PERB ordered that the ruling that Portelos' rights were violated be posted at every school or district office in NYC for 30 days. The DOE didn't comply so PERB took them to court. Judge Christina L Ryba agreed that the notice should be posted. The notice also should be emailed to UFT members working in schools according to how I read the Ryba decision. The reason for the posting I believe is to show that employees do not have to accept the DOE's anti-union work environment.
Is this posting up in every school?
57 comments:
Of course not
it was emailed over the break at ours
Who hates Portelos more the DOE or the UFT? Never mind they are the same entity.
It's not surprising that DC-37 and the UFT have had the largest number of dues-paying defections over the last year. It's great not having to pay union dues to a failed Weingarten/Mulgrew enterprise.
His lawyer is Bryan Glass. Mr. Glass is an outstanding educational lawyer in NYC. He also deserves big props for helping getting this done. However, the bigger question is what is going on in the minds of the DOE and the CSA? Will the "target teachers" era finally be over in NYC? Enquiring minds want to know! Oh yeah, this win is a major rally point for his Solidarity Caucus. In my mind, they are the only caucus that actually cares 100% about the working conditions of teachers in the trenches. I hope they run again against the Unity machine.
What is your source for the defections? I would appreciate seeing the numbers to comment on them 3:32.
You are paying dues to the uft, ask them to print it. Ive already said how shocked I am you tell us to pay, time after time, upending any chance we can make this job decent. This is nothing more than a babysitting service, a completely unfulfilling job, a waste of a career, and a life. Yes, i get paid. yes, I have medical. That is not what life is supposed to be. To dread going to work...To be frightened of students...To be frightened of a fake observations. To be fearful of failing students...Unable to give real grades. To call this anything other than a sham is deeply misleading.
I am a PE teacher. This is my day, every day, every period...Studnets from the rest of the building cut class, come to the gym, refuse to leave. ALL DAY. Don't tell me to lock the doors, they are easily picked, or opened by someone on the inside. Dont tell me to write them up, been done for almost 2 decades now. What? File with the union? LOL. No use in bothering. This is a babysitting service. safety issue? Who cares? It must be my fault. This is going on in almost every school in NYC.
James, I’d love to see those figures and I believe they exist and will never be released by the UFT. Without the proof, I believe there’s a 75% chance the commenter’s remarks are true concerning the UFT; in that the UFT is a very large union here in NYC - meaning just numerically there may be more that dropped - proportionately it’s anyone’s guess . If you couple this with the large number that are disaffected and ignored by an ever increasing stagnant union leadership, as well as long simmering betrayals (Weingarten’s 2005 contract, ATRs, Fair Student Funding, no rights newbies) I’d confidently bet with the commenter. Also the UFT has not been forth coming with the figures this school year, as they were last year when very few dropped out. The Chief seemed to infer as much when it commented recently on a drop in union members in NYC - in opposition to the rest of the country. The option of not paying dues to the UFT should be weaponized by teachers to facilitate positive change for students, schools and teachers. It’s the only thing left to union members - the UFT has the election process completely rigged. DeBlasio is regaled as a friendly mayor by the UFT, but everything, except Charter School growth is much, much worse than when Bloomberg was in office. That one factor is the only thing the UFT seems to care about and it will continue to compromise every hard earned right to facilitate that promise from Big Bill and the next mayor.
Bronx ATR, I want to see the stats on how many dropped out if someone has put them out. We will report them. If people want to organize a viable alternative organization of teachers, that is quite different from dropping out to save union dues.
Well said, Bronx ATR. This is what I have been saying for years, the only weapon I have is to not pay. All other options have been exhausted, and went nowhere. Me emailing Sill, or talking to teachers in schools, just doesn't work. The first year was a joke, they announced that we could opt out and literally within days, the door was closed. I opted out in August of 2017 and they didn't stop collecting dues until July 2018. Yes, i know, we need a union, and it could be worse, but how much more of a sucker can you feel like? the uft is banking on james saying that we cant opt out or else. Sorry, fooled me too many times.
"The option of not paying dues to the UFT should be weaponized by teachers to facilitate positive change for students, schools and teachers. It’s the only thing left to union members - the UFT has the election process completely rigged. DeBlasio is regaled as a friendly mayor by the UFT, but everything, except Charter School growth is much, much worse than when Bloomberg was in office. That one factor is the only thing the UFT seems to care about and it will continue to compromise every hard earned right to facilitate that promise from Big Bill and the next mayor."
"All other options have been exhausted, and went nowhere." Ok Jeff, how about organizing? How about joining a caucus or starting your own? Or, you can opt out and help organize something better than the UFT. Otherwise, you are just saving money at everyone else's expense. Saying "we need a union" kind of undercuts your argument.
We do, but paying for this crap, while getting abused, isnt happening anymore. 11 years with a total of 17% raises. Give me a break. Still waiting for the rest of a $50K interest free loan I gave, while mulgrew shouts that we got every penny. A fraud open market. A hardship travel clause the uft wont utilize, students saying suck my dick, calling people white piece of shit, but enough to do anything in terms of a penalty. Having my principal say "I don't know what to tell you." Grade fraud. Bronx atr said- the UFT has the election process completely rigged. That is why, and i have tried to awaken people in my travels.
20 years I have been waiting for a transfer to staten island. Perfect record. uft=no help.
I would laugh at the uft-doe situation if it wasnt so sad and pathetic. I would laugh if i hadnt wasted my whole life being part of it.
Chancellor Carranza Keeps Selecting Perverts In His Inner Circle
Chancellor Richard Carranza selected as his Deputy Chief of staff David Hoy, despite the DOE not fully vetting him. It turns out that David Hoy was arrested in Wisconsin for arraigning for a sexual tryst with a 14 year old boy. Read the New York Post article Here.
This follows the abrupt resignation of Richard Carranza's protege, Abram Jimenez, tapped as “senior executive director for continuous school improvement”. only two weeks into the school year. Mr Jimenez was also not fully vetted by the DOE despite his high level position. He was found to have alleged financial mismanagement and was forced to quit as an Assistant Principal. Moreover, as a teacher he accepted a three year probation for inappropriate comments to student, including sexual innuendoes and threatening behavior.
Then there is Carranza appointed Bronx Executive Superintendent, Meisha Porter, who organized and raised funds for a lavish party celebrating her birthday and August 2018 promotion by Carranza, which apparently violated the Chancellor's conflict of interest rules. It appears SCI, while notified of the lavish party, chose not to investigate. You can read the entire story Here. Did the Chancellor take appropriate action and fire her? Of course not.
Finally, there is the deep seated academic fraud that exists in the DOE that the Chancellor refuses to address and even protects the perpetrators Here.
People making over $100,000 a year while constantly complaining anonymously while doing nothing constructive to improve things. You are the pathetic ones.
LOL.
Dear Colleagues,
I hope you had a restful winter break. As we return to our school communities and begin a new year, we must reaffirm one of the bedrocks of public education in New York City: our schools must be free from discrimination and intolerance of any kind and provide welcoming, inclusive environments for all.
As our fellow New Yorkers and neighbors in surrounding areas grieve horrific anti-Semitic attacks that have occurred in recent days and weeks, I want to state clearly: there is no place for anti-Semitism, racism, hate, or intolerance in New York City public schools.
This commitment becomes real in our classrooms, hallways, and schoolyards when we all take action and actively work to ensure students, staff, and families experience welcoming and inclusive environments. It is up to all of us—and everyone has a role to play. To assist in these efforts, the Division of School Climate and Wellness has prepared the attached resource guide designed to support thoughtful conversations with students and staff.
These conversations are not always easy. They are, however, essential to engage and educate all members of our school communities and create thoughtful, productive dialogue about the value of living in a diverse and accepting city and society. By modeling leadership in discussing difficult issues around bigotry and hate, you in turn create models in your students, who will understand that their feelings and concerns matter, and that it is within their power to take action to promote diversity and inclusivity.
School community conversations are a way to create meaningful dialogue and provide the opportunity to share beliefs and feelings. Schools in Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Borough Park will be implementing hate crime awareness programming starting this month, and I encourage you to do the same. Ask students what discrimination and religious intolerance might look like in a school or in their neighborhood, and collectively explore ways to address it. Schools should designate a safe place where students can go if they are anxious or upset, as so many of us are, by the hate and violence in our society. All students should have access to school-based staff (e.g., Respect for All liaison, guidance counselor, teacher, etc.) to whom they can turn to discuss their concerns.
We know many of you are already actively undertaking these kinds of efforts, and we encourage you to share ideas, practices and resources among one another for inviting speakers, facilitating community conversations, and more. It is important that families and other members of your communities are included as well, since these issues reach far beyond school walls. Our central teams will continue to curate instructional resources for schools to use for these conversations, and we will distribute them as they become available.
New York City is the greatest city in the world, and our school system is the most exceptional in the nation, because of the incredible diversity of our community. What we all share is an identity as New Yorkers. It is this shared sense of belonging that fuels our efforts to move beyond tolerance and acceptance to a place of active celebration and inclusion in every classroom, in every school.
My team and I are here to support you in this important work. Please see this link for additional resources, and reach out to Respectforall@schools.nyc.gov with questions or information about the resources attached.
In unity,
Richard
Give me the solution 1111, what should/can i do?
I opted out. That is my non-anonymous statement. The uft knows i dont pay. My school and CL know i dont pay. i am on the list. What have you done?
Tell us who you are? You are an anonymous scab, the lowest form of human life. You benefit while others pay.
Nice comment, lowest form of human life. Makes sense to call a teacher that, who has the right to opt out. And based on what many say on this board, including James, has damn good reason to opt out. Give me $50k of your money, i will give it back to you in 11 years with no interest, if you don't die. Great benefit. Show me another job where children can curse and threaten you, or any other person in a workplace, where there would be no consequences. Great benefit. There would be immediate removal, and maybe a lawsuit.
From the urban dictionary on scab:
They care about no-one but themselves,have allegiance to no-one,including who they work for, and cannot see long term. They will take almost any abuse from their employer, and dont give a whit about their fellow workers.This is the true makeup of a scab.
I think this describes you rather well.
Seems like a ton of thrilled teachers, lucky to have the uft.
41% of teachers hired in 2012-13 have already quit.
We need bold solutions to address New York City's teacher retention crisis.
Let's create a year-long residency program to make sure our teachers are ready on day one.
I don't believe Portelos has opted out by the way. He was totally fucked by the UFT.
And i think you are aiding the uft in ruining the job for me. At least I'm not contributing. I can see long term, that's why i opted out. Go piece by piece through the 2014 contract, please educate me on how you think that was appropriate. Any of it.
Contract sucks. Okay, we agree but opting out ain't improving things for anyone but YOU. That part about not giving a whit about fellow workers. It applies. Doesn't it?
"They will take almost any abuse from their employer..."
That describes the scabs here too who pass everyone rather than uphold their contractual right to have their grades respected and to have a safe work environment.
I repeat. Portelos had to get his own lawyer at his expense. Did he opt out? No, he fought back and won and now is attempting to fix the union, not opting out.
So you are happy letting things stay as they are. i havent seen you make any changes. what had paying dues gotten you? Where is the caucus you started while paying dues? So let me get this clear. Things arent changing. You pay for things to stay the same. I have an idea, lets all opt out. Then we will all be on the same footing, and the uft will have a clear message. And nobody in the city gives honest grades, so you are talking to 75,000 teachers.
Wait. Why would he need to get his own lawyer, the uft provides a lawyer. That is what dues are for. Oh, they are that incompetent? Point made. Dont you see what is going on? We are going in circles. Same conversation for 20 years, just new and worse contracts. Nothing is changing. Why continue paying for that?
Portelos seemed to making inroads toward a separate union (perhaps just my wishful perception?) - something I personally hoped for. Guess what? Randi Weingarten sat him down for lunch and he stayed in the UFT herd as it’s black sheep. No ATR, newbie or targeted vet with half a brain should be paying dues - every non-due paying teacher should ban together. The only guys I only know a few that have the backbone for real organization are retired. Are any willing to be tarred, feathered and vilified, even them, especially if retired? In five years teachers will be laid off en masse as a direct result of grade fraud, school safety and the choice of charter schools. Mulgrew and Weingarten will retire to some paradise (separately of course), throw up their hands and say ‘we did our best.’
Portelos also cant run for president or CL if he opts out.
Oh, right. i never even mentioned tier 6. Retire at 63 with 41 years. Pay 6% into pension your entire career.
12:57, 75,000 teachers are not involved in grade fraud. I was never pressured to pass kids who should not nor are many teachers. NYC is a huge system and what goes in one school, one district or even one borough cannot be turned into a universal for the system. Bloomberg/Klein gave principals autonomy and deBlasio's chancellors have only pulled back a little.
Bronx ATR, You know full well that this blog asked if there were 100 activists willing to get 60 signatures each from high school teachers to start a decertification drive for high school teachers and then to certify a new high school teachers union. About ten people replied that they would do the organizing work.
Without organizing for something better, we are better off within the UFT. Not paying dues is a dead end unless you are willing to form a different union.
I cant believe teachers would accept this for a union. It is pretty sad. There is no pushback at all. To accept these contracts and these working conditions...
James, i was an ATR for almost 10 years. Every school i went to I got the same answer, students do nothing, hardly show up, then in June we pass them all. Not worth the hassle. Not gonna get called into an office to explain, not gonna fight with students, not gonna get phone calls from parents. Every single school, the same thing. This was throughout brooklyn.
I quote retired Bryant HS Chapter Leader Sam Lazarus: "The problem with the UFT is the leadership and the membership."
James, I was one of them. I’ll knock on doors if you want me to. It’s time.
So we know "scabs" have opted out. What have all the others done to make change, other than call people scabs?
If I ask my Goldstein HS friends, they will tell a different story I gather 1:27. Yes those are not average kids but I was in Middle College where the principal called us in if we passed kids who did not have enough seat time and my wife has different experiences too. I have friends throughout Queens and pressure to pass everyone exists in many places but is not universal.
1:37, I write this blog, ran for union office, served 18 years as chapter leader, 10 years as an opposition UFT executive board member and 5 more as a delegate, attended and still attend meetings, try to unite people from various opposition groups, and I certainly help any teacher who asks for it. Happy to work to organize anyone who wants to also.
Ok, so if we say 800 schools of 1600? is that ok? I had almost no students the last 2 days. I am told they will come back on monday? How is that acceptable? They just choose to make a 12 day break into a 16 day break. Show up whenever you want? I will ask again, what is the needed attendance rate? 80%? Everyone in my school would fail. And 80% means they are absent once per week. That is outrageous. Most of my students have 65% or less attendance. How many should pass? I will fail them. Most others will pass them. I will gladly pull report cards and post them. And please dont use Goldstein and tech as examples...
And what are the others doing other than calling me a scab? Still waiting for a solution that could be done/will actually work. Still waiting to see the first bit of change.
Scut work ain't pretty but it is necessary. Need respected teachers in schools and on social media to spread the word.
It might be that widespread. I don't know. I know Queens better than other boroughs because most displaced from Jamaica who are still active are in Queens. NYC no longer has an attendance requirement. Klein ended it. UFT should be demanding it.
The only solution is organizing. We are much stronger as a group of organized teachers than alone. Organizing must come from schools. Expecting it from a union leadership that benefits from the status quo is probably wishful thinking.
I was observed yesterday, Friday after our vacation, 7th period with my self-contained class. That’s not even the crazy part. The principal announced 6th period that there will be no internet!!! So the lesson I had planned I couldn’t do. I literally had to create something in one period. Are they out to get me? Or is that normal?
Thank goodness 18 years in with per session make 120,000 a year, if I can last 4 more years, would have a near 130,000 base to babysit and go through shit like Andy Dufrane did in the Shawshank Redemption.
It is also amazing you can have 1 informal 15 minute subjective observation thats a snap shot of your entire 1st semester rating.
City probably paid us our money back with our interest so they can pretend as if we were fully being paid back while they keep there pockets full.
Nowhere to be found at the School of Coop-Tech 321 E.96th street
Yes, L20 is a huge raise.
1. I will look for the PERB ruling posting. I have not noticed it.
2. I do believe grade fraud, Regents exam fraud, class fraud (on-line courses), data fraud, incident fraud (not reporting incidents), occur in the majority of schools in NYC. My principal admits to doing things because the other schools are doing them. He will go along with whatever the other schools are doing regardless of fraudulence. The harm this is doing to children and staff is not even a thought.
3. As long as New Yorkers keep voting in Mayors who are more concerned about their own power, wealth and political gain than the people of NYC, the NYC DOE schools will continue to be very expensive institutions of illusion. The mayor, nor his cronies, care about the truth or competence.
4. As long as UFT members keep voting in UFT officers who are more concerned about their own power, wealth and political gain than the members of the UFT, the situation for teachers will only get worse. Yes, it can get much worse. The good new teachers can't take the craziness so they leave and the old timers are going to retire or quit within the next few years. NYC public schools will always have "teachers" but the quality certainly makes one raise an eyebrow.
What can be done to change the course of NYC public schools?
Vote in mayors who will address the fraudulence in the schools. Vote for a mayor who believes that the schools should be institutions of learning and discipline. Vote for a mayor who will do with fewer middle people and return most of these DOE leaders, deputies, superintendents, administrators, etc. back to the classroom. I think this collection of highly paid, pretentious boot-lickers have proven to be ineffective in improving the schools.
Vote in officers to the UFT who will bring integrity and respect back to the teaching profession. Vote in officers who are righteous, intelligent, and listen to the constituents. Vote in officers who are charismatic and can bring people together. If the UFT continues to vote in the self-serving, dim-witted, polarizing officers we have now, woe to those teachers who stay in the NYC DOE.
I am not convinced that enough people are really interested in improving the NYC DOE schools. That would put a lot of incompetent people out of work; from the DOE and the UFT.
Think about just this, our final raise for the current contract is in may 2021,the contract ends in sep 2022. A lot more than 1 year. A lot of time with no raise.
We posted on the 7 months of 0% raises in this contract in our opposition to it in 2018.
And then you follow-up by calling people who object to it scabs and the lowest form of human life
Good evening,
Just catching up here. Thanks for the share James. No, haven't been contacted by NY Teacher for a story on this, nor have I seen UFT social media pick it up.
I've thought of opting out many times. No, not to save money and no not because I'm against union. Was more fed up hearing other member's anguish than my own and wanted to make a statement. It's a heartbreak.
James it's the leadership and membership, but the acts of the opposition left a poor taste. I'm not saying we all have to agree, but we stepped on our own toes for years and continue to do so.
I agree and that was the only statement I could make.
Gene Mann sent a letter to our emails from Carranza about lesson planning and how teachers can't be required to have certain things in their lessons and that the lesson is for the teacher. He also says the lesson plan is not set in stone and can be adjusted as the lesson unfolds. Unfortunately, a lot of teachers get ineffectives for not having certain items in their lesson plans and for straying from their lessons. The big boss says it's okay though, but somehow very few teachers got this letter. I got it from Gene Mann. Why didn't Carranza send this letter to everyone. As for solutions, there are a few things we can do. Teachers need to speak up. Years ago at schools, teachers weren't afraid to speak up. Yes, people will say they will be targeted for speaking up, but people need to do it diplomatically. Also, people need to publish more on blogs. A comment I wrote about the Maspeth incident was published in the NY Post. Also, we should discourage young people from becoming teachers. I'm and ATR with over 20 years, and I feel very disrespected by the doe. A teacher with over 20 years in the system, should not have to go looking for a job and go on interviews. They have done all these things to make schools better over the years like allowing principals to hire teachers, but are the schools any better? They should go back to the old transfer system. Years ago it was an incentive to remain in the system. Todays young teachers are going to have no incentive to stay long in the system.
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