The Loyal Opposition

Check out Norm Scott's piece on the New Action Party of the UFT. The entire party exists for the sole purpose of fooling UFT members who think they're voting against Unity.

Their headquarters reside in UFT President Randi Weingarten's hip pocket.

Bloomberg Eyes CFE Money

Bloomie has his minions talking up the CFE lawsuit again. Reducing class size, a goal of this lawsuit. is very important to this mayor. That's why he reneges on planned seats, closes schools, and devotes buildings to condos rather than schools. Still, Mayor Mike really needs the money (as long as he doesn't have to contribute).

Getting the funds is particularly vital now that a deal with UFT President Randi Weingarten ( a great collaborator with Mayor Mike, whose re-election chances are bolstered by the pact) ensures none of it need be devoted to good teachers, another goal of the lawsuit. Since reducing class size and paying teachers is pretty much a fond memory, there are tons of things these funds could be used for.

For example, they just broke ground on the Mets new stadium, and who knows how many luxury boxes those billions could build?

It's a win-win.

The Giant Killer

There's a great column in today's Times about a woman, a relatively small reading program, and a government that didn't play by its own rules.

She had developed a phonics program, precisely what the administration required, it had been very successful, but they never even looked at it. Only large textbook publishers were called to the table. However, she followed up and things are looking different now.

It's inspiring to see stories like this in America today.

Shhhh.....

It looks like kids are going to have to go back to memorizing those nasty multiplication tables. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has reconsidered the cutesy ways of teaching math notably employed by, among other systems, New York City.

But don't expect to hear much about it from the Bloomberg administration. In order to minimize the possibility of anyone finding out just what the heck it is they do over there at Tweed, they've instructed everyone associated with schools to shut the hell up unless they're cleared by the external communications team.

The memo lists 28 examples of groups or individuals whose invitations should be discussed with the communications team.

These include unions, parent organizations, elected education councils, community groups convened to discuss specific issues - such as class size or new schools - and "groups of business and thought leaders."

It's very important that they maintain absolute secrecy. Otherwise, New Yorkers might find out what they're doing, and worse, what they're not doing. Who knows what that might lead to?

Carmine Santa Maria, a member of the Community Education Council in Brooklyn's District 21, whose group invites DOE officials to nearly every meeting, said the new move is suspicious.

"It shows they're afraid of something," Santa Maria said. "What's the point of having [speakers] if they can't say anything?"

Goshdarn inquisitive citizens. Everything was fine till they came along.

But they're not wise to Tweed yet, or they'd be storming my 250%-capacity building with torches and pitchforks.

It's Alive!

Mayor Bloomberg has decided to do experiments on school kids. No, I'm not talking about seeing how many kids he can squeeze into half a classroom.

If we can't give them good teachers, small classes, and decent facilities, like the CFE lawsuit asks, why not psychoanalyze them instead?

We have a laboratory of guinea pigs," said Granville Leo Stevens, a parent activist who refused to allow his daughter, Savanna, to participate in an NYU study at MS 104 in Manhattan last year.

"The Department of Education markets our kids like they're a piece of meat," said Stevens.

Some of the studies target students by race and ethnicity.

But the DoE has offered cheap counseling for parents, and ten bucks each for students, so many participate. After all, now they can say they're doing something, and it's a lot cheaper than providing quality education.

Critics say racially targeted behavioral studies of kids as young as age 9 are intrusive.

"Schools are not laboratories to use children as free experimental subjects," said Vara Sharav, of the Alliance for Human Research Protection.

Tell it to City Hall.

Got the Blues?

Well, good news, everyone!

NYC will now issue you a new birth certificate to match your sex change, even if you hadn't had surgery.

Voila! No more hassles getting into those new single-sex NYC schools, and you won't have to pay strangers to buy beer for you either.

Tired?

Me too. Just the thought of that hall patrol tomorrow makes me ill.

Let's remember who gave it to us, and then, let's show them it's our union. Let's demand takebacks.

In fact, let's Take Back the UFT.

Maverick Johny

Right Wing Professor and I don't tend to see eye to eye about politics. But he really surprised me with a post on Senator John McCain.

Oddly enough, we agree completely.

What to Do?

There's an interesting, though disorganized, thread developing here. Should we oppose this contract or wait until the spring and try to unseat our entrenched, complacent, self-serving leadership?

Over on Edwize, three or four usual suspects passionately defend it, condemning those who oppose it for such egregious offenses as commenting on this blog.

The inflation rate so far this year is 5.2%. This contract, like the last one, fails to meet that threshold. Governor-elect Spitzer has vowed to resolve CFE, injecting billions into the school system. This money is earmarked for good teachers, small classes, and decent facilities for NYC schoolkids. If you're on the Class Size Matters mailing list, you know, despite public pronouncements. this mayor does not really spend money on class size. Also, if you happen to be one of those good teachers, this contract guarantees that the funds won't find their way to you.

That's a good thing for Mayor Bloomberg, who can use the money for yet another billionaire charter or sports stadium. He knows CFE funds are coming.

Does UFT President Randi Weingarten know about this lawsuit? Of course she does. So why would she sign a contract now? Well, there's no re-election literature quite as effective as a check. It's no coincidence tax refunds go out directly preceding elections and the timing of this refund is just as suspect.

What's in it for the mayor, besides billions of dollars he won't have to spend on those irritating teachers? Ms. Weingarten has publicly stated that there is no quid pro quo, and that she has made no determination about mayoral control. That's odd, because mayoral control has been an unmitigated disaster for both teachers and students, and it's been remarked upon repeatedly on the Unity blog.

However, Ms. Weingarten also sat out the last mayoral election, refusing to endorse Ferrer against Mayor Bloomberg, a demonstrated enemy of public education. If you don't believe that was a quid pro quo for a contract, I have a bridge to sell you.

Please comment not on this post, but on the open thread above. I'll postdate it so it will stay there a while and sustained conversations will be possible.

R U A transl8r? No? C U l8r.

No need to bother with those cumbersome books and things if you live in New Zealand. You can just practice sending text messages.

If you're one of the elite group that hasn't yet bothered to learn how to spell or write your native language, you can simply use "text-speak" on exams:

The move has already divided students and educators who fear it could damage the English language.

New Zealand's Qualifications Authority said Friday that it still strongly discourages students from using anything other than full English, but that credit will be given if the answer "clearly shows the required understanding," even if it contains text-speak.

What will they think of next? I'm just glad I don't have to grade any of those tests (the students ought to be glad too).

Thanks to Pissed-Off Teacher

Absolute Power

Yesterday I brought my young daughter to work with me. My alternative was not to come in at all.

As I was with my daughter, I went to the Assistant Principal of Organization to request that I not be given any coverages. She was not in, so I decided to mention it to her secretary.

"I don't know about that," she said.

"Well, why not?" I asked. "I always do them when you ask me and we're only talking about one day here."

In front of my ten-year-old daughter, she announced, "I don't know about bringing your daughter to school. We have to worry about insurance."

I'll have taught 22 years come February. I've seen hundreds of my colleagues bring their kids in. This was the first teaching day I've ever done so. It wasn't my fault Chancellor Klein felt it was so crucial to open on Veteran's Day.

"Well, you can send me home then," I told her.

"You don't have to get sarcastic," she said.

"I'm not being sarcastic," I told her.

"Well, it sounded sarcastic to me," she said.

Perhaps she thought I was just going to leave my little daughter to hang out at the gas station by herself while I went to teach. Who knows?

Henry Kissinger said, "University politics are so vicious precisely because the stakes are so small." While he's not my hero or anything, he hit the nail on the head. I've seen teachers become imperious and aloof overnight when they became assistant principals. And this school secretary feels completely comfortable trying to intimidate me simply because her job entails sitting one door west of the principal's office.

You'd think she was famous and powerful, like a gargoyle at a landmark building or something.

There's Always Room for One More!

Mayor Bloomberg, in his ever-evolving quest to scientifically establish the similarities between New York City schoolchildren and Bumble Bee sardines, has decided to eliminate 3,000 proposed seats in District 10. Apparently they cost too much.

This decision follows one to close PS 109, and another to convert the Livingston Street building into condos.

And why not? Only 75% of NYC high schools are overcrowded.

It's not like it's 76% or anything.

Thanks to Schoolgal

Related: See what Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters has to say.

Unity Logic

We had a UFT meeting at my school on election day. The Unity CC knew little or nothing about the contract. I got up and spoke about the financial aspects, added that the raises did not even match cost of living, and that it was almost certainly a quid pro quo for continued mayoral control.

The CC called me into his office yesterday, and told me how persuasive I was. He then told me that I represented ICE (which is odd, because I neither attend their meetings nor have any say whatsoever in formulating their policies), and that I was, therefore, a propagandist. I took exception--I speak for myself.

He explained that he needed "the other side" to be heard. I took exception to that as well, since I'm a real working teacher and not a bought-and-paid-for patronage hack. Still, the hacks must come.

I later thought of this--Last year, he brought the patronage hacks in to pimp the atrocious contract we now have, and saw no reason whatsoever to present "the other side."

Curious, ain't it?

Related: Miss Malarkey comments here.

The Chancellor Smells Blood

NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein is openly attempting to bust the CSA by telling principals the APs are holding them hostage. One important point is that he wants to absolutely revoke job security. If, after six months, excessed APs are unable to find jobs, he wants them out.

He said the teachers’ union had agreed to analogous changes in work rules.

Have we? I don't recall. There are those thousand teachers subbing at full pay, but they've not yet found a way to terminate them (they're working on it). They have, in the wonderful new contract (which contains every single drawback of the wonderful old contract), agreed to offer them a "voluntary" severance package.

But where is this leading? You may recall that our awful contract came on the heels of their awful contract. Our fate may very well be entwined with theirs. I hope they hold out. Remember, when the chancellor tells them, "Look at the teacher contract," it means he won't hesitate to tell us, "Look at the supervisor contract."

If they give up tenure, it's curtains for the ATRs, none of whom, as far as I know, have been determined to be bad teachers.

One argument favored by this year's Unity hack is, "Look what's happening to the supervisors."

Well, look what's happening to Wal-Mart employees. We're not making things any better for them (not to mention us), by taking absolutely anything that comes down the pike.

This contract doesn't meet cost of living (this year, it's 5.2%), but it's not as bad as the last "more work for less pay" deal. Personally, though, "the same work for less pay" is not my cup of tea either.

That's not why we pay union dues. And while this contract will almost certainly pass, the people who enabled it, and the last contract, must go. "We'll take whatever," does not merit re-election.

Thanks to Schoolgal

Bring Your Daughter to Work Day

I didn't realize it was tomorrow, but she's stuck with me. It turns out schools in Nassau are all closed in recognition of Veteran's Day. You remember that holiday where we show respect for those who've fought for our country? Unlike city offices, schools are open tomorrow.

Thank goodness we have Unity, the caucus that's ruled the UFT for fifty plus years, at our side. It's true, of course, that they gave us the innovative sixth class (the one that is not a class). It's true they made us do hall duty, cafeteria duty, and potty patrol. It's true we can no longer grieve inaccurate material in our files.

We may have the longest school year in the region, and we may not be able to transfer. We may be guilty until proven innocent, we may be subject to 90-day unpaid suspension, and we may be sent out to wander an endless purgatory of substitute teaching for no offense whatsoever. And no, we didn't get that 25-55 legislation they promised us along with the above goodies.

But the Great Randini and Leo Casey sacrificed as well. The UFT office is open one entire hour extra every week. Consider that while you inspect the potties.

Can you imagine what it must take for them to spend one extra hour doing whatever it is they do in there? Thank goodness there weren't any givebacks in the new contract. I'd hate to think of them spending yet another hour.

I'm going to join Unity and get my daughter a patronage position. Should I tell her to bring a coloring book, or do you think they already have them?

Anyway, before you complain about working Veteran's Day, consider that extra hour, and how many times Propaganda Minister Leo Casey has to play Minesweeper before it passes.

Lines and Circles

I've remarked before that one good thing Bloomberg and Klein have done was encourage semicircle arrangements in classrooms. I've always arranged my college classrooms this way, and for a few years I've been able to do so in high school as well.

I like my students to feel welcome to talk and contribute as long as they follow my class rules:



1. We will treat one another with respect, and
2. We will speak only English in this classroom.

For the most part, kids cooperate, and we have a very good atmosphere, where they can use English in a non-threatening forum.

Sometimes, though, I get a very uncooperative group, with kids who really have no interest in learning English. That's very unusual for teenage kids, but what can you do?

What I do is put the chairs back in rows, being very careful to leave such kids in the vicinity of no one who speaks their native language. I really don't like to do that, and I only did it once before. I decided to do it once again in my afternoon class. This class is full of kids who've been stubbornly unable to understand what I want to promote.

They'd be playing handball in back of the trailer and running dance-a-thons if left to their own devices. While things have never gotten to that point, they've persisted in hoping I'd allow them to do whatever they want, whenever they want. After two months, several of them still register shock when I don't do that. And scores of calls home have failed to drive a stake through the heart of that odd notion.

I rearranged the furniture last Thursday.

I didn't really want to do it. But they are still surprised as they forlornly trudge to their new seats, and so far it's worked like a charm.

Forget Politics

Welcome to the 92nd edition of the Carnival of Education. It seems like only days ago we were at the 91st. Thanks to The Education Wonks for sending the carnival to NY this week.

If the folks you liked won, congrats, and enjoy the carnival. If not, forget about it and continue reading. We've tried to include something for everyone.



Humor

Hunblog offers a very amusing textbook prescription.

This Week in Education shows us Dinosaurs in the Garden of Eden.

And everyone, of course, needs to know How to Freak Out Ninth Grade Girls.

Pathos

That heartbreakingly Poor, Starving College Student enlightens us on the very odd Educational Policy at Brown University. You'll laugh, you'll cry (and maybe you'll send her a few bucks).

But wait! Here's just what that poor, starving student needs. The Education Wonks tell us How to Get Rich in Public Education. This is just the thing for me and my fellow NYC teachers, who've just been offered yet another contract that fails to keep up with cost of living.

Fearless Leaders

Norm Scott of EdNotes Online explains why NYC big shots Mike Bloomberg and Joel Klein's governing styles have a lot in common with those of totalitarian regimes.

Chaz' School Daze thinks principals would be a lot more effective if they actually taught classes.

Classroom Tips

Radagast offers some practical advice about preventing cheating.

Kate at Teaching Debate offers some tips on what you need to get an effective debate started.

And Loni, homeschool mom to 9 children, gives helpful hints for learning the multiplication table.

Union Business

James Eterno and the Jamaica High School UFT chapter have taken a principled stand against the union's unwillingness to even ask for improved working conditions.

Jeff Kaufman thinks the UFT has sold out rank and file.

In Texas, unions are prohibited from collective bargaining. Consider, though, they seem to have baby showers instead of faculty meetings.

Dr. Homeslice offers Union Bouquet 6.5 for your edification and reading pleasure.

Puzzling Dilemmas

Uh oh. Do you see yourself in any of the thirteen things that drive California Teacher Guy crazy?

Mrs. T. (no relation to Mr. T.) has to wander around with a cart of supplies for her 90 minute classes. The other day, she forgot to pack her cart with quizzes. Chucheria asks--what's a master teacher to do?

At The Art of Getting By, one of the very coolest-looking blogs I've ever seen, Janet can't decide whether her breath is taken away or her class should simply be hauled away.

At I Thought a Think, The Rain wonders whether vouchers will work for everyone. Also, he offers the BIGGEST stories in Washington right now.

Ms. H. of Unaccountable Talk had an unusually demanding Halloween.

And Eduwonk has some interesting analysis on how elections may affect education.

Babosos

Pissed Off Teacher gets to the root of the issue--the kid just might be stupid.

Joe Williams of The Chalkboard discusses the charming young man who came to school dressed as Adolf Hitler.

Ms. Cornelius can't abide a principal who lacks both judgment and principle.

Not Funny

Happychyck Wonders, but her characteristic contentment is shattered when she learns one of her students has been killed in Iraq.

Mamacita at Scheiss Weekly offers something magical but sad nonetheless. Also, some kids are hard to get through to. But if she can't do it, who could?

Schools Matter reports Army recruiters telling prospects not to worry--The Iraq war is over.

Life's Little Challenges

Public Education Defender has an American History Required Knowledge Test. How well can you do?

Carol of The Median Sib is preparing for what must be the evaluation to end all evaluations, as it seems to require so much paperwork it precludes her from doing anything else.

Mr. R. at Evolving Education just got a bonus, and doesn't oppose merit pay sufficiently to return it.

And Mr. Lawrence of Get Lost Mr. Chips is justifiably paranoid about students who touch him.

Testify!

Graycie, over at Today's Homework, writes a parent to say what many of us would like to, though our internal editing apparatus won't permit it.

Do you have what it takes to be an elementary school teacher? April May will tell you (Her students say the darndest things).

Diane Weir doesn't want school bands at political rallies.

Me-Ander tells us that even prompt, conscientious teachers have to be late sometimes.

And The Science Goddess is sick and tired of the election season. While I'm on the subject, she will be hosting the next Carnival of Education. Don't forget to send your contributions to the_science_goddess[at]yahoo[dot]com by 6 p.m. PT., Tuesday, November 14th.

Testify Some More!

Mister Teacher at Learn Me Good is disturbed by his students proclivities toward ratting out one another.

Ms. Whatsit seems to have had it with English only proponents. She'll show them a thing or two (not that they'll understand).

A History Teacher offers a new twist on War--What is it Good For?

Wenchy Poo holds court on elements of character.

And the Professor over at Right Wing Nation attributes a lot of fuzzy academic nonsense to "Groupthink." Hmmm...let me discuss that with my peers and decide what we think.

Violence in the Classroom

Dr. Deborah Serani wonders how we can stop school violence.

First year NYC teacher Ms. C. has been having a rough year. First, she was assaulted by a student. Then, the kid received only a five-day suspension, despite 8 written accounts of violent behavior. She was not permitted to attend the school hearing for fear things might get "adversarial." After all that, the kid waltzed right back into her classroom.

What to Teach?

Philosophy, et cetera, thinks we're offering too much et cetera and too little philosophy.

Wa Salaam is optimistic about high schools in the US emphasizing writing once again.

A Girl Who Asks Too Many Questions writes about a sex education program that stresses communication rather than the most efficacious methods of placing condoms on bananas.

And Chinese Beyond the Textbook suggests we learn Chinese with Harry Potter.

And Just in Case...

Here's how you dismantle an atomic bomb.

This midway is registered at TTLB's carnival roundup.

Free Speech vs. Unity Machine

I just wrote a polite post on Edwize, the official UFT blog, inquiring as to why we should be happy about yet another contract that fails to keep up with cost of living in NYC. I pointed out that while it was indeed better than a contract with a mountain of givebacks that failed to keep up with inflation, we were still effectively making less money each year.

They deleted it. Cowardly Leo Casey is incapable of defending his many untenable positions.

It's remarkable they get to deduct money from my paycheck for such services.

Update: comment reinstated. Those wacky Unity hacks are so fickle. Congrats to Unitymustgo, who finally got a comment up on the blog he (or she) pays for, after many failed attempts.

Don't Forget....

A lot of us have little faith in the electoral process. If our worst suspicions are correct, the only way to overcome them is by getting out in overwhelming numbers.

Vote no on inept and perpetual war. Vote no on war profiteering and warrantless wiretapping. Vote no on a Big Brother style government empowered to label anyone it likes an enemy combatant. Vote no on open-ended imprisonment without trial. Vote no on signing statements that allow the executive to ignore laws even as he signs them.

Vote no on union-busting. Vote no on immigrant and gay-bashing. Vote no on Pravda-style 24-hour propaganda outlets masquerading as news.

Whatever you do, don't forget to vote today.

On the Contract

All indications are that the CFE suit, which promises to invest in good teachers, smaller class sizes, and decent facilities for children, will be resolved under Governor Spitzer.

By agreeing to yet another contract that fails to keep up with inflation (which hovered around 5% in NYC last I looked), Mayor Bloomberg and Randi Weingarten have ensured that none of this settlement will be frittered away on paying teachers.

Despite Randi's boasts about percentages and figures, a great deal of Nassau teachers hit 100K years ago. And despite her groundless boasts about having caught up with the suburbs, this agreement enables us only to remain 20K behind suburban teachers.

Randi makes preposterous boasts about raises compounded over years and years. But NYSUT prints salaries of our neighbors, which are made available to public libraries. They conisistently outpace us.