Among the literature cited was a GEM pamphlet. See front page story second document. https://americarisingllc.app.
box.com/s/ nhc8m8cn227vrwcb19ht/1/ 2203186595/19026564373/1 American Federation of Communists
Pro-communist literature handed out at AFT conferenceBY: Bill McMorris
July 16, 2014 5:25 pm
Communist pamphleteers are using the American Federation of Teachers annual convention as a recruiting ground, according to a new video.
Men with Mao Zedong-emblazoned messenger bags distributed fliers to union members as they entered the Los Angeles convention center, where thousands of teachers have gathered to discuss the state of the nation’s second largest teachers union.
Communist literature has appeared throughout the convention floor. Issues of the communist newspaper Red Flag have also been handed out to teachers as they gathered to reelect president Randi Weingarten, one of the most influential Democrats in the nation and a leader of the shadowy Democracy Alliance.
The issue, which was found by conservative researchers at America Rising, features a front page story declaring, “Capitalist Attacks on Schools Demand Communist Response.”
The newspaper compared the debate over education reform to a bloody 1960s dispute between rival Chinese communists. Several radical students were beaten to death in 1968 after asserting that a Mao-appointed college administration was staffed by “pro-capitalist anti-revolutionaries.” That violence, according to the newspaper, is analogous to the American debate over school choice.
“This struggle helped to spark a monumental rebellion against ‘the people in party leadership taking the capitalist road,’” the photo caption said. “During this Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, leftwing workers and youth tried to transform education literally from the ground up.”
Participants at the AFT gathering were critical of education reformers and proponents of charter schools, as well as the Obama administration. A participant who claimed to be a Chicago teacher slammed Obama Education Secretary Arne Duncan for not toeing the union line at a Tuesday meeting.
“We see the destructive policies [Duncan] has pursued … I think we have to name the name of the main architect of these policies, the man who has taken away everything we hold dear,” a man wearing an AFT delegate lanyard said. “We have to say that no matter who it is we are gonna [sic] come for you … if you come for what is ours we are gonna [sic] take you out.”
An AFT spokeswoman did not return request for comment.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Right WingNuts - AFT Commies, Include GEM Truth About Charters in Attack
Thanks to Jeff Kaufman for this gem about the GEM pamphlet being part of the Maoist AFT.
Speculating on Karen Lewis Challenge to Rahm: Who Will Get the Jewish Vote
Two Jewish candidates to square off in Chicago. (If you don't believe me ask Karen to show you her CHI.
Someone emailed me when I was in LA, cocerned that Karen and Chicago crew weren't challenging Randi enough - that was before the Common Core shootout (AFT14 Report - Common Core Debate - Epic Battle B....).
We pretty much got word from Chicago that Karen Lewis will be off and running for Mayor against Rahmbo. Karen often points out that she is not the creator but the creation of CORE which has such a large talent pool. You really have to go to an AFT convention and see Unity and CORE people in action to get the complete picture.
EIA's Mike Antonucci speculates a bit.
If neither gets a majority in the Feb. 2015 election, there will be a runoff in May. That would be fun, since it would come just as the CTU would be about to negotiate a new contract. Guessing is that CTU VP Jesse Sharkey would take over, though some also look at the always masterful Jackson Potter. Both are impressive.
But given how amazing so many people from the CORE/CTU team we've met have been, I bet they have a lot of possibilities.
Mike found an interesting nugget to gnaw on:
Here Mike uses an Ed Notes post to make a point:
If Weigel has some evidence that black voters don’t know that Karen Lewis is black, he ought to present it to the rest of the world.
They fare less well in statewide or national elections, although the sample size is small. NEA’s new president, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, ran for Congress in 1998 against a very vulnerable one-term incumbent Republican and lost by 10 points. The Alabama Education Association’s powerful executive secretary Paul Hubbert ran for governor in 1990. He lost by four points to the incumbent Republican.
I haven’t researched it recently, but there was a general dearth of national candidates who have ever even been members of a labor union.
It probably wouldn’t be wise to bet on Lewis, but she has a puncher’s chance of toppling Emanuel. If she wins, she would be the first labor union president to hold such a high elected office, since, well, this guy.
Someone emailed me when I was in LA, cocerned that Karen and Chicago crew weren't challenging Randi enough - that was before the Common Core shootout (AFT14 Report - Common Core Debate - Epic Battle B....).
We pretty much got word from Chicago that Karen Lewis will be off and running for Mayor against Rahmbo. Karen often points out that she is not the creator but the creation of CORE which has such a large talent pool. You really have to go to an AFT convention and see Unity and CORE people in action to get the complete picture.
EIA's Mike Antonucci speculates a bit.
It probably wouldn’t be wise to bet on Lewis, but she has a puncher’s chance of toppling Emanuel. If she wins, she would be the first labor union president to hold such a high elected office, since, well, this guy.... Will Karen Lewis Be the Next Mayor of Chicago?
If neither gets a majority in the Feb. 2015 election, there will be a runoff in May. That would be fun, since it would come just as the CTU would be about to negotiate a new contract. Guessing is that CTU VP Jesse Sharkey would take over, though some also look at the always masterful Jackson Potter. Both are impressive.
But given how amazing so many people from the CORE/CTU team we've met have been, I bet they have a lot of possibilities.
Mike found an interesting nugget to gnaw on:
A spur to all this is an automated poll commissioned by the Chicago Sun-Times that shows Lewis with an 9-point lead over Emanuel. The poll’s methodology is problematic, but Emanuel has high negatives no matter how you measure them. Dave Weigel of Slate suggests the poll actually underestimates Lewis’s support, adding what seems to me to be an insulting evaluation of the city’s African-American voters:Why does Mike think it insulting to assume some black voters don't know Karen is black? Most Jewish voters don't know Karen is Jewish. (In her first union election in 2010, one Chicago wag told me the only thing the opposition didn't try to use against Karen was anti-Semitism.
(Lewis) trailed by only 3 points with white voters, led by 4 points with Hispanics, and led by 18 points with black voters—a margin that might increase if Lewis ran and black voters discovered that she, too, was black.
Here Mike uses an Ed Notes post to make a point:
Lewis has serious weaknesses. She would be, almost by definition, a single-issue candidate running against a well-seasoned, if greatly disliked, machine Democrat. And last week’s AFT Convention demonstrated that her pull within her own union has been overestimated.When 2700 delegates show up and 800 or more are Unity Caucus from NYC, who along with their allies in NY State plus others, make up over 50% of the delegates at the convention, control every aspect of the convention, expecting Karen to gain much support there and compare it to the mayoral race doesn't make sense.
Nevertheless, voter emotion has carried many a challenger to victory over an entrenched incumbent, and teacher union officers often have electoral success at the local and state legislative level.
Will Karen Lewis Be the Next Mayor of Chicago? |
|
Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:55 AM PDT
If Weigel has some evidence that black voters don’t know that Karen Lewis is black, he ought to present it to the rest of the world.
They fare less well in statewide or national elections, although the sample size is small. NEA’s new president, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, ran for Congress in 1998 against a very vulnerable one-term incumbent Republican and lost by 10 points. The Alabama Education Association’s powerful executive secretary Paul Hubbert ran for governor in 1990. He lost by four points to the incumbent Republican.
I haven’t researched it recently, but there was a general dearth of national candidates who have ever even been members of a labor union.
It probably wouldn’t be wise to bet on Lewis, but she has a puncher’s chance of toppling Emanuel. If she wins, she would be the first labor union president to hold such a high elected office, since, well, this guy.
Defense of Tenure - It Ain't Only About the Teachers
At the MORE UFT history event, a teacher who I first met about 6 weeks ago and is new to MORE asked why we don't see campaigns defending teachers and tenure. The UFT spends millions on ads but tenure is not mentioned. Interesting that at the AFT on Monday just before the convention ended, AFT press people came over and asked some of us to attend a press conference upstairs on this very issue.
The event was being run by new AFT superstar Mary
Catherine Ricker (on the right) and included teachers who defended their children and parents who work with teachers. Parent Helen Gym from Philadelphia gave one of the most passionate defenses of tenure I've seen (I have the video to process).
What was interesting was that the AFT was filming the event to use it for advocacy - meaning that maybe some commercials will be coming. We'll see. In the meantime, while the union twiddles teachers on the front line like Arthur Goldstein, who could not attend the AFT convention because he won't sign the Unity Caucus loyalty oath, took up the issue and wrote a great defense of tenure in the July 16 Daily News.
RBE points to another pro-tenure piece in Salon by Gabriel Arana. http://www.salon.com/2014/07/1...
The event was being run by new AFT superstar Mary
What was interesting was that the AFT was filming the event to use it for advocacy - meaning that maybe some commercials will be coming. We'll see. In the meantime, while the union twiddles teachers on the front line like Arthur Goldstein, who could not attend the AFT convention because he won't sign the Unity Caucus loyalty oath, took up the issue and wrote a great defense of tenure in the July 16 Daily News.
RBE points to another pro-tenure piece in Salon by Gabriel Arana. http://www.salon.com/2014/07/1...
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Ex-NYSUT Pres Tom Hobart, Spills the Beans c. 1974
it’s in our interest to maintain a number of poor, and to make sure that we don’t have open admission policies like the City University of New York has..... If we assume that we take the major goals, both the NEA and the AFT, which is to improve the educational qualities for every child in the school, and we succeed at that, I suggest to you that we’ll destroy the world economy. Because if we better educate every child in America, and make it possible for them to be say at the lowest level a technician, they’re going to start to demand a greater share of the resources because they now have the ability to take better jobs.... Tom HobartThey gagged Tom right after he said this in 1974 and I remember we jumped right on it.
I deal with so many people with different ideologies but my 40 year old core group, now diminished by the loss of the Priscos who were at my house one year ago for a similar meeting just before they both got sick, seems to have the best analysis - I'm fading fast.....
Despite my delirium after getting off a flight that left 7 hours late - 4 AM LA time and arrived at JFK around noon - I didn't get home 'til after 1 - I met with Ira and Vera who came out to my house from around 2-6PM to talk about UFT history in prep for tomorrow's MORE event. Ira and Vera can't be there so I wanted to bask in their wisdom - and memories. I took some notes that I will share tomorrow. We were going through stuff from the 70s I saved from Sandy and some of that work is remarkable. Ira has almost everything but I will bring a selection to tomorrow's MORE event at (Who Runs The UFT? Why Are There Alternatives?) The Dark Horse
17 Murray St. NYC Near City Hall, Chambers St, WTC
I still haven't slept - after they left I had a bite and went over to the theater to do my little role about midway through Act 1, so I was able to leave. But Vera typed up this statement from Hobart which she feels lays out where the union leaders are coming from.
Our core of people from the early 70s through today have had a different take than many others. Vera believes Shanker was not "just" a teacher, but an organizer sent in to do a job - by exactly by whom is not clear but we have some ideas. Vera has been slaving away over the last few weeks gleaning nuggets. And in case you never read our review of the Shanker bio/hagiogrpahy "Albert Shanker: Tough Liberal" -- check it out for some historical analysis:
Albert Shanker: Ruthless Neocon - Review by Vera Pavone and Norman Scott in New PoliticsOur thesis is that there is no break in social democracy from the right (SDUSA) from Shanker through Weingarten and probably through Mulgrew to some extent. I found out some info in LA about the AFT ops around the world that reinforces this view.
http://newpol.org/content/albert-shanker-ruthless-neo-con
For those who will accuse us of being conspiracy theorists -- Leo Casey was at the bat on twitter the other day re: the common core critics -- teacher enemy number 1, Eli Broad, was one of the major backers of the Shanker bio.
I'm heading to bed but wanted to get this out -- check it out if you are coming tomorrow or even if you're not.
-->
From Presentation by Tom Hobart, NYSUT, to National Council of State Education Associations, December 2, 1974[The topic is quotas]I think the role of our organization is to produce the power that’s necessary to defend the rights and amendments. And I think we have to look at the economics again, and just see what the problems of the world are. If we assume that we take the major goals, both the NEA and the AFT, which is to improve the educational qualities for every child in the school, and we succeed at that, I suggest to you that we’ll destroy the world economy. Because if we better educate every child in America, and make it possible for them to be say at the lowest level a technician, they’re going to start to demand a greater share of the resources because they now have the ability to take better jobs.And since our world economy is based on the fact that there must be so many unskilled workers, and so many semi-skilled, and so many skilled technicians, and so many professionals, that if we just attempt to do what we are talking about, then we are looking at the major economic powers that are out to resist us. I think they’re already there. Does anybody doubt that the major economic powers in this country have not noticed what we’ve done in political action, and does anybody think that they’re willing to turn over the politics of America to teacher organizations? Does anybody doubt that every action has a reaction, and every power has a counter power that’s going to be built up. And what—how are they going to keep us from exercising that power.Well, they’re going to come into our organizations and they’re going to try to set up things that we are going to fight among ourselves over, so we never come together as a powerful organization.……Now, if I had statistics on who is excluded from higher education and graduate schools, it could be taken one step further. If we call it the poor of America, and we all accept there are more minority people who are poor than any other group. But again it’s an economic situation that we have and not a race situation. If we don’t maintain the status of the unskilled and skilled and the professional, then we’re going to be unable, you and I, to have two color TV sets and two cars, and move to a bigger house next year. So it’s in our interest to maintain a number of poor, and to make sure that we don’t have open admission policies like the City University of New York has.
Aft report: My Last Red-Eye - It's 2 AM and I'm Still Not EX-LAX
The AFT convention has reached its high point. It's the middle of the night and I'm surrounded by hordes of Unity Caucus delegates stranded from 2 fucked up Delta red-eyes. It's like an endless nightmare. I call the question but they are still here.
On checking into security with my priority check-in - let's see - at 7PM - a few Unity guys were in front of me and they had to take off their shoes. I didn't. I told them TSA was running a special priority check-in for people against the common core. They didn't laugh.
I had been receiving notices that my 9:30 flight was delayed further and further - like till 1:40 AM. But the super shuttle was set for 6:30 pickup so I figured I'd just get some work done in the airport. There was a 10:30 flight but I figured getting on that wasn't possible - at least that was what a Delta guy told me. But the Unity guy said he switched by calling Delta. So I did and got on the 10:30. Except now it was leaving at 12:40.
So we do board and I begin to fall asleep around 1 when they tell us the crew timed out and we had to get off the plane and reboard sometime after 3AM when the new crew gets there.
As I deboard I call delta and try to switch back to my original flight leaving at 1:40. But that's been cancelled.
So I'm wandering the terminal and run into more Unity people from the cancelled flight who are camping out at the other end of the terminal waiting for a 6AM flight - see what happens when you vote for the common core?
Now another Unity guy comes over and asks if I think we can get vouchers for our troubles. "I can use it for the next convention" he says - in 2 year. These guys really think ahead. No wonder they're running - or ruining - the union. "If you win the election" I'm tempted to say. But I don't. I may fall asleep and find a pillow over my face.
You do know that there is nothing open in an airport at 2AM, don't you?
It was just announced they ordered Subway sandwiches. Make mine a 2 foot long and it'll all have been worth it.
POINT OF ORDER.
Cheers,
Norm Scott
Twitter: normscott1
Education Notes
ednotesonline.blogspot.com
Grassroots Education Movement
gemnyc.org
Education columnist, The Wave
www.rockawave.com
nycfirst robotics
normsrobotics.blogspot.com
Sent from my BlackBerry
On checking into security with my priority check-in - let's see - at 7PM - a few Unity guys were in front of me and they had to take off their shoes. I didn't. I told them TSA was running a special priority check-in for people against the common core. They didn't laugh.
I had been receiving notices that my 9:30 flight was delayed further and further - like till 1:40 AM. But the super shuttle was set for 6:30 pickup so I figured I'd just get some work done in the airport. There was a 10:30 flight but I figured getting on that wasn't possible - at least that was what a Delta guy told me. But the Unity guy said he switched by calling Delta. So I did and got on the 10:30. Except now it was leaving at 12:40.
So we do board and I begin to fall asleep around 1 when they tell us the crew timed out and we had to get off the plane and reboard sometime after 3AM when the new crew gets there.
As I deboard I call delta and try to switch back to my original flight leaving at 1:40. But that's been cancelled.
So I'm wandering the terminal and run into more Unity people from the cancelled flight who are camping out at the other end of the terminal waiting for a 6AM flight - see what happens when you vote for the common core?
Now another Unity guy comes over and asks if I think we can get vouchers for our troubles. "I can use it for the next convention" he says - in 2 year. These guys really think ahead. No wonder they're running - or ruining - the union. "If you win the election" I'm tempted to say. But I don't. I may fall asleep and find a pillow over my face.
You do know that there is nothing open in an airport at 2AM, don't you?
It was just announced they ordered Subway sandwiches. Make mine a 2 foot long and it'll all have been worth it.
POINT OF ORDER.
Cheers,
Norm Scott
Twitter: normscott1
Education Notes
ednotesonline.blogspot.com
Grassroots Education Movement
gemnyc.org
Education columnist, The Wave
www.rockawave.com
nycfirst robotics
normsrobotics.blogspot.com
Sent from my BlackBerry
Monday, July 14, 2014
FORMER CTC ATTORNEY KATHLEEN CARROLL LAYS OUT UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN TEACHER UNIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PRIVATIZERS
OMG - This explains everything..... NYC tenured eacher who fought off attacks by bully principal while UFT did nothing (and often showed favoritism for said bully principal)Well, not everything but maybe some things....
http://www.perdaily.com/2014/
http://www.upwa.info/
Parents, education advocates plan to defend teacher tenure against lawsuit filed by parents' reform group
Good for lawyer Arthur Schwartz, another apparently stabbed in the back by Moaning Mona Davids, who at this point has a rare no comment. Arthur has done many good legal deeds for Moaning Mona -- and many others. When she filed the suit I knew Arthur wasn't involved but good to see him take a stand.
What I would like to see is a bill sent to Moaning Mona and Sorryful Sam for wasting the time of the court system for useless self-serving law suits.
And how about Moaning Mona's willingness to expose her kids so openly in photos while responsible parents shield their kids? How about those people who went after Portelos for naming her kids (by their first name only). Talk about using your kids for personal interests.
Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News The president of the New York City Parents Union, Mona Davids (pictured with her two kids, Mymoena and Eric) will be facing about 50 parents and education advocates who oppose her organization's lawsuit against teacher tenure.
What I would like to see is a bill sent to Moaning Mona and Sorryful Sam for wasting the time of the court system for useless self-serving law suits.
And how about Moaning Mona's willingness to expose her kids so openly in photos while responsible parents shield their kids? How about those people who went after Portelos for naming her kids (by their first name only). Talk about using your kids for personal interests.
Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News The president of the New York City Parents Union, Mona Davids (pictured with her two kids, Mymoena and Eric) will be facing about 50 parents and education advocates who oppose her organization's lawsuit against teacher tenure.
Join Me Wedseday, July 16, at MORE UFT/Caucus History Event
Come on down - and watch me fall asleep while presenting. I even told UFT co-founder George Altomare to come to this when I ran into him in the men's room at the AFT convention - there was a brief look of panic on his face - --- I had zippered up so it wasn't THAT.
New post on Movement of Rank and File Educators |
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Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser:
http://morecaucusnyc.org/2014/
http://morecaucusnyc.org/2014/
#AFT14 Video - LATU Caputo-Pearl Lays Out Vision of SJ Unionism - And it Includes the S and D Words
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| Unity Loyalty Oath Precludes use of S and D words |
Newly Elected Los Angeles Teachers Union President Alex Caputo-Pearl lays out a vision for a social justice movement based union at AFT forum on Social Justice unionism as part of a panel with union presidents from NYC, Chicago, St. Paul, Houston and Philadelphia.
And holy crap - he actually utters the word "strike." And says there is no social justice unionism without a democratic union. I enjoyed watching the large number of Unity Caucus people's faces go blank.
(And oh when Karen Lewis followed up later talking about how the officers in the CTU took a big pay cut -- there must be a hundred Unity Caucus members who make more money than Karen.)
And lots of other stuff - with Mulgrew sitting 2 seats away. See if Mulgrew does any squirming while Alex speaks. I couldn't think of one thing the UFT does that matches what Alex says - Karen Lewis sits between them.
Their videos will be up in a few days - I'm sitting in the hotel bar with a few beers waiting for the shuttle to the airport and will be in no shape to edit videos.
http://youtu.be/SnUSbadLGws
Here's an article by Howard Blum on the forum and Alex' statement - and I saw stuff on the LA local news too. Way to get it going after 11 days in office.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-caputopearl-teachers-strike-20140713-story.html
#AFT14 CORRECTED - Randi says - AFT and NEA to Forge New Relationship - Short-Lived for Sure
Randi - we will forge a new relationship with NEA - introducing new President of NEA Lily Eskelsen Garcia.
Lily has two 3 year term limits and will be out of office in 6 years. (CORRECTED FROM EARLIER THANKS TO A COMMENT FROM A READER - SO MORE LONG-TERM THAN I THOUGHT).
Randi, who just won re-election with 97% of the vote of 2783 delegates, is in office for life - or as long as she wants it.
(For the record - Al Shanker died in office and his designated successor, Sandra Feldman, resigned shortly before she died.)
Everyone here knows that Mulgrew, who was featured very prominently at this convention, is the next AFT president (if he wants it) should Randi move on to something else.
Though some think the fast-rising St. Paul union leader, Mary Cathryn Ricker, who will step down after being elected today as AFT Exec VP, is a potential rival. Ricker ran today's press conference on due process, was added to the social justice panel along with Mulgrew on Sat. night and is being pushed by Randi all over the place. Both national teacher unions are headed by women in a profession with 75% women.
But then again, Mary seems awfully wholesome and nice. And we all know that mid-westerners are just too nice. So she is handicapped.
But this AFT convention, as I will point out in a follow-up, had one third of the delegates who showed up come from NYC. So if Mulgrew wants it he has it.
And if so, whoever Mulgrew and Randi choose to take over the UFT when that happens will be the next AFT president after that. The AFT is the closest thing we have in this nation to a monarchy.
Do we have an idea yet who will be the next NEA president in6years? Well actually we do - in the NEA they also pick a successor.
This fundamental difference will always keep the AFT and NEA apart.
By the way, Lily is making a great, funny speech. And she, unlike some we know, was a real classroom teacher for many years and rose through those ranks to get where she is today.
Lily has two 3 year term limits and will be out of office in 6 years. (CORRECTED FROM EARLIER THANKS TO A COMMENT FROM A READER - SO MORE LONG-TERM THAN I THOUGHT).
Randi, who just won re-election with 97% of the vote of 2783 delegates, is in office for life - or as long as she wants it.
(For the record - Al Shanker died in office and his designated successor, Sandra Feldman, resigned shortly before she died.)
Everyone here knows that Mulgrew, who was featured very prominently at this convention, is the next AFT president (if he wants it) should Randi move on to something else.
Though some think the fast-rising St. Paul union leader, Mary Cathryn Ricker, who will step down after being elected today as AFT Exec VP, is a potential rival. Ricker ran today's press conference on due process, was added to the social justice panel along with Mulgrew on Sat. night and is being pushed by Randi all over the place. Both national teacher unions are headed by women in a profession with 75% women.
But then again, Mary seems awfully wholesome and nice. And we all know that mid-westerners are just too nice. So she is handicapped.
But this AFT convention, as I will point out in a follow-up, had one third of the delegates who showed up come from NYC. So if Mulgrew wants it he has it.
And if so, whoever Mulgrew and Randi choose to take over the UFT when that happens will be the next AFT president after that. The AFT is the closest thing we have in this nation to a monarchy.
Do we have an idea yet who will be the next NEA president in
This fundamental difference will always keep the AFT and NEA apart.
By the way, Lily is making a great, funny speech. And she, unlike some we know, was a real classroom teacher for many years and rose through those ranks to get where she is today.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Mike Schirtzer Update: #AFT14, MORE Summer Series om UFT History
Mike makes me feel sorry for Unity Caucus. Here they figured it wouldn't be long before they are rid of me and Mike shows up to offer a few decades more of tsouris. Mike will be sitting in my place at the 2034 convention tweeting and blogging.
But do come out on Weds for the history series.
https://www.facebook.com/
We don't know everything and you all can fill in. I even asked George Altomare yesterday to fill in some gaps. I joked to him he should come - he began to look a little sick at the very thought.
Don't tell Mike that I haven't done some of the work for Weds Night that I promised to do. Maybe while waiting in airport for the redeye tomorrow night. My wonderful wife even offered to pick me up at 5:30AM Tues morning. Then I have a noonish meeting at my house and Gypsy rehearsal Tues night, followed by MORE summer series Weds at 4PM, followed by MORE retreat all day Thurs. Are they trying to kill me?
But do come out on Weds for the history series.
https://www.facebook.com/
We don't know everything and you all can fill in. I even asked George Altomare yesterday to fill in some gaps. I joked to him he should come - he began to look a little sick at the very thought.
Don't tell Mike that I haven't done some of the work for Weds Night that I promised to do. Maybe while waiting in airport for the redeye tomorrow night. My wonderful wife even offered to pick me up at 5:30AM Tues morning. Then I have a noonish meeting at my house and Gypsy rehearsal Tues night, followed by MORE summer series Weds at 4PM, followed by MORE retreat all day Thurs. Are they trying to kill me?
Hi all,
I don't want to keep filling up your email with reports from the convention so For extensive coverage of this weekend's AFT 2014 convention please see the followingNorm Scott, the grandfather of opposition caucuses and bloggers is there and doing some great reporting. He has over 30 years of experience in AFT/NEA unionism and contacts that no one else can matchSteve Sawchuck at Education Week is doing some terrific reporting from the conventionJonathan Halabi, a member of New Action Caucus, which runs with Unity on a joint slate, is a UFT executive board member , wrote a very good report from FridayPeter Goodman, who is a member of Unity caucus gives insight from inside the ruling caucus (called Progressive caucus on the national level) and is often published on Diane RavitchThe More Caucus twitter account is retweeting some great reports from delegates inside the convention- Katie Lapham and I have been keeping it as active as possible using hashtag #AFT14For hard hitting, honest commentary of AFT, and always a well thought out evaluation I highly recommend you check outNYC educatorPerdido street/Reality Based EducatorAlso don't forget Wednesday I have the honor of moderating a fantastic panel followed by an open discussion on "Who Runs The UFT (AFT)? Why Are There Alternatives?We have Norm Scott, Ellen Fox, James Eterno, and Kit Wainer lined up as our speakers. They have collectively been a force within the UFT for decades, founders and leaders of opposition caucuses, candidates for top UFT positions, and have even defeated unity caucus for some offices. We will all learn valuable lessons for the progression of MORE. In light of recent events within NYSUT, AFT, and the increasing popularity of our caucus this is a most appropriate time for this event.https://www.facebook.com/events/1504328419780748/
#AFT Convention - I apologize to non-slugs in Unity Caucus - You Know Who You Are
Norman - let me ask you something about your writing. I know we can disagree on things, but why do you have to get nasty and refer to people as "the Unity slugs?" ... high level UFT official (who I respect and like.)------
Anthony Cody @AnthonyCody 3m
Hearing disturbing reports of pushing and shoving of dissident voices at #AFT14 @rweingarten please address
Susan DuFresne1 @GetUpStandUp2 21m
I didn't realize democracy at #AFT14 was a contact sport. @MSGunderson calls multiple elbowing fouls to voices of CC dissent. @coreteachers
.@AFTunion I teach my students to use their words and not push. Let's change floor culture of#aft14 today.@rweingarten can lead this.
.@aftunion@rweingarten Regarding today's floor debate. Time is now to change nature of convention culture. Call off goonish behavior...
......Selected tweets after pushing and shoving over seating at microphones during common core debate in committee (see AFT Convention Update: Chicago CC Reso Goes Down O...Posted Fri 5PM)I posed these together as part of my response to the "slug" question -- though I don't get why calling someone a slug is such a horrible thing - I'm not calling them a-holes or useless pieces of shit (UPOS).
Some of my readers claim I am insulting slugs.
But given I like and respect the person I feel he did have a point. I responded that I was not calling everyone in Unity "slugs" but was referring to a certain sub-set - as THE Unity slugs -- meaning the people in Unity who are slugs. He said I wasn't being clear and that to him it looked like a blanket condemnation. And I realized he was right - my language has been unclear. I actually have a more favorable view of the individuals in Unity than some of my colleagues and readers. Yes, there are slugs - my judgements of them are based on their behavior, not on their political stands.
Last night a few of us MOREistas ran into a Unity couple (actually on one of them is in Unity) at a bar and had a lot of fun drinking, talking, arguing. Then we kidnapped them and locked them in a closet so the Unity half couldn't vote today on Duncan and Common Core.
Not that I think there is much hope in moderating the behavior of Unity people.
Look at them twirling around the convention in LA -- their actions in controlling the mikes, for instance. Some of their lemming-like, same brain behavior that so enrages people in NYC at the DA and so enrage many of the CORE/CTU delegates to this and previous conventions. One COREista said to me after the Duncan debate this morning - "I think we got outmaneuvered but we are learning more each time." Another said to me the other day, "We are learning from what they do - we don't think that way (remember my "midwesterners are too nice" statement the other day - (except for Rahm)) - and I'm not sure we ever want to follow the Unity way.
So they fight back and lose many of the debates because they are not as ruthless as Unity is - after all, in totalitarian regimes winning by 75% (as they won the common core debate this morning) is not good enough. (I have a good story for you regarding Randi's appearance at the PSC lunch yesterday but don't know if I'll have time to get to it.)
Now to me behavior around microphones - mic etiquette - is where - at events counts for something. The people assigned to call the question at meeting after meeting - planned cutting off of debate - verges on slug-like behavior. What I often do is take photos of Unity people at mics so I can track their comments or calling the question. Here is one of someone familiar.
And there is a true slug - Steward Kaplan. A nasty slug at that. When I tried to take his photo while he was standing at the mic he told me I had to ask his permission - I said - this is livestreamed did they ask your permission? It is his choice to play this role in the mic game and is fair game -- many Unity people do not do this.
No matter to Kaplan. He doesn't want to see himself exposed. In fact even Randi made a public comment when I turned around and taped people (including all of Unity) standing up to support common core. "Norman is photographing everyone." Did she forget they were live streaming with her own cameras? Maybe they will have an 18 second tape malfunction to hide Unity pro common core votes when it all goes to hell and people like Stuart will leave little comments on the MORE blog about us always bringing up the past and why don't we look to the future?
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| Kaplan can duck but can't hide |
I am mellowing. I enjoy Leo and have to say that his speech this morning in that sing-song voice had me laughing myself silly.
Ooops gotta go. Paul Egan, no slug in my book, is getting up to speak. A few
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| Paul Egan |
#AFT14 Report - Common Core Debate - Epic Battle Between Chicago/CORE and UFT/Unity
Watch it live: bit.ly/1wbeSZG
Gloria in visitor's section just texted - Unity are positioning themselves now near mikes.... Common Core debate begins
[Common Core] will die no matter what the AFT does because, frankly, it doesn’t matter.... Ravitch
UFT throw heavy hitters Mulgrew, Barr - while CORE uses their rank and file - who are more than capable of holding their own. This is not to say that others around the nation are on the Randi team. So far only Chicago people are opposing the AFT/UFT reso.UPDATE: See Chicago - reasons to oppose common core.
Debate is beginning on common core. Randi is calling for extensive discussion so no one calls the question prematurely -- poor Unity people who are designated "call the questioners." Randi mentioned the jostling at the mics at the committee meeting, which we reported on (AFT Convention Update: Chicago CC Reso Goes Down O...Posted Fri 5PM),
There's no way I can keep up in this space but this is the place where teachers can fight this battle out. No question Chicago will lose this one but will walk away with dignity.
Minneapolis teacher is backing Chicago. Attacking pro reso people for distorting debate as if opposed are against standards -- we are against corporate designed standards. You are not going to set our kids up.
Opponents are pinning CC to testing -- if you don't understand what is going on - SHAME ON YOU! Goes after Leroy Barr statement that children in California and NY should be learning the same thing. One of great speeches so far.
I'll do my best to get some video but you can find it online I'm sure. Don't miss this debate.
Gotta end this but with this..
Here is the Ravitch comment
As for Common Core, I agree with CTU. Teachers don’t need scripts. They don’t need “standards” written by a committee that included not a single classroom teacher. They need class sizes they can manage. Their schools need equitable funding. They need tenure to protect them from political reprisals. They need due process and speedy resolution of complaints. They need respect. Common Core does nothing to alleviate the poverty in which nearly one-quarter of our children live. It does nothing to restore the art teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors who have been laid off. It does nothing to address the root causes of poor academic performance: poverty and segregation. It will die no matter what the AFT does because, frankly, it doesn’t matter.
#AFT14 Report - Tidbits
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Randi just said that there is some jockeying at the mics and she wants to make sure there is at least a 15 minute debate on the common core before someone calls the question -- watch the Unity crowd jockey at the mics at 14 minutes and 30 seconds... common core debate begins at 11:15AM.
But first ---
What better way to spend the day? I'm missing my brother-in-law's b-day celebration at his daughter's home in Pennsylvania - a tea-party home by the way -- and my wife is left to drive there all by herself - stay off the Jersey Turnpike today.
I just congratulated Howie Schoor on his move from Brooklyn to the Bronx UFT borough office to fix up one of the major catastrophes in the UFT organizational structure. He will be replaced by popular Brooklyn special rep Debbie Poulos. The leadership has to pay attention to basic services for members and this may be a sign -- hey, every bad situation they allow to fester only increases the move of people towards an opposition. I don't root for them to be incompetent - and maybe they are learning from Chicago where the old UPC totally fell apart, allowing CORE to get in the door.
What is AFT message on and to deformers?
Mike Honda, Congressman and public school teacher spoke - "like voices in a crowded theater they should - 'bad teachers.' Just show deformers reports on effects of poverty and they will get it." To me this is naive and dangerous and ignores the fact that leading deformers do get it and understand the effects of poverty - they have an agenda and it ain't to redress the effects of poverty -- and not being willing to go there diverts us from the real battle.
Here is the message we need to send to reformers: We will fight you on the beaches.... (video).
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Debbie Lynch move to remove Duncan not considered an "in your face" act by CTU folk.
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AFT and Arne Duncan - Where I agree with Mulgrew
Overheard yesterday during debate on improving conditions for college adjuncts: "Passing this reso will change the lives of thousands of people." Another example of magical thinking. Passing a reso at the AFT convention is pretty meaningless unless followed with action to back it up.
Which leads me to the upcoming debate in a few minutes re: Arne Duncan. When Mark Naison started a "Dump Duncan" campaign - pre-BATS - I didn't take part in it because as long as Obama is president we will get Arne clones - and most likely someone of color to sell ed deform to the communities.
At last night's SJ unionism remarkable discussion, Mulgrew said that he couldn't care less about what the convention does about Arne Duncan because it won't mean a hill of beans (I'm paraphrasing) - and I agree with him except for the behind the scenes reasons. We know that the AFT/UFT don't really want to call for Duncan's resignation because they want their little stool at the Democratic Party table. But Mulgew, whose skills at doing this kind of thing I increasingly appreciate, gets at a germ of truth -- it is a "feel good we are doing something" point and to me a waste of time and energy since it is Obama, not Duncan and even if Duncan left Obama would appoint someone as bad. I was in a minority last night in conversations with our friends (shout-out to Robert D. Skeels of Schools Matter who I've known online for years and met for first time last night). They seem to think the political battle is a good organizing tool.
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OK - so much more to report but common core debate beginning and I'm going to open another blog post for that -- interesting that Randi just said that there is some jockeying at the mics and she wants to make sure there is at least a 15 minute debate on the common core before someone calls the question -- watch the Unity crowd jockey at the mics at 14 minutes and 30 seconds.
Randi just said that there is some jockeying at the mics and she wants to make sure there is at least a 15 minute debate on the common core before someone calls the question -- watch the Unity crowd jockey at the mics at 14 minutes and 30 seconds... common core debate begins at 11:15AM.
But first ---
What better way to spend the day? I'm missing my brother-in-law's b-day celebration at his daughter's home in Pennsylvania - a tea-party home by the way -- and my wife is left to drive there all by herself - stay off the Jersey Turnpike today.
I just congratulated Howie Schoor on his move from Brooklyn to the Bronx UFT borough office to fix up one of the major catastrophes in the UFT organizational structure. He will be replaced by popular Brooklyn special rep Debbie Poulos. The leadership has to pay attention to basic services for members and this may be a sign -- hey, every bad situation they allow to fester only increases the move of people towards an opposition. I don't root for them to be incompetent - and maybe they are learning from Chicago where the old UPC totally fell apart, allowing CORE to get in the door.
What is AFT message on and to deformers?
Mike Honda, Congressman and public school teacher spoke - "like voices in a crowded theater they should - 'bad teachers.' Just show deformers reports on effects of poverty and they will get it." To me this is naive and dangerous and ignores the fact that leading deformers do get it and understand the effects of poverty - they have an agenda and it ain't to redress the effects of poverty -- and not being willing to go there diverts us from the real battle.
Here is the message we need to send to reformers: We will fight you on the beaches.... (video).
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Debbie Lynch move to remove Duncan not considered an "in your face" act by CTU folk.
Resolved that the AFT call for the resignation of US Secty of Ed Arne Duncan (as the NEA did) because of his anti-union, anti-teacher, anti-public school agenda.So there is some speculation on this. That former CTU president Debbie Lynch, making a comeback as an AFT Delegate as a college teacher, surprised people by calling for a special order of business late yesterday, and given that she was in another caucus (PACT) that lost to CORE in 2010 when she ran for CTU President for the 4th time, this was somehow payback to Karen Lewis. A way for Debbie to regain the spotlight. CTU people are telling me that this is in no way true and that CORE/CTU people are supporting Debbie's reso. After all, Chicago has had to bear Arne Duncan for over a dozen years and Debbie was the one during her 3 years as CTU President (01-04) who dealt most directly with Duncan.
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AFT and Arne Duncan - Where I agree with Mulgrew
Overheard yesterday during debate on improving conditions for college adjuncts: "Passing this reso will change the lives of thousands of people." Another example of magical thinking. Passing a reso at the AFT convention is pretty meaningless unless followed with action to back it up.
Which leads me to the upcoming debate in a few minutes re: Arne Duncan. When Mark Naison started a "Dump Duncan" campaign - pre-BATS - I didn't take part in it because as long as Obama is president we will get Arne clones - and most likely someone of color to sell ed deform to the communities.
At last night's SJ unionism remarkable discussion, Mulgrew said that he couldn't care less about what the convention does about Arne Duncan because it won't mean a hill of beans (I'm paraphrasing) - and I agree with him except for the behind the scenes reasons. We know that the AFT/UFT don't really want to call for Duncan's resignation because they want their little stool at the Democratic Party table. But Mulgew, whose skills at doing this kind of thing I increasingly appreciate, gets at a germ of truth -- it is a "feel good we are doing something" point and to me a waste of time and energy since it is Obama, not Duncan and even if Duncan left Obama would appoint someone as bad. I was in a minority last night in conversations with our friends (shout-out to Robert D. Skeels of Schools Matter who I've known online for years and met for first time last night). They seem to think the political battle is a good organizing tool.
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OK - so much more to report but common core debate beginning and I'm going to open another blog post for that -- interesting that Randi just said that there is some jockeying at the mics and she wants to make sure there is at least a 15 minute debate on the common core before someone calls the question -- watch the Unity crowd jockey at the mics at 14 minutes and 30 seconds.
#AFT14 Report: When Will the UFT/AFT Reclaim the Promise of a Democratic Union?
....independence of thought is a liability in Unity. The democracy is a sham and I pledge to challenge it as I also pledge to challenge misguided corporate reforms... Arthur Goldstein
AFT President Randi Weingarten kicked off the AFT national convention.... by outline a bold plan to both fight back and fight forward to reclaim the promise of America and create economic and educational opportunity for all.... AFT News Press ReleaseYou know I'm not all negative, having had some great conversations with so many people here and even with Unity folk -- we often get along great when we are away. And I even hear what some of them are saying. But you cannot watch some of the stuff I've seen and heard from Mulgrew and Randi that are so hypocritical and in some cases outright lies.
Who can disagree with the "Reclaim the Promise of America" theme of this convention? It is an attack on the people who have deformed not only education but the economy, the political structure and just about anything else that could be deformed. [And let me say here that my creation of the "ed deform" term has even made it her as part of some official events. Darn, I shoulda trademarked it.]
But behind it all is the fact that the very concept of a democratic society has been deformed and unless that is reclaimed - or claimed in the first place - there is no reclaiming any of the rest. Yet the slavish devotion of Randi, the AFT, the UFT and most of American labor to the deformed Democratic Party - see one Andrew Cuomo as exhibit #1 -- undermines the very nature of the "reclaim" theme.
But even worse, is the lack of democracy in the AFT/UFT Union Educational Industrial Complex (thanks to Lenny Isenberg for this one). Let's brand it UEIC - which can be morphed into YUCK!
At last night's social justice unionism SRO event with Mulgrew, Karen, Alex and others - which Randi just had to crash - I heard statements that had us MOREistas smacking our heads and rending our garments. I won't get into this astounding event that mixed dozens of Unity people with dozens of CORE and LATU people in one space. I have some video which will say it all (and I'll leave it to the readers to find the mis-truths and outright lies.)
Alex and Karen both said social justice unionism is not possible without starting out with a democratic union down to its roots. So at this point I'll let my pal Arthur Goldstein take over and address the point that Randi must first reclaim the promise of a democratic union that doesn't send a block of 800 votes with one brain or that doesn't have a 100% Executive Board endorsed by Unity Caucus.
Will Weingarten Pledge to Stand with Us in Supporting True Union Democracy? -
Ms. Weingarten sent me a pledge from the halls of the AFT Convention in L.A. today. The pledge concluded with these words: "While we're fighting for big things, no action is too small. We need you to do whatever you can. Commit to engage your colleagues in the fight. To build power at the ballot box. To share our work online and in person. To work hand in hand with the communities we serve."
I must know whether Ms. Weingarten is sincere and if her invitation applies to all. Will UFT Unity delegates be able to engage their colleagues and their communities if the views differ from those of Unity's leadership? The AFT can never truly represent the views of its rank and file in a democratic sense so long as UFT Unity, the tail that wags two dogs, both NYSUT and the AFT, is not truly democratic.
Some of the most committed and experienced individuals have faced a Unity lockout for years now because, put quite simply, they refuse to swear to vote the Unity line and adhere to all Unity policies in public.
How will I know whether our Union truly wishes to represent its rank and file and tolerate free discussion or whether it merely wishes to represent the views of a mysterious few in leadership positions whom largely seem out of touch with active members?
1. UFT Unity would need to discard loyalty oaths and palm cards (which instruct delegates how to vote), cutting the purse strings of a vast patronage system that provides lucrative employment in union offices, double pensions, fancy trips and other privileges only to those who sign away the right to vote their conscience or that of their constituency if they differ from the Unity party line.
2. The slate voting tied to a winner-take-all system in UFT elections would need to change. MORE received 40% of the high school vote in the last election. Yet, not a single MORE rep. is allowed to sit on the Executive Board. This is not democracy.
3. District Reps. would need to be elected. In the past, chapter leaders were allowed to pick their reps. Now, they are appointed, in a completely undemocratic way, and they are all Unity.
4. The UFT would need to allow more debate in which all sides are allowed equal time and the voice of critics, who are die-hard unionists, are not summarily dismissed or stifled. There would need to be far greater transparency as well. We deserve to know a lot more about how our representatives vote on each issue and we need to hold them accountable.
5. The U.F.T. should stop the charade of empowering retirees with greater voting power as a means to guarantee its stranglehold on elections.
If Unity cannot share power with those who have differing views, it is really no better than a bully on the playground. It intimidates its own caucus members to fall in line by threatening to withdraw lucrative benefits and access to the party. It bullies nonmembers by marginalizing them and failing to give them the representation they deserve.
As an educator, I favor free thought and expression. As it stands now, UFT Unity doesn't want its delegates to choose wisely, as advised by Roosevelt in the quote above; it simply wants them to rubber stamp leadership decisions. They don't need much of a brain to do that. And, it's a terrible shame; as an educator I hate to see intelligence go unrecognized. Yet, independence of thought is a liability in Unity. The democracy is a sham and I pledge to challenge it as I also pledge to challenge misguided corporate reforms.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
#AFT14 Updated - Former Chicago TU Pres Debbie Lynch Calls for Arne Duncan Resignation
Lynch, who was CTU president from 2001-04 and ran and lost in '07 and '10 and is now a delegate from a college, made a special resolution calling for Duncan resignation. This came as a surprise to Randi and pretty much everyone in the house it seems since there was already a planned similar reso, as pointed out by Randi, that she knew about in advance. She suggested they be combined. They are finishing the committee nursing resos.
5PM. I think I reported earlier that word was out that the leadership would not openly oppose this -- as some have pointed out - the AFT never likes to look less militant than the NEA, which called for the end of Duncan's reign. And so it is
Lynch at mic captures the limelight. Needing a 2/3 vote to put on agenda tomorrow's calendar, it passes unanimously. Will be on agenda tomorrow.
Afterburn
Mulgrew got a lot of air time this afternoon, making a few speeches, showing a video introducing de Blasio and being praised to the sky by Cynthia Nixon and her partner, who works at Tweed now.
Lots going on in next few hours. There is the panel at 7PM with Caputo-Pearl, Lewis, Mulgrew and others. And a rally at Staples protesting their role in breaking postal workers.
5PM. I think I reported earlier that word was out that the leadership would not openly oppose this -- as some have pointed out - the AFT never likes to look less militant than the NEA, which called for the end of Duncan's reign. And so it is
Lynch at mic captures the limelight. Needing a 2/3 vote to put on agenda tomorrow's calendar, it passes unanimously. Will be on agenda tomorrow.
Afterburn
Mulgrew got a lot of air time this afternoon, making a few speeches, showing a video introducing de Blasio and being praised to the sky by Cynthia Nixon and her partner, who works at Tweed now.
Lots going on in next few hours. There is the panel at 7PM with Caputo-Pearl, Lewis, Mulgrew and others. And a rally at Staples protesting their role in breaking postal workers.
#AFT14 Report - Recaps and Trends
CTU is the outlier in this convention, battle-scarred and ready to fight. The NYC delegation has the numbers to vote them down. ... Diane Ravitch, On AFT Convention
..the UFT delegation votes in lockstep, regardless of how the individual members think, and thus the result is foregone... In the Bronx, we know that Gates money broke up our schools, created a mess, and then disappeared. We live the aftermath every day.... Jonathan HalabiSo lots happening on many fronts. I'm not getting into speakers I have no interest in. Some quickies - no chronological order.
Diane Ravitch has excellent report based AFT reports from Unity shill Peter Goodman -Diane goes as far as I've seen trashing them if you read between the lines. Peter Goodman: A Report from Inside the AFT Convention.
I'll try to get back with a close reading of this post later.
Peter Goodman regularly blogs about education in New York. He is close to the UFT leadership in New York City and thus has good sources. Here is his update from inside the AFT convention. Reading this, I conclude that the AFT will not call for Arne Duncan’s resignation. This is the first time in my memory that the AFT was less militant than its larger brethren and sisters in the NEA. It appears that there will be a floor debate about the Common Core. The Chicago Teachers Union is opposed to it. If my reading of the tea leaves is right, the New York City delegation is prepared to shoot that resolution down too. CTU is the outlier in this convention, battle-scarred and ready to fight. The NYC delegation has the numbers to vote them down.We reported that they already shot the CTU common core reso down yesterday. Great that Diane recognizes some realities - there are Diane bashers out there - not me - she continuously evolves but won't break all the eggs with unions like some people want - not her place to do that but I do feel she must not enable Randi by praising her when she plays political games. I see this post by Diane as one of her stronger pieces on the union.
LA Mayor Garcetti, a Vergara decison supporter, in a Bill Gates moment, is now speaking. UFB and WTF.
He is sick and tired of seeing teachers getting beat up - he's holding a truncheon behind his back.
Jeez they talked about another AFT dues increase - which you will see reflected in your union dues. Double Jeez - Detroit Fed of Teachers Keith Johnson rises to support dues increase. Let's just take it out of Detroit teacher pensions - You know I would not oppose a dues increase - not that I have a vote - but we know they are not accountable to anyone on how they spend the money.
Interesting how Randi controls things. 10-year old Chicago superstar, Asean Johnson, who keynoted at the NYCORE conference and also highlighted the May 17 SOS rally in NYC is the speaker. Many were looking forward to Karen Lewis speaking after him but she was given a very limited role after Asean to introduce someone else.
Karen looking much slimmer -- getting in shape to run for mayor against Rahm? -- looking increasingly more likely according to some observers. How that event would affect the union is leading to some speculation. Who would take over as CTU head? Betting is on Jesse Sharkey who would be excellent, though there will be red-baiting due to his being ISO. If anyone can deal with that issue, it is Jesse.
Interesting question: CTU contract expires June 2015. Mayoral election is Feb. 2015 with a runoff in May of no one gets majority. Imagine Karen and Rahm in runoff a month before CTU contract. Bette scenario - Karen wins and has to negotiate with Jesse. Oh, what fun.
Another interesting question: CORE must run again in May 2016. How much of a toll will assault on union with closing schools and layoffs take? What about a scenario where due to whatever, Karen doesn't run?
Obviously I'm speculating here because I am bored over Rules report.
Met an adult ed teacher from LA and connected him up to adult ed teacher from NYC.
Ran into Jonathan Halabi who is sitting in press section. [I felt we made some peace with each other after Julie and I from MORE met with some New Action people met back in November]. He is blogging and had some astute observations that seem more pertinent and directed than what I've been doing - here are a few with a link to his blog below.
On Arne Duncan, Jonathan told me UFT/AFT will not oppose - openly at least - meaning Unity is free to vote the way they want? Watch final vote to see if they are not opposing behind the scenes - see my last post [on Proposed Anti-Duncan Reso - Let the Members Decide].
There’s not a “Duncan Resign” resolution coming from the leadership to the floor. On the other hand, what will the AFT tops and UFT do if someone else brings one to the floor? Earlier this year NYSUT (New York State United Teachers) replaced most of their top leadership – largely because the previous year that leadership, confronted with a “John King Resign” resolution, animated by anger and frustration, said no. The UFT stepped aside, and the President and all but one VP were replaced. And the UFT walked away unscathed. So now it’s national, the AFT, and the anger is aimed at Duncan, not King, and if there is a “Dump Duncan” reso from the floor, maybe that’s a big if, but if there’s one, wouldn’t the UFT do the same thing, step aside and let the anger be directed towards passing a resolution that really doesn’t mean much anyway? Duncan has two years left. And the AFT’s voice would be a late addition to a fairly loud chorus.Jonathan brings up some points on AFT and international events below. I have a long blog post coming up on this point - Vera Pavone is back home slaving over a document we hope we can give out at the UFT history event Wed night. The other night I heard stories of how Randi continues AFT 60 year policy of trying to influence teacher unions - much more left than the AFT - around the world - away from militancy. Then I see that Peter Goodman chairs the AFT International committee and it is an AHA moment. Not much has changed since AFT and Vietnam. Back to Jonathan:
The AFT’s has a long history of taking pro-war positions, and only later modifying some of them (eg Viet Nam). When I was a delegate in 2010 in Seattle, the AFT pushed an Iran resolution that was clearly meant to encourage the hawks in DC. And this time? A Ukraine resolution. No real news, except that it barely squeaked out of committee – just a two vote margin.
Some good points on the competing Common Core resos from Chicago and AFT/UFT.
And here he nails them to the wall on the Gates money.
The Chicago Teachers Union resolution “Oppose the Common Core Standards” was defeated in committee. The AFT tops / UFT resolution “The Role of Standards in Public Education” was passed. These are counterposed.Halabi comes to the same place Ravitch did in her post.
The official resolution continues bad AFT policy from the past. In a section at the top, they laud the standards, in seven bullet points creating a slide show that looks like pure promotion (it would be interesting if this turns out to have been lifted). In another section at the top of the resolution, they say “some AFT members oppose and distrust…” Notice the weak argument, based on “some people.” But then in seven bullet points, they dwell on testing and implementation. This echoes a June 20 e-mail many of us received from Mulgrew: “Everyone recognizes that the Common Core, while the right direction for education, had a terrible rollout.” No. Not everyone.
“The AFT” it reads “will continue to support the promise of CCSS…” That’s the bottom line. And will support a shift away from “excessive testing” begging the question of which tests those are, and exactly how much high stakes testing and standardized testing the AFT is happy with.
There will be debate on the floor, but the UFT delegation votes in lockstep, regardless of how the individual members think, and thus the result is foregone.
And here he nails them to the wall on the Gates money.
That committee also rejected a resolution (California Federation of Teachers) to reject any more Bill Gates money. It’s hard to fathom how Ed Reform $$$ do not buy influence. In the Bronx, we know that Gates money broke up our schools, created a mess, and then disappeared. We live the aftermath every day.Finally, on Randi speech, voice, and continuous use of Badass term:
[Randi] completely appropriated the term “badass” to the point that, when she asked Badass Teachers to stand up, only a small numbers of those present did. I’m assuming embarrassment kept others in their seats. Weingarten’s writers have a voice problem. Her natural Rockland – big words, not all of them bungled, many of them used correctly - it’s not what you want for a long speech. But what to do? As she moved section to section, the voice, the register, they changed and shifted. A good speaker might pull it off, maybe to great effect. Here, many of us focused on the words, since the delivery jumped rapidly from awkward, to natural, and back again. Even the attempts at self-deprecation often seemed forced. And the audience seemed to cringe collectively at her “homey” moment.
Here is a link to his full post.
AFT 2014 Convention – Friday
AFT Convention 2014 Video: Randi Laugh Riot - on Proposed Anti-Duncan Reso - Let the Members Decide
Saturday, July 12, 2014
I have a stitch in my side from laughing after watching this video. OK. We can stop laughing now and watch the short segment I am putting up on the Duncan censure issue that I taped at Randi's press conference yesterday. (I have more video to post on the common core issue, also with her "let the members decide" - and I taped this moments before the Unity machine stepped on the Chicago CC reso.)
Randi's claims she is letting the members decide and her response to my question touching on how things really are done in the AFT/UFT Educational Industrial Complex (thanks to my new best friend Lenny Isenberg for this line) will give our usual readers a howl. Especially if you followed the antics yesterday of the UFT shock troops - led by Mulgrew - in stepping on the Chicago Common Core reso. (AFT Convention Update: Chicago CC Reso Goes Down Overwhelmingly in Committee)
And to my Unity pals who claim Mulgrew is "different" than Randi and his own man - well, you know.
Oh - and to some of my Chicago friends who also believe that crap being pushed on them by Mulgrew himself - that he has increasing differences with Randi - double "well."
And Randi's claim that she and I were separated at birth is absolutely true.
http://youtu.be/6WtNCNMXVNU
I have a stitch in my side from laughing after watching this video. OK. We can stop laughing now and watch the short segment I am putting up on the Duncan censure issue that I taped at Randi's press conference yesterday. (I have more video to post on the common core issue, also with her "let the members decide" - and I taped this moments before the Unity machine stepped on the Chicago CC reso.)
Randi's claims she is letting the members decide and her response to my question touching on how things really are done in the AFT/UFT Educational Industrial Complex (thanks to my new best friend Lenny Isenberg for this line) will give our usual readers a howl. Especially if you followed the antics yesterday of the UFT shock troops - led by Mulgrew - in stepping on the Chicago Common Core reso. (AFT Convention Update: Chicago CC Reso Goes Down Overwhelmingly in Committee)
And to my Unity pals who claim Mulgrew is "different" than Randi and his own man - well, you know.
Oh - and to some of my Chicago friends who also believe that crap being pushed on them by Mulgrew himself - that he has increasing differences with Randi - double "well."
And Randi's claim that she and I were separated at birth is absolutely true.
http://youtu.be/6WtNCNMXVNU
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