E4E Stealth Infiltrates UFT Delegate Assembly - with Leadership Cooperation?

Stack of Resos on UFT table

Unlabeled -

UPDATE: The resolution described below never came up at the meeting as there was a 6PM adjournment. No one from E4E handed out the reso but a stack was left on the UFT lit table, which we are always told is a no-no - they say they only want official UFT lit and if we try to leave Ed Notes or MORE lit there we get a hassle or even an attempt to throw the lit away. That is why Randi almost 20 years ago mandated there be a special table for alt lit, a table that wasn't there this month or last month.

E4E has found a new way to finagle itself into teacher confidences - Men teach and Restorative Justice....
Last time out E4E was backing Bloomberg's effort to end "LIFO"  (last in, first out) seniority protections for teachers and offering teachers free drinks at local happy hours.  They didn't get very far with this.  But now they are trying a new tack -

She does the principal’s bidding whenever she can to undermine chapter meetings. This piece, which sounds very much like our principal, just reinforces a number of teachers thinking that the principal is working in concert with E4E.... a teacher at a school about the E4E teacher who was handing out the unlabeled reso at the Jan. DA.

A reso from the floor during the New Motion dealing with restorative justice (RJ) was voted up and will be in the agenda at the

Feb DA tomorrow. This was an unusual occurrence at the DA. Some of us smelled a rat.

Actually I smelled a rat downstairs when I saw a lady I didn't know handing out the reso which looked fairly decent but the paper had no identification as to who or what org was behind it. When I asked her where she was from she was evasive. (apparently she is the person mentioned in the opening comment). The reso talked about some pilot program for RJ in District 18 (Canarsie/East Flatbush).

On the surface, the reso was progressive and pro restorative justice and hard not to support. MORE was trying to use the same New Motion time to bring its Black Lives Matter reso, so since Mulgrew called on this other guy - someone named Michael Loeb from a  school in the Bronx right away and not one Unity person opposed it and it passed immediately, I figured this was a diversionary reso to kill time so MORE would never get to the floor. But it all happened so fast - sort of like scoring too soon in a football game and leaving time for the other team to come back -- and MORE got to do its thing, which has led to some blow back against Unity and also from some quarters against MORE.

Skewer the E4E Survey - let them know what you think about their ed deform agenda

--- do it often and show how you disagree with the pro-testing, pro-common fore, pro merit pay ed deform agenda of E4E. They call them selves a teacher driven organization without mentioning they are funded by ed deformers to create a 5th column to undermine the teaching profession under false pretenses. Screen shots below of sample questions below.

I'm betting they have a way of tracking people and the people who send the link will be wiped off their list.

Dear Member,

I am writing today on behalf of Educators 4 Excellence to ask your help with a confidential online survey about our organization. We want to better understand your reflections and thinking about how we present and communicate our work.
Your responses will be anonymous and confidential, which is why we are working with an independent market research company to conduct this study for us. Please feel free to be 100% honest.
As a special thank you for providing feedback, you may enter yourself in a drawing for one of three $100 Amazon gift cards. The deadline for the drawing is Wednesday, October 14 so the sooner the better. Please complete the survey at your earliest convenience.
Click on this link to begin the survey or copy and paste it into your Internet browser to begin:
http://www.amrsurvey.com/67008t
Thank you for taking the time to give us your opinion. We couldn’t do this without you.
Liz Utrup
National Director of Communications
Educators 4 Excellence

No place to write in anything to keep people to their message.

MORE on Shill for Ed Deform E4E and Democracy - Talk About Antithetical

A teacher from E4E met with me to discuss the topic of democracy in the UFT.... Like every E4E member he signs a declaration in order to become a member. This is not democratic at all. These few teachers who declare their loyalty to this organization and lobby politicians on their behalf, do not represent the many voices in our school communities... Mike Schirtzer, MORE

Shades of Unity Caucus loyalty oaths. Democracy doesn't exist in E4E so it is interesting that they are trying to show how Unity Caucus and the UFT aren't democratic. Evan and Sidney must check out their own glass house before pointing fingers at the UFT. In fact the Unity leadership and E4E have a lot more in common with each other - on their actual positions.

Does E4E  have the chops to actually put their ideas out there for members to vote on in the upcoming UFT election? They could toss a few million bucks into the election - an interesting concept. I would relish seeing them out there in an election. Imagine their election meetings - closed doors with security guards making sure people sign a loyalty oath before entering.

MORE's Mike Schirtzer was contacted by a teacher who said he wanted to meet with someone from MORE. Mike had no idea this guy was an E4Eer and then addressed every single argument this guy made.

The E4E teacher told me “as a special education teacher he values test scores and can learn about the progress of his students. It should be one of multiple measures, but an important measure”. These thoughts seem to reflect the narrative that have been delivered by politicians and corporate-reformers nationwide, but again we who are in the classroom for a long time must challenge this flawed message.

The E4E guy seemed well-indentioned but seriously misinformed - E4E tries to restrict info to its members to its narrow line - but one would think some of these people would actually be more aware.

Exactly why is E4E trolling around asking about UFT democracy? To feed their union-bashing funders and use that against the UFT when it tries to organize charters? E4E has been pushing their people to get more involved with the union by running for chapter leader or delegate. Some of my friends in schools with them find some of them self-serving. We're hoping that those who stay in the system and don't take tail and run like Evan and Sydney will get what E4E is all about and instead turn their attention to MORE and building a caucus inside the UFT - if E4Eers want to know about democracy MORE is the place.

You can read Mike's entire piece at the MORE blog: E4E and Democracy.

E4E and Democracy by morecaucusnyc

By Mike Schirtzer

UFT Delegate/Teacher Leon M. Goldstein High School-Brooklyn

A Principal Asks a Question About E4E on CTS Listserve - and Gets Answers

Has anyone worked with E4E (Educators for Excellence)? They seem to be influential at the policy level. .. a NYC Principal

The positions of E4E and the Unity/UFT leadership are very much in alignment. We've tracked E4E since its beginnings. Backed by Bill Gates and the deformers and also very heavily connected to TFA, it was founded by TFA teachers who taught for 3 years before starting a heavily funded faux teacher group with outposts in NYC, LA and Minnesota and possibly Chicago - basically pushing the agenda of deform but in more subtle ways -- their connections to the deformers is what has given them access to policy - they have full-time employees trying to reach into the schools and undermine the union.... Norm

Yeah Norm I got that vibe from them as well. Anyone else have thoughts?..... NYC Principal

Here is E4E's stance on high stakes testing. You see they go right along with the deformers....
http://www.educators4excellence.org/NYtesting

Pat

A former neighbor became a spokesperson for E4E. He's young, grew up being homeless, and was huge on attempting to prove that poverty and life conditions are not factors in one's education- that a really good teacher could overcome all of that. Well, two years into his first years of teaching at a charter school in my Bed Stuy hood, he started asking questions about what happens at my school. We never got a chance to really talk before he left, but he left teaching. Such a shame...

 

In a nut shell, they're mostly straight out of college, recruited through TFA, and and I know that with the TFA program dwindling, they attempt to present in schools, which is illegal. 

One former E4E person told me that, at first, they were encouraged to do research, but their program director would provide the research (pre-selected) for them to read... When they wanted to find their own studies, it was not included in their discussions. Gates funded studies dominated the discussions.

I haven't worked with E4E but have worked against them particularly when they partnered with Bloomberg's effort to overturn last in first out.  They are an ed deformer 'macmovement' "influential" in policy making to the extent that they can buy favors  and fool teachers into believing that they don't need a union. Even with the misleadership of the UFT weighing on our backs, I don't think many teachers have drank the kool aide that E4E serves up.... Sean

Recently the UFT, in its spirit of keeping ties to ed deformers,  had looked to collaborate and partner up with E4E -- giving them legitimacy -- they look to get a foot in the door of some schools and are now urging their people to run for chapter leader and delegate positions.

I wonder if Bill Gates is paying for this collaboration. In essence, the positions of E4E and the Unity/UFT leadership are very much in alignment.

Former E4Eers have told us about their culture of control where people are manipulated. They offered expensive gifts at raffles at the door.

They have a security system where they check on people to make sure their meetings are not infiltrated. I used to go and stand outside and give out lit -- now they seem to hide their meetings and keep them limited.... Norm

Help E4E, No One is Noticing

I'm beginning to feel sorry for the deformers at e4e. You don't even read much about them in the press. Even Gotham Schools seems to have run out of excuses to promote them. No one seems to be noticing them and poor Jonathan keeps sending out almost daily pleas to please pay them some attention. You see, they have all this stuff to give away and not enough people want their stuff. And think of how the Tweedies do their best to gain entry for e4e into schools.

Now they did have the opportunity to test their mettle and the popularity of their message by running in the UFT elections but I believe you need more than 20 people on a slate to run. They had the money to buy slick ads to get people to vote for them but how embarassing for them that a grassroots organization like MORE with no money would have beaten them in the elections.

Well you have until tomorrow to get e4e to treat your staff to lunch - and use the opportunity to expose exactly where they are coming from.


From: Jonathan Schleifer <info@educators4excellence.org>
Sent: Mon, May 13, 2013 6:03 pm
Subject: Last call!

Trouble viewing this email? You can View this Message Online

Educators 4 Excellence: An Independent Voice for Teachers

Check out the inspiring note sent from a teacher in the Bronx thanking her colleaegue for having high expectations for teacher leadership. And read why a Queens teacher appreciates Ms. Fahrenkrug for advocating for students and teachers: These stories are being shared because teachers invited our team to visit their schools to appreciate coworkers. You and your colleagues deserve to be recognized too. If you want to celebrate your coworkers, there’s one more day to nominate your school for a Teacher Appreciation Celebration. Help us share the amazing work you and your colleagues are doing for your students with the broader E4E community. To nominate your school for a free Teacher Appreciation Celebration, please complete this brief survey. Let us know by TOMORROW, May 14, and we’ll do all we can to make it work. Best, Jonathan

Cavanagh Defends Seniority Rights in NY 1 Debate With E4E, UFT and E4E on Same Page on Ed Evals

Julie Cavanagh for UFT Prestident! She actually lit a fire in my chest and brought a tear to my eye. This is exactly the type of fight we need to bring to the media! ---Alex Torres in response to appearance on NY 1 debating E4E March 4, 2011 at 10:25:00 PM EST

....our union leadership must be responsive to its membership. Our membership and the parents we serve overwhelmingly support Seniority Rights. Seniority is the ONLY research-based method for laying off educators and hiring them back. Seniority is the ONLY objective method for lay-offs, and it protects educators so that they are not the targets of arbitrary firing or are otherwise a target b/c of race, sexual preference, or their advocacy for children. ---- Julie Cavanagh, March, 2011 in comment on Ed Notes in response to E4E

For those Unity slugs out there, point to some statements from MulGarten with as rigorous a defense of seniority rights as Julie has made. And of course there is the UFT/E4E commercials calling for the same thing.  Not so strange bedfellows, it seems.
 
See Julie in the March 3, 2011 debate with an E4Eer on NY1.

Leonie Haimson was hosting an event for Diane Ravitch's appearance on John Stewart the same night (my birthday -- and I dragged my wife over there after a great dinner at my fave B-day place, One if By Land) and I was at the party to tape as Julie appeared on the NY 1 report at 10PM and we all watched it together. Al Shanker's wife Edie was in the room along with Ravitch and Julie became a star that night. (I do have some tape somewhere of their reactions to Julie.)

Which is why Julie's candidacy is a major threat to the UFT as she transcends narrow UFT internal politics of the past -- as one Unity caller told me and said was voting for Julie. Even some New Action people have been jumping off that bandwagon. In the election there are 3 caucuses but only 2 choices for President.

I put up this report on Ed Notes and note the comments 2 years ago calling for Julie to run for UFT president. Who knew?

Julie went to the NY 1 studio by herself while the E4E was accompanied by Evan and Sydney who were giving Julie the once-over (this was before we released our film so Julie was not yet as well-known.) MORE is thinking of challenging E4E to a debate since Mulgrew won't do it (Randi did debate in 2 elections - 1999 and 2001). Since E4E and Unity are on the same page on teacher evals -- did they recycle the UFT commercials? -- they might as well be on the same team. But to paraphrase Lincoln, if A=B and B=C than A=C. Thus on ed deform eval E4E=Unity/UFT/AFT.

 Here was my March 4, 2011 report.

Diane Ravitch and Julie Cavanagh Kick Butt

Last Update: Friday, March 4, 10:45 PM

I was at the viewing party last night for Diane Ravitch's appearance on Jon Stewart with Diane as the guest and we all enjoyed not only watching her appearance but Stewart's wonderful defense of teachers and take down of the ed deformers.

We were also treated to GEM's Julie Cavanagh's kicking of an E4E member's butt from one end of the NY1 studio to the next on "Inside City Hall". And all the while doing it with civility and grace.

Here is the link to Julie:  http://www.ny1.com/?ArID=134963

Let me point out that Julie did what the UFT won't do: defend LIFO and seniority in a strong and well-thought out way. Was that the best E4E has? She contradicted herself time after time.

Here's a link to Ravitch on Stewart show. But watch the first part of the show too where Stewart lays out the ed deformers in a brilliant way.

From Leonie to those who attended the viewing party (I have some tape). (Yes, we survived by B-day celebration at One if by Land, a wonderful meal and headed uptown after I sobered up.)

Thanks to all of you who came last night to our viewing party, at such short notice, especially Diane, for being our hero and working so hard every day to advocate for rational policies in public education. 

The conversation and company was terrific and it was great to share it with all of you. 

I have posted links to all of yesterday’s shows on the NYC parent blog, including Inside City Hall with Julie Cavanagh about LIFO, the Daily show with Diane, and the NPR radio show that Diane and I were on yesterday here:

http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2011/03/yesterday-was-great-day-for-real.html

Julie Cavanagh told me today that Errol Louis , the host of Inside City Hall, had a print out of our Parents Across America fact sheet on “why experience matters” in front of him during her debate.

http://parentsacrossamerica.org/how-teaching-experience-makes-a-difference/

If you haven’t yet subscribed to our Parents Across America newsletter, please do on the website at www.parentsacrossamerica.org

Thanks so much, and pl. keep in touch!

Leonie Haimson

12 comments:

1. 
   AnonymousMarch 4, 2011 at 1:42:00 PM EST

   Julie Cavanagh for UFT President!!!
   
   What a tremendous job done on NY1...
   
   -John
2. 
   AnonymousMarch 4, 2011 at 4:06:00 PM EST

   Wow Julie Cavanaugh was absolutely fantastic. I want to thank her so much for such a wonderful debate. She kept her cool and just was terrific. No link on GS. It figures.

   
   
3. 
   Alex TorresMarch 4, 2011 at 10:25:00 PM EST

   Absolutely! Agreed with John. Julie Cavanagh for UFT Prestident! She actually lit a fire in my chest and brought a tear to my eye. This is exactly the type of fight we need to bring to the media!

   
   
4. 
   ASTRAKAMarch 4, 2011 at 10:41:00 PM EST

   Julie Cavanaugh,
   PLEASE run for UFT president. You care for our children and for our teachers.
   
   You have my vote already!

   
   
5. 
   AnonymousMarch 4, 2011 at 11:25:00 PM EST

   Julie Cavanaugh cited incorrect research, please cite your peer reviewed study! So what does Julie think is the way to dismiss an ineffective teacher? what criteria do we use. The anti accountability folks like to poke holes in all efforts for accountability but don't propose real alternatives.

   
   

   
   
6. 
   J. CavanaghMarch 5, 2011 at 9:22:00 AM EST

   First, let me thank Stephane Barile and Liza Campbell, two young teachers from NYCORE and GEM who had the courage to put together an amazing letter for teachers w/ less than five years in support of seniority rights. That form letter, if you haven't signed it, can be found on the GEM site. They were contacted by Inside City Hall, couldn't do it, and passed the opportunity on to me- thank you ladies!
   
   Second, to the very flattering comments above. Thank you, and I will simply say this: our union leadership must be responsive to its membership. Our membership and the parents we serve overwhelmingly support Seniority Rights. Seniority is the ONLY research-based method for laying off educators and hiring them back. Seniority is the ONLY objective method for lay-offs, and it protects educators so that they are not the targets of arbitrary firing or are otherwise a target b/c of race, sexual preference, or their advocacy for children.
   
   Finally, to the corporate reformer above: the reasearch is clear, Jane and Mr. Louis spoke to it. There is a great fact sheet which includes much of the research I cited on the Parents Across America site found right in this post. And, if you are saying my research is incorrect (which of course it is not), than why do you need me to cite it?
   
   I did offer a solution which closed out the piece.
   
   Finally, I am not "anti-accountability", I am anti-attacks-aimed-at-undermining-public-education-and-dismantling-public-sector-unions. Most importantly, I am FOR KIDS. The only way we know, acccording to the research, to serve kids best is to give them small class sizes and experienced educators... let's do just that.

   
   

   
   
7. 
   AnonymousMarch 5, 2011 at 10:22:00 AM EST

   Julie Cananagh, give me a break with your lies, lies lies.
   In our school I'm on the hiring panel and we invited over six ATRs to open positions not one called or had the courtesy to let us know they were not showing.
   
   Julie lied and said Mayor tells schools not to hire ATRs.
   Big Lie they are given financial rewards to hire ATRS. Why would someone want my workload of teaching five classes a day, calling parents, counseling kids, attending meetings and conferences when it is much easier to sub all day or work in an office. The vast majority of us teachers work hard day in and day out and my union keeps catering the to lowest common denominator. We will never be a union of professionals until we stop defending the unprofessional.
   
   Teach as if your own kids are in the class.

   
   

   
   
8. 
   Leonie HaimsonMarch 5, 2011 at 12:57:00 PM EST

   The fact sheet that shows teacher experience matters for up to 20 years of more that Julie refers to is posted here:
   
   http://parentsacrossamerica.org/how-teaching-experience-makes-a-difference/
   
   It has charts and links to peer-reviewed studies. It also reveals how smaller class sizes and teacher experience are the only two objective factors correlated with better student outcomes. Sad the way the mayor is trying to undermine both.
   
   Secondly, if E4E really cared about kids they would focus on preventing layoffs, not using layoffs as an opportunity to attack experienced teachers.

   
   

   
   
9. 
   PogueMarch 5, 2011 at 1:19:00 PM EST

   Come on, E4Anonymous, give it up. No one attacked teachers till budget-cutting, pro-privatization Bloomberg came along. This "best and brightest" and "do it for the children" scam is getting old.
   
   The education field welcomes new teachers through natural attrition and retirements. As far as the code words, "bad teachers", that's a principal's job to help, handle, and hew, if need be. (fairly, mind you).
   
   Now, get back over to your web site. Arne, Mike, and Bill want their latte's refilled.
   
   P.S. Julie, Leonie, and Diane Ravitch were fantastic. Congratulations.

   
   
10. 
    AnonymousMarch 5, 2011 at 3:16:00 PM EST

    Don't be so sure it is E4 and not a Unity slug.
    
    And E4 = Wall Street's Poodles...ruff ruff

    
    

    
    
11. 
    forthekidsMarch 6, 2011 at 5:16:00 PM EST

    I watched the show with Diane Ravitch, and I too appreciated John Stewart's raw wit in presenting his viewpoint of the ongoing debate on teachers today. As a teacher for almost 20 years I have decided to do what I can to reach the politicians who are making decisions regarding our schools. Teachers need a voice. VIVAteachers is a place where a teacher's voice is beginning to reach the political realm. We need teacher involvement!

    
    
12. 
    MarkMarch 6, 2011 at 5:19:00 PM EST

    Ravitch's, Stewart's, and Cavanaugh's conversations are well-timed to capture a resurgence of awareness in the nation that something is wrong in the current superficial discussions of teacher effectiveness (the absence of the terms "equity" and "poverty," for starters).
    
    Meanwhile, back at headquarters, Cuomo is making nice with Bloomberg in private phone conversations. Check out the NY Times article:
    
    http://nyti.ms/i2Kxzb
    
    Another example of how politics trumps policy in education almost every time. Some teachers and myself created a set of policy recommendations to advocate for teacher perspectives on teacher evaluations, but we have been getting little response. Read our report and help us to advocate for policies that better address contexts within schools and the idea of professional collaboration:
    
    http://bit.ly/gGYZGK

FREE DRINKS: Educators 4 Excellence is hosting a free happy hour promoting ed deform

For those not aware, E4E is behind an attempt to create a corps of teachers in NYC who support the ed deform models. They will hold free happy hours for schools that request it. Free drinks for all.

Subject: Happy Hour this Friday, January 14th @ 4:30pm

Hey everyone,

This Friday, January 14th, a new nonprofit organization that I am a part of, Educators 4 Excellence, will be hosting a happy hour for our staff.  The happy hour is FREE and specifically designed to inform our  staff. [about ed deform]

The information is below:

Start your weekend with Educators 4 Excellence! E4E is inviting all staff members of [a high school in Brooklyn] to come and enjoy a free happy hour this Friday at Woodwork in Prospect Heights. We will provide all educators in attendance with a free two-hour open bar and appetizers.  Come join us to learn more about E4E, network with like-minded teachers from across the city and hear about various opportunities for you to take action on behalf of your students.

What: Educators 4 Excellence is hosting a free happy hour

When: Friday, January 14th from 4:30-6:30 PM

Where: Woodwork, 583 Vanderbilt Ave.

Why: Network with like-minded educators and learn about E4E.

Please RSVP by going to: http://www.educators4excellence.org/events/jan14hh 

------------------------- Check out Norms Notes for a variety of articles of interest: http://normsnotes2.blogspot.com/. And make sure to check out the side panel on right for news bits.