Mulgrew (and I was just walking in at at this point, so I may be getting this wrong) saying that policy issues are not what he wanted to talk about last night, rather he'd like to focus on teaching practice in the classroom (Really? That's what you want to talk about tonight? Because as a parent I am a little worried about my son's school losing 5 more teachers next year...and that's on top of the 7 we lost the year before)
Noah Gotbaum was brilliant at last night's education forum in Washington Heights; the crowd completely lit up at his remarks, which were rays of light in an otherwise dark and dismal evening. From a parent's perspective, lowlights included the suggestion by Chancellor Tisch that the state can foster a focus on the arts and music in city schools, by making schools accountable/creating standards around them and (I think this is where she was going) testing kids on those subjects too (Wow, kids can learn to hate music and art too!); Senator Espaillat claiming not to have received any calls from constituents supporting the millionaire's tax (I guess his office forgot to mark down my calls from the past few weeks and days...and e-mails too...); The DOE rep being unable to explain the DOE decision not to site a progressive public school (modeled on CPE1) with a school in D6 that has space available, and instead to co-locate a charter there (and then shot darts at me with his eyes when I corrected him; that's OFIA these days I guess!); Mulgrew (and I was just walking in at at this point, so I may be getting this wrong) saying that policy issues are not what he wanted to talk about last night, rather he'd like to focus on teaching practice in the classroom (Really? That's what you want to talk about tonight? Because as a parent I am a little worried about my son's school losing 5 more teachers next year...and that's on top of the 7 we lost the year before); and of course all the glad handing, self-congratulatory blabber that was emitted each time any elected official entered the event. The way they like to congratulate themselves, you would think they've all done a mighty fine job on education policy.
On the bright side of this busy week, our D6 school, PS/IS 187, staged a rousing and dramatic protest this morning, complete with the Grim Reaper and Councilmember Jackson. We vowed to go after any elected official who does not get behind us parents on this!Best,Tory Frye (D6 parent)
AFTERBURN: ANOTHER TEACHER E$E WANTS FIRED
UFT chapter leader at Brooklyn school attached by principal in an incredibly ugly smear campaign:
The Manhattan district attorney's office, state Human Rights Commission and teachers union are all investigating the anonymous letter. But Department of Education lawyers argue there is "no evidence of a hostile work environment" and have asked the human rights commission to drop the case.
Leonie asks: So many chapter leaders seem to be under attack; one wonders what the UFT strategy is on this.
UFT Strategy should be to do ads to defend LIFO using all these principals and teachers, esp. chapter leaders in the ad. But don't hold your breath.
HEY UNITY SLUGS: SPEAK OUT FOR A CHANGE!!!!
NY1 Exclusive: City Principal Investigated In Retaliation Probe
By: Lindsey ChristA veteran public school principal is under investigation for allegedly attempting to smear one of his teachers through a hate-filled letter.
http://www.ny1.com/content/
120% agreed!
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