Consider this. Some of us feel that UFT controls and dominates NYSUT. When NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi tried to restrict Andy Pollata's contributions to Cuomo years back, UFT led a revolution and overthrew him. I remember well because I ran against Pollata, running all over the state, sleeping in hotels, and missing only one day of school. We also feel that NYSUT dominates AFT. We don't believe Weingarten would oppose Mulgrew, ever. The tail wags the dog.
I agree. She was “on the board of the MLC” when she was first anointed/appointed by Sandra Feldman. Unity touted that as the second coming of...something (yes I recall that way back in...long time ago land...) MM is a tool. None of this began yesterday.
Thanks for going on my behalf, Arthur. Harmon is a decent person. But I agree this was a UFT Retiree luncheon and no one from the elected delegates to RTC was chosen to MC? Were they afraid the “interference “:of labor voices would be brought up? Labor voices that have so far saved our traditional Medicare? Thats shameful. So much for UFT support.
What made teaching hard most often was not the students, but the nonsense teachers had/have to put up with: vindictive administrators, not being allowed to have autonomy in how we teach in our classrooms, crappy curriculum that was to be followed without regard to for each child’s needs, all kinds of assessments that wasted teaching time, high stakes tests whose preparation took away from actual teaching and demonstrated precious little, “professional development “ that was usually not by professionals or truly developmental, longer hours for pay that wasn’t commensurate and did nothing to enhance students academically or teachers monetarily, heath benefits that were measly to name a few. I loved being in the classroom, working with paras who cared about our students. I had issues with the above, but I loved watching my students blossom. It was hard work. But it was exhilarating and fulfilling. Next year I will be retired from the DOE ten years and I still miss the rewarding part of the job, but not the nonsense. I know the experienced teachers running for ABC will be able to bring life and support back to our Union and to our members who deserve better.
Thanks Pat. I agree with all the things you mention that hamper us rather than help us. Teachers learn to live with them and deal with them. I used to, for example, write an aim in my lesson plans and on the board when I knew I'd get in trouble for not doing so. However, if you know what you're doing, it's not necessary. If you DON'T know what you're doing, it won't help. And yes, professional development, for me at least, hovered around 98% useless.
As for choosing an MC, we're largely teachers. Addressing audiences is a fundamental part of our job. It's frequently the difference between reaching or not reaching the kids. I'm accustomed to doing that pretty much every day, and it boggles my mind that it was necessary to reach out like that. We're the leaders, supposedly, and this should be in our hands.
I Agree with your observations. Disappointed in the RTC chapter. I thought we finally had a chance to make modest changes especially over our Medicare issue. Think the fact that there are 2 caucuses we are splitting and dividing the retirees. What we need is strength in numbers. We should be ONE caucus, focused on , at least for now , on preserving our right to choose a Medicare plus supplement plan. This affects not just us , but current employees too. This is the reason I became a Deligate. I feel now that we are divided, not only by caucuses but by multiple priorities. I feel We can only win by uniting behind 1 caucus and 1 big idea or change at a time. Katherine
Perhaps, then, Arise should not have turned down the chance to have a 75% stake in a single slate. Perhaps they should have offered us more than 0-8 reps in a new slate, in which we'd had to settle for zero. Perhaps Retiree Advocate ought to have allowed the 300 of us to vote on how we'd like to approach the election. Perhaps they ought not to have made the decision using an 11-member, self-selected steering committee. In fact, given the fact that ABC declared before they did, if they felt so strongly there ought to be one opposition slate, they ought not to have run. Perhaps they ought not to have nominated a sixth year teacher for President, and perhaps they ought not to have forgotten why we were elected. I assure you I have not.
I think that Mulgrew should be addressed as the “Great Leader” not as President. That is how dictators are addressed.
Or Dear Leader. I think I've called him that from time to time.
But she didn’t stop it .Where does the buck stop?
Consider this. Some of us feel that UFT controls and dominates NYSUT. When NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi tried to restrict Andy Pollata's contributions to Cuomo years back, UFT led a revolution and overthrew him. I remember well because I ran against Pollata, running all over the state, sleeping in hotels, and missing only one day of school. We also feel that NYSUT dominates AFT. We don't believe Weingarten would oppose Mulgrew, ever. The tail wags the dog.
I agree. She was “on the board of the MLC” when she was first anointed/appointed by Sandra Feldman. Unity touted that as the second coming of...something (yes I recall that way back in...long time ago land...) MM is a tool. None of this began yesterday.
True. But we can change it tomorrow!
In all seriousness, when will Weingarten be held accountable for the health care fiasco?
You've really got a thing about Weingarten, Keith. She didn't start this. Mulgrew did.
I think Randi Weingarten should be addressed as “Dear Leader”.
The “Dear Leader” “heard “her peon retirees and dependents and then supports the Great Leader, Michael Mulgrew, who continues to sell them out.
I know in North Korea they call one of the first two dictators "dear" and the other "great." I can never recall which is which.
Thanks for going on my behalf, Arthur. Harmon is a decent person. But I agree this was a UFT Retiree luncheon and no one from the elected delegates to RTC was chosen to MC? Were they afraid the “interference “:of labor voices would be brought up? Labor voices that have so far saved our traditional Medicare? Thats shameful. So much for UFT support.
What made teaching hard most often was not the students, but the nonsense teachers had/have to put up with: vindictive administrators, not being allowed to have autonomy in how we teach in our classrooms, crappy curriculum that was to be followed without regard to for each child’s needs, all kinds of assessments that wasted teaching time, high stakes tests whose preparation took away from actual teaching and demonstrated precious little, “professional development “ that was usually not by professionals or truly developmental, longer hours for pay that wasn’t commensurate and did nothing to enhance students academically or teachers monetarily, heath benefits that were measly to name a few. I loved being in the classroom, working with paras who cared about our students. I had issues with the above, but I loved watching my students blossom. It was hard work. But it was exhilarating and fulfilling. Next year I will be retired from the DOE ten years and I still miss the rewarding part of the job, but not the nonsense. I know the experienced teachers running for ABC will be able to bring life and support back to our Union and to our members who deserve better.
Thanks Pat. I agree with all the things you mention that hamper us rather than help us. Teachers learn to live with them and deal with them. I used to, for example, write an aim in my lesson plans and on the board when I knew I'd get in trouble for not doing so. However, if you know what you're doing, it's not necessary. If you DON'T know what you're doing, it won't help. And yes, professional development, for me at least, hovered around 98% useless.
As for choosing an MC, we're largely teachers. Addressing audiences is a fundamental part of our job. It's frequently the difference between reaching or not reaching the kids. I'm accustomed to doing that pretty much every day, and it boggles my mind that it was necessary to reach out like that. We're the leaders, supposedly, and this should be in our hands.
Thank you for your service!
Thank you! It's nice to be appreciated.
I Agree with your observations. Disappointed in the RTC chapter. I thought we finally had a chance to make modest changes especially over our Medicare issue. Think the fact that there are 2 caucuses we are splitting and dividing the retirees. What we need is strength in numbers. We should be ONE caucus, focused on , at least for now , on preserving our right to choose a Medicare plus supplement plan. This affects not just us , but current employees too. This is the reason I became a Deligate. I feel now that we are divided, not only by caucuses but by multiple priorities. I feel We can only win by uniting behind 1 caucus and 1 big idea or change at a time. Katherine
Perhaps, then, Arise should not have turned down the chance to have a 75% stake in a single slate. Perhaps they should have offered us more than 0-8 reps in a new slate, in which we'd had to settle for zero. Perhaps Retiree Advocate ought to have allowed the 300 of us to vote on how we'd like to approach the election. Perhaps they ought not to have made the decision using an 11-member, self-selected steering committee. In fact, given the fact that ABC declared before they did, if they felt so strongly there ought to be one opposition slate, they ought not to have run. Perhaps they ought not to have nominated a sixth year teacher for President, and perhaps they ought not to have forgotten why we were elected. I assure you I have not.
You are SOOOO RIGHT!
Thanks Katherine.