Thursday, June 18, 2020

MONITORING MULGREW TOWN HALL

I came on late. If there is anything new from yesterday, I will update.

Budget and politics similar to yesterday. Need Heroes Act to pass.

Trying to get beyond DOE for something citywide for childcare.

Members asking for medical accommodation also just like yesterday

Principals should have budgets by July 1 as NYC budget is due by then.

Excessing is our friend.  Long, complicated ugly summer. Many other districts people are laid off if a job is closed in a school.

Early retirement incentive. This is a good time to do an early retirement incentive. Buyout cannot damage pension system. MLC asked the city.

Walk-through with principal and CL. 60 schools did it today.

Not enough teachers to do 9-12 students in a class with remote learning.

Not always easy dealing with DOE.

Temperature checks. Schools must follow CDC guidelines. We will fight it if procedures aren't in place.

Got executive order on evaluations. Can get tenure without a rating. No school district financially harmed without having APPR. Chancellor working this out for people who would get S or U. Trying to get language saying no one can be harmed.

Filing to get full compensation for working spring break.

School safety reports to School Safety Division of NYPD. Must be managed independently with a check. Need a functioning school safety division.

Maternity and family workshops will continue.

Legal program continues. Pension clinics continue.

Death toll hardest thing we had to get through. Got death benefit for families of members who died of COVID-19. 

Primaries: need to vote.

He thanks everyone.

Questions

Question: 3 step email on opening, is UFT going to provide checklist?
Answer: Number of classrooms, staff members and expected enrollment. Then, figure 10 in a class. Non traditional classrooms. Need temporary walls in temporary classrooms like auditoriums.

Q: How do we prepare for the fall?
A: Can't work the way we've been working. Can't teach both live and remote at the same time. Form relationships with children. Can't work 12-14 hours a day.

Q: School year, when will we have calendar?
A: DOE reluctant to put out calendar. City Hall and DOE must approve. Goes from day after Labor Day through until last two weekdays in June.

Q: Date to know when someone will be excessed by?
A: Mike Sill says it is 15 days into the term.

Q: Will there be input from teachers on how school is run in fall?
A: There needs to be staff input.

Q: Childcare package, what would happen if a teacher who lives out of state needs childcare because their district stays remote?
A: Elected officials understand we can't have kids in buildings every day if they have to do social distancing. Childcare needs to be addressed. We may have to do it ourselves.

Q: Can DOE deny accommodation and then someone cannot return to work?
A: We are capable of handling this. We can appeal denials.

Q: Bilingual teacher asks about who will teach bilingual kids remotely?
A: It won't be the same teacher who teaches live in a building. Maybe people can do overtime work.

Q: Speech therapist asks about related service providers, how will they work?
A: We figured out tele therapy.  There are ways to protect everyone. Nurses will tell us who needs face shield and gown as opposed to mask.

Q: Teachers bailed city out long ago, is there talk about giving up 25% lump sum?
A: City will ask about everything. Many people retired already wouldn't be impacted. City can ask about anything. We'll be here beyond this mayor. Any change in compensation will come to membership. Right now thinking of federal stimulus package.

Q: UFT nurse asks about permanent nurse in every school?
A: We have told City Hall there must be a nurse in every school building. DOE hires only DC37 nurses. They get paid less than UFT nurses so a shortage. The city understands.

Q: Extension for CTLE hours?
A: Extensions granted.

Q: Chapter 683, D 75 on working summer and mandates?
A: VP sped and CL on this. We will ask them for update.

(James here: I missed a question because I had a phone call. Sorry)

Q: Medical accommodations apply to paras?
A: Yes

Q: Are people safe from layoff with 10 years experience?
A: No package, we need to elect a new president and senate. Otherwise, drastic cuts.

Q: Cluster positions, was that thought of? Contact with hundreds of kids.
A: DOE did not understand importance of cluster positions. We are including that in our talks. We are considering cluster exposure. Might be different PPE.

We will do town halls throughout summer. All deserve break. NYC hopefully continues as a safe place. Take time to unwind from stress of this year.

(My wife and kids using family computers. I did this on smartphone so sorry for any errors.)




126 comments:

Anonymous said...

First question, hi michael, thank you for all you do.
What a joke.

Anonymous said...

Ask what high school level work is considered.

Anonymous said...

2nd question, thanks for all the town halls.

Anonymous said...

Question 3, thank you for everything.

Anonymous said...

No info on what buyout would be. Does it only help people who are of retirement age?

Anonymous said...

Not addressing spring break comp that he promised in april?

Anonymous said...

Is anyone asking if students can do no assignments for 3 months then throw everything at you on June 18 and pass?

Anonymous said...

Hi Michael, thank you for all your hard work and fighting for us continuously.

Anonymous said...

"We are very capable of protecting our folks"

Mulgrew

Is he serious?

Anonymous said...


Mulgrew said we wont be unsafe "again"

Anonymous said...

Gets death benefit but doesn't bring up fact teachers who die forfeited retro, which he agreed to.

Doesn't mention teachers died because he sent us in to save dues loss.

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew wont just give the city money back...LOL. How many givebacks have we seen in the last 10 years?

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew isnt a happy camper when it comes to the city? He is the uft president. Whose fault is that?

Anonymous said...

"Having a nurse isnt negotiable"

Now he is a tough guy.

Where has he been all this time?

Anonymous said...

"Thank you so much for doing this, I appreciate all your hard work."

I guess these teachers don't expect much. Low standards.

Anonymous said...

Need to vote? Havent we had a dem mayor all this time? Didnt we just have a dem president for 8 years? Didnt dems control everything in 2009-2010. What did voting get us?

Anonymous said...

No resolution on cops getting attacked? Vandalism? Riots? Safety?

Anonymous said...

"We will have a special place in the universe." Mulgrew

If we are so good, why 1% raises? Why such poor working conditions? Why such abuse?

James Eterno said...

Did any of you try to ask a tough question?

TJL said...

4:43 Norm Scott has pointed out that the UFT is an arm of the Dem Party. In particular, the D establishment (which James confirmed with his recent primary post). It just is what it is.

4:45: Did you contact your CL? Your DR? I agree with you especially about the silence on all the disgusting attacks on the police. There should have been a resolution and there should have been a denunciation of the rioting, looting and violence on UFT Twitter. Unity leadership sometimes misreads its membership, as it did in 2014 when we made and wore the "New York's Brightest support New York's Finest" shirts.

Anonymous said...

TJL,

Amy and Janella constantly tweet and retweet anti-cop and anti-white garbage

Anonymous said...

Dumb question, grades are due tomorrow, a student has done almost nothing, including being absent the whole first MP, just sent me 3 assignments, 30 minutes apart. Wow, he did 3 assignments in 30 minutes but couldnt do them in 3 months. I am just supposed to pass him now? No care about due dates? Standards?

Anonymous said...

Sorry, just can't be part of a union that supports criminals over cops. It is very similar to how we have let students run the show in schools buildings, get rid of suspensions, water down any academic standards. Of course we wont walk out like the cops did.

Anonymous said...

prefer this?

NYPD may go on strike on July 4 so city can have its 'independence' from cops https://trib.al/nUK6kqC

jeff said...

Serious question...When are we going to have an honest conversation as to why schools are failing?

Anonymous said...

UFT? What about living with people with those conditions? What about long travel on public transportation where virus is easily passed?

Based on what we know now, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are:
People 65 years and older
People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:
People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
People who have serious heart conditions
People who are immunocompromised
Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.
People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
People with diabetes
People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
People with liver disease
Most are specific. The immune compromised category seems rather broad, and for a good reason. But it is good that the DOE will not come up with their own, make believe, guidelines and follow the actual guidelines of the CDC. But what is one to do if one still does not feel safe about entering a building next school year and you don't fall into any category.

Anonymous said...

Does the uft support bail reform/no bail? Yes. One guy, 31 years old. 103 arrests. Started at 15 years old. How do duespayers agree with this? Want him on the street with you.
Oct. 26, 2005 — Criminal mischief
Nov. 22, 2005 — Criminal mischief
Dec. 7, 2005 — Turnstile jumping
May 3, 2006 — Turnstile jumping
May 5, 2006 — Assault
Nov. 7, 2006 — Turnstile jumping
Dec. 7, 2006 — Violation of unspecified local law
May 3, 2007 — Criminal sale of marijuana
June 29, 2007 — Assault
July 16, 2007 — Criminal trespass
Dec. 27, 2007 — Criminal possession of marijuana
March 22, 2008 — Grand larceny
April 21, 2008 — Criminal trespass
April 23, 2008 — Criminal trespass
May 31, 2008 — Criminal trespass
July 31, 2008 — Violation of unspecified local law
Nov. 6, 2008 — Criminal possession of marijuana
May 27, 2009 — Criminal sale of marijuana
Nov. 5, 2009 — Criminal trespass
Nov. 23, 2009 — Criminal trespass
Feb. 23, 2010 — Tampering with physical evidence
March 26, 2010 — Violation of unspecified local law
April 23, 2010 — Criminal trespass
Sept. 2, 2010 — Violation of unspecified local law
Sept. 15, 2010 — Criminal trespass
Nov. 19, 2010 — Criminal trespass
Jan. 12, 2011 — Criminal trespass
Feb. 19, 2011 — Criminal trespass
April 20, 2011 — Criminal trespass
May 15, 2011 — Criminal trespass
Sept. 14, 2011 — Assault
Oct. 21, 2011 — Harassment-stalking
Dec. 19, 2011 — Turnstile jumping
Jan. 24, 2012 — Menacing with a weapon
Feb. 2, 2012 — Turnstile jumping
March 21, 2012 — Forcible touching
April 28, 2012 — Criminal possession of marijuana
June 17, 2012 — Criminal possession of marijuana
June 27, 2012 — Forcible touching
Oct. 2, 2012 — Forcible touching
Nov. 18, 2012 — Obstructing governmental administration
Dec. 4, 2012 — Assault
Dec. 27, 2012 — Turnstile jumping
Jan. 9, 2013 — Assault on a police officer
March 15, 2013 — Resisting arrest
Aug. 7, 2013 — Criminal trespass
Aug. 10, 2013 — Criminal trespass
Aug. 20, 2013 — Violation of unspecified local law
Aug. 22, 2013 — Criminal possession of marijuana
Aug. 28, 2013 — Criminal trespass
Sept. 19, 2013 — Criminal trespass
Oct. 16, 2013 — Violation of unspecified local law
Nov. 9, 2013 — Unspecified violation of state sanitary code
Nov. 27, 2013 — Assault on a police officer
Nov. 27, 2013 — Obstructing governmental administration
Dec. 28, 2013 — Criminal trespass
Jan. 24, 2014 — Resisting arrest
March 9, 2014 — Criminal trespass
March 12, 2014 — Obstructing governmental administration
March 21, 2014 — Resisting arrest
April 23, 2014 — Criminal trespass
April 25, 2014 — Obstructing governmental administration
April 25, 2014 — Obstructing governmental administration
May 24, 2014 — Public lewdness
June 6, 2014 — Resisting arrest
June 12, 2014 — Assault
July 10, 2014 — Violation of unspecified local law
July 23, 2014 — Sexual abuse
March 27, 2015 — Criminal trespass
July 4, 2015 — Violation of unspecified local law
July 24, 2015 — Resisting arrest
Jan. 7, 2016 — Violation of unspecified local law
Jan. 14, 2016 — Resisting arrest
Feb. 17, 2016 — Violation of unspecified local law
Feb. 23, 2016 — Criminal trespass
Feb. 26, 2016 — Violation of unspecified local law
March 12, 2016 — Assault

Anonymous said...

If we forfeit the retro, they need to take it back from the retirees too. That is our money.

Anonymous said...

TJL,

Does the uft agree with this? 150k duespaying members would like to know.

BLM co-founder confirms what anyone who’s read their work knows: they’re proudly marxists.

Anonymous said...

Teachers have a great opportunity to strike over worker safety and not be subject
to Taylor Law penalties. If the strike unites with parents, community and other unions so much the better. The working conditions in many of our schools are deplorable. The buildings will not be safe when we return during this pandemic So I ask, how can Taylor Law provisions be enforced when our safety and the safety of our students are at risk? We can combine worker safety issues with many other simmering issues.

Anonymous said...

When Mulgrew says we have a special place in the universe, he means we are spiritual people
and therefore we do not need pay raises or material remuneration. He wants to exploit our idealism. He is a manipulative and repulsive Union leader. Total BS.

Anonymous said...

The gold-framed portraits of four former Speakers of the House of Representatives who shared ties to the Confederacy have been removed from the walls of the U.S. Capitol. https://abcn.ws/3hJwN9u

Those are all democrats. Uft says, our friends.

Anonymous said...

But keep paying dues, right 753?

Anonymous said...

You prefer Republicans who want states and cities to have to declare bankruptcy so they don't have to pay us?

Anonymous said...

Right 8:03 because I would rather be in a shit union like the UFT than be in one of Eva's Success Academies.

Gio said...

Jeff,

we will never have that conversation because of what the results will be.

Anonymous said...

Do I prefer dems and the uft leading riots and looting and cop bashing. No, i dont prefer that.

Anonymous said...

Did any of you keyboard warriors call into ask a question to Mulgrew? I didn't think so. You made the censor's job easy.

Anonymous said...

UFT didn't lead any riots.

Anonymous said...

They sure encouraged riots.

Anonymous said...

Please cute chapter and verse.

Anonymous said...

Cite chapter and verse.

Anonymous said...

They will never let us off work a week earlier. An extra week means five more days to harass teachers who want to give kids the failing grades they deserve and more chances for kids to make up work. Our principal now wants us to give priority assignments to make up for the NX. It never ends. He is trying to guilt the whole school into passing kids saying most of our kids live in the hotspots. He said almost half of our students are failing at least one class. I say good they are finally getting the grades they deserve. No more grade fraud.

Anonymous said...

So pay those dues, have it your way. Let me know a year from now how things have improved. And right now, tell me how things have improved the last 5, 10, 20 years with 100% membership.

Anonymous said...

the uft, mayor and chancellor know that if we have standards, more minorities fail, they wont allow that. See bail reform, watered down discipline code, lower standards, makeup work, blame cops...

TJL said...

I pointed out that BLM is a radical Marxist organization on another post. UFT also supported the Occupy squatters. It's not good, but it's also not news.

Anonymous said...

I'm passing well under 20%. I just sent a message that I am no longer accepting work. They had since March. I'm not taking a slew of garbage now.

Anonymous said...

TJL,

It isnt news, but nobody changes it. 150k members accept it? Agree with it?

Anonymous said...

So when uft hierarchy follows or retweets blm or cop haters or white haters???

Anonymous said...

Crime pattern? Failing pattern? So lets deal with it if we are educators.

waitingforsupport said...

@ Jeff...Now. Do you have your own blog because it's not today's topic.

waitingforsupport said...

@ Gio...briefly,what do you think the results will be?

Anonymous said...

Very manipulative guy. All of this "thank you" made me sick.

The truth is, nobody asked tough questions and I think if they had, this guy would have not know what to say except to dismiss and bully. When Micheal Mulgrew holds a telephone town hall, Micheal Mulgrew wants praise. And he will try to make it seem as though he deserves it. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It was clear to me, in listening closely as he tries, a little too hard, to push the right buttons, all of which will create the climate in this "mulgrew-rally" that is congratulating the uft for doing ...a shitty job.

OPEN YOUR EYES, UFTers. You were being PLAYED...

waitingforsupport said...

@8:13 are you equating protests to riots and/or looting? I know it's been awhile since many educators have done anything more than keyboarding but I'm sure you know there is a difference

waitingforsupport said...

@9:01 nah...folks would rather keyboard

waitingforsupport said...

@8:54 pm right on

waitingforsupport said...

@8:40 pm...you underestimate black and brown students. That's an issue.

Anonymous said...

if you are a con or a trump supporter... opt out. see you later, we do not want or need you...

post your phone number, we will call you and laugh at you all summer, poolside.

OSH said...

Severe Nursing shortage in Schools come September. Watch and see.

TJL said...

Quit the Union over a political disagreement, great idea. Self-immolation sure worked out great for those Vietnam protesters. And if you think you're "owning the Libs", think again. Without people like me the Union will tack even farther left, like MORE.

Anonymous said...

Crime, disproportionately black.
Failing schools, same.
Answer, instead of making them conform to rules and standards, we lower the bar to the ground.

Anonymous said...

Back to the meetings. If Mulgrew thinks the childcare centers can be a model for the whole school system, then he is as clueless as de Blasio and Carranza. They will never have enough PPE and cleaning supplies for 1.1 million kids, even if they only show up a few hundred thousand a day. Remote until a vaccine.

Anonymous said...

No, it's been proven. Dont give me a hypothesis, look at facts and it has never changed.

Unitymustgo! said...

There is no excuse for us to just give up our final arrears payment. I'd accept some kind of deal that avoids layoffs by delaying the final payment (what an f n joke), but we shouldn't just agree to a delay. we should get some (even if it's a crappy amount) of interest on it.

James Eterno said...

Going way off topic again. Please enough already. Thanks.

James Eterno said...

We got 9% I believe in our 1991 loan to the city. It may have been a bit lower but it was significant.

Anonymous said...

Would you prefer furloughs Unity Must Go? That could be the alternative.

Anonymous said...

You mean in 1991 there wasn't 0% interest for 11 years of waiting? Wow, duesworthy.

James Eterno said...

We got two payments. One in 1995 and the second in 1996. Loan saved my job.

Anonymous said...

Are kids going to have to bring their own masks?

Anonymous said...

If the judiciary does not strike down the new legislation permitting the publication of police officers' disciplinary records -- before their cases have been properly adjudicated -- we all know which union will be the next to have its members' disciplinary records published before due process is provided. James, keep up the great work. As an old-school chapter leader, I cherish your blog.

Eve said...

My teacher caught me cheating on a test. She tried to give me a detention but I tackled her, took her chalk & gave her an F. She’s been suspended without pay pending charges. My classmates set fire to the library & are demanding that we defund the school to make learning safer.

Anonymous said...

Will you get any incentive if you are not if retirement age but want to resign?

Anonymous said...

I don't trust the UFT. So these town halls don't mean very much. I don't think Mulgrew has faced a tough question yet. Regaining the trust of the constituents would be a good place for the UFT to start to improve conditions for teachers. I have not bailed on the UFT yet, out of history and loyalty, but if the city touches our retro, I am out.

Anything said or put out there about the re-opening of schools is just speculation. "They" have to justify their salaries; the people at central down to the administration at each school. So they have to appear as though they are doing something.

Those of you who want to redirect the topic of ICEUFT post should just go and start your own blog.

Shelley said...

I would like to ask MM and his buddies Carranza-Virus and Everybody Hates Bill why they are using governor Cuomo's New Math. The dismal decimal may be an accounting error but I suspect more PPP (Pure Political Posturing). It seems our Autocratic Governor thinks he can get away with using irrational numbers to calculate the incommensurable projection of the operating budget. Does anybody else figure this the way I do? I'm old so I can calculate without a calculator, and I find the decimal point is the wrong place making matters seem more dismal than they are?

Now here's the rub: That dismal decimal point was between the six and the one way back when long before the novel virus started killing people in China.

That's right, the Governor, who brags about how tight he has been with the Empire State's gold, while not raising taxes for fear of being labeled by his democratic conservative constituency (the business class) a progressive, had a $6.1 Billion deficit way back when the stock market bull was running up records, unemployment was 3.7%, and the economy hadn't been pinched by a recession in over a decade. Why the hole? After closing a $10 billion gap back in 2011-2012 with cuts to education and healthcare, the Democrat painted himself into a corner where Medicaid and his reluctance to raise taxes on rich people or businesses had him eyeing education again and other services to the poor and working classes. Speaking of classes the Governor turned his back on fair funding, exacerbating the conditions of homeless children who were not counted in the census.
With the Virus-Crisis the Autocratic Governor panicked and pleaded with anyone who wold listen for more ICU beds and ventilators than anybody could ever build or ship. The master builder himself, not be outdone by the charismatic man in Albany sent a boatload and a ship to the city. Rather than be accused of doing too little too late, an accusation that any reasonable and objective citizen could level at 45, The Autocratic Governor, and Everybody Hates Bill, the boys put partisan politics aside and gave the people a lesson in too much and too early. While the Autocrat in Albany wasted money bidding on too many ventilators, the President used what he claimed were unlimited powers to castigate the Fed Chair Jerome Powell and inject bleach into the economy to get all those idle hands and feet marching to work. Meanwhile back in the budget offices, the Governor was busy using New Math to slide the dismal decimal point to the Right. No new Taxes. And, we now have a$61 billion deficit in NY. And Carranza-Virus and Everybody Hates Bill are out there repeating the figure. It's worst than New Math, it's a lie.
So why are they blowing up the deficit? Ain't it big enough?
There's a $3 Trillion bill they call the heroes act down in DC and Cuomo has his eyes on it. It will solve all his problems. The ones brought on by the Virus and the ones he brought on before the Virus showed up. So we teachers have to get out there and vote so that the Democrats can call us Heroes. I'd be happier if they would use Old Math and take out some of them phony zeroes by sliding the dismal decimal to the Left.

Anonymous said...

@10:34
why would they bring in their own mask- they dont even bring in pencls?

Anonymous said...

NYC public schools are finished. Combine massive cuts, grade fraud, cronyism, massive corruption from both the DOE and UFT, incompetence at the highest levels and a fearful, passive, indifferent, impotent work force of babysitting teachers and you have set the stage for a DOE/UFT apocalypse. Great 🤗. Someone arrest Mulgrew and deBlasio and step on their necks. Fawning pieces of shit that have nothing for anyone, but themselves.

https://nypost.com/2020/06/18/nyc-doe-whistleblower-saw-staff-help-cheaters-neglect-disabled-kids/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=pasteboard_app

Anonymous said...

Cheating in Erasmus? What a surprise. LOL. The schools in that building have been failing for 30- years. they continue to close and reopen schools with no improvement. I wonder if it is the student body that is the issue.

Anonymous said...

11:54: You're going to get a phone call home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The NYCDOE this september.
Arizona is entering period of steep growth in its Covid epidemic. With population based mitigation seemingly off the table for now, it’ll face challenges controlling this. That they were still debating masks this week-a simple, effective, albeit limited tool-should raise concerns

TJL said...

The whole "students with disabilities" thing is a massive scam in and of itself. IEP's are a scam. ICT is a scam. 30% in some schools being labelled "disabled" is a scam.

It won't change either as the schools benefit from extra money (which in turn is not spent on the kids instead they are thrown into a regular class), the kids get to cheat on the exams with their double time and tests read to them, the parents in certain situations get extra SSI or get a tax deduction, and the Union is happy to get extra dues from all the extra ICT teachers getting hired. Billions wasted on so-called special ed but the actual special ed kids (1-2%) get shortchanged.

waitingforsupport said...

Students without masks or pencils
Teachers pretending to care and pretending to teach
Teachers disgusted that the students won't sit in class and learn a bogus lesson.
Teachers marching into the dish of Petri and then bowing down to their king or queen to pass everyone.
@Eve: See ya in September. Make sure you have your will updated--just in case

Anonymous said...

BREAKING: Coronavirus outbreak at Phillies camp -- 8 positive tests.

DOE in september.

Anonymous said...

#phillies announce they have closed their Florida camp, where players could work out on their own, after 8 positive COVID tests. Five players, three staff. Get used to this when Spring Training 2.0 begins. 32 more awaiting test results.

Anonymous said...

WaPo

'It really does feel like the U.S. has given up’: Experts in other nations alarmed by U.S. covid-19 numbers.'

Anonymous said...

In briefing, Florida's governor and Miami's mayor emphasize that new #COVID19 cases are primarily in younger, asymptomatic people: in the week of June 7, 62% of FL's new cases were in people under 45,
@GovRonDeSantis
says, noting "erosion in social distancing" by younger people

Meg Tirrell
@megtirrell
Florida just reported a second record day of new #COVID19 cases, up 3,822 after adding 3,207 yesterday twitter.com/govrondesantis…

waitingforsupport said...

...but the bars are open so all is well

waitingforsupport said...

@tjl: IEPs and students with disabilities are a scam? Why do you think this?

Anonymous said...

Because they are just more excuses.

TJL said...

Waiting, here are some reasons:

Looking on SESIS, most of the IEP's themselves are copy and pasted nonsense that tell you little about the student in front of you. Many contain nonsense like "benefits from praise", "preferential seating" (I'm paraphrasing) that apply to anyone.

On a broader scale it sets up a preferential treatment where some students get special treatment. I'd rather see all the students given equal opportunity. Now, kids A and B might get a para, and kids C-Z are left out. Back to the seating, why should "regular" kids be locked out of sitting in the front all year (I usually change seats each marking period so each kid gets to sit in front, back, etc.) because 6 kids have preferential seating on their IEP's? Additionally a kid with an IEP gets away with all sorts of nonsense in terms of discipline, and the kids know it. There's also the flip side of this as certain kids (I'll pick the lowest hanging fruit, boys) are more likely to be labelled and stigmatized due to being an "IEP kid". Most of them can learn but fall into the "these kids" crap that you've pointed out on other comments. They're not disabled, they just haven't been taught the skills they need to function in class or those skills have atrophied because it's just assumed the kid is one of "those kids".

The worst of this pertains to testing. Kids A-K get 3 hours, L-T get 4.5 hours, and U-Z get 6 hours. In math, these are tests most kids finish in under 90 minutes in the first place as they have 30-odd questions. I'm talking about Regents. In school, we're forced to send tests to a resource room, where even if the resource room teacher isn't helping the kid cheat (which I've seen) the kid has hours to look up everything on his phone.

On the school level you have the scam where SWD's get more money for the school than Gen Ed kids. So the School Psych, guidance, etc. are pressured to identify and label kids. Lately I notice admin going for marginally low performing students or ones who've adapted to their disabilities, such as dyslexics who've learned to read "normally", very mildly autistic kids who do fine without intervention. This is done to get the Regents numbers up in the "disabled" category.

I could go on but I think you get the point.

Anonymous said...

Excuses to justify neverending failure

waitingforsupport said...

@tjl: what you're describing is the result of unethical people. There absolutely are children who require an IEP to support their learning. Now are there people who do not take the time to assess the child, of course. There certainly is a major problem with people not doing there job. The issue once again is with the lack of ethics in implementing the plan.Maybe it's laziness, incompetence or other.
P.S. @3:42pm has already checked out.

Anonymous said...

If the system is “systemically racist,” and the systems in our largely Minority cities are run exclusively by Democrats, then aren’t they responsible? Fair question, no?

James Eterno said...

4:28, We have addressed your question repeatedly. Corporate Democrats are nearly as bad as Republicans. For example, Rahm Emanuel in Chicago was a horrible Democratic mayor.

Anonymous said...

Then why do 90% of blacks vote dem?

Anonymous said...

I'm confused as to why some schools never improve despite billions of dollars every year. It can't be the students, right?

"what you're describing is the result of unethical people. There absolutely are children who require an IEP to support their learning. Now are there people who do not take the time to assess the child, of course. There certainly is a major problem with people not doing there job. The issue once again is with the lack of ethics in implementing the plan.Maybe it's laziness, incompetence or other."

James Eterno said...

Because the Republicans are worse. Please back on topic. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Then why does our union throw 100% support to dems if they have proven to fail in education, keeping blacks safe and improving black lives? See MN, IL, NY, etc.

James Eterno said...

Not true. We endorsed George Pataki who argued an 8th grade education was sufficient.

James Eterno said...

Look at Jeff Klein and the other IDC Democrats we supported who kept Republicans in power in Albany by caucusing with them for years.

Anonymous said...

Anything more recent? Like within 25 years. Come on. So you are saying people in IL or MN would be worse off with a Republican?

James Eterno said...

2018 we backed multiple IDC candidates. Republicans want to privatize education. Not our friends. I ask you over and over to stay on topic. I will ask one last time.

Anonymous said...

Ok. What else should we say about a meaningless town hall and Mulgrew's meaningless and broken promises and all the uft failures?

James Eterno said...

Anthony Palumbo Republican
Joseph de Stefano Republican
Doug Smith Republican

All backed by NYSUT in 2018. There are plenty of others. If they support public education, union backs them even if they are Republican.

I am going off topic. Enough already.

Anonymous said...

Today my principal said that if we must go to remote learning, we'll be doing it from the school building. In other words, teachers are in the building filming lessons that the children can access remotely.

Does that sound right?

James Eterno said...

That does not sound right.

waitingforsupport said...

@4:34 why are you surprised? The gotcha is that teaching is not happening. The teachers are not teaching. It's packets not progress. Yes it is also laziness and incompetence across the board.

waitingforsupport said...

It's the system...it's how it's made. Republican Democrat progressive whomever it's the system. It needs restructuring.

Anonymous said...

Does this?
From June 23–25, every school day should be a full day of instruction for all students, but a half day of professional development and/or clerical work for school staff. During the week of June 23, teachers are expected to engage students for a half day of instruction, and to register student engagement and attendance using the current remote interactions process. The other half of the day should be dedicated to professional development and/or clerical work, which may include completing required end-of-year close activities for the current school year and planning for the 2020–21 school year.

Anonymous said...

"Today my principal said that if we must go to remote learning, we'll be doing it from the school building. In other words, teachers are in the building filming lessons that the children can access remotely.

Does that sound right?"

Ok, so what should I do? Honestly, everything seems so up in the air right now. It was incredibly arrogance of my principal to say something like that. What should I do? Wait it out and see?

James Eterno said...

Report it to UFT.

Anonymous said...

532,

Nobody is posting lessons anymore.

Fake the PD, turn your computer on, log in and go to the beach. Or log in from the beach.

My principal said we can’t have more than a certain amount of people in the buildings, so teachers won’t be in every day.

James Eterno said...

This blog is monitored by DOE people. Why would you admit to assigning no work? My two kids are still getting assignments.

waitingforsupport said...

The truth shall set you free.

Anonymous said...

I'm not 543 but what is the doe gonna do if they read that? They make us pass everyone for not showing up. People who can't read. People who can't write. People who sit there on the cell phone everyday. Wont suspend a student who smacks a teacher in the face.

Anonymous said...

A lot of what is said on these threads makes us look pretty bad to the outside world.

Prehistoric pedagogue said...

The outside world has its own problems

Anonymous said...

How many have helped the UFT in getting the Federal HEROES funds?
So much of this is from whining non-professionals who do nothing to help in these horrific times.
I wouldn't want most of you teaching my children.

Anonymous said...

UFT is a joke. I will send my email. Mitch McConnell is not going to be moved.

waitingforsupport said...

@7:37...don't worry about how it makes you look if it's an accurate assessment. It is what it is.

Anonymous said...

Because dem leadership has helped us so much.

Anonymous said...

@735. UFT will make sure retirees get retro. Retirees control the vote in UFT elections. Active teachers are dispensable because only 1 in 5 bother to vote and when they do, most listen to lies from their Unity CL and vote Unity. The day Unity screws retirees is the day they lose an election. Also.... if my neighbor is robbed should I invite burglars into my home to make things fair? I hate that petty thinking....I don't get so neither should you.

Anonymous said...

$ for profligate sanctuary cities and states? No way. Learn what most children do...actions have consequences.

Anonymous said...

What about those who brag here continually how they opted out of the UFT hal67? Are we supposed to be ashamed of ourselves for treating them like the scabs they are? And what party would those scabs be long to? Mostly, they have Republican anti-union views.

Anonymous said...

All you dopes who talk about not paying dues... you do know where your prescription drugs come from? Your dental benefits? Those alone make up for the dues you pay. Mulgrew is weak intellectually and should be replaced. The whole Unity slate should be tossed for destroying the democratic process of selecting District representatives. All the same, go ahead and stop paying your dues... see what you get then.

James Eterno said...

The drugs and dental are paid for by the city and administered by unions. They are not part of UFT dues. I don't agree with opting out of the union but drugs, glasses and dental have nothing to do with it.