e., school secretaries, guidance counselors, speech pathologists, etc. working in 1800 school and other facilities. The governance structure: * officers (11) and Boro Reps, meet weekly *102 member executive board, meets twice aContinue reading “Leadership and Experience Matters: The Survival of Public Education is at Stake”
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 