tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post2928126490562753755..comments2024-03-07T15:25:26.971-05:00Comments on ICEUFT Blog: HARRIS LIRTZMAN SEES VERY TOUGH DAYS AHEAD FOR EDUCATORSJeff Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11728874415155394751noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-77251443302255498512014-11-10T00:16:33.324-05:002014-11-10T00:16:33.324-05:00I've learned the dangers of dealing with polit...I've learned the dangers of dealing with politicians on education issues. I worked in NYC/NYS government and politics for twenty years before I became a teacher. I recently met with a City Councilmember A, who I've known for 15 years, to encourage him to hold oversight hearings looking into abusive treatment of teachers by DOE/OSI and DOI/SCI. He contacted another Councilmember B because there were jurisdictional issues around which Council committee oversees which agency. To my amazement, both Councilmembers agreed to hold oversight hearings. Six weeks ago, I heard back from Councilmember A that because I was a member of MORE I couldn't participate in helping him to prepare the hearings nor could any other member of MORE. Clearly, Councilmember A had spoken to Michael Mulgrew about the great idea he had to hold these oversight hearings and Mulgrew must have straightened out Councilmembers A and B right quick about the fact that a bunch of red tee shirt wearing rabble-rousers were about to infiltrate the inner sanctum of the City Council and that the UFT would find that unfortunate. <br /><br />I don't give a damn because if the hearings actually do come off I'll know who got them going. But lesson learned.Harris L.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-80837683718754462632014-11-09T21:23:59.114-05:002014-11-09T21:23:59.114-05:00I don't think the UFT endorsed Avella this tim...I don't think the UFT endorsed Avella this time around in his battle against John Liu in the primary. If they endorsed him in the fall, it was meaningless since the Republicans did not run against him.James Eternohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13578647381229034792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-48511788119727456182014-11-09T19:59:27.581-05:002014-11-09T19:59:27.581-05:00An interesting story with Tony Avella recently.
...An interesting story with Tony Avella recently. <br /><br />The members of William Bryant HS reached out to Don't Tread on Educators (DTOE.org) and Solidarity Caucus (solidaritycaucus.org). (One steering member is from Bryant) They spoke with Tony, who was planning a rally, and they wanted us to join and support. We posted two blog posts on both respective sites advertising the event. http://bit.ly/1tRqzWI. <br /><br />All of a sudden Avella's office pulls out and tells Bryant they never heard of Solidarity Caucus and need more time. Rumor has it the absent Queens UFT borough office and 52 Broadway got involved and had him pull out. You can't have these new groups be successful in supporting UFT members and the community, so you ensure the rally fails. It did. Tony pulled out and the admin made logistical changes to reduce where the school lets out and when.<br /><br />Now though the UFT Queens office showed up and polled the staff. 68 - 8 in favor of rallying. Supposedly UFT central and Tony Avella will be planning a rally now. <br /><br />Who heavily endorsed Avella? Ah yes...the UFT. <br /><br />No worries, as we stand in solidarity with the William Bryant Community no matter who plans a rally against the abusive Principal Namita Dwarka. Francesco Porteloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03249197982072281997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-68549972613460063522014-11-09T19:34:18.369-05:002014-11-09T19:34:18.369-05:00It was not me. It was written by Harris Lirtzman. ...It was not me. It was written by Harris Lirtzman. I merely posted it.James Eternohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13578647381229034792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-75207906796514694262014-11-09T19:08:43.203-05:002014-11-09T19:08:43.203-05:00I guess that one was directed at me as an Avella s...I guess that one was directed at me as an Avella supporter based on what he did for Jamaica HS RBE. I get it. We'll see what happens there.James Eternohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13578647381229034792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-56501756906805922092014-11-09T18:34:56.515-05:002014-11-09T18:34:56.515-05:00I agree with RBE above. One of our biggest issues ...I agree with RBE above. One of our biggest issues these next few years is dealing with the Republic and and IDC controlled Senate. Even if de Blasio wanted to implement progressive education policies, the IDC/Republicans would just work with Cuomo and the Charter lobby to prevent that. And of course the UFT would stand by and watch as de Blasio got eaten alive, just like the did over the fight with Eva last spring.<br /><br />As long as the state is being run by Cuomo and The Republican/IDC senate we are screwed. We needed every teacher to stand up to the IDC and yet plenty of teachers I know supported Avella and Klein (I even know two who volunteered for him). Imagine if we had Liu instead? He was the only Dem who openly said he planned to give full back pay to city workers when running for mayor and would have been an ally in the fight against Ed Deform. Instead we now have a Senate that is even more anti-public ed than ever before. Between that at Cuomo we are screwed. How can teacher complain about anti-public education policies, when they continue to vote for anti-public education candidates? Kevin Kearnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02230906342347529395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-92001677432758631912014-11-09T17:58:49.977-05:002014-11-09T17:58:49.977-05:00Amazing Kafkaesque logic here.
Fire all the teache...Amazing Kafkaesque logic here.<br />Fire all the teaches at Boys and Girls and replace them with Teach for America missionaries. <br /><br />Then have a new principal i the school four days a week in lieu of five; while paying him a $50,000 bonus.<br /><br />While the principal is there less time, the kids are theoretically in school more time, with the extended day. What is puzzling is that the kids at Boys and Girls now have attendance and cutting problems. If attending class for a full day is a stretch for many students, how will a longer day improve attendance?<br /><br />Why is firing all the teachers always the solution to every problem? The real problem in NYC is INCOMPETENT ADMINISTRATORS; NOT INCOMPETENT TEACHERS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-23310081718782211032014-11-09T17:52:06.764-05:002014-11-09T17:52:06.764-05:00You need to add the members of the Independent Dem...You need to add the members of the Independent Democratic Conference to the list of individuals and entities calling the shots over de Blasio and pushing harmful education policies meant to destroy the system, schools and teachers.<br /><br />Tony Avella has reiterated he plans to join IDC. Jeff Klein said this weekend he hopes for a similar power-sharing arrangement to the last legislative session, and Dean Skelos said today he is open to some deal with Klein. <br /><br />Don't underestimate the damage that will be done by the IDCer's joining the GOP to give Cuomo his pro-charter, anti-teacher policies.<br /><br />Would have been nice to have John Liu in the State Senate standing up for the public school system.<br /><br />Alas, we have Tony Avella instead.reality-based educatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01712885202661371924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-78065129947964054772014-11-09T11:55:01.038-05:002014-11-09T11:55:01.038-05:00You would hope de Blasio would make a stand...You would hope de Blasio would make a stand. He has a lot more power than he thinks. Cuomo's reelection was an embarrassment for a big name Democrat running for a second term in NY state. 54% of the vote with the lowest voter turnout since 1970. DEMS lost 5 seats in the House of Reps. from NY state. One third of the total pick up GOP nationally. Every statewide and national big name DEM know that is Cuomo's fault. In Red State Arizona DEM incumbent Congressmen won 4 out 5 elections the 5th is in a recount. If I was an adviser to any DEM politician in NY state. I would advise them STRONGLY to oppose the Cuomo corporate agenda, unless they want to face a "Zephyr Teachout" or "Howie Hawkins" in a primary in 2016. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-32637634007815429122014-11-09T10:47:24.388-05:002014-11-09T10:47:24.388-05:00Great analysis. I picture Bloomberg at a control p...Great analysis. I picture Bloomberg at a control panel still controlling everything, skyping with Cuomo and making sure all the lawyers he and Klein placed at Tweed are still there. They are. 98% of them. Need a series called " Tweed -The Leftovers" and spotlight each one.<br /><br />The UFT is a weak shield and wearing sheep's clothing. As far as ATRs there can be a lot of traction after Tuesday's big meeting. Francesco Porteloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03249197982072281997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-49419329761381563052014-11-09T10:21:58.514-05:002014-11-09T10:21:58.514-05:00Good Commentary, James.Good Commentary, James.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-73903669728016969972014-11-09T09:48:36.226-05:002014-11-09T09:48:36.226-05:00deBlasio originally said he wanted to use the Balt...deBlasio originally said he wanted to use the Baltimore model that works with John Hopkins. Instead I see it's just a mixture of the old Tweed model.<br /><br />deBlasio thought he would be a king maker in this election, and that wasn't the case. I see this guy as delusional. Should have listened to those who said he was indecisive and that's why he left Hillary's campaign. Yet he was better than the UFT candidate who did an about face on teachers. <br /><br />I think I was the only person on the FB/blogosphere to want Joshua Starr as chancellor. Norm disagreed. I think in the long run I will be proven right. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-58411233113403375932014-11-09T09:22:15.493-05:002014-11-09T09:22:15.493-05:00Oh, we'll know when we're thrown to the li...Oh, we'll know when we're thrown to the lions. Something which will happen right after the next mayorial election. We all have about 3 years to get our bags packed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-33162311419474939502014-11-09T09:10:35.527-05:002014-11-09T09:10:35.527-05:00Is the UFT (mis)leadership lying down with the lio...Is the UFT (mis)leadership lying down with the lions, or throwing us to them?Michael Fiorillonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15921757.post-60716665587874072402014-11-09T08:31:22.120-05:002014-11-09T08:31:22.120-05:00Chillingly elucidated. God knows how we will surv...Chillingly elucidated. God knows how we will survive the next few years. Patrick Walshnoreply@blogger.com