Wednesday, April 08, 2020

SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS; WORKERS FIGHTING BACK; 30 UFT COVID-19 DEATHS; MULGREW'S HOLIDAY EMAIL

I understand readers saying that giving up spring break is no big deal in the midst of a pandemic. However, I think everyone needs to review Naomi Klein's, The Shock Doctrine We have to be very careful that we aren't robbed while we are too preoccupied with surviving to notice we are being fleeced.

A summary from Wikipedia:
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism is a 2007 book by the Canadian author and social activist Naomi Klein. In the book, Klein argues that neoliberal free market policies (as advocated by the economist Milton Friedman) have risen to prominence in some developed countries because of a deliberate strategy of "shock therapy". This centers on the exploitation of national crises (disasters or upheavals) to establish controversial and questionable policies, while citizens are excessively distracted (emotionally and physically) to engage and develop an adequate response, and resist effectively.

We certainly aren't looking too closely now as the school budgets have already been slashed for next school year.

From silive.com:

The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is getting hit with $264 million in budget cuts due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, city officials have announced.

The cuts to the DOE are part of a $1.3 billion program to reduce spending. Budget cuts were also made across other areas -- including public safety, transportation, sanitation, health and social services.

The biggest cut taking effect next fiscal year is $100 million from the Fair Student Funding formula.

Further down:

The DOE said it is working closely with the city Office of Management and Budget to ensure savings for Fair Student Funding is done equitably and with minimal impact to a school’s day-to-day functions. However, the agency said it expects schools to see changes in their budget.

This is just the beginning. The economy is not going anywhere. Only a federal bailout of states and cities will help. I have no clue if it's coming.

For anyone looking for positive news, some working people in this crisis refuse to just do as they are told.

This is from PayDay Report:

So far, we’ve identified over 35 wildcat strikes that happened in the last month alone. (Several larger strikes like at Instacart and Whole Foods happened in multiple cities).

We suspect many strikes aren’t reporting at all for a variety of reasons and that the numbers are higher than we can track. 

There are lack of reporters on the labor beat and many workers don’t know how to contact reporters at all.

In other instances, we have heard of plant managers shutting down workplaces after a large number of workers simply called in sick. In other facilities, some workers have walked off the job; only to return shortly after bosses make promises to improve things. 

For these reasons, we believe that the number of strikes occurring are vastly underrepresented.

Don't expect union leaders to guide you. Working people are thinking and acting on their own behalf. That is good news. I have a feeling that the number of people calling in sick in certain jobs might not all be due to them having COVID-19.

UFT Coronavirus Deaths
When we take into account that UFT members are not working in school buildings presently, theoretically one would think there would be a low number of UFT fatalities if UFTers are following guidelines on social distancing and staying home. I don't know if this is a low or high number because there are so many who work for the DOE but the NY Post  is reporting on UFT fatalities.

 This was written by Selim Algar:

More than 30 members of the United Federation of Teachers — including retired staff — have been reported by family members to have died from coronavirus, a union source said.

Shellshocked kin have been contacting the organization to alert officials to the cases in increasing numbers, the source said.

While he did not specify that they died from COVID-19, UFT president Michael Mulgrew read out the names of 26 recently deceased members at a somber meeting of the union’s executive board Monday.

At least five additional coronavirus-linked deaths have been added to the UFT’s grim tally in just two days since that meeting, the union source said. The union’s membership includes both teachers and other staff.

Teachers have ripped the Department of Education for not providing a public inventory of their fallen colleagues.

Selim later cites that union source to say a small number of the deaths were from retirees but most were active workers.

This is tragic. It appears that Reality-Based Educator, Bronx ATR, EdNotes once, and yours truly are the only ones holding the UFT accountable in any way for what has occurred. I strongly believe the Union had an obligation to tell its members in no uncertain terms to leave infected school buildings but the UFT was more interested in not violating the Taylor's Law's prohibition against strikes by public employees in NYS than protecting member lives. The UFT would lose automatic dues checkoff if we were to strike. In the end, the Union was shown as incredibly weak.

There is no need to worry, however, because President Michael Mulgrew sent us an uplifting holiday greeting. I too hope you enjoy your holiday, even if you choose to work instead of spending all of the time with family tomorrow and Friday as this blog proposed.

Dear James,

As we continue to grapple with this crisis, I want to take a moment to wish a happy Passover and happy Easter to those of you who will be celebrating.

I know that for most of us, the holidays will look different this year. We may be videoconferencing with our families instead of gathering with them in person. We may be streaming our Seders and church services rather than visiting our houses of worship. But I hope that the spirit of your celebrations remains the same. 

This evening, many will sit down for the first Passover Seder. It’s tradition to end a Seder with the farewell, “Next year in Jerusalem!” Just as Easter represents a time of rebirth for many of us, I look forward next year to the renewal of in-person celebrations with our families, friends and faith-based communities.

Until then, I hope that your holiday traditions bring you comfort in this difficult time. I have faith that we will get through this crisis together. 

Stay safe and healthy. 

Sincerely,

Michael Mulgrew
UFT President



130 comments:

  1. Maybe you should listen to scabs more often. Clearly not worth paying dues.

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  2. Don't forget all the great letters we get from Carranza saying how proud he is of all of us. We should each request a copy of each of his letters is put in our personal files.

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  3. And let me when we are getting that 7 days if compensation...And exactly what it is.

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  4. I think cutting the NYC DOE budget is a positive step. There are plenty of locations where there can be cuts without ever touching a teacher or a classroom.

    There is a lot of bloat in between the classroom and the Chancellor. These people just make up work for themselves so they can have jobs. Making budget cuts to these offices and programs would save millions, if not billions (I) Central Admin and all their offices (II) Central Instructional Support and all their offices (III) Field Support Costs (IV) Professional Development, including professional retreats (V) Summer School should only be for honest students. Students who blew off the school year should not be awarded summer school.

    On a school level, my school spend hundreds of thousands on per-session activities that either no students or very few attend. We spend tens of thousands of dollars a year paying staff members to collect cell phones. My school also spends tens of thousands, if not more, a year for various student trips to amusement parks.

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  5. So we already on the clock and Mulgrew has yet to negotiate our compensation. He is one shrewd businessman.

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  6. Interesting extensive article in the Daily Beast today regarding Trader Joe's having 1 death dt coronavirus. Why is there no uproar regarding the NYC DOE and the 30 + staff that have passed away?

    ‘Blood on Their Hands’: Trader Joe’s Workers Are Angry and Terrified

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/trader-joes-workers-are-angry-and-terrified?ref=home

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  7. @8:37 and he is not going to. All talk and no action.

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  8. As an ATR, how do you report attendance?

    Anyone have any clue?

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  9. Looks like we are losing the May raise. NY unions say planned pay raises for tens of 1000s being delayed amid COVID-19. Cuomo administration says raise deferred for at least 90 days amid #nybudget uncertainty.

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  10. What are we doing when did blasio opens schools in early May?

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  11. BUDGET CUTS: When they come and schools are slashed people will beg for working Easter week. Add state and fed budget cuts to schools. Imagine a 4 day work week, Imagine no preps, Imagine increases in class size of 10%. Imagine a contract - which for those who think we have one just watch what happens once they declare a state of emergency.
    Shades of 1975 when there were 15,000 layoffs. And this time you will see a massive attack on tenure - why let people go by seniority when there are all these younger cheaper teachers? You will look on at this week of work with fond hindsight.

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  12. Tell is how shell shocked we are from all the teacher death then take away our huge 2.5% raise.

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  13. Wouldn't it be ironic if we waited 11 years for retro with no interest and then we dont get it?

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  14. Students are selling the iPads the doe is giving them...Aware of that?

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  15. Norm, I pointed out yesterday how everything will be on the table including our pensions although pensions will be harder to go after because of the state constitution. If you don't want shock doctrine applied, working people have to be strong now and stand our ground as best as we can. The more we concede now, the more we show we are willing to be screwed over on the other side of the pandemic

    I think the best way out at some point might be a general strike.

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  16. I just walked into the convenience store and the clerk told me that someone just sold him a brand new IPAD, and when he opened the box, the IPAD had the "NYCDOE" sticker on it. STRAIGHT OUT THE BOX. Poor kid never even had a chance to turn it on. Selling price? 50 bux. — feeling sad

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  17. 10:26: The school you are assigned to should have sent you a link that you have to fill out each Friday. If you didn't get it, email your payroll secretary or principal.

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  18. EmaIl us. We will get info to reporters. They can keep your identity anonymous and can call Bodega owner.

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  19. Wow, and these are the students we are doing favors for...

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  20. State froze pay for state workers. Watching Cuomo presser

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  21. So after all this, and all the screwjobs, they are gonna take away this paltry 2.5% raise. Just amazing.

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  22. James - a general strike means everyone is being screwed. Which maybe they are. But you know there must be some activity to organize such a strike and there is not a lot of organizing power outside the leadership in most unions. And the people in charge are smart enough to only go after one group at a time. Based on history guess which group will be the first to go?

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  23. So we are considered state workers?

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  24. What do you suggest Norm? Having the AFLCIO leaders get us through?

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  25. No, UFT teachers work for NYC. We are not state workers. UFT raises are still on. I don't know if DOE has technical know how to stop them at this point. They might but who knows?

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  26. I'm sure they could stop them. uft and de blasio have another chance to shrug their shoulders and say they did the best they could. So much for being respected and cherished.

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  27. City workers but the same hold on raises will apply.

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  28. Cuomo said it was state workers. UfT members are not state workers.

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  29. Understood, but dont you think the same will happen to teachers?

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  30. The only place I've seen a discussion of raises being held and retro being withdrawn or delayed are these blogs

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  31. Do you think DOE has technical prowess to pull off reversing May payroll?

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  32. 1:03, Valid point but the economy is in a coma right now. We have no idea how things will emerge when we have to pick up the pieces when the pandemic slows. Major austerity at some point will be on the table.

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  33. What? Cuomo said a 90 day stop.

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  34. I have a real problem with students selling electronics that we gave them for free, because they needed to keep up with their education. I know nothing will ever come of it, the doe will never do anything about it, but really, what a disgusting thing to do.

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    1. Free? Imagine what the DOE actually paid for it probably three or four times above-market

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  35. Maybe the family was desperate. You don't know.

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    1. Selling laptops in bodegas? That's the red meat for many posters on this site. Some of these posters need to see the students as thieves, dumb, and lazy. Guess what, the DOE thinks the same about you. They know you are not actually teaching but get paid(thief), you won't stand up to them and walked into infected schools (dumb) and are lazy (bitching about working from home). The difference between you and your students: You are supposed to be a professional. Who is going to respect you when you do not even respect yourself. The sad part is you don't even see it. You sit around talking about the students as if you are somehow better than they are. Newsflash: If you pass students who don't deserve it; don't care that you pass students just as long as you get your check; stay silent when you see it in your school...you are part of the problem. You, the parents, admin, the mayor and Gov all suck. Some of ya'll are talking about how you are doing favors for kids. At this point, Im going to stand up for the DOE and UFT. Go to work and shut up. I will volunteer to get Mulgrew back in office at this point. Selfish self centered cowards.

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  36. I'm as concerned is everybody but we're delving into fear porn here. No raises ,no retro and back in the buildings in May I just don't see it all come on guys.

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  37. May 1 is not happening in my opinion. Other speculation is not fear porn. Read Naomi's book. We have to prepare for the worst and be able to fight back collectively. Collective fight back? Maybe that is the pipe dream.

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  38. I respect your opinion,and everyone else's, James, I am preparing. Terrorized is how they want us. This shouldn't be a place where people come to get scared,that's all.

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  39. Your point is well taken 1:39. That said, it is natural to be scared now and with that comes speculation on how it could get worse. We have to think one or two steps ahead of those who would take away our jobs and continue to loot the treasury.

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  40. I just read in Chronicle that 17 NYPD are dead from Covid-19. 4 of them were safety agents in schools. Where was their union and the fucking UFT to get us out?

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  41. Free meaning we gave them to the students for free. I think it is time to re-evaluate how wonderful, nice, caring and deserving these students are.

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  42. School safety had to show up the useless March 17 -19 week, just like teachers. Closed should mean closed.

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  43. Read the NYC DOE teacher Facebook page- it's full of people enthusiastically willing to forgo their raises to save jobs. Sorry, but I'm nearing the end of my career, and if I survive this plague, I want to have a decent pension. I'm working my ass off and I'm not feeling benevolent. But let these sycophants keep sending the message that they're happy to wait on money that we're entitled to contractually. I'm beyond done with the DOE, the UFT, and remote learning. If I could put in my papers today, I would.

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  44. Maybe this isnt the right time to discuss, but i agree with 1:54. The disrespect students show and complete entitlement they feel is always evident. Once again, they take advantage. And then they will cry foul, they couldnt, they are poor, they were mistreated, it isnt fair.

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  45. Perhaps that kid's family needed money for food. It always comes down to race for certain people here, even in a pandemic. Scary, actually.

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  46. Nobody mentioned skin color. Not once. Besides, there are tons of programs providing food. Schools are providing 3 meals a day to everyone for free. Everyone. Before the pandemic, food stamps, welfare, etc...Now, they have raised handouts.

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  47. So students are basically stealing and selling ipads, but i should give up my May raise. Sounds right.

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  48. Wait till you get the report on how many of these I-pads get returned. I would guess less than 10%.

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  49. A 25 service OR -( not and )50 years of age incentive and ill save the city some money!!!

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  50. Craigslist hundreds of ads for we buy iPads all cash and also many iPads for sale with kids holding them up check it out

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  51. So there is an excuse for taking an ipad that the city gave to them, for free, to keep up with schoolwork, and selling it at the corner store?

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    1. @2:22 what's the excuse for passing students who do not deserve to be passed?

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    2. You don't, but others do pass students who should fail. You must be new to this blog. They brag about it often and happily. My question, therefore, is.to those bloggers. I can't call them educators because that's an insult to true educators.

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  52. You know what's going to happen to most of these laptops provided by the doe. They are going to sell them and say that it got lost or their mother spilled something on it. Then the doe will just give them new laptops because the kids need to do their work. I wonder how much the doe is going to lose on laptops alone, but they cut that summer job placement program.

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  53. Desperate for food, it is free at their local schools, for the whole family....or get a job. NEW:
    @Walmart
    has hired 100,000 workers since March 19 for stores, distribution & fulfillment centers. It's goal was 150,000...we will ask EVP Corporate Affairs
    about it and more, coming up on

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  54. Have you seen food banks have had trouble?

    https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/03/30/new-york-city-food-banks-struggle-as-coronavirus-pandemic-intensifies

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  55. But schools are open for 3 meals per day, for free, for EVERYONE.

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  56. While you sit at home collecting $100,000 a year, you worry about some poor kid scamming the DOE. What a wonderful world.

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  57. Earning $100k is different from scamming and stealing.

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  58. So having a job and getting paid is the same as breaking the law?

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  59. Dont be ridiculous, you cant justify students take city or school property, given to them in a dire time, and selling it at the bodega.

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  60. Not justifying it. I am saying desperate times call for desperate measures. Who are you to judge? Do you know what life is like to grow up in one of these poor households?

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  61. What would you suggest be done 2:40? Line them all up and shoot them? Scamming DOE is wrong but in the grand scheme of things it is more of a farce than a crime.

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  62. IF, IF, IF they are that desperate, as stated, schools in every borough are giving unlimited food to everyone, student or not. You can bring the whole family and get 3 meals. Is that not good enough? Can they break into a store and steal? Or beat someone up to steal a few dollars? You seem to imply rules and laws no longer apply.

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  63. Like James and Rahm said, everyone has a way to take advantage in a crisis.

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  64. That kid is expressing the great entrepreneurial spirit of the USA. He is a true capitalist. He should get some economics credit although I think his price was a bit low. He should have held out for at least $100. It was an apple product. That was no cheapo product.If he reports it stolen, does he get a new one? Some naive teacher will probably risk their life to deliver the replacement. What a wonderful world!

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  65. I have a bite from a reporter on the I-pad story. Come on 11:39, please come forward. Email me at iceuft@gmail.com. Your identity will be protected.

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  66. Just more proof. Lowlife will lowlife.

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  67. 2:30: What a dumb comment. You must be an administrator. $100,000 a year gross is chicken feed today. 30 years ago it would go far. My mortgage is 2,800, car insurance 500 per month, car payment 350 per month, groceries 150 per week plus other bills. We deserve our raises and we should be angry when kids sell their school provided laptops. Like it was said on here, they can get food many places. My grandmother raised 7 kids on a farmer's salary and none of her kids ever stole and they didn't have welfare either. This story of kids selling laptops is a great story for Sue Edelman to expose.

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  68. Back to Covid-19:

    I feel so fortunate to have not gotten sick. As I'm making phone calls home I'm finding that many of my students' households had the virus run through the entire family. We'll never know how many, but without a doubt the schools and the trains and buses the students traveled in were primary vectors.

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  69. I am 2:30. If you don't see the irony and humor in that kid selling the I-pad, then you are truly a one dimensional person. When some kid sticks it to the DOE in this way, I laugh. I'd don't get on a high horse and preach about how I am holier than thou.

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  70. I have problems with the arguements made by both sides.
    I agree with waiting for support, and was one of the first to say that people passing kids,, posting one assignmet,, bragging about not grading "etc are no better then the do nuthing students they complain about.

    However selling something that is not your property is stealing no matter what your justification or reasoning is.

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  71. Replies
    1. And so is anyone who collects a salary but not performing their task. The DOE bought those people (not true educators) years and years ago. Don't get upset now you knew who you were in bed with because they introduced themselves. You helped them screw over the students and now it's your turn. You were played as the kids like to say. You remember the students who don't want to learn, entitled, self centered, on welfare but wearing expensive sneakers. Instead of putting your foot down together and saying no we will not tolerate being cursed at or pass this student who has been absent 95% of the time you shrugged your shoulders. I can go on and on but what's the point. Some people cannot see beyond the tip of their nose. You helped deceive families and now your boss has paid you back.

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  72. So a teacher, with a BA and MA, who earns 100k based on all the years and education, is at home because the whole world is, and is working from home...Is compared to a student thief/criminal? That makes sense? And it is sticking it to the doe to steal a computer and sell it?

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    1. @5:50...thieves can be found in the gutter and the mansion. It's easy to offend others if you're blinded by hubris.

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  73. With the economy that's coming, kids selling DOE iPads may be the least of our worries.

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  74. There is a reason waiting for support cant find a school

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  75. There is a reason why the DOE/UFT are comfortable treating all of you, the way some of you treat the students. The total suffers for the few.

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  76. Find a school? Lol...i know i have enough sense not to walk into a school 3x when someone tells me it's not safe for students.

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  77. waiting for support probably can't get a job because he/she is too expensive not because he has integrity. I also agree you're not a teacher if you pass kids who don't deserve to pass. I know in my school the kids are getting Regents credit as long as they pass the class and believe me they're all going to pass.

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  78. I'm passing 10% in MP2. Proud of me?

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    1. @9:02 pm...check in with your admin for approval. Im just a blogger darling.

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  79. @8:12 pm... Rofl. I am just hoping that a vaccine is soon developed for Covid 19. I am also praying for those who are on the battlefield and for the families of those who died. Other than that, Waiting is doing very well with integrity and a nice salary intact.

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  80. Waiting insults teachers for making a salary and immediately flaunts his own salary while doing nothing.

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    1. @9:29 pm: what do you have to say about Bloggers who insult students instead of doing what they are paid to do? Do you have a name for them? Pls don't call them teachers. Why are you insulted for being called a thief? What do you call someone who gets paid to teach but instead gives a grade. A thief no? Look don't worry about my opinion. You need to figure out how you will handle the Doe/uft. They yield real power over you.

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  81. Are we still arguing if taking a doe laptop and selling it is acceptable?

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  82. My Principal made 20k in Per Session last year and AP made 16k in Per Session

    Is that normal???

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  83. If you don't have a strong chapter to question and embarrass admin, they can take as much per session as they like.

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  84. ok Thanks (in reference to 9:42)

    I was thinking about them asking Admin about that, that would be fair game you think?

    Admin Per Session/Ap Per Session

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  85. We asked in UFT consultation meetings. If we didn't get a satisfactory answer, we would ask at the School Leadership Team in front of parents and kids. Made admin think twice.

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  86. I dont worry about doe/uft anymore. I opted out of the uft. Doe can't touch me, my record is spotless.

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  87. The DOE can go after anyone with any record at any time. Prior record doesn't matter allthat much.

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  88. Yeah, but I was going to quit after the october retro.

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  89. What retro? That will be given back soon. Gloom and doom porn? Maybe not. Read the Shock Doctrine.

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  90. @9:42 if I had to guess, administrators making ten to twenty thousand (or more) in per session is the norm. In 2018, one admin at my school made close to $10,000, another two made close to $20,000 each. Most of this money came from "supervising" after-school and Saturday school programs in which (1) they didn't do anything for those programs but did the work they are supposed to do during the day (2) very few students showed up (3) another teacher or two were paid per session to organize, take attendance, give out metro cards, etc.

    I must add that there were several teachers who made between 20,000 and $30,000 in per session in 2018. Co-incidentally, they were friends with the administrators.

    Regarding a student who sold an ipad. We don't know if that story is true. I think the poster who is saying that it is OK to sell the DOE ipad because we are in difficult times is saying that just to get a rise out of the other posters here. Resist taking the bait.

    My principal told us that the students will be able to keep the DOE provided ipads. He does often make things up, so maybe he made that up, too.


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  91. James, the person who posted that here just took it from the NYCDOE teachers only facebook group. A lot of people do that on your blog. Just an FYI.

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  92. 6:46, We have a name attached to IPad story. I don't think the person wants to come forward to the press however.

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  93. Do you honestly think he/she was the only kid to sell one of these ipads or laptops? That's probably going on all over the city. They'll say they lost it or it broke and the city will provide them a new one. They'll have money to supply that but not our raises. It's the same old line.

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  94. There are cameras all over NYC. I assume that all electronics given out to students have NYCDOE and an ID affixed. Any electronic NOT returned upon request can be tracked but I doubt manpower will be expended to do so. Checking cameras by the bodega in question can be checked. Damn that bodega owner isn't to swift and has bad luck if they told the story to an educator. IMO nobody cares. Now the budget cuts coming, that's a real concern. Rough seas ahead.

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  95. I’m amazed at what people are focusing on and what they aren’t. Here’s something to think about this season, from Hulk Hogan. The message is important, even if you don’t respect the messenger. Folks are focusing on material things like laptops, instead of people and G-d.
    “Word up,can you handle the truth my brother only love HH In three short months, just like He did with the plagues of Egypt, God has taken away everything we worship. God said, "you want to worship athletes, I will shut down the stadiums. You want to worship musicians, I will shut down Civic Centers. You want to worship actors, I will shut down theaters. You want to worship money, I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market. You don't want to go to church and worship Me, I will make it where you can't go to church"
    "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
    Maybe we don't need a vaccine, Maybe we need to take this time of isolation from the distractions of the world and have a personal revival where we focus on the ONLY thing in the world that really matters.”

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  96. It has since been reported that the city Department of Education (DOE) knew of many infection sites — including one Brooklyn high school where five teachers had tested positive — and neither closed the contaminated schools nor informed the Department of Health. Thomas R. Frieden, who has led both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York City Health Department, recently told The New York Times that closing schools earlier could have contributed to reducing the city’s death toll by 50 to 80 percent. While Donald Trump is rightfully receiving the majority of blame for the government’s disastrous response to this pandemic, it’s important to ask why New York officials like Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo were so dilatory in shutting down the region’s largest public institution.

    Monique Dols is an early childhood educator and parent in the Bronx. She is a member of the Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE) caucus inside the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), which organized a highly publicized sickout that helped push de Blasio into finally closing the schools. On the first day of the closure, Dols wrote an op-ed in the New York Daily News criticizing the DOE for ordering educators to report to school for training in remote learning, and urging her co-workers to stay home.

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  97. I heard someone say "If you are immoral with small things, you will be immoral with big things."

    I am not necessarily concerned about the ipad. The act of selling a DOE provided ipad is an indicator of a lack of appreciation, lack of integrity and morality, lack of any intention of taking an education seriously.

    If this student is willing to sell his ipad, what will she/he do next? How will this behavior escalate? might he rob the bodega? attack someone? Steal your car? break into your house?






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    1. @256 and everyone: Would you mind sharing what Bronx ATR's post mean to you?

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  98. Does anyone think we'll all be teaching this summer or will the city give us the two months? Technically we're making the 180 days even though that regulation has been suspended.

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  99. 342, we are working. No need to extend the year.

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  100. I think when these are our students, who we see every day, and they will stop that low, that means something to our profession. That is why many complain about nyc students.

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  101. I am 402. That was STOOP that low.

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  102. Forget about the May raise. FDNY isn't getting theirs.

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  103. Last night, a commenter on cable said that it won't be a politician that "opens" the country. It will be the people. We will each decide when and where it is safe. He said it will be long time before he went to a baseball or basketball game.

    Don't give your power to someone else. It's ok to be careful. It's ok to wait to decide.

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  104. NYC DOE has tracking numbers on these Ipad devices. When students-families agree to receives a device do they need to sign off on being responsible for such devices and if not returned are liable to pay for the device?

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  105. I would love to get philosophical/religious as to CoViD-19 but this blog is about budget cuts, our colleagues who are suffering and dying, and the wealthy, yet useless UFT.

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  106. 6:17, Those items are philosophical and religious. Every decision is based on it. Many of the readers of this blog, the DOE and the UFT continually reference their god - money. Thirty teachers were sacrificed to that god. Everything that has been done and will be done is for the god of money and the philosophy of capitalism that is the worship of that god.

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  107. @Bronx ATR: I think a vaccine is needed. People will believe whatever they choose to believe. If a plague doesn't make people pause and think outside themselves nothing will. People are literally dying. Where your treasure is, is where your heart will be.

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  108. This is 6:17, Bronx ATR, I agree that people need to re-evaluate their dismissal of God in their lives. Being a capitalist is not in opposition to the love of God. I do believe that one must use all their gifts to honor Him, including money.

    Waitingforsupport, I agree with that line about where your treasure is....

    For a poster above, you can use the following link to find salaries and per-session for all NYS and NYC employees. If you already have high blood pressure, DO NOT use the site.

    https://www.seethroughny.net/payrolls

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    Replies
    1. @8:07: Happy holiday to you and your family. Stay safe people.

      Delete
  109. Waiting: Wow, a vaccine. What a great idea. Wish I’d thought of it first

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  110. @Pre: I am responding to HH statement. Please don't try and think. Continue to wash your hands moving forward. It's probably a new concept to you but it's a way for you to do your part to keep Covid from spreading. Oh yeah, back the heck up too.

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  111. @waitingforsupport,
    Very true. This should be a time of deep reflection - things are going to change drastically. I’d like to see teachers join together for positive change and fight an upcoming war that will in part be directed at them, the middle class and the entire country. Have a wonderful Easter.

    @6:17,
    Everything that is wrong in this country is rooted in the pursuit, attainment and deep love and hoarding of money. When we become more concerned with money than people, things will collapse. It’s not the virus that is devastating this country, it’s the virus’s effect on money. People are going crazy because all they know is how to do is chase the dollar. Their boredom is making them drink, drug and attack others. The number one hobby of many is spending money. Many don’t know who their wives and husbands are anymore. They look at a stranger starring back at them and are planning a divorce ASAP. They hardly recognize their own children and what they see scares them. No money, no love. No money, no church. No money, no school. No money, no doctor. No money, no respect. We can’t honor G-d with money, we can only honor ourselves in the attempt to do so. We live in a consumer economy. When people don’t have the money to consume, the economy will collapse. Will people turn against each other or will they help each other? Perhaps a sermon for another Easter Sunday. Happy Easter.

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  112. @bronx educator: If folks are not picking up what you are putting down, I say oh well and may God bless them. Everyone needs to look at their neighbor with peace not war. Money is a tool that is required to maneuver through life however all it can buy you are material things. As for me, I hope to collect my riches at another destination. Again, thank you for bringing it all together this Good Friday. Job well done. In my humble opinion. God bless you and your loved ones. God bless everyone on this site. Stay safe.

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  113. China fucked us all and killed and destroyed our way of life including my great uncle who was a 94 year old holocaust survivor.


    CHINA OFFERED massive bribes to the new head of the WHO. They are in cahoots because that POS lied to us on behalf of china about this virus and if the US is paying 150 million a year we should have a say who we want and can trust.

    Also, Dr Fauci, ( who is buddy buddy with the Clintons) who everyone has been sucking on made claims in January that this virus was not a big deal and could not spread human to human. So whether Trump or Obama was in office there was lies and misinformation.

    Cuomo and Diblasio need to take accountability they were not prepared at all and have been begging for supplies. We are one of the wealthiest and most prone to attacks we should have systems in place!

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