Tuesday, December 15, 2020

MULGREW CALLS IT "IRRESPONSIBLE" TO KEEP SCHOOL BUILDINGS OPEN IF AND WHEN THE CITY CALLS FOR SHELTER IN PLACE

This is from Chalkbeat NY:

Mayor Bill de Blasio warned on Tuesday that New York City may need a stricter set of restrictions to fight a surge of coronavirus cases shortly after Christmas. He called for an important exception: school buildings.

“Right now we’re seeing extraordinary success in keeping our schools safe,” the mayor said. “I want to keep them open.”

The teachers union — which supported the mayor’s move last week to reopen roughly 850 campuses serving elementary school students and those with the most significant disabilities — cast doubt on that approach.

“If the coronavirus infection rate rises to the point that a citywide ‘shelter in place’ is necessary, keeping school buildings open would be irresponsible,” Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said in a statement.

The strongest word Mulgrew would use is irresponsible. How about dangerous or even deadly?

Schools spread coronavirus. As Austrian professor of microbiology Michael Wagner from the University of Vienna said recently, "Schools are not islands of serenity." Leaving them open is "a significant risk."

As for the advice here: Stay out of any school building you believe is unsafe. Your health is more important than your job. Worry about the job consequences later. 

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Say it, James. this is a poro union blog. Another complaint thread, started by you. But keep paying dues. I'm not sure who makes me sicker, the teachers, the uft leadership, the admin or the mayor.

Anonymous said...

I saw two mothers on Fox news who said schools are safe and the city had done an extraordinary job in ensuring safety measures were put in place. What are they basing this on? One school. Have they ever been inside the schools? Also what about the issue of leaving the windows open when it's twenty degrees out? I love how people who have no authority on subjects believe they are authorities on them.

jp said...

Maybe this will wake people up. Nah, I doubt it.

Married teachers in Texas die of COVID-19 while holding hands
By Elizabeth RosnerDecember 15, 2020 | 10:06pm | Updated

Anonymous said...

Mulgrew knows about irresponsibility. He is an expert on the subject.

Anonymous said...

James Eterno is a proven communist. Evidenced by his regular censorship of those who disagree with his position. UnAmerican and cowardly. What are you afraid of James? NYC teachers actually thinking for themselves? Does that scare you? Or maybe that you could be proven wrong and a fool for your position on these matters? All of the above and more.

James Eterno said...

The only comments that don't get through are way off topic, racist and or sexist. Communist? I have a mortgage and TDA. Social democrat, I can live with that but communist, no.

Anonymous said...

Not paying dues and opting is a practical and realistic decision.

Remaining in the FUT and passively enabling the corrupt, incompetent Mulgrew is an impractical and unrealistic decision.

Moreover, you are continuing to put your lives at risk by relying on him.

TJL said...

7:44 It's a conservative principle to respect private property rights.

Anonymous said...

The only word that Mulgrew needs to say regarding keeping NYC schools open during a total lockdown is "UNACCEPTABLE". Any other word or phrase is worthless.

Bronx ATR said...

I’m having that feeling of déjà vu again. The last time Mulgrew called deBlasio ‘irresponsible’ was right before 75 school employees caught the virus and died. Mulgrew isn’t protecting UFT members whatsoever. March is repeating itself all over again. https://atradventures.blogspot.com/2020/03/call-me-irresponsible.html

Anonymous said...

8:58 ..it's a capitalist principle to create private property, which is not to be confused with personal property. Conservatism can exist within all ideologies, but private property does not.

Regardless, the school buildings are public property as they are funded and maintained through public funds, be it taxes or donations. Though, when the public has little say in how or when these buildings are used, i wonder if it matters. If neighbors, the public, were to collectivize and picket outside of buildings, under the belief that leaving them open will not help to slow transmission in the community, it could make for some interesting results. Not something I see happening, but an idea.

Anonymous said...

8:58 ..it's a capitalist principle to create private property, which is not to be confused with personal property. Conservatism can exist within all ideologies, but private property does not.

Regardless, the school buildings are public property as they are funded and maintained through public funds, be it taxes or donations. Though, when the public has little say in how or when these buildings are used, i wonder if it matters. If neighbors, the public, were to collectivize and picket outside of buildings, under the belief that leaving them open will not help to slow transmission in the community, it could make for some interesting results. Not something I see happening, but an idea.

waitingforsupport said...

@744...
Calm down. What is UnAmerican? This is a blog, not the US constitution.

Anonymous said...

744, you ain’t wrapped too tight. If this was communism you would have been censored. Why don’t you start your own blog and leave James alone. James is performing a valuable service.

Anonymous said...

If this matters...

In the deal:
-Stim check of $600-700
-Unemployment weekly boost $300
- $325bish for small business, $257b for ppp

? Schumer + Rs till battling over billions for idled venues and restaurant funding.

Out: State/local, liability

https://politico.com/news/2020/12/16/congress-deal-covid-relief-446244

Anonymous said...

How anyone can continue to pay dues, i will never understand.

J said...

Whew, $70K in end of year capital gains and dividends, I'm gonna have one high tax bill.

James Eterno said...

J, What does your tax bill have to do with this posting?

Rich said...

Haha. Who cares, leave the guy alone, so he invests. More teachers should. Maybe that's why they all plead poverty. 50 years old asking what the tda is and what percent they should put in.

What sense does paying dues make? It is a waste of money and goes to more corruption and corrupt people and we have been shown tat we are thought of as trash. You keep mindlessly endorsing that.

Moose said...

Moose Here...

If you have the nerve to tell other people to "stop paying dues", you have a lot of testicular fortitude to tell people what to do with THEIR money. If YOU do NOT want to pay dues, then that is your decision. How about saying what made you stop paying dues instead of telling others they are stupid for continuing to pay dues?


People pay for and support Unions for all types of reasons. Some do it for protection, some do it for job rights, lawyer rights, etc. Once again, all I see is complaining and no action. If my health and stress were NOT an issue, I would try to bring a round-table committee of capable educators to the forefront to start a different Union with different elected representation. I'm young enough to do it at 34 years old, but the last two years have been hell on me physically and mentally.

So for the love of God, stop complaining. James gives a hoot about Teaching more than 90 percent of the people in here (and he is retired). Without James, I have no place to see what we have as educators and no place to really communicate. So if you want to complain when Mulgrew makes decisions for the whole base, keep doing that. If you want to make a difference, step up and stop being a keyboard warrior.

Those are my two cents, but I'm just an asshole trying to make a living.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, people have been complaining for how long? And what has changed? And what will change? And when will change occur? And Mulgrew got 88% last election? Yeah, I've given it long enough.

Just an endangered CL said...

Schools are safe! Of course they are!
This is based on the low positivity rate of those tested IN the buildings.

How is testing done?
First - you don't go into the building if you have any symptom.
Then - the asymptomatic/healthy people are asked to volunteer to be tested "randomly"

So testing healthy people results in negative tests! Amazing how safe this is!

But, wait, there's more! What about those people who had symptoms and weren't allowed in the building? They get tested elsewhere and their positivity rates are not included in the safe-school rates but rather the city rates!

So schools are indeed as safe as they tell us.
The data is not at all skewed to conform with what the Mayor and his lapdog Mulgrew/UFT wants us to believe. Of course not. We trust Mayor/Mulgrew completely.

We trust them with our lives.

nerd said...

Let's see what is said at the DA meeting today.

Anonymous said...

Top 3 cities people are leaving...

NY
SF
Hartford

I wonder why...

Anonymous said...

12/16. I guess he can still pass.

Student was in the building today to pick up an ipad. Hopefully you will begin to see him in your classes.

Anonymous said...

So a kid guys into google classroom, a no show, does a quiz from october, gets a 90 on it, because it was easy, and is now passing?

Anonymous said...

The great thing about censorship is you dont know what youre not allowed to see. Here only James knows how many people/comments are being censored.
"off topic lol": the B---- crime family stories werent censored per se; rather they were just not covered.

Anonymous said...

As far as this union goes I am not in favor of most of the top leadership and have voted against them in several elections. However, I am a supporter of the union as a whole. Union dues go to pay for or help with many things for union members including a relatively low cost healthcare plan (compared to what many other people pay for private insurance). I wonder if those who say that are not paying union dues are also taking the morally correct stand to not accept the union benefits such as the lower cost health insurance. How many of them have chosen private health insurance since they do not believe in paying the dues? My guess is not many. Why not truly stand up for what you believe and not take advantage of the benefits that others pay for? Instead, I bet many of them still use the benefits that others pay for every month. They are benefitting but not paying their fair share. Not cool in my book!

Anonymous said...

LOL. But he didn't do the regular work.

Hey Mr I was wondering on extra credit or someway I can get caught up with all the work.

Anonymous said...

Dues pay for Healthcare?

James Eterno said...

I can tell you what gets cut 3:42. Racist stuff, things that are way off topic such as citing crime statistics of a certain race or copying and pasting a news story when someone commits a crime when the post is about something in the schools. I call that hijacking posts. I work hard without any remuneration on some of these posts and it is really irritating when someone who knows this blog is fairly well-read by NYC teachers tries to steer the comments away from what is posted. Racial insults and personal insults that go way over the top don't make it either nor does homophobic nonsense. Anyone can email me if they are not happy with the policy. Conservative or pro-Trump views are fine. I don't think TJL or Anon 2323 have ever been cut. They both sound like decent people who have a different political perspective. Just please stay somewhat on topic so comments can flow from the posting.

Anonymous said...

But the crime stats are facts. Maybe if we figure that out we could fix the pathetic school system and stop the grade fraud.

Anonymous said...

Union dues do not directly pay for lower cost healthcare, however, if fewer people pay union dues we could see a decrease in the size of the union or maybe no union at all. With a large union we can better negotiate for lower costs on things like healthcare. Many places without teacher unions or with much smaller ones than ours pay very high healthcare coverage costs.

James Eterno said...

City pays for our healthcare and welfare fund benefits. I do agree that with a smaller union, we would get a rotten deal. However with a real union, we could do better in so many ways.

Anonymous said...

Most teachers I know want to work and not be told by the union or city that they have to stay home and cower in fear. This blog admin clearly doesn't care that the children of this city are wasting away in their rooms. How is that good for kids James?
Show us the science that says this virus affects children. Both the CDC and WHO say that kids belong in school. Another stat:Over 99% of people infected RECOVER. Yes people, you have been gaslighted by the leftist in government who love to control the poulation.
Call it social engineering.
Besides all the collateral damage to society, NYS could end up filing for bankruptcy. And then what happens to NYC teacher pensions?

James Eterno said...

Viruses don't magically skip children. We posted strong evidence from Der Speigal last weekend. We must know different teachers. Most I know want to be safe at home. My kids are home and they are learning.

Anonymous said...

8:11 Give your statistics to the families of those 300,000 people who have died. Also, that figure is just an estimate. There were many supposed covid deaths that were never determined to be covid. Be glad we will be alive to retire. Many teachers died of covid before they retired.

Anonymous said...

8:11-- "While fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, can get sick from COVID-19, and can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to others. Children, like adults, who have COVID-19 but have no symptoms (“asymptomatic”) can still spread the virus to others.

Most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all. However, some children can get severely ill from COVID-19. They might require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe. In rare cases, they might die."
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/symptoms.html

Imagine a scenario where parents must send their child to one of two schools. The first school is academically weak but at least it is safe. The second school is far superior academically but the child has a 1% chance of killing a family member. To me it's a no brainer. Yes, 99% percent recover but one percent of the world population if 80 million people. The virus is not a social scheme, it's not political, and life is more important than money.