“We must all hang together or most assuredly we’ll hang separately,” Benjamin Franklin Less than a month into the Trump-Elon regency and the attack on public education and labor unions is just beginning. Utah is the third state to bar public employees from collective bargaining, and we expect a Trump attempt. perhaps through a presidentialContinue reading ““We must all hang together or most assuredly we’ll hang separately,””
Tag Archives: news
The Impending Dismantling of the Department of Education, Public Education, Teacher Unions and perhaps our Democracy
Trump and his minions are preparing to dismantle the Department of Education and move on to dismantling public education and teacher unions, and perhaps our democracy. The Department of Education is the smallest and most recent cabinet level department. As part of LBJ’s Great Society the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) became law andContinue reading “The Impending Dismantling of the Department of Education, Public Education, Teacher Unions and perhaps our Democracy”
Possibly/Probably Mayor Andrew Cuomo: The Mayoral Primary is June 24th
Seemingly for months the news of the day was the indictment of Mayor Adams: Will he resign? Will the governor remove him? and, after November 5th Adams’ pandering to the president-elect, and, will he be pardoned?. A few lawyers have questioned the charges. Adam’s trial is scheduled for April. You can read the indictment here. Continue reading “Possibly/Probably Mayor Andrew Cuomo: The Mayoral Primary is June 24th”
Why is the DSA Trying to Take Over the UFT?
“I’m not a member of any political party – I’m a democrat” Will Rogers We have a two party electoral system, Democrats and Republicans, within each party there are factions, and Madison in Federalist # 10 warned against factions, “who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or of some, adverse toContinue reading “Why is the DSA Trying to Take Over the UFT?”
Trump versus the NYS Board of Regents
On January 20th the scepter and orb were transferred to Trump and the early theme of the era of Trump 2.0 is off and running: retribution Executive Orders flew out of the White House, institutionalizing a host of MAGA favorites, among them a major theme of the Trump campaign, opposing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts,Continue reading “Trump versus the NYS Board of Regents”
“Where are the Snows of Yesteryear,”
In my union rep days I visited a couple of schools a day “showing the flag,” some principals welcomed me, a few thought I was a troublemaker, in a way, they were correct. In the winter I kept my army field jacket in my car in case I had to walk to the school, IContinue reading ““Where are the Snows of Yesteryear,””
“Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste,” Why We Need Wily, Experienced Leadership
The days are getting longer, otherwise the bleak, chilly days seem to be modeling the political climate. One day Trump is thinking about giving DACA kids permanent status the next swooping down and snatching immigrants off the streets, the next day probably messing with Social Security and Medicare, is that whirring sound sucking sanity downContinue reading ““Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste,” Why We Need Wily, Experienced Leadership”
In Praise of the UFT Staff
Over the past year the opposition caucuses have been demeaning the folks who keep the union running, for the most part invisible, the staff. The borough offices are staffed by part timers who work a few days a week supporting the full time staff who worked their way up the informal internship system. I wasContinue reading “In Praise of the UFT Staff”
A Bubbling Cauldron: Dividing Billions of Foundation Aid Dollars
The news is dominated by the Trump election, the Adams indictment, the new police commissioner, the healthcare corporation executive murder, the chancellor of the month, and, buried behind the headlines the battle over Foundation Aid, the formula that determines the distribution of state dollars to schools. A little history: New York is a property taxContinue reading “A Bubbling Cauldron: Dividing Billions of Foundation Aid Dollars”
From the Classrooms: One Army, Union Members Prepared to Fight for Our Schools and Our Students
I was chatting with a group of elementary school teachers. “Do you know there’s an election for UFT leadership in the spring?” “No” “Do you know who leads the union now and how are they doing?” One of the teachers had been a delegate, she liked Mulgrew’s opening report, said it was thorough. “Do you knowContinue reading “From the Classrooms: One Army, Union Members Prepared to Fight for Our Schools and Our Students”
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 