ATR Reports on Bronx UFT Meeting

One of our correspondents sent this along with a handout. Look for more reports from this and other meetings at the NYCATR blog which I am  managing temporarily.

About 100 attendees. Meeting well run by Amy ( only speaker from UFT ). about 15 were guidance/social workers. 65 % female; 50 % non white. 1/3 first time ATRS. 1800 ATR # confirmed. UFT seems to be pushing ATR rights a little more; supposedly DOE is clamping down on Principal ATR abuses; UFT wants ATRs to notify them promptly of any perceived problems. NO ATR chapter will be formed.

Crowd was fairly passive but had many questions but little new info. UFT meets with DOE regularly; one person asked if ATRs could serve as mentors or teacher assists in CR; say they brought this up to DOE but was rejected.

Amy emphasized that ATRs must be treated just like other teachers in the school.

COALITION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION TO HOLD 3RD ANNUAL CONVENTION Sat. Oct. 27

Grassroots group to focus on replacing mayoral control of NYC public schools with People's Board of Ed   

[NEW YORK, NY] The organization committed to “Ending Mayoral Control” of public education is holding its Third Convention on Saturday October 27th, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Community Service Center building, located at 105 East 22nd Street in New York City (Manhattan).
 

The organization has fought against the rubber room, against school closings and charter school re-locations and is struggling for a democratic form of school governance as evidenced by its concept of a People’s Board of Education. Parents, teachers, students and members of the education community can call (718) 616-9587 or (212) 362-6021. For information, please call (347) 785-3418.

The convention is open to the public and is free of charge. CPE membership is $10 and CPE will gladly accept donations.

The Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública is an independent, non-sectarian, and non-governmental organization with short, middle and long-term educational and social goals. We believe that education is a human right and we want to ensure that New York City public schools are places of learning in which all stakeholders (parents, students, educators, non- pedagogical staff, administrators and the community) are engaged in a democratic process to provide a free and quality education to all its students, from Pre-school to College.

More info at http://forpubliced.blogspot.com/

Washington Irving Campus Continues Anti-Moskowitz Protests

In case you missed our post:

Washington Irving Campus Acts Up Against Eva Moskowitz Invasion

here is a follow-up:

Press Release Subject: Opposition to Eva Moskowitz’ Elementary School Co-Location at Washington Irving High School Campus, 40 Irving Place, Manhattan, Union Square.

Parent & Teacher Rally &

Press Conference

Thursday, Oct. 25^th, 2012

5pm, Main Entrance Stairs

(before the start of Parent Teacher Conferences)

I am the Chapter Leader of "International High School at Union Square" one of currently six proud public high schools inside the Washington Irving Campus. My Name is Thomas Hasler. (hattom@mac.com)

I am a founding member of the movement to stop Eva Moskowitz from being given three floors of our school for another of one of her K-8 elementary schools.

We had 72 people from all 6 schools at our Thursday morning rally last week. You can see the fired up and determined crowd in the Rally movie. A link (https://vimeo.com/51866144) and photos including content is featured on ednotesonline.com under the title “Washington Irving Acts Up Against Moskowitz Invasion”

This is such an injustice. Above all this is the handover of prime real estate to a private operator of schools. On her Harlem Success website http://www.successacademies.org/page.cfm?p=710 she already writes as if she owns 40 Irving Place. There is a small disclaimer on the page that says that the government still needs to approve it, but if you read it, it becomes clear that she considers our school building hers already. Such arrogance and disrespect to our democratic processes! The public hearing is not until November 1^st and the PEP will not vote on it until Nov. 8^th. At least they could wait until their proposal has been rubberstamped.

You are very much invited to report about this disgusting handover of our public school to this woman. Our goal is to keep this woman out of our historic campus.

(All the while they starve our schools to death so they can claim that we are failing and offer her even more space once she is inside. We have not had a librarian on staff for 3 years)

Our announced agenda is: Fighting for a quality education for ALL of our students. 

We oppose the setting up of separate and unequal schools within schools.

We worry that our students will be made into 2^nd class members of our campus. We worry that Harlem Success will squeeze out our schools in the coming years as the DOE letter to parents already states that only “CURRENT” students will not be impacted by the co-location.

We know that our schools will have no room to grow.

We are outraged that Success Academy is allocated 27 full size classrooms when none of our schools has more than 16 or 18.

We have one big message for Bloomberg and Moskowitz: This is OUR school, you NEVER asked us about this which is why WE DON’T APPROVE!

We find it outrageous that the vast majority of parents and students are completely held in the dark about this proposal.

Non English speaking parents have no way to get information about the public hearing as the DOE only hands out English versions that need lawyers to be understood.

We are appalled by the undemocratic manner of how the DOE tries to push this proposal through. Our voices should count more than the private connection between Bloomberg and Moskowitz!

We don’t approve that they try to take out the PUBLIC from public education.

We don’t approve that they make parents play lottery for school seats.

We don’t approve that our schools are being denied a chance to ever grow.

We don’t “counsel out” problem student who might bring down our test scores.

We work with ALL the students and we are proud of it!

The community of teachers, parents, and students is enraged that the DOE intends to put an elementary charter school, led by Eva Moskowitz, into the Washington Irving High School campus. 

We know that it is a bad fit for a school that is predominantly filled with high school students and fear that the loss of 3 floors, 27 full sized classrooms, and numerous support rooms will take away resources, space and opportunities from our students. 

We also fear that some of the famous Barry Faulkner Murals will fall victim to the construction of a new cafeteria and that some of the scenes that feature tasteful nudity, and scenes of historic battles, might be censored to make them “1st grade friendly”. 

We will speak out in strong opposition to the DOE proposal at the rally and press conference.

Austerity Education: The Angry Adjunct

http://angryadjunct.tumblr.com/post/34184822722/austerityed

Washington Irving Campus Acts Up Against Eva Moskowitz Invasion

Evil has been given a reported 27 rooms in the school, prime real estate located in the heart of Gramercy Park, the most outrageous land grab since the railroad barons.

UPDATE:

Press Release Subject: Opposition to Eva Moskowitz’ Elementary School Co-Location at Washington Irving High School Campus, 40 Irving Place, Manhattan, Union Square.

Parent & Teacher Rally &

Press Conference

Thursday, Oct. 25^th, 2012

5pm, Main Entrance Stairs 

(before the start of Parent Teacher Conferences)

Public Hearing: Nov. 1, 6PM -

Anti Moskowitz Co-location Rally at Washington Irving
October 18, 2012

Video at: http://vimeo.com/m/51866144

We made this happen today! Against all odds (a beaten down rest staff of the phasing out original school, 2 brand new schools with hardly any union structure and 2 other fairly new schools) we united the campus in opposition to this handover of public space to a private buddy of the mayor. 72 members of our community came out! Our UFT Manhattan Borough office is standing behind us full force and the administrations from inside were rooting for us as well! We had a constructive dialogue with all the Principals last week and they understand that we fight for our schools, the schools they lead.

Below, some excerpts of rally speeches:

Together WE are the leaders of this movement!

We have a voice and we will be heard!

Today, we put Bloomberg and Moskowitz on notice!


We don’t want Eva Moskowitz inside our campus!

We don’t welcome bullies!


She makes parents play lottery for seats in her schools.

We have advice for her! CO-LOCATE to Vegas if you like to gamble!


We fight for a quality education for ALL students!

We work with ELL students, we work with poor students, we work with hungry students, we work with homeless students, we work with special ed students.

We don’t get rid of them because they might score low on tests!

We love our students! (heart signs up!)


An elementary school inside our campus is a bad fit!

OUR Barry Faulkner murals might have to go for her new cafeteria.


Faulkner’s Murals grace the walls of the National Archives in DC!

Eva, don’t even think about putting your hands on our murals.


This is public art!

We fight for Public education!

Keep the the public in public education!

We are the public!

We are what democracy looks like!


Bloomberg wants to give three floors of our school to his friend?

We don’t approve!


Whose schools? OUR Schools!


Mayor Bloomberg ONE TWO THREE. GO away and let us BE!


Bloomberg & Moskowitz want to turn education into a business. Their bottom line is: Profits!

Our bottom line is: Quality education for ALL students.


We are fighting an uphill battle

but we fight it with dignity and pride!

And we know that what we do is right by our students. Thats the only thing that matters.


This is a fight Good vs EVA!

Handing over schools to rich buddies is NOT the answer!

Closing Schools is not the answer.

Funding our schools is the answer!

The only one who used our library in the last 3 years was Bloomberg. He gave a press conference. We have not had a librarian for 3 years for our students!

That’s whats going on here!


Separate and Unequal? Charter Schools.

Quality Education for ALL? Public Schools!

This is the civil rights issue of our time!


We won’t back down!

fighting for our student

fighting for our schools.


They thought we wouldn’t care. Boy are they wrong. We care every day! We are teachers, that’s what we do!

Press Release:

Thursday, Oct. 18^th, 2012

7:20 am,  Main Entrance Stairs

The community of teachers, parents, and students is enraged that the DOE intends to put an elementary charter school, led by Eva Moskowitz, into the Washington Irving High School campus. 

They believe that it is a bad fit for a school that is predominantly filled with high school students and fear that the loss of 3 floors, 27 full sized classrooms, and numerous support rooms will take away resources, space and opportunities from their students. 

They also fear that some of the famous Barry Faulkner Murals will fall victim to the construction of a new cafeteria and that some of the scenes that feature tasteful nudity, and scenes of  historic battles, might be censored to make them “1st grade friendly”. 

They will speak out in strong opposition to the DOE proposal at the rally and press conference.

Their announced agenda is: Fighting for a quality education for ALL of their students. 

Education is not a lottery. Those who want to play lottery with other people's children should co-locate into a casino in Vegas.

Measure For Measure by Rob Rendo

Echos of Munch's The Scream, which kids will be emulating after their 215th testing day of the year.

Cartoon by Robert Rendo.

Robert Rendo gives free and permanent license to anyone who wishes to use this image in their literature, tweets, websites, blogs, etc. to fight the corporate education reform agenda and to restore public education to educators and cognitive scientists who are maintaining the same fight. While Robert Rendo retains copyright, he encourages everyone to use the free permanent license to utilize the image as advocacy. The sole condition for usage is that the name "Robert Rendo" is credited for the illustration. This notice of free licensure can be used as well and is equally encouraged. If image obtainment is a problem for the reader, please e-mail Robert Rendo at artwork88@aol.com, and he will e-mail the image in any file format the user requests.

Munch responding to high stakes testing

Weingarten Negotiates Another Sell-Out in Newark, NEW Caucus Says "VOTE NO"

From David Bellel c. 2009 - Obviously needs updating

If Randi were involved as she would have been with the old CTU leadership she would have them jump at the money and never mention class size again. Only one city was smart enough to keep Randi away from contract negotiations: Chicago. Did you notice how the Chicago teachers TURNED DOWN the offered bribe of more pay without setting conditions? --Ed Notes

Keep them voting till they get it right. Where Weingarten treads, catastrophe follows. ---Michael Fiorillo comment on Newark Contract at Perdido Street School

It's true - she's done more damage to public school education and teachers than a lot of ed deformers. Mayoral control, merit pay, the TDR's, "fair funding" for schools that gives incentives for administrators to get rid of veteran teachers, buying into the "Bad Teacher" frame - the list goes on, but those are some of the major catastrophes brought about by Weingarten and her merry minions. Newark teachers would be wise to reject this contract, not only for their own good, but for the good of all teachers in NJ. ---reality-based educator reply to Fiorillo

I hope you got to read my post on Saturday: Weingarten Praises Newark Merit Pay Scheme: NEW Caucus Calls for NO Vote.
And if you're a photoshop person and want to take a shot at updating the poster, go ahead. (Obviously Chicago should be removed. )

Only one city was smart enough to keep Randi away from contract negotiations: Chicago. Did you notice how they TURNED DOWN the offered bribe of more pay without setting conditions? If Randi were involved as she would have been with the old CTU leadership she would have them jump at the money and never mention class size again.

Randi uses the old bait and switch
Bribe teachers with enough money to get them to give it all away. Randi perfected this in NYC in the 2005 contract so Bloomberg could brag about the enormous raises he gave teachers right as Randi was giving him the tools to go after teachers making the most money. She followed this act in Washington DC with Michelle Rhee, then Baltimore and Detroit. There's a whole list of dominoes.

The great blogger, Jersey Jazzman commented in this post (It's NOT Just Newark's Contract)

When Christie went on TV a while ago, bad-mouthing teachers and their unions, no representative of NJEA was invited to give a response. The only teachers union representative present was Randi Weingarten of AFT. Again, I have nothing but respect for Randi, who I think does a fine job representing teacher concerns in the media. But let's be honest: Chris Christie has a different relationship with AFT than he does with NJEA. To all my friends and readers in AFT, understand this is not a criticism of you; it's simply a truth.

Reality-Based Educator and others commented that Christie WANTED Weingarten involved and he got what he wanted. 

RBE at Perdido has a great post today touching on the Weingarten history of nation-wide sell-outs following her act here in New York.

Randi Weingarten - the reform-friendly labor leader beloved by Michael Bloomberg, Michelle Rhee and DFER Joe Williams - is the union leader who helped negotiate both versions of the Baltimore contract and worked very hard to get that second one passed. Where is Randi standing up for the 60% of Baltimore teachers getting "u-rated" and put on the list to be fired? I'll tell you where she is - she's nowhere to be found in Baltimore and is rather lurking around in New Jersey where she's doing the reformers' work on this Newark contract.

Read his entire piece here.

NYC Educator also hit the nail on the head

Teacher Union Prez Auditions for NY Post Editorial Board

Here is an excerpt:

Joseph Del Grosso, head of the Newark Teachers Union, is endorsing a new contract that entails merit pay, value-added measures, and which is "secretive about financial details," though we know it hinges on $100 mill in Facebook bucks, which we don't know to be renewable.

Del Grosso is portrayed in the article as someone who's moved from a young firebrand to someone with a completely different position-- heroic by the writer's highly uninformed point of view, but questionable at best by mine. More disturbing, perhaps, is this quote:

“The teachers who come in early and stay late, and take the job seriously, are offended by the teachers who don’t,” he says. “They are the silent majority, and I think they will overwhelmingly vote for a contract that involves them in their own destiny.”

Can you imagine the things these offended teachers must be saying?

That damn Ms. Smith, always going home to look after her baby!

I hate Mr. White. Who the hell does he think he is, running to his second job at the carwash at 2:30 every day?

A member of NEW Caucus (sister to MORE and CORE) came to our Chicago Lessons session on Saturday and asked for help in publicizing their fight against this contract. They spent a whole day taking apart the contract. I posted it at Norm's Notes: What Newark Teachers Can Expect From Their New Contract.

Here is the latest email they sent out with some links I added:

The fight in Newark has just gotten sharper as the Newark Teachers Union and Newark Public Schools finally agreed on how best to sell out teachers and students.  Between the local leadership and national AFT leadership (Weingarten has been negotiating "for us" for a year now), years of hard fought gains are being taken away.  The Newark Education Workers Caucus (NEW Caucus) has been working hard over the last few days organizing angry teachers to vote no and begin organizing against this attack.  So has the AFT - calling teachers over the weekend and scaring them into voting for the contract.  While many are infuriated at this contract and are now aware that the local and national union leadership doesn't represent their interests, what we do between now and October 29th (the vote) will determine whether or not we create a fighting caucus that could give political leadership and move many teachers to the left to fight back or allow teachers to become cynical and accept this horrible deal.  

Attached:

1. Current contract proposal (just use your reader to rotate it)- email normsco@gmail.com

2. The NEW Caucus evaluation of it (we locked ourselves in a room for 7 1/2 hours yesterday putting this together - still a work in progress)

[I posted this at Norms Notes: Newark: What This PROPOSED Contract Means For Education Workers and Students].

3. Our October issue of NEW VIEWS - [SEE MY POST FROM SATURDAY- Weingarten Praises Newark Merit Pay Scheme: NEW Caucus Calls for NO Vote]

and here is our old contract 2009-2010 http://www.ntuaft.com/2009-2010_Teacher-Clerk_Contract.pdf

This tuesday, the union will have a general membership meeting where they will "highlight" the contract and try to talk members into voting for it.  If anyone is in the New York/New Jersey region this Tuesday and would like to help us distribute literature to the membership, please join us at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) at 3pm (starts at 4).  If anyone needs directions, you can email me at almoussab@gmail.com or newarkeducationworkerscaucus@gmail.com.  I will try to provide updates as this struggle continues.

Teachers Unite: Undemocratic System of Mayoral Control Hurts NYC Schools

My suggestion is radical: put the choice of principal at the school level. They serve at the pleasure of the parents and teachers. In parts of Europe they actually elect their principals. That actually was a plank in the early history of the UFT some people tell me.  --- Norm at Ed Notes.

I love to quote myself.

Great work from Sally Lee and the crew at Teachers Unite. I am proud to have been on the first TU Board way back when. This work may prove to be a strong weapon in our goal to put a stake through the heart of mayoral control by killing the argument deformers use that they are fighting for civil rights. You know what amazes me? That 36% of the teachers actually think they have a power over decision-making at the city level and 80% seem to think they have decision making at the school level. I would think that would be reversed with most teachers saying they have no control given the testing regimen.

I'm also hearing some pushback about relying on School Leadership Teams (SLTs) as a vehicle for school governance. With so many autocratic principals it is real hard for teachers and even parents to carve out a space on these teams.

Here is the Summary and a link to the entire report.

Teachers, Parents and Students Report Having Little Say Over What Happens in Their Schools

Report Asserts that Mayoral Control Disempowers Low-Income Communities of Color, Recommends Reforms

New York, NY – The top-down system of mayoral control over New York City public schools does not serve the best interest of teachers, parents and students, according to a new report from Teachers Unite and the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center. The report, entitled Your Schools, Your Voice, finds that by shutting out teachers, parents, and students from the decision-making process, mayoral control devalues the people who are directly impacted by the school system.

The report analyzes the impact of mayoral control on democratic participation in schools by examining the current school governance bodies, the policies initiated under mayoral control, and the views of three focus groups of a broad range of parents, students.  The report also includes findings from surveys with over 400 teachers across the city. The report, which can be read in full HERE, finds:

·      Teachers have little say over what happens in their schools. 64% of teachers said they had no power in decision-making at the City level, and one in five teachers reported that they have no power over decisions made at their own school.

·      Current mechanisms for teacher input, such as School Leadership Teams and Community Education Councils, are considered powerless under mayoral control.  One in four teachers does not think the School Leadership Team (SLT), a state-mandated committee of school leaders, teachers, parents, and students created to facilitate shared decision-making and management of schools, represents their interests as a stakeholder. One in five teachers does not think the SLT represents the interests of their schools as a whole. And 57% of teachers reported that they had no power to influence decisions through the SLT.

·      Decisions made under mayoral control are not in the best interest of teachers, parents, and students. 94% of teachers disagreed or strongly disagreed with the policy implemented to evaluate and close schools based primarily on standardized test data. Nearly 80% of teachers disagreed or strongly disagreed with Mayor Bloomberg’s attempt to impose merit-based pay for teachers. And 92% of teachers disagreed or strongly disagreed with the mayor’s appointment of Cathie Black as chancellor.

·       Parents and students agree with teachers that mayoral control and its policies prevent the community from having effective input. They report seeing the system change dramatically since the onset of mayoral control with the top-down structure preventing decisions through democratic processes. The report finds that parents feel sliced by and excluded from the very governance bodies created for their participation.

The report also asserts that mayoral control disempowers communities of color and low-income communities because it encourages policies that are beneficial to the private sector. By developing charter schools, increasing the use of standardized tests published by private corporations, and eroding worker protections for school staff, low-income communities of color are left with no method of influencing decisions that harm their schools.

Currently, the report states, Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott enjoy a near total control of the New York City school system, with no effective mechanisms in place for input from the teachers, parents, and students. The community remains shut out of the decision-making process, leaving no avenues for recommendations or feedback from the people who are directly impacted. In fact, democratic participation in schools has deteriorated so much that the New York City teachers’ union has described participation as lower now than at any time in the 165-year history of the City school system.

“The research shows that  mayoral control limits democracy and participation in NYC’s schools, “said Alexa Kasdan, Director of Research and Policy at the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center. “We need a system in place that gives teachers, parents, and students a voice in forming important educational policies.”

“The report clearly shows that teachers believe that parents, teachers and youth together should have their voices heard and that is not happening under mayoral control of schools. Instead, policies are being made that are extremely unpopular and against the wishes of the people that they impact most: students, teachers and parents,” said Sally Lee, Executive Director of Teachers Unite.

The report recommends allowing the policy of mayoral control to expire no later than 2015, when it is slated for re-authorization. It also urges the development of an inclusive, democratic system of decision-making in schools designed around community-based responsiveness and accountability. The report recommends reclaiming and empowering School Leadership Teams, where teachers, parents, and students could establish a collaborative leadership model within their schools.

"Your Schools, Your Voice highlights how little is known about how community members can get involved in schools.  For instance, 81% of teachers surveyed were unsure of what Community Education Councils have the power to do, while the former Community School Boards (before mayoral control) were universally known as the sites for local democratic decision-making for neighborhood schools," said Lisa Donlan, President of Community Education Council District 1.

“School Leadership Teams give teachers, parents and students a rare opportunity to come up with a shared vision for public education,” remarked Elana Eisen-Markowitz, a Bronx high school teacher. “We have just started meeting as a new SLT and I’m very excited about our work together.”

A student anonymously quoted in the report suggests that the social and academic benefits of democratic participation in a public institution such as education is not lost on New York youth: “Students should be involved in school and citywide decisions because we’re the ones that are receiving the education so we should have a right in saying how we want it to be. You would probably see less dropouts, less suspensions, and students would probably be more likely to go to college, and it would motivate students to go to school if they had the right to decide how certain things go.”

Read the report here: http://cdp-ny.org/report/your_schools_your_voice.pdf

ABOUT TEACHERS UNITE

Teachers Unite is an independent membership organization of public school educators supporting collaboration between parents, youth and educators fighting for social justice. Teachers Unite organizes teachers around human rights issues that impact New York City public school communities and offers collaborative leadership training for educators, parents, and youth. We believe that schools can only be transformed when educators work with and learn from parents and youth to achieve social and economic justice.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT THE URBAN JUSTICE CENTER

The Community Development Project (CDP) at the Urban Justice Center strengthens the impact of grassroots organizations in New York City’s low-income and other excluded communities. We partner with community organizations to win legal cases, publish community-driven research reports, assist with the formation of new organizations and cooperatives, and provide technical and transactional assistance in support of their work towards social justice.

###

Message from An ATR

I received this from an anonymous ATR -- I don't know who it is but this is worthwhile posting. The suggestion is for all ATRs to come to this meeting rather than waiting for their own borough as a show of strength. Interesting idea but will lots of people shlep to the Bronx? If this doesn't work I suggest the Manhattan meeting as a central location to the whole city. Here is the list of meetings again if you missed by post earlier in the day (which you should absolutely read): Enter the Demilitarized Zone: ATR Borough Meetings This Week/Wine and Cheese Videos Reprise Sellout

Weds, Oct. 24, Bronx Borough Office

Thurs. Oct. 25, Bklyn Borough Off - teachers only

Mon. Oct. 29, Bklyn BO - guid and social workers only

Thurs. Nov. 1, Man BO - everyone

Mon Nov. 5 - Queens BO - everyone

In the meantime I believe there will be an ATR meeting at the Skylight Diner (34th St and 9th Ave, Man - across from B&H) on Thurs. Nov. 8 at 5PM. Check back here or the NYCATR blog for updates.

Important information for city-wide ATR's (ALL TITLES)
 

This week on Wednesday, October 24, there is a meeting for all ATR's at the UFT Bronx Office.  Not surprisingly this meeting is buried on the UFT calendar:

http://www.uft.org/events/atr-informational-meeting

ATR's of all titles are invited to attend this informational Q & A session on ATR-related issues and to meet the representatives of the Bronx Borough Office.

It has been suggested by an ATR who has assumed a leadership role, that ALL ATR's, including those on the GEM listserve attend the Bronx meeting in order to speed up the rapidly moving organization of ATR's.

Should the meeting turn out to be a performance by Amy Arundell whining, "you're lucky to have a job," then all attendees at the meeting can quickly retreat to the parking area to exchange contact information which will further strengthen the ATR movement.

It has been reported that a list of city-wide ATR's has recently surfaced. Hopefully, this list can be used to urge attendance at the ATR meetings.

Norma Fire, Actress, 1937-2012

We mostly knew Norma from the yearly July 4th party held at the home of our friends in Rockaway over the last 30 years. In fact I didn't even know her last name, only that when someone called one of us we both looked up. We knew Norma was ill but were saddened to see her obit in today's Times. So sad after the joyous wedding of our best friends' daughter earlier in the day.

Norma FIRE
Actress in a City of Friends Norma Fire, the actress best known for her work with David Gordon's Pickup Performance Company, and with the Kitchen Theater in Ithaca, died at the Haven Hospice at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan on October 11th. The cause was cancer. She was 75.

Enter the Demilitarized Zone: ATR Borough Meetings This Week/Wine and Cheese Videos Reprise Sellout

At the very moment independent ATRs were meeting on Oct. 10, the UFT announced borough meetings starting this week (other than Staten Island which was last week). In typical cynical fashion, the UFT's aim is to curtail the growing militancy of ATRs.

Weds, Oct. 24, Bronx Borough Office

Thurs. Oct. 25, Bklyn Borough Off - teachers only

Mon. Oct. 29, Bklyn BO - guid and social workers only

Thurs. Nov. 1, Man BO - everyone

Mon Nov. 5 - Queens BO - everyone

I don't know the starting time. If you do leave a comment.

Watch the videos below: 

Nothing better illustrates the sell-out of not only ATRs but the entire teaching corps, all of whom are potential ATRs, than the Nov. 2008 ATR rally at Tweed that caused so much panic at both Tweed and 52 Broadway that the Gang of 2 were forced to come up with an "agreement" the day before followed by the infamous UFT wine and cheese diversion to get people away from Tweed.

We (David Bellel and I) taped both the wine and cheese event and the rally. You can hear Randi yelling at me, "Norman put down that camera." On the walk over to Tweed she tried to cajole me into giving her the tape.

I urge you to watch the videos, often shot on the run so excuse the production quality. (By the way, the guys who did the rubber room movie also tried to tape the wine and cheese event but were refused.)

This rally led in essence to the founding of GEM when Angel Gonzalez and I (and a few others) organized an ICE committee to focus on ATRs.

Here is an excerpt from a Jan. 29, 2009 Ed Notes posting, just as what became GEM was meeting for the first time, on my post titled:

A Tale of Two Rallies: or
A Tale of a Rally and A Wine and Cheese Party

On November 24, 2008, teachers without positions, known as ATRs, held a rally at Tweed. They had forced the UFT to endorse the rally but in the interim the UFT signed an agreement with the DOE. The leadership called for an information meeting at UFT HQ, a mile away at the very same time the rally was due to start. Mass confusion. I taped the UFT HQ while David Bellel did the rally. The back story is how desperate UFT leaders were to suppress the tape I made. In fact, today at the Delegate Assembly they will pass a gag rule to try to prevent future embarrassment.

Part 1: I mix footage from  David at Tweed and my tape at the wine and cheese event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ac-Ul1m8-0

  

Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG4xrbgiGqU

UFT leaders with some ATRs who went to the info session march -er- meander up Broadway to Tweed where the 2 forces meet. Unity is outnumbered and Randi is heckled as she speaks. Note: She congratulates the people who called for the rally, saying there would not have been an agreement with the DOE if not for the rally. Less than an hour before she gave the people at the info meeting the reverse message: that in these bad economic times, things like rallies and militancy are not wise. No wonder they didn't want me to tape. 

Then they passed a resolution (call it the Stop taping Norman reso) banning taping. Details here:  UFT Responds to Ed Notes Taping of ATR Info Sessio...  

------------
Here is the memo from Amy Arundell

Today: Julie Cavanagh (MORE) and Xian Barrett (CORE) Lessons of the Chicago Teachers’ Strike

Don't miss the chance to see Julie and Xian today. I met both of them in the summer of 2009, Xian in Los Angeles at a 5-city gathering of union activists where Xian and 5 others came from Chicago's CORE and Julie here at the first meeting of GEM and CAPE. I don't have to tell ed notes readers about Julie. Even if you can't make it, check out these 2 videos I shot of Xian to get an idea of how CORE began in mid-2008 as an 8 person group reading Naomi Klein to a take-over of the Chicago TU two years later.

One aspect of today's event is that people who organize this are thinking about broader lessons for us here as you can see in the leaflet MORE handed out at the DA (see below). I think there should also be emphasis on the organizing challenges that CORE overcame -- including crafting political message -- something MORE hasn't quite nailed yet. I do know that CORE had a year and a half to build themselves organizationally before facing an election while MORE is hustling to get organizational tools in place while prepping for the elections this spring. The amount of meeting time needed is stressful to working classroom teachers. My advice is to do less if needed rather than burn out. But who listens to me?

I do listen to Xian and others in CORE very carefully to see what we can learn and adapt here in NYC. I admit, I am often stumped but will listen carefully again today and maybe ask a question or two.

Here are 2 videos I shot of Xian at SOS in Washington this past summer.

The first is of a panel -- and it includes an interesting comment from Leo Casey near the end as the UFT/AFT crew tries to show how Chicago is so different from everyone else. (At the DA Mulgrew spent some time differentiating us -- I really want to get more details on what he said.) Unfortunately, I had to change batteries and lost some important points Xian made. Later that afternoon I taped an interview with Xian done by Jaisal Noor which is more comprehensive. Both vids are around 18 minutes.

Stamberg/Mendel on UFT Suppression of Debate on Obama Nomination at Delegate Assembly

Unity Beware! Continue to bully our delegates and members and you will soon become an opposition party!--- Jeff Kaufman, comment on ICE blogs 

When Marjorie tried to motivate her resolution, Mulgrew properly stopped her. However, the leadership did not stop here as Secretary Michael Mendel (usually a sensible and fair person) took the unprecedented step of not allowing Marjorie to even read her motion. He would only allow her to read the title. He said that Delegates have it already so they can read it to themselves. This is absurd since there must have been twenty handouts given out at the door so to even find this motion in our packets was very difficult. Mendel came to me afterwards to talk about what happened and said that Marjorie was trying to motivate the resolution and that is why he stood up to halt it. I agreed with him on this but I told him that DA policy has always been to allow someone to read their motion.  How can someone make a motion if they are not permitted to verbalize it?  We will see if silent reading is now the new policy at DA’s.

----UFT DELEGATE ASSEMBLY REPORT: MULGREW MAKES A MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY -- James Eterno on ICE Blog

Please read James' entire piece on the DA.

More info is flowing in about the pile driving of the Obama nomination. Remember the Chicago teachers in Detroit while not opposing, stood in the aisles with "Stop Race to the Top" signs while the 800 insipid Unity Caucus people danced in the aisles for Obama/Biden celebrating the end of public education. That same crew was operating at the DA on Weds. Really, do you need anything more to join MORE?

I know that some of the arcane rules of debate might confuse people. Making a motion for the current meeting is not debatable. But when I was a delegate I used a different strategy--- I didn't make a motion as Marjorie did but demanded time as a speaker against their motion and during my speech referred to my reso which was printed in Ed Notes. Since you can call a point of order, which I did all the time, to demand the speaker against, I used the opportunity to speak "against" lots of stuff that no one else would get up to speak against. Like Motherhood --- your reso is not strong enough, therefore I oppose it.

Below are some comments between Marjorie and Mendel. First some reactions from delegates.

I attempted to speak at the UFT Delegate Assembly tonight on a union resolution supporting the re-election of President Obama. I thought that there had to be some discussion about "Race To The Top." The union leadership cut off debate by having someone "call the question" before anyone could speak. DAMN FUCKING SHAMEFUL! --- VW, a delegate

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I opposed the motion for obama. I wrote on my vote card "RTTT" and "Rahm", a man who sold out rhode island, offered zero support to Chicago or wisconsin got 45-60 minutes at a DA, ATR's got zero, contract 1-2 minutes--- MS, delegate

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I was sitting in the hall last night as I am no longer a delegate and the 19th floor was full. There was talking and people getting Obama shirts, laughing and carrying on so it was a little hard to follow all that was happening inside.. I heard Mendel yelling and blasting you. It was embarrassing and a deja vu of a not so long ago meeting where he went off. He was totally out of line as was Mulgrew for allowing him to go on.

When I was downstairs handing out fliers, a woman came over and began to speak with a UFT member She was very upset that the AFT and the UFT were endorsing Obama uncritically and unquestionably outright. She asked for people to think about endorsing so quickly this man who has helped to decimate  our educational system. They spoke and she left hoping that Obama's endorsement would be brought up and questioned.

The "Unity bureaucracy was totally out of line and very disrespectful of you - this was just uncalled for. I'm telling you that those of us outside the assembly were cringing. This is NOT how we (the UFT) should be conducting business on any topic, but especially one as important as this. I respect your tenacity to demand that the right thing be done. You represent your colleagues well. More delegates should be as strong and vocal.You are definitely not a victim, but a proud union member who wants to see strength and equality in decision making.  --- PD

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Marjorie Stamberg responds to Michael Mendel (below):

I have never cast myself as "a victim of the big bad UFT." How dare you? I am not a victim of, but an active delegate in, the UFT. And the UFT didn't censor me. You did, i.e., Unity Caucus bureaucracy. We the membership are the UFT. --- 

I absolutely asked to motivate my motion, then to summarize it briefly, and when that was denied to read the motion and the resolves.  You refused and said I could only read the title and nothing else. "Reading the title only" is a new one at the D.A., and unknown to Robert's Rules.  If you have selective memory on this, that is your problem.

No one with a brain would believe you would have accepted my counter-motion against Obama in opposition to the motion being raised for Obama.  I was refused the right to speak at all, so how could I have raised it as a counter-motion.  This was a manuever from Unity Caucus which "called the question" before any "con" speakers were allowed (in total violation of Robert's Rules, by the way).  How do you know if I was going to present it as a counter - motion, which I actually was, since I was not allowed to speak at all.

By the way, Michael Mulgrew began the meeting telling delegates the leadership was always willing to "help" those who wanted to get a point across in the D.A.   In fact, I have been bullied from the podium time and again at Delegate Assemblies because my "points" are in opposition to your class collaborationist line.

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Michael Mendel To: Marjorie Stamberg

Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:41 PM

RE: How opposition to UFT Endorsement of Obama was Suppressed at the D.A.

First of all that’s not what happened. If you asked to read the one sentience resolve I believe it would have been appropriate. But don’t change what happened. That’s not at all what you asked for. You asked to EXPLAIN your resolution. And that is a violation not of Roberts Rules but of our Delegate Assembly and it has been for as long as I’ve been going to the DA’s. It says under on the agenda page and it has for years, RULES OF ORDER, 1. TO PLACE AN IEM ON THE AGENDA OF THE CURRENT MEETING-A motion to suspend then rules is required. IT IS NOT DEBATABLE and needs a 2/3 vote. Not debatable has always been defined as not explaining or motivating the reso. You did not ask to read the resolve and you cannot make that claim now. You clearly said you wanted to explain (motivate) the resolution. You are not new to the DA. You have seen this happen many, many times. For you to claim anything else is just disingenuous. By the way since you saw the Pro Obama resolution on the agenda you could have risen at that time and presented your motion as a substitute and that would have absolutely been appropriate. What is clear here is it is more important to you to claim to be the victim of the big bad UFT and me rather than see a way to do what you want but do it in the right way.

Weingarten Praises Newark Merit Pay Scheme: NEW Caucus Calls for NO Vote

Newark Public Schools and the Newark Teachers Union have reached a tentative deal that includes a universal salary scale linking teacher bonuses to classroom performance — making the district the first in New Jersey to implement a merit-pay program ....HufPo

“This agreement is a win for students, a win for teachers and a win for Newark," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in a statement Thursday. "It recognizes the quality of educators’ work, values their experience and training, ensures they have a say in decisions affecting teaching and learning in their schools, and makes teacher retention a priority by, among other things, adjusting salaries to allow teachers to earn more money earlier in their careers." -- HufPo

Remember the days when Randi used to claim that only school-wide and not individual merit pay would be acceptable? After the Chicago story of resistance here is another sellout. Given the national situation I'm still surprised that Randi would be so openly supportive of a situation so contrary to Chicago. But on the other side, an upper level Chicago union leader made the case for Randi by saying, "What can she do when the local leadership is weak or sucks other than support the best deal she could? In our case with strong leadership she has been OK." I don't buy it.

See: Jersey Jazzman

Questions Newark Teachers MUST Ask About Their Contract

This came across on Facebook:

Katie Stafford StromHave to share my friend and Newark super-teacher Leah Z Owens's status from last night: "Dear Cami, I forfeit the $12K bonus I'm going to earn (no ego) so that the money can go toward hiring another history teacher at Central High so my colleague doesn't have to have 38 students in his class. Thanks in advance, Leah"

 

This contract is the beginning of the end of the salary structure. We know how this drill will end. Most salaries will in the long run go down as the highest paid teachers will be rated poorly, then fired and replaced with shorter-term newbies while a few will get merit pay.

Teachers rated “effective” or “highly effective” under a new evaluation system will be eligible for annual bonuses ranging from $2,000 to $12,500, according to a NTU statement Thursday. The new contract also includes $31 million in “retroactive pay” divided among all union members to compensate for the two years since the current deal expired on July 1, 2010. The new agreement will be in effect until June 30, 2015.

The $31 million is short term bribe money to get the teachers to vote YES but they will pay many times over if they accept these relative crumbs.

New Caucus [facebook]

Vote NO! to merit pay! Vote NO! to the privatization of public education. This contract has the purpose of pushing out veteran teachers and oiling up the revolving door of TFAers! How can the NTU agree to no difference in pay for teachers who have earned MASTER'S and PHDs?? —

Here is some info from the Newark Education Workers (NEW) Caucus, which appears to be a sister-type group to MORE and CORE. I wish MORE had a monthly hard copy newsletter like the one below. Maybe soon.  I have a copy of the contract -- email me at normsco@gmail.com if interested.

Let your voice be heard!

Come together to discuss the POSSIBLE new contract, 

and help decide if NEW Caucus should support a slate for NTU leadership this spring!

  Wednesday, October 24, the NEW Caucus is holding a MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. 

FLYER ATTACHED!

Wednesday, October 24, 4:30-6:30

American History High School

Cafetorium

74 Montgomery Street

Attached is the October Issue of NEW VIEWS

Articles on the Chicago Teachers Strike and Banks Profiting from Charter Schools! [SEE BELOW]

And, oh, one last thing...

Attached is the proposed Contract!  

Read and digest... [EMAIL ME]

In Solidarity,

Newark Education Workers Caucus

(NEW Caucus)

NewarkEducationWorkersCaucus.com

862-367-9211 

Facebook.com/NEWCaucus Twitter.com/NEWCaucus

Google Calendar: NewarkEducationWorkersCaucus@gmail.com

UFT Silent On ATR Rights and Representation

I wouldn't give Randi credit for anything even a crumb but if Philip is happy I am happy.

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By Philip Nobile

Why does Michael Mulgrew’s UFT persist in shafting ATRs by denying us representation within the union? Why hasn’t the Mulgrew established a bill of rights for ATRs? In contrast, Randi arranged for rubber roomers to elect liaisons who met monthly with UFT Secretary Michael Mendel and Co-Staff Director LeRoy Barr at 52 Broadway. She also produced a pamphlet on our rights. Surely, what was good for reassigned members in the past is good for ATRs in the present.

The UFT disagrees. Instead of real representation the union has handed us crumbs, insisting that revolving (and usually invisible) chapter leaders are all the representation we need.

On Sept. 24, hoping to change hearts and minds, I emailed two questions to the chain of command (Mulgrew, Mendel, Barr, Amy Arundell, Brooklyn Borough Rep. Howie Schoor, and my Brooklyn District Rep. Tom Bennett):

(1) Why hasn’t the UFT drawn up an advisory to CLs on how to handle ATRs? Or have I missed it? In the good old days of rubber rooms, we not only had elected reps (liaisons) and monthly meetings at 52 Broadway, but Randi produced a brochure on our rights. (2) Can you explain why ATRs in good standing get less respect than accused members in the past?

There was no reply until October 9 when Bennett emailed me and said to give him a call. I preferred a written response and Bennett obliged in his fashion. Herewith the ensuing correspondence revealing the UFT’s contempt for ATR rights:

Oct. 10: Bennett to me
Ok, written response it is. I dont agree with the premise of question #2 in your email, so, I cant respond in a meaningful way. As for #1, there is no specific handbook on ATRs for chapter leaders, but it has been addressed at Chapter Leader training and at monthly meetings. Professional courtesy, bathroom keys, no menial assignments, no 6th period, etc. have all been emphasized repeatedly. It has also been addressed in chapter leader weekly, as well.

Sorry to hear you are in high dudgeon, but I think I am innocent of the charge of being unavailable. If I dont respond it is because I dont know the answer, or because your question is, shall we say, tendentious. But I have always taken your call.

Let me know where you are, and Ill come by.

Oct. 13: Me to Bennett et al:

Good to hear from you. Thanks for the info on the indoctrination of chapter leaders in the care of ATRs. In my experience it’s not working. The only CL to meet and greet me in Brooklyn and Staten Island all last year was the esteemed Bill Kalogeras at Automotive. If the union were serious about the least of its members, at the least you would establish a protocol whereby CLs welcome their ATR brothers on day one, maybe even get them a cup of coffee. Is that too much to ask? If you were an ATR, wouldn’t you like to be treated with such solidarity?

The premise of question 2, as you know, is the UFT’s refusal to grant ATRs the same rights as rubber room residents of the past. Nobody in the UFT, including you, has explained why ATRs in good standing are less worthy of direct representation than suspect resassigned teachers who had elected liaisons to guard their interests at monthly meetings at 52 Broadway with LeRoy Barr and Michael Mendel no less. This is what I meant by a dearth of respect. Once again, if you were an ATR, wouldn’t you prefer to have a representative fighting for you inside the UFT instead of depending on invisible chapter leaders? Nevermind the Unity line, tell me what you really think.
Thanks for your consideration.


Oct. 16: me to Bennett et al.

Let's stipulate that you're in a tough spot along with Amy, Howie, LeRoy, and Mendel. Apparently, none of you can explain (justify) denying ATRs in good standing the same representation (e.g., elected liaisons and monthly meetings at 52) once granted reassigned members in bad standing. So why not walk the golden bridge of retreat and give ATRs their due. Call it solidarity.

Oct. 17: Bennett to me
Thanks for the email. Your comments are very thoughtful, as always. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Oct. 17: Me to Bennett et al.
How sad, even pathetic, that you won't express your personal opinion on the union's refusal to extend the same representation rights to good standing ATRs that were formerly bestowed on suspect rubber room members.
The UFT's refusal to deal with this disparate treatment is really shabby.
But you know that. You just can't admit it. You've taken the Unity oath.