New Action statement on AFT tenure proposals
On Tuesday AFT President Randi Weingarten spoke to the National Press Club on teacher evaluation and tenure. That evening in reaction UFT President Michael Mulgrew sent an e-mail to UFT Chapter...
View ArticleWeingarten on test scores, etc
Randi Weingarten gave a pro-reform speech in DC this week. Before the speech she did an interview with Bob Herbert. Ran in the NY Times. Splashed all over the press. The blogs. The msm loved it. I...
View ArticleOn the AFT President’s proposed use of test scores for tenure
On Tuesday of this past week, the president of the American Federation of Teachers gave a lousy pro-”corporate-style school reform” speech in Washington. Here’s the speech. Here’s my response. Here’s...
View ArticleBurying a story – UFT on AFT on tenure
January 12, 2010, the president of the AFT gave a speech offering up an attitude favorable to giving back tenure rights across the country. That same day the president of the UFT wrote a letter to...
View ArticleTeachers – volunteer this summer to help other teachers
The American Federation of Teachers will again be running its “Back to School” program this summer. Teachers go South to help ongoing AFT organizing efforts. I did it. Twice. Last summer I went to East...
View ArticleAFT Convention in Seattle Day 0
I’m at the AFT Convention in Seattle. So far? A bag, a nametag, a free t-shirt. I’ve seen a dozen people I’ve met before – half from “Back to School” (the AFT summer organizing events I’ve worked at...
View ArticleAFT Convention in Seattle Day 1
Up to a point I’d been listening, fairly politely. Then Randi Weingarten read, from her prepared text: “Our vision is that every neighborhood school should be an excellent school that all families know...
View ArticleAFT Convention in Seattle – Day 4
Day 4 of the Convention was the shortest. The morning session started a little after 9:30, and wrapped up near 1, and that was it. Credentials were updated (I think?) and election results announced....
View ArticleNotes from Baltimore: Don’t leave before the last out…
I made my first trip to Camden Yards a few weeks ago. Sunday day game, Pettite’s return. Yankees up 3-1, but the Orioles chip back with one in the bottom of the 8th and there are playoff implications...
View ArticleWeingarten offers more concessions
In Wisconsin we see collective bargaining rights under direct attack. Furloughs, and other financial givebacks are becoming more common across the country. In New York City the mayor and the chancellor...
View ArticleReclaiming the Promise
Yesterday the AFT sent out an e-mail under Weingarten’s signature – I must have gotten five copies. They announced a “Reclaiming the Promise” campaign. The part I liked said: This is why we are asking...
View ArticleAFT 2014 Convention – Friday
So this is notes, not everything, because I didn’t see everything, not close. 1. The morning was a series of greetings, including The Rev. Dr. William Barber II (president of the North Carolina NAACP,...
View ArticleAFT 2014 Convention – Saturday
1. Meet the Press I spent yesterday mostly in my seat, front row, listening, writing, tweeting. Odd experience. I tried to find out how to come to the AFT Convention as a non-delegate, a guest, an...
View ArticleAFT 2014 Convention – Sunday
1. More Press I spent another day front row, listening, writing, tweeting. I’m “Press” here because I blog. But then it turns out I tweet… another 40 yesterday, even though I missed a bit. Maybe a...
View ArticleAFT 2014 Convention – Monday
1. Enough Press This is (barring some odd tangent) my last AFT Convention post. Here’s the others: Friday – Saturday – Sunday. And yesterday was another busy “tweeting” day, well morning. If you are...
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