Tuesday, June 23, 2009

CSA/UFT in Dueling Pissing Match Over Agreement

CSA President Ernest Logan Made the Following Statement about Surprise City’s Sudden Agreement with the UFT

The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators was dismayed to learn today that the City has signed an agreement with the United Federation of Teachers allowing teachers to go back to school next fall on the same day as their students. This surprise move affects professional development and all other preparation that is needed to ensure a smooth school year for teachers, administrators, parents and students alike. For years, the City has provided school personnel with two days to prepare for the return of students. This unexpected agreement certainly does not put children first.


United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten re criticism from Council of School Supervisors and Administrators on pension deal:

“This agreement was born out of a need to create savings for the city, and it was the chancellor’s preference that students and teachers return on the same day. The chancellor could make a different decision later because the agreement says the first day after Labor Day may be an instructional day, but it doesn’t have to be. But it is surprising that the CSA would wait until now, at the end of the process, to blame the UFT for finding a way to save the city money when they have been totally absent in the fight to save our school system from budget cuts this year.”


ED Note:
No Randi, it wasn't the chancellor's decision alone. You agreed to it. You could have said that you won't sign if both teachers and kids have to go back the same day and let him screw the schools another way.

Is the CSA's bigger typeface a sign they have bigger cajones than the UFT?

And by the way, I don't read the CSA as any more critical of the UFT than the DOE.

If Randi truly intends to get off our stage, GO ALREADY~


10 comments:

Mr. Talk said...

Randi knows that the majority of teachers will either feel obligated or threatened into coming back before Labor Day. While we may not have PD, you can bet admins will be counting heads as to who comes in early.

Under Assault said...

When the CSA gives up bonuses, disciplines rogue principals, instructs their members to stop violating the contract, makes a firm stand against spec. ed violations, teaching to the test, credit recovery, and methodologies that are untested and fuzz up the mind, I'll start taking their criticisms seriously.

They're supposedly a union of leaders, but they're more like henchmen. For power and for bonuses.

Unitymustgo! said...

My school is a School Based Option (SBO) school. We took what now turns out to be a moot vote on Monday to move our PD days for the upcoming school year to Tuesday and Wednesday, freeing up Thursday and Friday as part of the weekend. While I know many teachers would have likely still come in Thursday and Friday to set up for their classes, it still would have been their choice to do so and they still could have cut out any time they wanted to on Friday.

That being said there was another discussion after the vote by those teachers more aware of next years calendar to try and figure out a day the teachers could work in place of that stupid end of the year Monday. I guess problem solved. I would imagine that tomorrow morning we will likely be taking a vote to choose which day we would like to come back before Labor Day in exchange for not coming back that last Monday. The interesting part will be to negotiate a promise of some classroom set up time on that day.

My Blogger ID say’s it all,

Unitymustgo!

DAVID PAKTER said...

RE: "DISMAYED CSA PRESIDENT LOGAN"
_________________________________

Reading the statement released by CSA President Ernest Logan regarding how he and his "Council of School Supervisors" feel "dismayed" re certain recent events, one is not sure if the proper reaction would be to laugh or cry or be simply amazed at his unbridled hypocrisy and arrogance.

In telling language Logan uses the words "allowing teachers to go back to school...." rather than employing the term "scheduling".

True to form for so called "Supervisors", Logan's choice of language reveals once again how for most of the people who belong to CSA, teachers are little more than unruly children who need people like Daddy Ernest to help them recognize the errors of their ways and presumably repent when necessary.

Thank you Daddy Ernest for that latest "Counseling memo" to my fle.

And thank you Daddy for caring so very much about my welfare.

Mr. Logan's drivel re "professional development" before the start of the school year would be laughable were it not so sad and even pathetic.

In my 37 year career as an Educator in the NYC Schools system I cannot recall a single so-called "professional development" meeting that developed anything but a teacher's ability to learn patience and fortitude when confronted by endless stupidity and "much ado about nothing".

That said, no doubt to the "presenters" of these annual exercises, they truly were of the belief they were imparting the Wisdom of the Ages to their unfortunate captive audiences who might better have used the time to organize their new classrooms for their students.

Mr. Logan's oh so "Ernest" plea at the end of his statement, "to put children first" is so remarkable in its blatant attempt at playing that old stale "guilt trip card" as to require no additional comment from me.

Finally, as the very "Ernest" Mr. Logan appears so anxious to improve our 22 billion dollar NYC Public Schools system, he might consider instituting a late Summer Professional Development Workshop for the many members of the so called "Council of School Supervisors and Administrators" of which he is the very "Ernest" President.

I suggest that they should begin this year's workshop with a crash course in why CSA members sould NOT commit Perjury while testifying under "Sworn Oath" at those famous State Teacher Hearings that are known as a "3030a".

First of all telling lies is wrong.

Second of all- not "professional".

Third of all, can prove MOST embarrassing if the accused, that is to say the teacher on trial, has in his/her possession contemporaneous tape recordings of the events discussed that prove the CSA individual is knowingly lying through his/her teeth.

While Perjury, committed by CSA members is hardly ever punished during 3020a Hearings, (even when proven), the CSA member should be cautioned during their "Summer Workshop" experience, that should the teacher they have concocted phony charges against, decide to make the situation a Federal Case and pursue Justice in the Federal Courts, the willful perjury committed by a CSA member during a 3020a could very likely come back to haunt them when they are forced to appear before a Federal Judge and Jury.

See:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

CIVIL ACTION # 08-cv-7673 (DAB)
________________________________

Anonymous said...

We are having the asbestos tiles on the whole second floor of our school changed over the summer. Besides many classrooms moving, we have to pack everything in boxes (that we had to scrounge up) so our rooms can be cleaned out. We were told a few weeks ago that there was a good chance we may not be able to come in to the building early in August to get the rooms ready. Now this change in days. No one, especially the early childhood rooms, can open with furniture and boxes all over AND children! My principal is very worried about the condition of the rooms. She wishes she could put the start date for the children off a few days, but of course can't. Remember when we had four days to set up and the children returned the Monday after labor day and we still got all the mandated days in? Do you think there will be a change in the start day for the children?

Under Assault said...

Am not understanding why so many teachers feel they hve to come in early to set up their rooms. I'm not about to shortchange kids, having taught full out for years the best way I know how. But rooms don't have to be perfect the first day. Take care of the kids' needs when they come in — lessons, attendance, assignments — and do the rest bit by bit.

If any principal writes you up for not having the room perfect the first week, or suggests (or demands) you come in earlier: grieve the darn thing. You can't be expected to do everything in one prep/day, and you never have to do it in your lunch hour. So you'll need a few days to put things right. But you CERTAINLY are not obliged to do any setting up before Labor Day.

No doubt some people feel better when they're totally prepared the minute the kids walk in. But this is war: for children and for the soul of our profession. When you give up your summer hours under pressure, stand back and look at the bigger picture, and then ask yourself what's driving you to do that.

If you really feel the need to do something for kids and teachers over the summer, work some hours with GEM, ICE, or TJC. They're working to raise awareness in the union and in the press. DoE aggression and UFT collaboration won't stop unless many people start thinking differently.

Union work is becoming a crucial part of the job at this point. People might have to start getting used to that or we'll all go under.

Anonymous said...

Can someone clarify. David Pakter mentions a 3030A. How is that different than a 3020A? Is it more severe?

DAVID PAKTER said...

_________________________________

MEA CULPA- DISREGARD TYPO "3030"

SHOULD READ AS "3020"

Thanks for noticing the error.
_________________________________
_________________________________

proofoflife said...

if you step on a crack and break your back before the official starting day you are not covered . Therefore, beware because no Injury in the line of Dooty will be granted!

Anonymous said...

Well... our principal threatened us today with a statement that all the classrooms have to be ready by September 8th. She will accept no excuses. I don't get it. Wouldn't a little honey for our plight work better than threats? This is not how professionals should be spoken to.