Meaningless Tests, Suicide Prevention, and Election Day

Last year I wasn't absent much, but I called in sick for two all-day meeting Zoomfests, at least one of which devolved into gratuitous name-calling. Tuesday we have yet another, and I have really mixed feelings.

On a positive note, I recently stepped down as dean. Admin, having decided not to replace a few dean positions this year,  unilaterally declared we'd work more periods than called for in the postings we answered. Though we were able to fix it (and thank God we are union) I was disgusted on multiple levels. Since then, I've been teaching five classes and pretty happy about it. 

This notwithstanding, Tuesday will be a useless, wasteful slog discussing meaningless test scores, which we're evidently scheduled to do for three hours (!). For us, it will entail analyzing the results of the MAP test my hapless students were compelled to take a few weeks ago. There are many reasons why this will be a waste of time, the most obvious being the tests themselves were a waste of time.

My beginning-English students took them on laptops during class periods, which ensured multiple interruptions such as passing out, collecting, and sometimes trying to fix machines and dodgy software. That would not be so bad if it were not for all the time more directly lost by taking the test in the first place. I looked over the shoulders of a few kids to see tedious bits of text accompanied by multiple choice questions. There was no way this was a remotely productive use of my students' time. 

So Tuesday we will spend three days hours looking at the results of these tests. I was not clear on whether or not we'd have access to the original test questions, so I assume we will just take the company's word that these questions represent inference, while others represent comprehension, and others whatever. I did not hear anything about capacity for abuse, which I can only suppose is measured by how long the students tortured themselves grappling with language well beyond their capacity. To give one example of how ridiculous this test was, right now I have kids who will not respond to, "What's your name?"

Then, of course, there's the fact that, over the last two months, my classes that took this test have turned over completely. I have probably lost half the students I started with and gained as many. Not only that, but some of my students have interrupted formal education, and may have trouble reading or writing their first languages. A strong indicator of how well students will absorb a second written language is how well they do so in their first.

On Election Day, after we spend three hours going over these MAP results, we get one hour of suicide prevention. I think that reflects a lack of forethought on part of the administration. If they wanted to do this effectively, they'd offer suicide prevention before we spent hours slogging over a useless, tedious test. If it were me, I'd have devoted more time to suicide prevention than going over a meaningless test. After all, what's more important--your life and those of others, or a test that means less than nothing?

Maybe I will be sick by Tuesday AM. I can feel something coming on. Though really, I should push myself to be stronger. Even though my kids and I wasted three class days taking this cruel miserable test, it's far from over. We have to do this twice more this year to determine exactly how much progress my students have made in the process of sitting through meaningless idiotic tests. 

I wonder how much the geniuses who write this crap got paid. Surely we all chose the wrong business, but at least we provide a service.

UFT Must Support Single Payer and New York Health Act

There's something profoundly disturbing about our opposition to the New York Health Act. We are, in effect, opposing single payer health insurance for the entire state of New York. It's not just that we're hindering something much needed, a veritable moral imperative. It's not just that we are slowing down potential progress toward ending the national disgrace that is our health system. In fact, we are doing both those things. These things alone could qualify as profoundly disturbing, but we've gone beyond that. Here's why:

The reason we haven't got national health insurance, unlike every non-third-world country, is there are wholly artificial barriers that separate us. We can have that, but you can't. You won't know how to handle it.

Watch Fox News someday, if you can stomach it, and you'll see how we are artificially separated by Rupert Murdoch's propaganda machine. There's a caravan of immigrants coming in to ruin our country. There are people marching, shouting Black Lives Matter, and that must mean yours does not. The Biden administration, evil bastards that they are, are trying to vaccinate everyone, and in New York City, that awful place with all those immigrants, they want to vaccinate the police. (Who cares if COVID 19 has become the number one cause of death among police?)

You, of course, are supposed to be angry, and express it by voting for Donald Trump, or whatever GOP hack is protecting you from things like national health insurance, or union, or vaccinations, or women's right to choose, or whatever other atrocity the evil left and Antifa is trying to foist upon you. Those things, as you know, are communism, socialism, or even fascism, which are bad, unless it's Donald Trump acting as fascist, because alternative facts.

The important thing is to have a scapegoat. Look at those lazy people who don't want to work for $7.25 an hour. Worthless bastards bitching because they have no health insurance, no pension, will never own a home, cannot afford higher education, and essentially have no future. It's because of them that you have no health insurance, no pension, will never own a home, cannot afford higher education, and essentially have no future. So you'd better vote for the GOP, or even the corporate Democrats, because only they will make sure that Jeff Bezos pays no taxes and can afford to send William Shatner into space.

This is not racism, of course. You don't hate these people because they're black or brown (even though you may as well and likely as not you do), but rather because of their work ethic, or lack thereof. Yeah, that's the ticket. If only they'd stop marching around claiming their lives matter, perhaps yours would matter more. The fact is, though, that as long as those people are kept down, so are you. And your hatred for them, for whatever reason, actually means you are stuck in the same place they are. Of course, Tucker Carlson will give you a million reasons why that's not true, and he's on for an hour every night, so if you don't want to believe this, just watch him instead.

Here's the thing, though--our lives are entwined, whatever color our skin may be, whatever religion we may follow, and wherever we come from. If we separate working people, we are not stronger. Now I do not believe UFT leadership is racist. I do not believe they have bad intentions. What I do believe, though, is that by pitting us against working New Yorkers, we are unintentionally perpetuating the awful system that kills our brothers and sisters when they are afraid to visit a doctor or ER because of the cost. 

We are union, and the bigger our union, the more power we have. By cutting ourselves off from most New Yorkers, we ultimately make ourselves weaker. I honestly don't know exactly what benefits we have that we would not if there were to be a single payer system. Whatever they are, though, we should work to incorporate them into the state system. Short of that, we could work to keep them for ourselves and later add them to the state system. 

Opposing health care for all is not only morally indefensible, but also fundamentally anti-union. We owe it not only to ourselves, but also to our brothers and sisters around the state to find a way to support this. We need New Yorkers and Americans to know that union is a force for the good of all, not just us, and we need to inspire them to form unions of their own. That's the only way we're going to create a system that rejects racist, xenophobic, misogynistic anti-union demagogues like Trump, Tucker, and all the other lunatics who hate us and everything we stand for. 

There's one thing that Fox, and the GOP and the corporate Dems want us all to forget, and that is this--we are ALL in this together. As unionists, it behooves us to remember that, always.

UFT Executive Board October 18, 2021---Health Care Concerns and More

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr--Welcomes us. Minutes approved. Nominations to replace Sterling Roberson, who has retired as CTA VP.

Mike Sill--Nominates Leo Gordon, who worked in a CTA school. Taught how to be effective organizer and how students learned in CTA setting. Gordon can extend Sterling's embrace of technology. Was helpful teaching how to do remote teaching. No one better qualified. 

No other nominees. Leo Gordon is unopposed. 

Gordon--Thanks committee, is honored, CTE is my life. Believes in it and will help usher in new generation of professionals.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--Congratulates Gordon. Thanks coordinators for Strides. Happy 3D mammograms are up and running. 

Last week, D 75 took huge hit on paras. Many unvaccinated paras were D75. UFT called schools, asked how many had been nominated and not processed. There were hundreds. DOE took no responsibility, saying there were things missing in system. UFT reached out to those people to fill in whatever was missing, and got 500 paras processed today. Still working on it. All about communication.

Biggest challenges are student communities not being supported properly. Former Rikers school was locking members in rooms and not letting them out. Again DOE took no responsibility. We pressured them and city hall complained to state. Constantly dealing with these challenges. 

Critical of mayor. Over two months of decisions based on what will help him run for next office. Have had many phone conversations with Eric Adams to try and help with transition. 

DN says Eric Adams is rolling back program for retirees. Adams said he never said that. We have to communicate more than ever. Over Election Day, for example. We had asynchronous agreement. Said yes Thursday, no Sunday, then that they had until 15th to inform or it was remote. No way to run school system. 

Through this year and next we will look at health care for both retirees and in service. Retiree plan will be good. Many spreading misinformation. We will make sure retirees are happy. We still have to deal with in service health care. DC lobbyists spending billions lobbying NOT to cap drug costs. Pharma companies very much against it. Bot Republicans and Dems said they want to stop it. We were able to push legislation on surprise billing. We want you to use ER when it's an emergency. Nothing about health care is free. We bargain for it all the time and pay for it. When people start pushing single payer they dont understand we will lose what we have now and going forward.

We've already paid for health care. value gone if it passes. Billions in budget. If health care needs 4.5 billion increase it's coming from education. We will push this out in communications. 

Going from mayor to governor race will make things interesting. Bloomberg wants to be relevant again. We will follow, and do more impact bargaining. Changes require it. We will help people understand issues. 

Close to vaccine for 5-11 year olds. LA already mandated vaccines for eligible students. Adams will look toward doing that, he says. People will come to us for our opinion. Thanks to Strides and D75 again. 

Impact bargaining is operational.

?--Had agreement with DOE, Paras could be sent to schools, DOE violated. Have to be placed in proper borough, reverse seniority order. Ended in one week. Another redeployment agreement also violated almost immediately. Filed operational complaint, resolved as of Friday. Those placed interborough get $67 per day. 

Special Ed. Recovers Services--Case managers had to meet with teachers, contact parent, make plan. Two per session hours for every student on caseload for every student, to be done after schools. Issue with people allowed to work from home, should be resolved this week.

?--Digital classroom, should be done by Oct. 1. One day worth of lessons in it. Will be $225 supplemental this month. Instructional lunch--Children having lunch while teacher is teaching--teachers get coverage every time that happens. 

Report from Districts-

?--As of 4 today, UFT raised 95,000 dollars. Michael Freedman team raised 5K.

?--Please encourage seniors to fill out Al Shanker scholarship forms. Will be student portal this year to upload transcripts. Next year they can apply online. 

6:36 We are adjourned. 

?--Sub incentive.50 day for certain time.

Debbie Poulos--operational process--Last year we had expedited process. Now we have new agreement--Five school days at school and district level, and we meet once a week as needed. We have one escalated case on instructional lunch from a high school. 

Questions--

Digital classrooms--Is it four hours for every person?

A--225 each for everyone. 

Note: I seem to have lost the last few minutes of the meeting here. Not sure why. Ended at 6:26.

Pro-Charter Adams Pays Lip Service to Saving Medicare for NYC Retirees

In one of the most cynical ploys I've seen, in the last few days at least, Democratic mayoral shoo-in Eric Adams is trying to bolster his pro-union cred. He's publicly criticizing the de Blasio-MLC deal to place NYC retirees on a Medicare Advantage plan by default. He calls it a "bait and switch." In many respects, that's true. Retirees had every expectation of joining Medicare for no added cost and are now being told, come January, that will cost you an extra 200 bucks or so per month, per person. 

This has been the battle cry of those who oppose this move, and perhaps some of them will read this story and come to support Adams, as has UFT. It doesn't really matter whether they do or not. Adams is going to be the next mayor. His main opposition is Curtis Sliwa, a cartoonish figure, a publicity-seeking serial liar with xenophobic and sexist tendencies. If you like the Proud Boys, Sliwa's your guy. I don't think that will fly with New Yorkers. 

Let's take a closer look at Adams ostensibly standing up for union member rights. If you go to the very end of the DN article, it says this:

But he admitted that, if he’s elected, he’s unsure how much power he’ll have to undo de Blasio’s proposal.

What does that tell you? It tells me he's going to do absolutely nothing to block this proposal. Adams is not going to step into office just to be vilified by the press for ostensibly costing the city a bunch of money to support union members. The papers hate unions. I mean all of them, up to and including the faux-liberal NY Times, which has an education reporter who fairly regularly trashes UFT as though its something everyone should take for granted. 

More importantly, and you wouldn't know this from the other nights Delegate Assembly, Adams has taken six-million dollars from a pro-charter PAC that has close ties to Michelle Rhee and Eva Moskowitz. The fact is this PAC does not support union, and the fact is the overwhelming majority of charters are non-union. When Adams is mayor, he will undoubtedly move to expand them, whether or not he takes the time to make nice with UFT. That PAC didn't hand him suitcases of cash just for fun.

If you are a union supporter, you do not enable and encourage non-union work. While it's nice that Adams gets up and calls this anti-union before all but admitting he'll do nothing to stop it, it would be a lot nicer if he disavowed his own blatantly anti-union ties. And that's not gonna happen, because the ties he wears are paid for by Students First, a name that misleads you because what it really means is Teachers Last.

I've had student teachers who couldn't find jobs in public schools who got stuck working for charters. It's a living, but not a career. You jump through all sorts of hoops and they fire you anyway. That in itself is not bad, because there's always another willing to hire you. This notwithstanding, we don't want our kids growing up jumping from gig to gig, especially in a country and state that doesn't guarantee health insurance. 

Adams himself worked himself up to captain in NYPD and retired with a nice fixed pension and health care for life. It's unconscionable that he supports enterprises that will provide much less for NYC's children. Adams, evidently, is a firm believer in, "I've got mine, and now screw the rest of you."

That's hardly the sort of example to set for NYC's children. It's pathetic that we have only these two viable candidates in what's perhaps the bluest city in the United States. To say we could do better would be the understatement of the year, if not the decade.

On Persuasion, Lack Thereof, and UFT Endorsing a Bought-and-paid-for Charter Shill

 Last night's DA was remarkable on multiple levels. There was talk about NYCH, a bill that would provide health care for all New Yorkers. We heard that we would lose money if it were enabled, but no particulars were offered. If that were to be the case, it would behoove us to modify the bill so that it ceased to be the case. Then, we should support it. Health care for all, however we go about it, is a moral imperative.

Mostly, though, was the 180-degree turnaround on Eric Adams. Just weeks ago, Michael Mulgrew was speaking as disparagingly about Adams as I would. Last night, though, judging from what was said of the resolution, you'd think he was savior of the universe, a Marvel super hero, or a national treasure of some sort.

The fact is that Adams took six million dollars from charter interests, and not just any charter interests. He took it from a PAC affiliated with Students First.  Students First was founded by Michelle Rhee, who blathered on about the perfidy of teachers, had a miracle cure to improve schools, failed by every measure, and now peddles fertilizer of a more literal sort. You can see Jenny Sedelis if you click the link, who once worked for Eva Moskowitz, and pretty much still does. I'd always see her quoted back in the Bloomberg days, and if you thought they were fun, get ready for Eric Adams.

Some of the arguments I heard last night, likely all of them, were preposterous beyond belief. One person got up on his hind legs and said that we needed to fight Sliwa because of his involvement with charters. It's certainly true that Sliwa supports charters, but just as true that Adams does. In fact, the charter interests have put their money behind Adams, quite literally, and most certainly expect a return on their investment. Not one pro-Adams speaker even mentioned Adams' support of charters, and if you didn't know better, you'd think that we were battling charter interests. We are absolutely not doing that.

Another speaker got up and spoke of how we needed to support our members, you know, the ones we've been misleading about Adams and his positions on charter schools. Were that to be a valid point, we'd need to give them a vote, or at the very least survey them. Of course, we've done neither. I'm not averse to representative democracy, but I have a real problem misrepresenting this endorsement as the will of rank and file. Any rank and file familiar with the work of Diane Ravitch would have serious issues with this endorsement, as do I.

Another speaker got up and spoke to what Adams has done. He did this. He did that. He's our great supporter. Yet weeks ago the president was telling us he was in the pocket of charter interests, to absolutely not select him, and that the charters really wanted to be a force with which to be reckoned. Whoever this speaker was had no issue ignoring that utterly, and reading a litany of incredibly wonderful things that Adams did, all the while ignoring the six million dollars he accepted from people who hate us and everything we stand for.

There was also an argument that the selection committees did a lot of work. This notwithstanding, during primary season they determined to oppose Adams. 

Now there is an argument to be made for supporting Adams, though I heard no such thing last night. That argument was made to me privately by someone in a position to understand why UFT leadership may be doing this. That is the possibility that, if we support Adams, we can counter the anti-public-education forces who have pretty much bought him. Now that may be valid, though I don't really believe it us.

I remember our good friend Hillary Clinton, who we supported before we supported Obama, telling us there were things we could learn from "public charter schools." Just by calling them that, she granted them validity I don't believe they merit. Charters are, in fact, where anti-public-school folks went when they failed to sell vouchers to the public.

And I remember our good friend Barack Obama, who we supported when Hillary lost that nomination. I also remember Arne Duncan, whom he appointed as Secretary of Education. Duncan was the one who pushed the ironically named "Race to the Top," which left us with the awful, counter-productive evaluation system we now face. It also contributed to the mountain of testing our poor students face, sometimes used to rate teachers. 

The fact is Obama was a Democrat, supposedly our supporter, but very much under the sway of Bill Gates and his merry band of reformies. Education Secretary Duncan saw Hurrican Katrina as an opportunity, He privatized the entire NOLA school system and declared that Katrina was the best thing to happen to education in NOLA. That, of course, was because hiw wealthy BFFs were finally profiting from it. Also, there was no more messy union to stand in their way. You gotta love a Democrat who kills union and calls it progress. I did not vote for Barack Obama in his second term.

I don't anticipate good things from an Adams administration. Mulgrew said Bloomberg was talking to him, and I could very easily anticipate Bloomberg mach two. Personally, I very much hope I'm wrong, and that Adams turns out to be a reasonable guy, despite the suitcases of cash he happily took from people who hate us and everything we stand for. 

However, aside from educational visionary Diane Ravitch, who isn't even a politician, I've never seen a single reformy see the light. 

All they seem to see is the cash.

UFT Delegate Assembly October 13, 2021--UFT Endorses Pro-Charter Adams as Friday the 13th Occurs on Wednesday

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--Introduces CL Jennifer Brown.

Brown--Speaks of Carl Plummer, who took her place as CL. Fought for all students and co-workers. Will miss him dearly.

Moment of silence.

Mulgrew--Welcomes newcomers to DA. Will be easy year, says sarcastically. Opening was very hectic. Thanks all who opened their arms to students. Has been much turmoil since. Thanks those who do the work that will get union through challenge. Says it's not easy. 

Wants to recognize all District Reps. Asks them to stand. 

Reflects on last year, and says we were constantly trying to change and adjust. Key to school is stability and we don't have it now. Probably won't have it this year either. Speaks of agreements made through operational complaints last year. 2200 made last year, over 2K resolved. Normally we use grievance process, but many things we're asked to do now aren't covered in CBA. Teaching in a pandemic is new thing. Negotiating often yelling back and forth with DOE. They think it's only about them in central. 

We have to keep focus on work being done at school and instructional process. All of these agreements had compensation tied to them when DOE broke them. We're working under new conditions, and if they break agreements, we need to be compensated. All change, though it's right thing now, is not good for us or children of NYC. It's stress on top of stress.

But we are stuck in a pandemic. We'll have to work this way until we get out of it. We have to continue negotiating because their management is very flimsy. This is uber-stress on everyone right now. Members want to know how to take care of things, but answers constantly change. Not good for instructional practices.

We're beyond flexible. No matter how much we plan, we know things won't work out as we expect. We don't need craziness from outside our schools intruding. We need to recognize we've had a lot of stress and there will be more. Hope things will go back to normal without constant disruption. Not happening this month. 

Our focus for this year is to figure how to relieve as much stress as possible, even though it will be stressful year. I'm waiting for January. We're at end of an administration, never a good time. New admin will have its own challenges. Pre-K through entire city is positive. Haven't solved challenge of DOE knowing it has to help schools rather than hold them accountable. 

How we help each other reduce stress will be this year's challenge. We shouldn't be changing rules and debating how to measure three feet.  All of a sudden, because we had no observations, people don't have two Es in a row, so DOE says they need formal observation.

We need to move membership in better place. That is the job, and that's why you were elected. CLs need to support one another. That's a major piece. We have to help people do their jobs, and make them easier when we can. All of you have gone above and beyond. We need everyone who will take that challenge on. I believe this school year will end it, but I believed that last year too.

We have agreement on partial closings,with compensation attached. We believe it will be tough to close elementary entirely, and we are reinterpreting partial closures for them. When you or members are told to supply instructional support remotely, partial closure agreement goes into effect. 

COVID protocols--City couldn't deny what was put forth in last week's council hearing. DOH can change protocols, and did so around NYC schools. Said principal or school responsible for determining close contact. Some principals say whole class. They may be getting calls saying this is frowned upon. Shouldn't be that way.

Can only close school if you determine COVID happened because people brought it in, but DOH not doing investigations, therefore no evidence available and no closure. Three feet is no longer three feet, now measured from center of desk to center of desk. Last year we had strictest protocols in US. This was probably done via polls that didn't ask whether they wanted to be with others who tested positive. Probably by pols looking to advance.

Numbers have dropped dramatically in last few weeks. Very low percentage. We know everyone is vaccinated, but still, teachers take great pride in keeping students safe. Instinctual to us. Our critics don't understand this. If you put our children and ourselves at risk, you will have to deal with us and hear from us.

DOE is Lord of the Flies. Who's next? Who will keep job? 

We did emergency agreement because of vaccine mandate. We wanted schools to have enough flexibility to stay safe. We can't have multiple classes in auditoriums. Ed. officials stayed at DOE and redeployed everyone who wasn't. They did it wrong, we have to fix, constant challenge. They don't think about schools first.

National--looking at big package, infrastructure. We want our schools to have money to go completely green and new ones built with zero consumption. Met last night w Sen. Schumer. Ventilation was big problem. We fixed, put in air purifiers. Why did it take a pandemic? We filed safety complaints for 15 years but schools not covered by OSHA. Within three months, we fixed. NYC needs major investment in school facilities. We need big infusion of cash. 

Ruled against us on everything in NLRB for past four years. Hope future is better.

State--June is primary for governor. State party will choose candidate in February at state Democratic convention. Have met with Hochul. Good on our issues. But there will be many other candidates. We'll see where we go.

City council--Next hearing about forcing DOE to lower class size. This is our legislation. Over 400 schools could lower class size right now, but up to schools. Won't happen without plan in place, Real estate development, and seats. City has housing crisis. Where housing is built will have relation to school seats. 240 school seats built for Hudson Yards with 6K units of housing. 

General elections NYC--Series of endorsements today. One will be up for debate. AS CL I had three principals. Greeted with open arms when they came it. 'Worked with two, failed with one. Happy we have good plans. Want to move ahead. We need a partner to help us with Tweed. If we want to have a partner, we have to ask if you want one. This delegation will make that decision. We can say we don't want a partner but I don't recommend it.

Medicare Advantage Plus--This year in service plan comes up. We have a health care crisis in this union. Fight is to keep what we have and try to expand. Nothing is free. Will be a struggle for entire MLC. 

I know the name Medicare Advantage is bad thing. Most are horrendous. Not recommending Joe Namath plan, which is terrible. We knew, within three years, we'd be looking at major retiree premiums. We don't like premiums. We don't want to pay for things we've earned, and it's used against us in contract negotiations. 

We tried to work with them, but hospitals ripping us off. We got surprise billing legislation in NYS. I have to argue with people who charge 500$ to take temperature. We found out that a group can form its own Advantage plan. Not like anyone else's in country. Three years from now, will be seen as nothing but a success. People yelling at us about it will take credit for it. 

Keep pushing if you have complaints.

SBO deadline October 15. Many of you used it way past. Do you want it extended again? Surveys room, most wish to extend it. SBOs in our contract, not principals' If you don't like it, don't use it.

Never be afraid of observations. As leaders, push that culture. Have been in schools where observation cycle was used well, have also seen it used badly. We oppose formal/ informal, are in negotiations now, will get info out tomorrow or Friday. 

New teachers--5000 new UFT members. Sending out lists to DRs. Have been many problems with lists, corrupted files. 

Instructional lunch means child is eating lunch in classroom. HS students who grab lunch, eat in class, is instructional lunch. Many codes have not been created for payroll secretaries. Payroll secretaries haven't gotten clear instructions. You as school need to keep track because you've done work for many coverages. Be in close contact with payroll secretary. 

Election Day--Postings going up for people to upload asynchronous work for students. Consultation with DOE--asked for official position whether people were at home remotely--Said now maybe not. Still discussing. Principal must inform you by October 15th. If not, working remotely.

Record for lowest number of oversized classes this year. Only 41 schools, usually 4-600. Not asking as remedy to place more people in classroom, of course.

Screenings--Academic, social-emotional---Screenings should be coordinated with principal and chapter. Academic screenings done next Friday, 22nd. All of that screening will produce a lot of info school needs to act on. There are compensation packages tied to it. If CL not part of discussions, could be problematic. 

Social emotional screening was supposed to be November, now December. 

We supported and helped DOE put forth proposal to US DOE to help students with IEPs. We received a grant. Negotiating with city. All work to be done by UFT members. Academic recovery has compensation attached. You can have up to thirty students, two hours per student.

Started UFT debt clinic two years ago. Student loans big issue. We had people retiring and still paying. National scandal. Hired law firm. Thousands of members went through program. Egregious behavior by loan companies, mostly Naviance. We filed lawsuit against Betsy de Vos and US DOE. Lawsuit settled today. Any teacher whose name was on lawsuit has student debt completely erased. Anyone denied access to programs will have ability to have entire case reevaluated. Many members tried to do right thing and were screwed by loan companies. 

Thanks all who wore pink. Very big issue to us. For years we knew rate of breast cancer among our membership was higher than national average. We now are big supporters of Strides. Servia and team have raised over ten million dollars. We want this eradicated. We will help members in health crisis. Decisions based on protecting and making better, and holding those responsible who don't treat us well. 

We made agreement with MSK so members and families had access. They are best, but nowhere near most expensive. Price doesn't dictate quality. 3D imaging  for mammograms is what we need. Emblem Health has partnered with Lenox Hill and expanded it. They can detect problems three years before other technology, and may prevent cancer. This week we are announcing we have deal in place. Our members can get right into 3D mammograms.

Half our membership, 50 and above, didn't have baseline mammogram. Want number at 100%. Thanks all who are doing Strides.

LeRoy Barr--Making Strides walk this weekend for NYC, Brooklyn was last week. CL training Oct 17 postponed. Now CLs can participate in Stride walk. Tuesday Oct 26 virtual town hall. Election Day--lot of politicial resolutions, but day is November 2nd. Don't forget to vote. Teacher union day, Nov. 7. Usually first Sunday in Nov. to commemorate first strike, this is exact anniversary. UFT Veterans committee Nov 11 parade, 10 AM, next DA Nov. 17.

Mulgrew--CL training may be hybrid. 15 minute question period

Questions:

Q--MOSL deadline 10/22--DOE put out guidance--Will there be UFT guidance?

A--Will send out Friday.

Q--Global two year scope, last year were waivers.

A--Are conversations at SED. Nice to have commissioner like Betty Rosa, who knows what we do, makes decisions in best interests of children. 

Q--What happened to subs mayor said he had lined up?

A--I don't want to say he's lying, but there weren't 11K--there were 6500. Best thing was court intervened. Would've been bad if we'd gone that Tuesday. Redeployments helped. We now have enough subs. We have about 2K out for being unvaccinated. Subs may not have correct certificates.Hopefully long term solution by next week.

Q--Last year there was position for lead paras...

A--Still available this year. Paras have been phenomenal throughout this. 

Q--NY health act--Delegate Assembly supported it, but UFT ran ad against it. Why are we paying COPE dollars against things we supported.

A--We will not support NYHA. Will take thousands of dollars out of UFT pockets. If we can get our health care at no cost, we would do it. Not what NYHA will do. I know facts on social media are what people go on. But our lawyers say otherwise. 

Q--New teachers in our school haven't been able to get paid. DOE says they mailed checks, and when they used direct deposit that didn't work either.

A. Give us name and Mike Sill will get back to you. We will handle this. Check in mail not appropriate.

Q--Heard your testimony city council hoping to get 20% back for weekly testing. Any update?

A--Things are falling apart at city hall. Not where we were last year. Was model for country. This year it isn't. We will continue to push. We have daily meeting on this issue. At least numbers have gone down in last three weeks. Prepared for all levels of action if things go awry.

Q--School nurses being pulled to other schools, split in uncovered schools, running ads to pay more money than working nurses--What can we do as coalition to get permanent nurses in every building? Don't want to wait for death of a student.

A--School nurses have to have a lot of knowledge about all students and conditions. Thought we passed this hurdle last year. City should've understood they needed a plan in place. We need a nurse in every building. We need a compensation package that will attract working nurses. Eric Adams worked side by side with us to get this. DOE says they can't do it, because nurses are under different contracts. Pay disparity between DC37 and UFT nurses--They have no motivation to make nurse in every building a reality. Now we have many more children but not one in every building. Sometimes we have one for thousands of kids. City admin is crumbling, not dealing with issues. This year we were short 1500 safety agents because of mandate. We will continue to push. 

Motions--

Carmen Romero--for this month--add resolution in third spot. Wants city council to select a woman for council speaker. We know presence of women's voices is paramount, and women will have majority on council. UFT should seek to empower women seeking city council speaker position, and advocate for women to serve. 

Online 87% yes. Internally passes by more, says Mulgrew, and reso passes.

Point of order--Peter Lamphere--Roberts rules say chair should be impartial, Called two members of UFT caucus--

Mulgrew rules out of order--Says not about caucuses. Says he called on him too.

Rafael Tompkin--for next month--On observing moment of silence for 9/11--Fell on Saturday this year, Sunday next. If it falls on Saturday Sunday or holiday, not covered. Wants it to be observed following Monday in all school divisions, and to use appropriate curriculum for all levels. 

Online 85% yes, Mulgrew says over that in person, placed on agenda.

Resolutions--

Peter Lamphere--Asks for extension to motion period, says hundreds of members rallied today.

Mulgrew--Says people have volunteered time, out of order, in resolution period. 

Chants about saving health care heard in background.

Liz Perez-- UFT endorsements of city council officers. Many interviews. Just wants to ask everyone to endorse 48 candidates. 

?--Rises in favor. Proud of SI screening committee. Knows committees throughout city spend many hours doing work. Did professional dedicated job. SI has former UFT member running, supports lowering class size. Looking to help unionize charters, though not a fan. 

Chen Volpi--Speaks in favor. As member of political action committee, says much work was put into this. Spent hours on Zoom with team. If pol chosen by team, is candidate we can rely on.

Vote to call question---Passes. 86% online. Mulgrew says more in person.

Resolution---Passes. 86% online.  

Point of information--Motion to extend in time or agenda?

Mulgrew--Can be either way. 

Rashad Brown--Asks to extend to 2 and new 3. 

Passes--Online 62% Passes in house.

Liz Perez--Endorsement for mayor, city and borough offices. Asks for endorsement of Eric Adams, Brad Lander, Jumaane Williams, Mark Murphy, (someone else I didn't catch).

Seung Lee---Rises to support. Long lengthy process. People who've been CLs know how lengthy process was. Selected people who are eminently qualified and will support schools. Adams not favorite. If only charters endorse him, it would concern me. To rep school, please follow with all members and people you rep and vote for this reso.

Elan-- Opposes. With all due respect, we did not endorse Adams. Has harmful policies. Have received mailers from UFT protesting his policies. There is a better alternative, someone who supports us.

Marvin Rieskin--RTC, Was CL, DR, director of political action. Rises to support Adams. Has worked to support nurses, to support ed. by providing funding. Is a union person. Took civil service exam, was transit cop and captain in NYPD. Was in State Senate, supported all measures NYSUT and UFT asked to support. After Marty Markowitz term limited, he ran. Worked with us in Brooklyn. Has supported public ed. Respects teachers, not DOE.

Ken Achiron--RTC, former CL. Supports Adams. Says opponent too involved in charters.

Question called. 75% yes online. 

Resolution passes 76% online. 

Carmen Romero--Historic moment for women, majority in city council, but not enough. Woman must be placed at helm on city council. We need to lean into leadership, empower women on city council to seek position. We will be better for it.

Mulgrew on floor speaks in favor. Important issue. Disturbed our major leadership positions are held by men. Worked hard to support female candidates. They are majority. This may not be easy lift. ...

Robert Belinski--Wants to know why we are spending so much time when it's limited, addressing political special interests...

Barr rules out of order. 

?--Agrees with maker of resolution. Women huge voting block, community leaders across city, large majority of UFT. Important women have seat at table. Urges support.

Rashad Brown--Calls question.

Passes.

Resolution passes--87% online. 

We are adjourned 6:26

Adventures in Deaning

I'm a dean this year. You can see me walking the halls with my little radio before 7 AM. I get to meet people I've never met before. Unlike my students, they speak English, so it's a pretty notable difference.

Today I met a young woman who was already cynical at 15. She was in the large hallway near the cafeteria and the gyms, which we call the strip. She was standing with two of her friends, and I always ask non-moving students where they are going. They showed me a bunch of fliers they were going to hang up for the SO, or something. 

"Have fun," I said.

"I'm not having fun," she replied.

"Well, have fun later then," I told her.

"I won't," she said.

I was a little upset by this. After all, I figure I've earned the right to have a bad outlook if I want to, but by my reckoning, she hasn't. A few minutes later, I saw her laughing with her friends while they were hanging up Whatever It Was they were hanging up.

"You lied to me. You're definitely having fun," I told her.

She nodded.

My next adventure wasn't so great. I was walking down the hallway in the second floor when I saw a young woman rushing down the hall. Where are you going, I asked. To the bathroom, she said. I asked why she didn't have a pass and she started lecturing me about how I always hassle her when she's just trying to do her thing, and then became rapidly less complimentary. I asked for ID and she made a great show of refusing. I followed her, but she ducked into the bathroom. I actually waited for her. I decided to be very clever and tricky.

So when she came out, I decided to follow her to class. She must've been going there, because she kept telling me she was, and why didn't I leave her alone, and a lot of things I won't write here. She then walked downstairs, and then out the building. I saw her approaching my beloved trailers and thought I had her. I went to the last one, but she wasn't there. I then noticed the trailers were no longer fenced in, and the young woman had run into the field to places unknown. I gave up.

Later I met a young man who was standing on the strip, doing nothing, not even looking at his phone. I asked him where he was going.

"No English," he said.

This was very surprising to me. Anyone who really had no English should've been in my classes. The young man was very surprised when I asked him the same question in Spanish. In Spanish, he told me he was finished with school and going home. I was a little jealous, but I asked him who his English teacher was. 

"Ms. C." he said.

I happened to know that Ms. C. teaches the higher level kids. I told him that, and then I told him that if he really didn't know English, he'd be in my class. Then I said, in English, "You speak English, brother."

By then he'd had enough of me and my nonsense. He left the building and went home. Soon thereafter, the bell rang and I did the same.

On Cozying Up to Reformies and Endorsing Our Enemies

I was pretty shocked the other day when leadership moved to endorse Eric Adams for mayor. I shouldn't have been because it was reported elsewhere, but that's on me. 

Now there's a saying to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I see Randi in the photo there with Bloomberg and I don't blame her for trying to work things out with him. However, I vividly recall that he he ended up being our worst adversary in my career, at least, and making nice with him paid off not at all. (Don't get me started on trying to be buddies with Bill Gates, who walked out of being keynote at an AFT convention and immediately started attacking teacher pensions.) 

One person at our meeting suggested we ought not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and that we ought to be more optimistic. I'd suggest that reforminess is not only not perfect, not good, but that it is the single most important factor in diminishing our union and profession over the last two decades. Every teacher in America is still feeling Race to the Top, initiated by the administration of a President we endorsed. As for being more optimistic, I'd suggest it's far more important to learn from experience. Doubtless you've heard the expression that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

On Monday night, Michael Mulgrew announced that Eric Adams was meeting with Bloomberg, which didn't surprise me in the least. After all, Adams took six million dollars from a pro-charter group. Mulgrew himself told us that anti-union groups like so-called Students First were trying to take City Hall back. And yet now we are poised to endorse Adams. Are we indirectly endorsing Students First?

Make no mistake, this group is anti-union. Most charter employees are not unionized and work on temporary contracts. Charter school employees I know jump from school to school every few years and take it in stride. Making teaching into a gig rather than a career helps neither students nor teachers, and we should oppose it absolutely. 

Reformies, on the other hand, can suggest nonsense like teachers don't improve after the first two years, and splash that in tabloids where people may buy it. The fact is working teachers learn constantly, and those who don't can't hack a demanding job like this. While Moskowitz can hand prefab lesson plans to her disposable teachers, or hire her unqualified son to teach whatever, those of us who plan our own lessons give a piece of ourselves to our students. We are all different, and teacher voice can and should be more influential and helpful to kids than endless test prep.

I heard various rationales for supporting Adams. One was that he only supported charters because he supported parental choice. That was unpersuasive. Charters, in fact, are the privatization of education for profit, and no, it does not matter whether or not charters call themselves non-profit. Eva Moskowitz, for example, doesn't do this for fun, and pays herself around 800K a year.

We know how privatization works. I have known people who've died for lack of health care, or for fear of going broke for an ER visit. For years, I've seen musicians I admire hold fundraising events to pay their medical bills, something unheard of in most countries. Privatized prisons have bought off judges who sent kids there. The city is now offering so-called Medicare Advantage to retirees. Even if it ends up offering coverage equivalent to government-run Medicare, there's something unethical about our supporting privatization. We should work to make health care a public good.

So personally, I don't care why Adams supports charters, although the six million dollar contribution is a large clue to me. I'm pro-union, and most charters are anti-union. Many charter teachers lack the options and freedom they need to develop teacher voice, and I don't believe children benefit from being marched around like toy soldiers and peeing themselves because they're too frightened to take bathroom breaks. Students First will want a return on their six million dollar investment, and I'm sure improving conditions in public schools will not be one of them. They'd just as soon close us all down and make more money off the backs of all city kids.

While charters may have been conceived as a way to offer more academic freedom, they've been hijacked by people who aim to profit off of education, cripple union, and reduce teachers to script-readers. Our children don't  need terrified wage slaves as role models, and deserve to grow up with opportunities better than becoming charter school teachers or Walmart "associates." (And it's no coincidence that the Walmart family gives heavily to charters. When they found people wouldn't support vouchers in open elections, that was the next go-to.)

You can rationalize Adams' support of charters by saying he only wants parental choice. I can rationalize Thanos clicking his fingers and destroying half of all life by saying it's good for the environment. But these are pathetically weak arguments. 

And yes, I know that Adams' opponent is a lowlife who means us no good. That said, Adams is no bargain either, and a veritable shoo-in. It seems we get everything wrong at every step in every mayoral race. We've looked foolish many, many times, and once Adams starts sticking it to us, we'll look foolish (at best) again. 

We should be neutral in this race. 

If you really want to vote for a candidate, I suggest you write in my dog Toby. He stayed with me every day when I taught remotely, and was a fabulous co-teacher, inspiring both me and my students. He is head, tail, and shoulders preferable to either of the major candidates.

Forget Adams. Forget Sliwa. The people's choice is Toby in 2021.

UFT Executive Board October 4, 2021--Hybrid Model--UFT Executive Board Endorses Pro-Charter Eric Adams

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr--Welcomes us both online and in person. Says David Shulman, former DR has passed, and holds moment of silence. 

George Altamari--Says we can all reflect on his life and leadership. Was active as CL in several schools. Involved in many activities, including strikes. May he rest in peace.

Vincent Gaglione--Was bigger than life. Always well-dressed. Smooth talker. Helped when I was borough rep by making connections. Was a good guy.

Barr--Sterling Roberson has retired. Thanks him and appreciates all his years of service. Will be round of meetings in which we will take nominations for the vacancy.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew--Thanks entire staff who worked all last week to face challenge of today. Overall, today was the day. Good we had extra days, but today was still tough. 4K of us are out. Perhaps 3K on unvoluntary leave, rest have accommodations. Never happy when someone is taken off payroll. Court cases stated over 100 years of vaccine mandates stated they were legal, but we needed to work for exemptions and accommodations, currently about 900.

We don't want schools to combine classes. We have given flexibility for the week but will monitor everything. Many schools have dealt with this internally.

Tomorrow I testify at state hearing on what city is doing with fed money. Then we will meet on quarantining and contact tracing.

Special ed. town hall Thursday. We will also have one with people on involuntary leave. Anyone who gets vaccinated can come in next day. We will see where it goes. Big problem with paras out. Schools trying to process subs. Hat off to UFT staff and chapter leaders dealing with challenges. Want to keep it short because everyone had long days.

Questions/ answers

Q--# citywide teachers not permitted entry? 

A. No finite number. Few hundred showed with vax cards. Under 3K if you don't include accommodations. More than half paraprofessionals.

Spring break pay--Step two done, waiting for city's response. Scheduled early December. We are ready. 

David Campbell--Looking at mid December, most likely. 

Will Adams be pro-charter?

Was vetting committee's biggest concern. Bloomberg meeting with him. Bloomberg would love to try and charterize NYC. We are watching, talk to Adams all the time. Working cautiously.

What agreements were made on impact bargaining?

Will present at next meeting. Every title in emergency can do coverage. Sent out to CLs.

D75 teachers lacking guidance--What if students won't wear masks--We don't suspend, so how do we handle exposure and non-compliance?

Majority of d75 sites had people wear masks and shields. Some teachers wore medical gowns because some students had difficulty with masks. They get more PPE than regular building. Have seen schools where everyone wore them.

What about buses, and cases related to it? Distancing on bus?

Numbers are coming down right now. Waning quickly where there is high vaccine rate. Of course we don't know what's next. We don't have all the answers to your questions. Had great relationship with testing team last year. This year there are changes and issues. School now has to determine what is close contact. Far from ideal. We will make sure people understand what's going on. We need hearing because we don't know what's coming. Disagree with mayor's policies.

What will happen to unvaccinated if Supreme Court overrules mandate?

If that happens they go back to work. There is a lot of law involved, and people have to know what we're being told by lawyers. They were very clear with us. Vaccine mandates have never been overturned, especially if they're done properly. This SCOTUS session could be very dramatic, but lawyers say they'd be shocked if overturned. We are over 97%, approaching 98, but we don't want anyone to lose their job. 

Thanks CLs, staff, for rising to occasion. 

Reports from districts:

Patricia Filomina--Had annual bocci tournament. Thanks SI people. Raised 1K for disaster relief.

Barr--Sean Rocowitz new SI rep.

Serbia Silva--100 teams for Strides. Asks people wear pink October 10 walk Brooklyn, October 17 elsewhere. 

Resolutions-- Endorsement for mayor, comptroller, public advocate. Including Eric Adams, says he will fight for worker rights. Jumaane Williams, Alvin Bragg, Mark Levin, Brad Lander, Mark Levin, Mark Murphy.

Michael Friedman--Lost paraprofessional Michael ?, asks for moment of silence.

Mike Schirtzer and Arthur Goldstein speak against Adams endorsement due to his support for charters and having taken money from pro-charter PACs.

Rashad Brown--We cannot find a perfect candidate. Speaks in favor of resolution.

Liz Perez--Position on charters is because he believes in parent choice. Has been good on other issues. Not anti-public ed. Created steam centers. Supports resolution. 

Anthony Harmon--In favor as it stands. Goes with hopes and not fears. Feels hopeful. Wants to educate him on issues. Has supported us on other issues. 

Debate closed.

Carries overwhelmingly.

Second resolution--City council endorsements--

Liz Perez--3/4 of city council will be changed. Interviewed 300 candidates. Names many names far too quickly for me to get down. 

Resolution carries without opposition.

We are adjourned. 6:44

Non-English Speakers Race to the Standardized Test

As everyone knows, learning English is not very important for newcomers to this country. Otherwise, why would the city, in its infinite wisdom, make them spend weeks taking the NYSESLAT exam? 

The NYSESLAT exam is supposedly to determine how much English they know. What it does, actually, is determine how Common Corey they are. Evidently Common Coriness is an important quality. Personally, I feel deprived because never in my life has anyone tried to determine just how Common Corey I am. Perhaps I shouldn't have graduated high school. 

Of course, in the days when I went to high school, we tested ridiculous things like how well you read or write. I actually had to write an essay on my English Regents exam, and I had no list of facts to be for or against. Now I did pretty well, if I recall correctly, but it's entirely possible I'm not Common Corey at all. How, then, could the city employ me and pay me to be a role model for these kids?

Oddly, when I teach advanced classes many of my students can no longer handle novels, like back in the old days before we rated the Common Coriness factor. Nor can many of them write their way out of paper bags. Perhaps we need a new standardized test to measure writing your way out of paper bags. Stranger things have happened.

In any case, so what if my students lose a few weeks of direct English instruction. If the instruction isn't helping them to pass multiple choice tests, or regurgitate a bunch of information they're for or against, what's really the point? After all, the genius who designed Common Core, David Somebody or Other, conclusively determined that no one gives a crap what you think or feel. Therefore we have a newer English Regents exam. Though we've removed the words Common Core from them, it still tests how Common Corey you are.

Another thing I just learned is this--Since my students only lose a week or two with the Common Coriness test, they need another one. I don't recall what it's called, but my supervisor just told me we start giving it on Wednesday. This test, evidently, will take multiple days, and is important because the superintendent wants to measure something or other of Great Importance.

And not only that, but later this year they've going to test them again to see how well they've learned Whatever It Is that's on this Very Important Test. Then, we're going to test them for a third time, just for good measure. We need to know how they do on multiple choice questions related to passages they don't understand at all.

Brilliant.

I said my students have only been here for a few months and know very little English, but that doesn't matter. This was decided way above our level  We need to determine whatever it is this test measures before we worry about trivial things like whether or not our students speak English. Evidently the superintendent, or the chancellor, or some other omniscient being even higher up has determined this needs to be done. As a lowly teacher, I don't get a vote on whether or not it's necessary.

So who cares if kids lose 10-20% of whatever slither of English instruction we have left after Part 154 cut ESL instruction into ribbons? The important thing is to find out Whatever It Is This Test Measures. Let's get on that right away, for goodness sake. 

Meanwhile, the mayor should economize and hire a monkey to do my job. Sure, maybe the monkey would have to use a recording rather than reading the instructions, but to tell you the truth, given my students don't know any English, the instructions won't make a damn bit of difference.

I continue to be grateful that the people above me know what's best. If it weren't for them, I'd fritter the whole year away teaching newcomers how to speak English.