Sunday, March 15, 2020

DE BLASIO IS THROWING IN THE TOWEL; NYC SCHOOLS CLOSED (Updated)

This is from the NY Post:

New York City’s schools will close Monday and remain shut till at least April 20 — and possibly the rest of the school year, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.

“To say the least, this is a very troubling moment, a moment where I am just distraught at having to take this action,” said de Blasio, who had been facing a coup from parents and teachers over his refusal to close the schools amid the coronavirus.

“But I became convinced over the course of today that there was no other choice,” de Blasio said — adding that New York City is now up to five dead and 329 confirmed cases of the virus.

“We may have to go out” for the rest of the school year, “we may not have the opportunity to re-open them,” he warned.

The mayor said remote learning for students would begin March 23, with teachers undergoing “battlefield training.” The mayor added that over the next five days, schools would be open for “grab-and-go meals” for needy students, but that would only last this next week.

Further down:
The schools chief [Richard Carranza] said teachers will be asked to come to school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for training while still  “practicing social distance.”

He said the goal is to make sure every student can continue to get their lessons online.

“Enrichment centers” also will be set up at various sites for the kids of healthcare and emergency-services workers, Carranza said.

And more:
The move came after Gov. Cuomo appeared to reverse course on the issue, too.

“Bureaucracies do not adjust quickly, but sometimes they have to, and this is one of those times that they have to, and I want them to sit down, figure it out,” the governor told reporters earlier in the afternoon.

He later added on 1010 WINS radio that “all schools down state” would close. His office soon issued a press release saying city schools were closed.

The city now “must develop a plan within the next 24 hours to ensure children who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs will continue to receive that support, and parents — especially critical healthcare workers and first responders – will be provided access to child care as needed,” the governor said.

He said schools in Westchester County also would shutter as would those in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
We kind of figured Cuomo was the one to go to. Good job with all those phone calls and petition signings. So many teachers calling in sick for tomorrow, in spite of the union telling members not to, didn't hurt either.

If teachers are filled with anxiety and need to take days on Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday because they feel ill, I want to remind you that Contract Article 16 entitles you to 10 self-treated sick days per year. Use them if you need to. If the UFT won't defend you, I will gladly help.

The UFT did lead here in publicizing the dangerous insanity of keeping the schools open. We applaud Mulgrew and company for that. However, the Union's action toward members prudently calling up to stay out tomorrow was not exactly pro-union. It's not an illegal strike prohibited under the Taylor Law to protect your health. The UFT shut down the schools for a week back in 1993 because of asbestos. The acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, the UFT President36 eminent scientists, and many others had stated that schools were not safe. Calling in sick in the middle of a global pandemic is not an illegal strike. In addition, an international court has ruled that the Taylor Law prohibition of public sector strikes in NYS is a human rights violation.

In the end just be safe folks.

46 comments:

  1. Wow, over a month. We still get paid, right?

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  2. Over a month? Who said that? No way. Maybe Wednesday to Friday.

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  3. So we go in this week and set up for remote learning starting 3/23?

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  4. Do we get paid? That's the big question. Hope that the lack of mentioning this in any of the UFT material is a good sign (cross fingers). or, are they being cowardly in not wanting to mention this upfront.

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  5. Ok, so off tomorrow, work Tuesday to Thursday.

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  6. Volunteers to stay with the neediest students?

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  7. I thought Caranza said we have a "snow day" tomorrow, and staff should report on Tues. w/o students to prepare to start losing our jobs as school goes online.

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  8. Employees will get paid and will have to work with distance learning. They should have been planning for this instead of figuring out how to do remote parent teacher conferences.

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  9. What a joke! I'd expect nothing more from the DOE UFT less than quarter wits. I'm not setting foot in a NYC public school this week. They have to be sanitized. I don't want to catch the plague learning distance learning. Let them teach us from a distance. And go fuck yourselves, DeBlasio, Cuomo and you big puss Mulgrew.

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  10. exactly. Not for nothing, once again the DOE shows their lack of understanding of their own school system or even the most basic level. My school has 3K, why in the world is she being asked to report for remote teaching trining? Ditto for pre-k? The DOE already has remote learning website with materials for all grades. I just visited it. The materials ok. Enough for the time we are closed no. But why do you need each and every teacher in each and every grade to create materials? Who made the stuff already online? A relatively small group of people are all that's needed to create more stuff to post on the existing site.

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  11. 545, out till late April.

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  12. I think they probably were doing this in the background. They are saying until 4/20--about 4 weeks off. Spring recess falls within the timeline.

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  13. It kind of makes sense because even if they gave us 2 weeks we would literally be back for a week before spring break. PE teachers must be pumped haha.This is so crazy.

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  14. Hi, the city will be short of money. Can the city go Bankrupt and fire teachers?
    NYC was in Bankruptcy once in 1972 and teachers were laid off. Can it happen again?


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  15. There is no infrastructure for "remote learning". The antiquated DOE is still using emergency blue cards and records tins. As usual, it sounds good but in reality is a JOKE.

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  16. this is the beginning of the end of the teaching profession... if those untenured teachers dont see the writing on the wall yet.... jump ship... you will never make it to 63 ... it is over. I am very worried about the future of this job. The only silver lining is that we know the majority of kids will not be able to teach themselves and still pass a test.. which is maybe why they are starting to talk about getting rid of the regents.... because the State knows that most kids can't pass with instruction ... anyone else get bombarded with 3rd party online education companies over the last few days. this whole thing seems very contrived.

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  17. Manic madness, mass hysteria...
    So let me get this straight: corona has some more virulent properties than h1n1 and yearly influenzas floating around the planet. No one has an exact profile but this bitch has a longer shelf life and higher mortality for a few vunerable societal subsets.
    Therefore, we're all gonna flip the fuck out and disrupt billions of lives, reduce global net worth by many trillions and employment by many millions.
    I got that right?
    Am I mssing something?
    And suddenly, people who were calling cops racist and the government fascist now are cheering that those forces are in firm control of more aspects of our lives...

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  18. Why should PE teachers be pumped? Wont they be expected to give written work as well?

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  19. Well, I guess the kids got another free ride. I guess there is another reason to say they must pass. They dont do work when school is open.

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  20. Wow... there are some bitter mofos posting here. Get a grip on yourselves.... not even bitter that it took til Sunday after 5pm... bitter about life...without a doubt some of these posters are poor teachers... they would be pretty much poor at anything. So...for all of those complaining..remember, someones mother is in the hospital, some teacher who is reporting tues-thurs is over 50 and has cancer, some kid is home with noonw who cares... and you... you are a beeatch.

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  21. @10:18
    You are emotional.
    Look up econ101 in your computer device....
    But YOU are loving and kind and really really really care. Stay true to your voice ya herd?

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    1. @10:48pm: you think 10:18 is emotional? What's your opinion on the other posters? Do you think they are emotional?

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  22. We will get paid but our raise in May is not going to happen. Either we get it next May or Mulgrew will just tell the city to keep our money!! Have no faith that we will ever see this raise or the next raise that is do to us in this contract. Mikey likes to give OUR money back to the city!!!

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  23. Bitter?
    Reread your post or ask someone to read it for you.
    Project much?

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  24. @ Sunday, March 15, 2020 10:48:00 PM

    nah... just pointing out facts. i have 23 years in. never seen this type of scenario, either have you. now... grow a sac and report on tuesday and support the greater good. if you have health issues, stay home and use your days.... either way, odds are, youre a jaded clown in the classroom.

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  25. My school did have meetings about this last week. The PE teachers in my school are being asked to assign research papers on different sports, physical fitness, athletes, and the Olympics. They were not too happy about having to write the assignment and the rubric, then having to read and grade something.

    It was also suggested that the students video themselves exercising and send the video to the teachers. This sounds a little icky to me. I would not want a student sending me a video of themselves. Too many possibilities of weirdness with this.

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  26. As of this writing Corona cased deaths in the U.S = 60.

    With a population of 327 million that represents 0.000015% of the population.

    98% of people who contract the virus recover. The 2% that don't are over 80 y/o with underlying heath conditions.

    So lets all freak out, crash the economy, allow the government to restrict our movement and take away our freedoms.

    We all better be careful because this is all heading on a bad trajectory.

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  27. The country is shut down. The market is down over 30% and is crashing today.

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  28. PE teacher here, I will be sending writing assignments to students.

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  29. What does the Chancellor mean by this in his email?
    "As a reminder, all staff are required to report and advise supervisors of attendance daily. Daily attendance records are especially critical to plan and respond to COVID-19."

    How is this report and advise done? In school on site?

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  30. Does anyone remember this? Probably not. I don't recall all this craziness in 2009.

    On October 24, 2009, President Barack Obama declared Swine Flu a national emergency in the United States. On November 12, 2009, the CDC reported an estimated 22 million Americans had been infected with 2009 A H1N1 and 4,000 Americans have died.

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  31. hmmmmmmm having 50-60 in PE in class or giving BS papers to students while chilling on couch?

    The DEMS wish they could have figured this a long time ago crash stock market, fear mongering with the news. Bill Maher must be in heaven right now.

    2009 the media was as quiet as a mouse and defended Obama of course. 10 years ago 13,000 people died 1,800 children and 62 million infected 500,000 around world died not one sport was shut down, not many schools at all. The media is using this to politicize and act like they really care what happens. We have to be careful, but this is pure insanity.

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  32. This is different and worse.

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  33. Some people,no matter how you say it,how you draw it up,no matter how pretty the picture is, still have no idea how to read data. Hahahaha
    That's why the numbers are going to increase and its going to get much worse. Data is data, ask for help when doing the math.

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  34. @10:18 PM Couldn't agree more. It's probably the same people that complain about their union dues. News for you, don't like it, get out. No one is holding a gun to your head.
    Could never please some of the NYC teachers. Nothing will ever please these morbid people. And it's time for 21st century, whether you like it or not. If you don't like it get out, your time has been up.

    kthanksbye,
    Former chapter leader

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  35. Thanks James for working tirelessly behind the scene to keep teachers well inform.

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  36. Good news: economy crashing. Depression very possible. All who wanted to "smash the system" will see if they regret what they wished for. Cue Bill Maher et al.

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  37. From the educators end, things will be done. The student and parents end is another story. There are responsible students and parents out there, but unfortunately, there are so many that are not.

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  38. Cuomo ordered all NY schools to close tonight at 8pm. Do we still have to report to our schools tomorrow morning?

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  39. @255 right!
    What happened to everyone who wanted to smash the system? Who wanted the green new deal? To shut down industries? To equalize wealth between the u.s. and Honduras?
    Aren't these the people I've worked with for all these years?
    The skies are less polluted; vast amounts of "first world" wealth have been destroyed!
    Did people think the new world was gonna happen magically without some casualties? Am I missing something?

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  40. @4:45pm: unfortunately many educators gave up the fight a long time ago. There are some responsible educators and administrators out there but unfortunately, there are many that are not.

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  41. 21 teachers dead and 3 NYPD Officers and they're out on the front lines on streets. The cops by the thousands are cliing in sick but they ain't dying. The teachers willingly walked into buildings full of COVID-19. NY's meekist.

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  42. My source is NJ.com.

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  43. Cynicism about Cuomo is a hunch, not a reputable source. Double overall death totals are hard to dispute.

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