I’m a Rhinestone (Little Old Jewish Guy) Cowboy - The Wave

Busy weekend - Sat, June 6 - the invasion of Norman - was our 44th anniversary - and we celebrated with a nice dinner in NOLO on 4th St.

In my Wave article below I describe the costume I wear in the Rockaway Theatre's upcoming "Guys and Dolls" as a rich Texan visiting New York in the opening.

Then I switch to a gangster/crap shooter.
Friday night - rehearsal from 7:30-10:30

The Guys - from the movie version

Sat - 12:30 - 4
Sunday - 11-12 and 2-4.

And trying on a costume for the gangster - I found an oversize green suit to wear - double breasted.

And I have a small part as a crap shooter - not my real life role as a bullshitter.

I just keep heading to the snacks in the back at every break. At this rate I won't fit into that over sized double breasted.

I’m a Rhinestone (Little Old Jewish Guy) Cowboy

Memo from the RTC

By Norm Scott 

http://www.rockawave.com/pageview/pages/2015-06-05

 

I’ve got a no-line, 30-second role in the upcoming Guys and Dolls production by the Rockaway Theatre Company. I’m playing a Texas millionaire tourist visiting New York with his wife.

As I pinball around the stage in the early rehearsals, trying to chase down a 20-something who picked my pocket, I received my acting marching orders from Producer Susan Jasper.

“Norm. You are a macho Texan man, not a little old Jewish guy kvetching around the stage,” she said.

But Susan, I am a little old Jewish guy kvetching around the stage. Isn’t method acting allowed? Guess not.

Costumiers Kerry and Susan Corning have got me duded up in 10- gallon hat, cowboy boots and a suit studded with rhinestones. When they had me try on the suit, I found mints I apparently had left in the pockets when I wore the same suit in last year’s How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, where I played an old kvetchy Jewish corporate executive schlepping around the stage.

I can play that in my sleep – and often do.

I’m also playing one of the guys – not dolls – Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover has not inspired me yet, though you never know. I have to find a suit for that part. There are so many guys in the show all the suits with stripes are disappearing. I may have to get out the magic marker.

I have only been at some of the rehearsals, but from what I’ve seen so far, the RTC may have even topped itself in pulling from its immense talent pool. So much talent that many key roles have been double cast. So plan on coming down, maybe more than once. The set has been built by Tony’s construction crew and painting the set, led by Danielle Rose Fisher, will take place on the weekend of June 13-14. I’ll write more about the amazing cast in the weeks ahead as we head into the June 27 opening weekend. The cast will have the July 4th weekend off and will be back the following two weekends. Wait to order your tickets at your own peril as this show will be rock solid sold out at all 10 performances. 718-374-6400, on the web: www.rockawaytheatrecompany.org.

In other RTC news, director Susan Corning held auditions for Little Shop of Horrors opening in August. When will they put Audrey on the cover of Vanity Fair? 

PROTECTING CHAPTER LEADERS: UFT Gets An “F” -- Ed Notes: Almost 2 decades Figthing to Protect Chapter Leaders -- Ed Notes reprint, Jan. 2002

They will say it is unnecessary. They will say the grievance procedure is adequate. There is a good chance that this person is not in a school every day fighting “The School Wars.”... [Unity response to Ed Notes Protect Chapter Leader resolution, 1998 and 2002]

UFT NOT an 800 lb gorilla as Randi contended

My piece on the chapter leader under assault in a 3020a hearing (Another Chapter Leader Under Assault at a 3020a Hearing) prompted me to check into the Ed Notes archives and reminded me that this battle has been ongoing for almost 2 decades - and the UFT has ignored the issue. Note that I began raising this 5 years before Bloomberg got control. If the Unity leadership had done something when they had the chance before the concerted ed deform assault on UFT members at its root level - the schools.

Below is the entire Jan. 2002 print edition of Ed Notes which was devoted to chronicling the history up to that date of the battle to protect chapter leaders and the UFT/Unity response. Apparently I started raising the issue back in 1998 with a reso at the DA.

The 2002 headline challenged Randi's assertion that the UFT would be an 800 pound gorilla in protecting CLs - more like a rhesus monkey.

Now we know the usual Unity suspects may stop by to contend that this 17-year history is false. Dream on.

Here are jpgs of the original 4 page edition and all the article broken out individually below.

PROTECTING CHAPTER LEADERS: UFT Gets An “F” 

Is the 800 Pound Gorilla Merely A Rhesus Monkey?
When Chapter Leaders are harassed we go after [the harassers] like 800 pound gorillas.”---- Randi Weingarten at UFT Exec. Bd. Meeting, Dec. 18, 2001

Weingarten was responding to a question by New Action Exec. Bd. member James Eterno regarding attacks on Chapter Leader Ron Kaplan by administrators at Franklin K. Lane High School. Eterno, CL of Jamaica HS asked the question in the following context:

SPECIAL EDITION Chapter Leaders are the backbone of our union. In the Queens High Schools they are being picked off one by one. Last year you [Randi] called Ron Kaplan a hero at the Delegate Assembly [see below.] Kaplan received a U-rating last year for a trivial incident. This year he is being threatened again based on trivial incidents that have nothing to do with his job performance. Any- time a Chapter Leader is bounced we are all threatened. What are we doing to protect Ron and Chapter Leaders in general?

Eterno went out of his way to point out that he and other Queens HS DR’s support Queens HS District Rep. Rona Freiser, who was doing what she could, but that more support was needed from UFT leaders.

Weingarten responded with the “800 lb. gorilla statement” (she made a similar statement at the June ‘98 DA--see p. 3.) Siting her “special relation- ship” with Ron, Weingarten said she was not aware of Kaplan’s current situation. She asked HS VP John Soldini for information. He said he knew about last year’s situation “but assumed Ron must have the situation under control as we haven’t heard from him.” He said UFT special rep. Leo Casey was working on the case. 

An Ed. Notes inquiry has revealed that Kaplan went before the Queens HS CL meeting on Dec. 13 and raised the issue of his harassment. He an- nounced that he had sent materials about his case to Staff Director Tom Pappas and John Soldini. Pappas, who was present at the Dec. 18 Ex. Bd. meeting, said nothing. These questions must be asked: What did Tom Pappas know about the Kaplan situation and when did he know it? Did Pappas sit on his hands on Dec. 18 while Weingarten was pro- claiming no knowledge? Why hasn’t she been informed about a situa- tion that has tremendous implications for the union? Has the union’s 800 pound gorilla turned into a tiny rhesus monkey? 

What Does It Take to Get a U-Rating? Not Much
A teacher is charged with corporal punishment. Ron Kaplan, functioning as the Dean, interviews a student who saw the incident. Her statement exonerates the teacher. At the grievance hearing weeks later, Kaplan remembers the statement and uses it in the teacher’s defense, The administration claims Kaplan interviewed the student illegally because he was on his Chapter Leader prep and not on his Dean prep when he talked to her. They charge Kaplan with interfering with an investigation and give him a U-rating in June 2001.

 

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Education Notes Editorial


While our leaders fiddle with politics, the lifeblood of the union drains away. 

Education Notes has long campaigned against abusive supervisors and has called for more protection for and the strengthening of Chapter Leaders. We believe that any attack on a Chapter Leader, the lifeblood of our union, should be met with a vigorous response. This should include: articles in the NY Teacher, letter writing campaigns to local politicians, and picket lines. Here is a chronology of our efforts: 
 

Jan. ‘98: A resolution calling for the union to provide more protection for CL is distributed but we can’t get the floor under the new motion period. See page 2

Apr. ‘98: The first of Jack Schirenbeck’s (Jack the Rip- per) exposés of abusive principals appears in the NY Teacher. 

May ‘98: A modified form of the Jan. resolution is pro- posed and we get the floor. Tom Pappas opposes it claim- ing the union already has the machinery in place to pro- tect Chapter Leaders. It is narrowly defeated. See p.2-3  

June ‘98: Ed. Notes follows up with an article and a resolution calling for the support of teachers at MS 88K with a letter writing campaign as a follow-up to the “Prin- cipal From Hell” article. The issue is not discussed. P. 3 

 Mar. ‘99: FIGHTING BACK AGAINST ABUSE (Mar. 99). We follow up with an article on abusive principals after the NY Teacher article titled “Vile” on PS 121Q. We pay particular attention to the situation Chapter Lead- ers face. We make a resolution calling on the broadening of powers for Chapter Leaders, District Reps , and Bor- ough offices to fight against abusive principals. It is defeated. 

June ‘99: We print the same resolution and ask the fol- lowing questions: If the machinery to defend CL is in place, why did conditions at IS 88 and PS 121 go on for so many years? How come so many schools are having these problems? See page 4
It is clear that there was, and is, little interest by the union leadership in addressing the questions raised here. This issue isn’t sexy like endorsing candidates. While our union leaders fiddle with politics, the lifeblood of the union drains away.

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Seduced and Abandoned: Kaplan Declared “Hero” at DA, Then Forgotten 

When the Principal of Franklin K. Lane, Paul Pedota, called Ron Kaplan “a piece of shit,” Kaplan filed a grievance. At the Step 2 hearing at the Queens HS district level, Pedota read the definition of “shit” in his defense. It must have been an impassioned reading, for the District hearing officer ruled in Pedota’s favor. It is commendable that our union leaders, when informed, didn’t advise Kaplan to follow the usual UFT protocol: have patience and allow the grievance procedure to run its meandering course. Instead they the took the kind of action many members would like to see more often: they went directly to the Chancellor, who ordered the ruling overturned. The result: the Step 2 ruling against Kaplan was reversed and Pedota was ordered to apologize to Kaplan both in writing and in public. The union proclaimed a great victory as Randi Weingarten called Kaplan up in front of the Delegate Assembly and declared him a hero. Then the union and Weingarten forgot about Kaplan. But the Principal didn’t forget. He may have lost the battle, but he wasn’t going to lose the war. He plotted his revenge and just 6 months after Kaplan was proclaimed a hero, he received a U-Rating. It is incredible that there has been no response from our union. Imagine the reaction if a shop steward at Local 1199 or the Teamsters was treated this way! A strong union puts its highest priority on consistently protecting the people on the front lines, not just when the leaders “are in the mood.” 

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Distributed at the Jan. ‘98 DA

Resolution to Protect Chapter Leaders

This resolution is being presented for the next Delegate Assembly [Feb. ‘98] so that we will all have an opportunity to think about the issues presented here and make the kinds of modifications we feel may be necessary. It is not a perfect resolution. Feel free to come back next month with additions, deletions, etc. But please vote YES. An affirmative vote indicates there is a reason for the issues raised in the resolution to be discussed; it is NOT a vote on the substance of the resolution. 

The important question is this: As the pressure on supervi- sors grows to produce results, they in turn will turn up the pressure on teachers and paras as they attempt to shift responsibility onto us. We can expect U-ratings and general forms of harassment to increase. This in turn will put enor- mous strains on chapters and chapter leaders. This resolution is an attempt to deal with what is fast becoming a major problem we as a union are facing.  

[Ed. Note: From the vantage point of 4 years later, this resolution was quite prophetic, but I didn’t get the floor to present a variation of it until May.]

Whereas, there are schools where administrators engage in persistent harassment of staff.
 
Whereas, there are schools where chapter leaders are incapable of fighting back against arbitrary actions or outright violations of the contact and cannot meet the formidable challenge presented by manipulative and abusive supervisors. And there are schools where the relationship between the Chapter Leader & the administration can lead to outright cooperation with administrators, thus preventing a Chapter Leader from properly representing a chapter. 

Whereas, there are schools where staff members, especially recent, non-tenured & non-appointed ones feel helpless and frightened by a pervasive climate of intimidation.

Whereas, these situations leads to a deterioration in our most important working conditions.
Whereas, filing grievances by individual teachers and paras under these conditions can lead to serious repercussions against these teachers and paras.
Whereas, in addition to grievances, the union has at times used publicity and pressure to confront supervisors who have been arbitrary, capricious, and who use intimidation as a standard tactic against our members.
Whereas, tenure is one of the most important rights teachers have to protect themselves against the aforemen- tioned attacks by administrators
Whereas, the UFT has already begun a public campaign against the vicious attacks by Senator D’Amato against teacher tenure.

Be it Resolved: The UFT will set up a mechanism by which the district & borough reps identify schools where administrations are engaging in destructive activities and where the chapter leaders are put in positions where they cannot respond appropriately.
Be it Resolved that UFT use the NY Teacher to establish a regular column that exposes the actions of abusive administrators.
Be it Resolved that the UFT uses paid advertisements (commercials, NY Times column, etc.) to educate the public as to the kinds of situations in schools that impede our ability to educate the children effectively and demonstrate, by these examples, the continuing need for teacher tenure. Be it resolved that UFT will seek an understanding with the Board of Education that would allow district &/or chapter leaders to have the right to file grievances in areas of essential working conditions so administrators cannot intimidate individuals from filing grievances or take reprisals against them if they do file such grievances. 

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Distributed and presented at the May ‘98 DA
The Jan. ‘98 resolution was modified by the time it was presented in May ‘98. It was defeated, as UFT Staff Director Tom Pappas spoke against it, arguing that the machinery was already in place to protect CL. Ask Ron Kaplan about this “machinery.” 

Motion to Protect Chapter Leaders
(Since we already have a motion on today’s agenda to get Chapter Leaders more time off, why not give them a real present and protect them from the actions of supervisors?) 
 

WHEREAS Chapter Leaders are the front line of defense in enforcing basic contractual rights for their chapters and their chapter members;
WHEREAS Chapter Leaders who attempt to enforce basic union policies in schools are often subjected to harassment from supervisors; WHEREAS supervisors often “go after” Chapter Leaders, especially those who are strong teachers, by attempting to attack or eliminate the educational program of the Chapter Leader, irregardless of the nega tive effects on children and the school community as a whole; WHEREAS the threats of attacks on Chapter Leaders by supervisors have weakened the ability of many Chapter Leaders to carry out their duties and has resulted in discouraging many of our members from ever considering taking on the job of Chapter Leader;

WHEREAS the functions of a Chapter can be compromised by the actions of capricious supervisors;
WHEREAS a Chapter that doesn’t function effectively weakens the union at its most basic level;
WHEREAS supervisors have learned to use “subtle” methods that make it difficult to trigger a grievance under Article 23 (Special Complaints against supervisors for acts of harassment) of our contract, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the UFT will seek to establish joint union/Board district level committees, and any other special procedures deemed necessary, to protect and defend Chapter Leaders from the negative actions of supervisors. 

You’ve read the article in the New York Teacher about The Princi- pal From Hell. There are so many principals in this category, we could have a regular column. But not all principals engage in such open hostility. Many of them have learned to use a more “subtle” approach and they use every opportunity to undermine Chapter Leaders. Attacks on the Chapter Leader’s supporters and friends, the spreading of lies, behind the scenes interference in chapter affairs, buying off members and encouraging them to be company spies, etc. are used so regularly, we have to assume they are techniques taught in courses for supervisors.

I’d like to focus on the third WHEREAS, which deals with the insidious attempts on the part of principals to retaliate against chapter leaders by undermining their ability to teach effectively. The fact that these attempts also harm the children and the educational community as a whole is irrelevant to these supervi- sors. Because principals are in the position of “educational leader” (and I say this loosely), they phrase these attacks in the guise of “educational improvements”. Thus, these specific kinds of attacks chapter leaders can be subjected to make it especially difficult to prove a harassment case, which is covered under Art. 23 of the contract. 

Attacks against Chapter Leaders are attacks against all our mem- bers and threaten the very fabric of our union.This resolution seeks to provide special protections for all our members. Specifically, a district level committee is suggested. But any other ideas are welcomed.
Someone will oppose this motion 

[Ed. Note: but who could have predicted it would be Tom Pappas?] They [Unity response] will say it is unnecessary. They will say the grievance procedure is adequate. There is a good chance that this person is not in a school every day fighting “The School Wars.”

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PRINCIPALS FROM HELL: WHAT MORE
CAN WE DO? (Distributed at June ‘98 DA)

Neither Members or chapter leaders should be harassed and we are out there like an 800 pound gorilla to stop it!
--Randi Weingarten at Executive Board meeting, 6/15/98 

In response to a question from a New Action Ex. Bd, member critical of the union’s reliance on PERB, Randi issued a challenge to come up with additional ways to protect our members from abusive principals.
Unfortunately, a motion presented at the May Delegate Assembly (for discussion at the June Delegate Assembly) calling on the union to provide more protection for chapter leaders from the capricious acts of principals was narrowly defeated. The essence of the argument presented against this motion was that we already have procedures in place to protect chap- ter leaders (Article 23: Special Complaints)
The resolution, which called for the establishment of district commit- tees to investigate abusive principals, was presented as a way to open discussion on this important issue. If we would have voted to place the item on the June DA, the Executive Board would have had a chance to discuss and even modify the motion and the DA would have discussed and voted on the issue at this meeting. Instead, the question of finding ways to protect chapter leaders has been buried.
Do we think the harassment of chapter leaders and other union activists is not an issue worthy of discussion in our union? When the very lifeblood of our union is under attack by people our top union officials describe as “even below the bottom of the barrel,” it is time for us to take a strong stand. 
 

It is gratifying to see that we are making more use of the New York Teacher to expose Principals From Hell. The upcoming article called The Queen of Mean will hope- fully make out of control principals take notice. But it should be pointed out that Eugene Weiss has been doing his thing at MS88 or many years. A number of grievances and trans- fers certainly alerted the union to a problem. Yet, the staff has had to suffer, and continues to suffer, at this time. It is time to take stronger actions than using PERB and the grievance procedure. Let’s call rallies and put up picket lines in front of the school and the district office. How about a post card writing campaign to local politians and school board members?
If we believe that sending thousands of cards and calling politicians is effective, then why aren’t we using these techniques to end the reign of abusive principals? Statewide fights against D’Amato and Pataki may seem sexy compared to local struggles against Principals From Hell. Ask the people who work at such schools which fight is more is more important to them.
RESOLVED: The UFT will support the staff of MS 88 with a letter writing campaign to local politicians and school board members. 

 

Tthe resolution in this article was presented at the Mar. ‘99 DA for discussion at the Apr. ‘99 DA. It was defeated. 

FIGHTING BACK AGAINST ABUSE (Mar. ‘99)

“Vile” is the title of an article in the New York Teacher (Feb. 24) about the Principal of PS 121Q who is clearly---well for lack of a better word----vile. One of the interesting, and disturbing, parts of the article was the mention of an anonymous letter by former PS 121 staff members charging that the principal had “exhibited unprofessional, cruel and irrational behavior” and was responsible for a “police-state feeling...” The letter was written in 1989.

Incredible!! The staff of PS 121 has been subjected to the actions of this principal for at least 10 years. This is not an isolated case. Many schools have been in similar positions over the years. Prin- cipals are protected by the districts through their political connections. District reps and the central union become limited in what support they can give until the teachers reach a point where they can’t take it anymore. The Chapter, the basic unit of our union, is severely under- mined when its members are left to the mercy of these kinds of supervisors.

The pressures of teaching are so great and a war with the principal is so distracting and threatening, that people can’t be blamed for being reluctant warriors. When conditions become intolerable, people get activated. But must they wait for conditions to reach that state before help arrives? And what about schools where a state of absolute desperation is never quite reached? Principals who wield power effectively know how to control opponents by dividing people, doing small favors for some while meting out punishments, etc. 
 
What About the Chapter Leader? Chapter Leaders have 3 choices: 1) Use the job for their personal benefit (the best assignments, extra free time, etc.) by actively colluding with the administra- tion and by undermining the chapter and those voices within the chapter that try to stand up for member’s rights. 2) Try to do the right thing, but walk a tightrope so as not to offend the administration. Their cau- tion leads to a slow erosion of people’s rights as the administrators squeeze the boundaries of the contract. These Chapter Leaders try to be “fair”, which can lead to apathy or fear of the members. 3) Try to fight and strongly represent the members. They face constant attacks from the administration and those chapter members who line up with the administrators---the ones with the cushy jobs and special favors. They usually have to run in an election against an agent of the admin- istration. 

Chapter Leaders are in a very vulnerable position since the administration must cut them down to avoid a more active chapter. Chapter Leaders, especially in elementary schools, often receive an out of classroom or a cluster position because the extra preps can be disruptive to a class. These positions are important to some Chapter Leaders because the amount of work involved in being both a CL and a classroom teacher is extensive. They (particular younger CL’s with- out seniority) become beholden to the principal for that position. Smart principals know how to harass a chapter leader without leaving foot- prints: changing rooms, placing problem children in their classes, con- stant observations, eliminating their programs, etc. are all non-grievable forms of harassment and erode the power and the will of the CL. 

(Let us not forget. Chapter Leaders are not union employees. Yet, they are being asked to do a lot of work for the union and a lot of work for the individuals in their chapters. It takes some pretty extraordinary people to take on this role. There certainly is a shortage of 

people who are willing to take on the Chapter Leadrship and function in the role as described in 2 and 3 above, as the over- whelming majority of people in our union don’t want to be in the position of constantly defending their members. 

Exactly what can a chapter under attack expect the union to do to help?
The District Rep: District Reps occupy a crucial position in our union, as they are the liaisons between individual mem- bers, chapters, and the Borough and Central union. DR’s are elected by Chapter Leaders in the districts, but are union em- ployees. Clearly, DR’s who are aware of what’s going on in chapters and take an active role can be very supportive. We should look to strengthen the role of the DR in supporting chap- ters. One way would be to broaden their right to file grievances on behalf of chapters, individuals, and the district. 

 Beyond the district
Ask union officials and they will tell you they can’t act until people in the school are willing to overcome their fears and stand up to the principal. When that doesn’t happen, the union has been limited in the ways they can provide support.
There’s more we can do. We should develop specially trained teams at the central level to identify schools where our members are under attack by administrators where the chapter needs outside help to get organized and fight back. These teams should have the right to file class action grievances for the chap- ter, much the way class size grievances are now being filed.
In schools like PS 121Q, the toll on staff and children and the entire educational community is catastrophic. Can we ever expect School Leadership Teams to be successful and work in consensus without degenerating into total warfare in schools like this? Working under conditions described in the article is a violation of our most basic working conditions. No member of our union should be forced to endure it for one day, let alone 10 years. Our union can no longer afford to allow our members to continue to suffer these indignities.

Here is a resolution that might be useful:
 
RESOLVED: The UFT will form specially trained teams based at central headquarters. These teams will go out to schools where administrators are constantly harassing union members and are attempting to destroy an organized union presence. These teams will work in concert with the District Rep, who will identify these schools.
 
RESOLVED: The UFT will make it a priority in the next con- tract to broaden the right of Chapter Leaders, District, Borough and Central union reps (including the teams mentioned in the first resolve) to file grievances in schools where the adminis- trators exhibit a pattern of harassment and anti-union action.

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We gave the same resolution one more try at the April ‘99 DA. Again, there was little interest.

SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION!! For today’s agenda (Apr. ‘99)
 
Last month, a delegate opposed putting this resolution on today’s agenda, claiming the union already has the machinery in place. If machinery is in place, why did conditions at IS 88 and PS 121 go on for so many years? How come so many schools are having these problems? Those of you who are in schools where administrators don’t behave like monsters or come in just under the “vile” line, should not take the situations of our colleagues lightly. In schools like these, even experienced, tenured teachers suffer. With an enormous number of new teachers who are especially vulnerable to harassment coming into the system, your support for this resolution is especially important.

 

Assault on a Chapter Leader While UFT Twiddles its Thumbs Plus Comments on Peter Zucker Case

As I reported yesterday, I attended a 3020a so-called incompetence hearing of a chapter leader of an elementary school - Another Chapter Leader Under Assault at a 3020a Hearing - except that the preliminaries took a long time and then DOE legal asked for an adjournment because the teacher had audio tapes of meetings with the principals and they wanted to hear them before proceeding. We were there from 10:15 until roughly 2PM waiting around and chatting.

It was a pleasure meeting the teacher's family - her mother, a retired NYC high school teacher, grown daughter and husband, there to support her. In addition, Paul Hogan and Pete Zucker, now on suspension, were there too. And we met other teachers and their families under assault.

I pointed out yesterday that this case should send up major warning alarms at the UFT.

Cases like this must not be treated the same as a non chapter leader, since employers often target union officials as a way to shut down union activity at the workplace -- and in many ways the DOE over the past 14 years has succeeded in doing just that. That the UFT is not blasting this all over the place is a perfect example of the union's accepting its role as as a head with little body.

After speaking to the teacher yesterday I am more convinced than ever that this is a case that the UFT should be using to make a major point. Her daughter told me that her 2nd grade kids were successful and it was the observations that are being used against the teacher. The real guts of this case are not the observations and charges of incompetence, but the political attack on a chapter leader doing her job.

My worry is that the lawyers, who often think on the narrowest of issues, will focus on responding to the charges without emphasizing that this is a case of political persecution due to union activities.

This is not to say that filing a lawsuit outside the system if you can afford it is not a good way to go. It seems that these lawsuits are piling up and the DOE and Legal is nervous

My advice to the teacher was to point out the duties of the CL and how she executed those duties -- and how the principal used that. She has been in the school for quite a while. How did she suddenly turn incompetent? What is going on is the principal is taking advantage of the new teacher rating system.

The teacher is not using a NYSUT lawyer and is paying on her own -- a lot of people are buying the line, sometimes put out by people with a business model, that they are incompetent on the whole. So far the people I've seen from NYSUT have been very competent and they have presented a political argument, some openly and some subtly. In my mind the fact that Portelos and Zucker still have a job is due to the case that they were targets. And the over-zealous DOE legals often help make that case.

Zucker was a cluster teacher in an elementary school seeing 300 kids a week, no more than once or twice. Let's face it - I was a cluster for a decade - it is often a form of babysitting to cover a prep - though most people do what they can with the job given its limits -- like being pulled for subbing, coverage, mass preps, etc.

The charges of incompetence were a joke. The job was specially created for him to try to make him fail. Like if I were to be put in a kindergartgen class I wouldn't have a clue and it would take me a year or  2, even as an experienced teacher, to figure it out. Of course I would exhibit evidence of not being competent at times.

Zucker is/was a computer/tech specialist. The principal left the computer lab, which he was instrumental in getting for the school, empty and put him in a job they branded, "Character education with literacy." Sure, spend 45 minutes a week with a class and expect results?

The principal, Allison Coviello, testified for 4 days - and the overkill was obvious. Here was a former colleague and first year principal spending an enormous amount of time focusing on cluster teacher Zucker. Didn't she have a school to run? Clearly an obsessive compulsive and it came through. Even the DOE lawyer seemed worn out.

The best part of the Zucker case for me was the claim that he didn't treat kids of parents well by Coviello, who tried to come across was a saint.
A parent came in to testify for Peter and she said he was the only teacher in the school who reached out to her admittedly difficult son and to her. When DOE Legal asked her did she talk to Coviello, the parent responded that she had 3 appointments with Coviello, who cancelled two of them and ended up getting into an argument with her at the other one.

Saint Coviello didn't look like much of a saint.

And I'm hoping that at the end of the day, the Chapter Leader's principal will be exposed for what she is.

There are 3 hearing dates next week and I only can make the last one next Friday and will probably miss the principal's testimony --- this is a case of DOE legal wasting an enormous amount of money and that the UFT doesn't scream this from every rooftop is why the union is a head with no body.

Another Chapter Leader Under Assault at a 3020a Hearing

Cases like this must not be treated the same as a non chapter leader, since employers often target union officials as a way to shut down union activity at the workplace -- and in many ways the DOE over the past 14 years has succeeded in doing just that. That the UFT is not blasting this all over the place is a perfect example of the union's accepting its role as as a head with little body.

I'm heading over to Chambers Street to attend the hearing of a Manhattan elementary school chapter leader who I've been speaking to at the Delegate Assemblies. She has told me quite a story of how she became a target after a lifetime of teaching due to her doing the job of chapter leader. I told her I would try to make some of the hearings. Today her principal is listed as the first witness.

This will be the first hearing I've attended where the teacher is not using a NYSUT  lawyer for reasons I am not totally clear, which means she has to pay the lawyer. Let's see how this works out.

I learned a lot about these hearings by attending. For instance, DOE Legal has 2 units - conduct and incompetence charges. NYSUT lawyers have the same system.

The two NYSUT lawyers, Chris Callagy (Pakter and Portelos - conduct) and Jennifer Hogan (Peter Zucker - incompetence charges), were both pretty impressive. Jennifer pointed out that handing each type of case requires different skills and gave me a great understanding of the thinking behind their strategies. One reason I believe people should not just abandon a NYSUT attorney without careful thought is that there is 40 years of experience in these cases to draw from.

Now, none of these teachers were totally found innocent - there were big fines and Peter just started serving a 4 month suspension without pay, which is a very heavy fine in essence - plus the loss of health care. You can read about Pete's case on his blog: SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL

Claudia Macek of PS/MS 83 Distorts Reality -

 

I'll write more about his case to supplement what he will be writing. 

 

He called me yesterday and now that he is on suspension, may come down to today's hearing. I'll only identify the teacher if she wants me to, even though her name has been all over certain listserves (something I am careful about doing.) But I will write about the major issue here to me: this is not just any teacher but the elected union rep. Cases like this must not be treated the same as a non chapter leader, since employers often target union officials as a way to shut down union activity at the workplace -- and in many ways the DOE over the past 14 years has succeeded in doing just that.

That the UFT is not blasting this all over the place is a perfect example of the union's accepting its role as a head with little body. OK, Unity slug gang, let's start commenting about how somehow the union really shouldn't pay special attention to a chapter leader under assault.

 

Reorganization Grievances: Form MORE Chapter Leader listserve

A MORE CL sent an email about programs and reorg grievances to the list for people new to the process and looking for a template...

Once you have "tentative" programs, many staff members will have concerns or questions.  Here's a couple of points-

1- you have 48 hours to grieve your program.

2- I can't address any issue without documentation.  If you want to raise an issue about your program, please bring me a copy of it along with a copy of your preference sheet.  If you did not retain a copy, ask admin for one before coming to me.  It will make it easier and faster to address the issue.

3-contractual rules governing programming are complicated and consider things like preference, rotation, seniority, and there's lots of vague language that gives admin some leeway in programming and considering preferences.  We will look at the contract language together and determine if an issue can and should be grieved.

4- the 48 hour window to grieve a program (a "reorganization grievance") re-opens when you get your final program in September.  These grievances are expedited so they can be resolved more quickly.

5- based on past experience, bringing solutions to programming problems is more likely to solve the problem than grieving it.  In the past we have put our heads together with others in our departments and worked together to renegotiate programs with administration to lighten the load on some teachers.  Before doing anything else, I suggest checking in with others in your department and comparing programs.  Maybe solutions can be worked out.

I have become such an avid MORE supporter since the beginning of this farce contract we are now stuck with!!!; UFT team CuomGrew is in need of a BIG awakening:

MORE has been such an uplifting voice and encouragement to me for a few months now!  Please add me to emails etc... you guys have provided me with so much TRUTHFUL info that I have been able to take back to my school community members!  UFT team CuomGrew is in need of a BIG awakening!  I have become such an avid MORE supporter since the beginning of this farce contract we are now stuck with!!!  Everyone at my off "campus" site... knows that I am a MORE supporter all the way!!!! so again add me and let me know how I can encourage my school members to support you guys for the upcoming UFT elections...I have a daughter w autism that I just began homeschooling so I may not be able to get out to many meetings...but my email is open and I def use social media and texts to encourage my followers to support REALNESS!!!!

Love you guys..you all helped to open my eyes to the Cuomgrew Madness!!!!!!!

Lisa R, Brooklyn elementary school teacher

Lisa followed up with

ALL MY NYC TEACHERS AND PARAS CHECK THE PAYROLL PORTAL TO SEE WHAT YOUR ANNAUAL SALARY IS AND THEN COMPARE IT TO THE UFT SALARY CHART TO SEE IF YOU HAVE BEEN CHEATED OUT OF A COUPLE OF DOLLARS.

I put in a payroll dispute through the UFT and was told by a salary rep that there has been MANY salaries that are OFF by a dollar or two! This is another way that Michael Mulgrew has cheated this union with this NEW/Current contract. So once again check the payroll portal and see what your yearly salary says and compare with the current uft salary chart and see if you are one of the "MANY" who has been cheated out of a couple of dollars!!!! SMH...MULGREW and his UNITY CAUCUS will NOT be getting my vote!!!

George Schmidt/Substance on Chicago Scandals as Byrd Bennet resigns

Barbara Byrd Bennett was the tip of a corrupt iceberg, to use a dead metaphor in violation of one of George Orwell's main rules of political writing. (See "Politics and the English Language" for a guide to covering Chicago's public schools).
And most of those whose power pushed forward the kinds of corruption now being documented on the front pages following the Byrd Bennett resignation are still in power:
The bombshell was not a big surprise to anyone trying to follow the machinations of Rahm Emanuel's school board since the mayor's inauguration in May 2011. On May 31, 2015, Emanuel's second "Chief Executive Officer" at the nation's third largest school system, Barbara Byrd Bennett, officially submitted her resignation, leaving the Board's Vice President Jesse Ruiz to run the show in his position as "Interim CEO."

Byrd Bennett resigns... New documents show Emanuel and City Hall were in the middle of it all from the beginning... SUPES outfit worked with Swanson and others in the elite to pick Brizard, then Byrd Bennett...

RAHMWATCH: 'There will be no media availability...' Chicago's mayor will continue dodging the press even as the fire burns to his door in the Chicago Public Schools corruption scandals (yes, that's a plural)...

Where else would you expect corruption and scandals galore than in the granddaddy of ed deform? Here we see why having an independent ed press like Substance charting the history of Chicago school politics for 40 years is so valuable. And George in this email to the Substance staff (for some reason I am on this list) shows just how proud he is of the work they do.

WOW! As I was finishing up other activities yesterday ...my thoughts were actually focused on how completely we can now beat out our competitors on all the CPS corruption stories. The first thing, of course, is to remind people that every example of this nonsense was approved by a vote of the members of the Chicago Board of Education, so daily the question should begin with "WTF are you still dong here, David Vitale, Jesse Ruiz... etc.?" At the same time we can work to clean out this particular Augean Stable by identifying all those overpaid mercenaries that Rahm's "team" imported at great expenses to Chicago. 

Our historical approach to reporting has really paid off. It only took me a couple of minutes to find that picture of Beth Swanson from November 2008, when she was Arne Duncan's budget chief. We are definitely the only news organization in Chicago to have a collection of pictures of Sherry Ulery, Tracy Martin Thompson, Rhonda Corr Sargets, Bob Boik, Jack Elsey, etc., etc. ,etc.

And the other materials we have (including more than 100,000 indexed photographs, most by me and David Vance, but some by all of the rest of us) will make it easy for us to provide background as the explosions of corruption continue. I was really glad to have Marybeth's Board report (from the May 27 meeting) and John Kugler's shootings report ready to go when the Home Page got flipped to June 2015. 

But I have to tell you all, even I was surprised at the extent that the Tribune has returned to acting like a newspaper. That's a very good sign. The Sun-Times continues to so some good work, too. Despite some people's silly longings, Catalyst is still the same ruling class shill sheet it was when "Cleveland Catalyst" was touting the best school chief in world history -- Barbara Byrd Bennett ten years ago -- or when even before that they were discovering the brilliant young guy from Hyde Park and suddenly Arne Duncan was our "CEO". (I have to remind people some times about Catalyst's history, so that's this month's notice since now and then I get one of those "But..." responses...).

Another good reason for a news source like Substance is the coverage of the Chicago Teachers Union which even though under the control of friendly forces is not and should not be immune to criticism.

George and staff are on the case.

BOARDWATCH: Chicago Board of Education meeting of May 27, 2015 highlighted by organized apologetics for charter schools... Chicago Teachers Union teachers ignored the meeting, having done a 6:30 a.m. protest for the TV cameras earlier that morning...

Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey spoke to the Board during the May 27, 2015 meeting. Among other things, he warned the Board that it was breaking its promise not to give away closed schools to charter schools by allocating Peabody Elementary School to a charter (on the agenda for the May 27 meeting). Sharkey noted that on the second anniversary of the massive school closings of 2013 (the Board action closing 50 schools was done at the May 22, 2013 meeting), the Board claimed that the buildings had tobe closed because they were "underutilized." He noted the hypocrisy of claiming there was no need for real public schools in some communities and then putting up additional charters. Substance photo by David Vance.

El Puente, MS 50 Battles Against Eva/Success Take Over in Williamsburg

I know MS 50 - it's a block from my old office at PS 84 and I used to cover that school for computer support. It is in the heart of gentrification territory in the Burg and Eva wants that building even though there are 2 other schools in there.  De Blasio wants to make it a community school with lots of services (MS 50 is one of the 94 renew targets, due no doubt to be starved for years to make room for Eva.)

It looks like my vacation is over. Gotta go and charge the video batteries.

June 1, 2015

Dear Friends,

The NYC DOE is holding a hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2, 2015 to discuss Success Academy’s request to expand its school to 5th grade, starting in the 2016-2017 school year. The hearing will take place at MS50 at 6pm. Those wishing to speak at this hearing must be there to sign up between 5:30pm - 5:45pm.

Please come out tomorrow, June 2nd, to support the MS50-El Puente Community School in our community’s declaration for the future of our school!

We hope that you will join us and declare that:

●      We thank the DOE for investing in MS50’s future by selecting it to receive Community School and Renewal School grant funding for the next 3 years, in partnership with El Puente

●      As part of these 2 grant-funded programs, we anticipate major growth and expansion of the academic enrichment and family support programs, as well as, and most importantly, growth in enrollment.

●      Through this partnership, we are committed to supporting MS50’s transformation into a successful, robust, and model middle school for our community.

●      We understand that the Success Academy is petitioning the DOE to expand its school to include Grade 5, beginning in FY17. While we will work with the DOE’s decision, before we can fully support that plan, our community must be assured that any decisions on reallocation of space be made consistent with the mandates and expansion goals of the DOE’s Community Schools and Renewal Schools Initiatives.

Again, we urge you to join us to lend your voice in asking the PEP to support the transformation and future of MS50.

Sincerely,

 

                                                                                               

Luis Garden Acosta  Frances Lucerna

Founder & President  Co-Founder & Executive Director

El Puente

Destination: Wedding in Turks and Caicos

Anything better than a wedding in flip flops?

I know you didn't miss me. We got back last night from our cousin's wedding in Turks and Caicos, a place I've never been, nor had a clear idea where it was - it is a few islands sort of between Haiti/DR and Cuba but north of them. Did we need to land at Kennedy and find wet, 50 degree weather? Thanks for great pals Joel and Shelly for picking us up.

We were there for parts of 5 days on talcum powder (choral) beaches with a bathtub warm ocean and so many pools and restaurants at this all in one resort. 96 people came, a tribute to the popularity of bride and groom, Margo and Jared. There were pre ceremony and post ceremony parties that still may be going on.

There was also an interesting cultural mix. Lots of people in their 30s and lots in their 60s. And Jared is Jewish and Margo is Italian/Columbian. I love non-homogeneous events. It was so interesting meeting her family for the first time and looking forward to seeing more of them.

I never thought much about destination weddings before, but now I see how they make sense. People don't just hang out for a few hours but a few days and many bonds are formed. So much went on that I wouldn't know how to even start writing about it. People dancing in the kiddy pool, amazing meals at 17 restaurants  - no reservations, no paying, just eating, too much drinking (and other stuff). We hung out a lot with Carol's brother Dave and sister-in-law Valerie. We also went out to eat with 15 people.

And the people who work at Beaches resort in Providencia are amazing -- treat everyone with dignity and patience without being obsequious.

(And another cousin is getting married at the end of the month - but the destination is Long Island.)

So let a few pics tell the story.

On way to final hour on beach Mon morn, look who we ran into

Brother Dan getting the rings ready - slight glitch

Brother and Best Man Dan with Jared and Margo

Margo's family

Jared's family

I finally got to wear my Tommy Bahama shirt

Mexican Teachers Side with me over Schirtzer - To Boycott Farce Elections

I made the case in my debate with Schirtzer over whether MORE should boycott the UFT elections next year (Read all about it: The Great Scott-Schirtzer Debate: Boycott UFT Elections or not...) but didn't seem to convince many people. But maybe there were some Mexican teachers
eavesdropping at the diner and hearing my brilliant arguments for boyvottin.

Teachers in Mexico Vow to Prevent 'Farce' Elections


Teachers in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca announced that they will be participating in an active boycott of the upcoming elections, ...

Radical Teachers Vow to Block Mexican Elections - ABC News

ATR James Eterno Elected Delegate from Middle College HS; Why are there ATRS at all?

James' election by a staff that probably had little knowledge of the ATR situation until James arrived, is a significant breakthrough. James proved to his colleagues in every school he was sent to that the vision being promoted about ATRS - as incompetent - and worse - was false.

Having James Eterno back at the DA, along with his pal Arthur Goldstein reporting back is a win-win for us all.

Before I get to the story about James' election as delegate to a school that he probably won't be in this fall, I want to comment on the general ATR situation.

That James Eterno has not been snapped up by schools all over the city is a testament to the disaster the ATR/Open market/end of seniority. The 2005 contract opened the door to massive ed deform once the DOE was freed from having to assign people based on seniority, a system with some flaws, but one that worked, on the whole. Having a thousand or more people floating around the system year after year is a form of insanity.

The essence of the problem to me is the free market approach to education. In that world no principal should ever be forced to accept a teacher they don't want - even if the principal is nuts, or racist or whatever - the principal is king (or queen) and the teacher is mud.

Now we know that BloomKlein wanted to just fire people after 6 months or a year but that would have sunk the 2005 contract, which despite massive publicity, the opposition managed to get almost 40% to vote NO. So BloomKlein knew that had a basic winner in that contract and were willing to take on the costs of maintaining an ATR system as a loss leader- figuring that over time they would get the rest of what they wanted. I believe, the UFT seeing what happened in Chicago where the firing of teachers outright was a key element in overturning that union leadership, realized that they couldn't afford the political price of firing people. So instead, the UFT has worked with the DOE - with a wink and nod - to try to marginalize the ATRs and separate them from the rest of the members to the point where they would just turn their backs on them - figuring it would never happen to them (most don't seem to see the charter school tsunami coming).

Thus, James' election by a staff that probably had little knowledge of the ATR situation until James arrived, is a significant breakthrough. James proved to his colleagues in every school he was sent to that the vision being promoted about ATRS - as incompetent - and worse - was false.

Most massive organized systems like the DOE - have some formats that assign people to other positions when jobs disappear - and in the DOE, often intentionally disappeared. I remember the day that a young black man was assigned to our school by the district to teach special ed. We had no black male teachers in our school - in fact, I don't think we had ever had one. Looked like a win-win for us. My principal, who I suspected - due to upbringing and political views - had biased views on race - sent him back to the district - she didn't want him. The district sent him back to the school. She sent him back to the district - they sent him back a 3rd time -- I remember him sitting on the bench outside the office. I asked him what was going on - he shrugged. In the end, the principal had to accept him and he became an integral part of our staff one of the most popular people in our school. The thought has never left me that the only reason the principal kept sending him back was that he was a black man. In later years when we became friendly he seemed to agree -- but he was accepting of that as the way the world worked.

I tell this story because of the seeming horror whenever we suggest that excess people should be permanently assigned to schools, the way it was done for almost a century in this school system.

Here is James' story on the ICE blog of his election. He has told me that there are some amazing colleagues at his school who went very far towards helping him get elected. Kudos to them.

MIDDLE COLLEGE HS SENDS ATR TO DA