From E-Accountability:
Parentadvocates.org believes that 'good' teachers should be rewarded and 'bad' teachers must be removed from the classroom. But who is 'good' and who is 'bad'?

Who decides?

"They" want to. We, parents of public school children in New York City and around the United States - as well as taxpayers - are in the process of a corporate take-over of public education by the politico-educational complex and legal industry which will undermine scientific inquiry, freedom of information and open government, and our human and constitutional rights for decades to come.

We, parents and the general public, must stop them.

Betsy Combier

The article below comes from ICE

WHY YOU MUST VOTE NO ON THE PROPOSED CONTRACT

EXTRA TIME

TEACHING DAY EXTENDED MONDAY THRU THURSDAY BY 37½ MINUTES
TWO LESS DAYS OF SUMMER VACATION (START DATE BEFORE LABOR DAY)
ONE LESS HOLIDAY (IF YOU TEACH IN BROOKLYN OR QUEENS)
GRIEVANCE RIGHTS

NO RIGHT TO GRIEVE LETTERS TO THE FILE: SUPERVISORS CAN WRITE AN UNFAIR AND INACCURATE LETTER AND IT BECOMES PART OF YOUR PERSONNEL FILE
ELIMINATION OF STEP II GRIEVANCES
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

LUNCH DUTY
BUS DUTY
HALL DUTY
ADDITIONAL SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION PERIOD
POSSIBLE INVOLUNTARY ASSIGNMENT TO POSITION AT PRINCIPAL'S DISCRETION
SENIORITY RIGHTS

SENIORITY AND SBO TRANSFERS ELIMINATED
EXCESSING RIGHTS WEAKENED
ALL TRANSFERS UP TO PRINCIPAL
HARSHER DISCIPLINARY RULES

ABSENT/LATE TENURED PEDAGOGUES- DOE CAN FILE A NOTICE FOR ARBITRATION AND ARBITRATORS CAN IMPOSE SUSPENSIONS, FINES, LOSS OF SALARY STEPS
IF MEDICAL REASONS ARE GIVEN FOR THE LATENESSES/ABSENCES, RELEASES FOR PERSONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION MUST BE SIGNED OVER TO DOE
FULL SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY OF TENURED PEDAGOGUES IF CHARGED UNDER CRIMINAL LAW OR ACCUSED BY SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ANY TYPE OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AGAINST ANY MINOR. APPLIES EVEN FOR SOME VERBAL ABUSE.
CREATION OF LEAD TEACHER

CREATES A NEW GROUP OF TEACHERS RECEIVING MERIT PAY- FURTHER WEAKENING THE UNION. JOB POSTING IS CITY-WIDE: PLACEMENT AND TRANSFER CITY-WIDE.

SALARY INCREASES (NOT FOR EVERYONE, CHECK SALARY SCHEDULE)

0% EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2003
2% EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2003
3.5% EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2004
5.5% EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 2005
3.25% EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2006
MEDICAL AND DRUG BENEFITS

HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES AND CO-PAYS INCORPORATED AS PERMANENT

DO THE MATH: WITH SO MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK TIME
IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO CALL ADDITIONAL PAY A RAISE

REJECT THE CONTRACT
AND TELL YOUR UNION THERE'S MORE THAN MONEY AT STAKE

DONOT GIVE BACK WHAT TOOK YEARS TO ACHIEVE

The Kiss of Death?
by John Elfrank-Dana, UFT Executive Committee @ Murry Bergtraum High School

Joel and Randi sittin' in a tree, k i s s i n g , first comes givebacks, then goes summer, for all us at UFT it's a bummer!

But, wait!, you say. What about all that money? I personally will get about $400 a month more and a $4,000+ retro check. Oh yes, I can see it now, with Christmas just around the corner. I can play the real Santa this year.

But then the dust settled and I saw how the city was financing this; two more days, an extra 37 minutes four days a week. Ok, but that's what you can expect if you teach in the suburbs, Randi tells us. But what else can you expect in the suburbs? I taught in the burbs for two years. I had my own classroom, 25 students per class, almost all of whom read on grade level and resources like you've never seen here. The school was also not 600 over capacity! So, who is Randi trying to kid here? Maybe she's just unaware since she taught for just a semester herself.

Teachers have a moral obligation to fight against deplorable conditions like these; in the interests of the students and the teaching profession. But this is where the real rub takes place. Our rights to be free-thinking advocates for our students and teachers are being stripped with this contract as well. Letters in the file will grow exponentially, as supervisors will be careless about writing them since they can't be challenged. These letters can be used against one in a disciplinary hearing. Principal veto on hiring committees, once seniority transfers are gone, makes such committees a rubber stamp.

Bloomberg and Klein want us looking over our shoulders. Worker insecurity is good for compliance, good for corporate-style, top down chain of command. The public school is the last major public institution in U.S. and the Republicans know that to destroy it, you must destroy teacher unions first. This contract will be a major step in that direction. Already we have felt the top-down culture coming through the administration. Teaching to scripts, micro-management and the like will not go away if we waive our rights to resist. Retaliatory administrators will use the new contract provisions to force obedience on teachers city-wide.

I say VOTE NO and get organized for a long fight. The UFT has done little to prepare us for the ultimate organizing weapon. We are not ready for a strike, but can be in about a year. We should add reduction of class sizes to our contractual demands since it will send a message to the parents that we care, and, most importantly, because it's the right thing to do. Why not June 2006 or 2007? In 1995 we said NO and ended up with a better deal.

Right now our union brothers and sisters in British Columbia are on strike. There the government imposed a wage freeze until this June. That was enough for them to take to the streets. They face similar penalties as we would. They are also demanding a reduction in class sizes. I guarantee you, the leader of those teachers, Jinny Simms, won't be caught up a tree.

John Elfrank-Dana
UFT Executive Committee @ Murry Bergtraum High School
Join your colleagues for more information.

Ms. Jill Levy, President of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, writes about this take-over as if she did not know that her Principals are people implementing it (Editor):

The Heavy Hand of Autocracy: When the Empowered Few Forbid the Free Exchange of Ideas.
By Jill Levy

LINK

What does one call a governance structure or governing body that does not respect dissent, discourse and the free flow of ideas and information?

I promised a group of CSA members who work in high schools that I would write this particular article, but it has taken me several months to put aside the emotional impact and actually put words to paper. Nevertheless, it is time for this story and others to be told.

The media was bombarding the union with requests for access to Principals and Assistant Principals in their schools without DOE orchestration. Ultimately, their requests led me to invite a radio reporter to join me at a scheduled meeting with CSA members from the Bronx. Rather than face the possibility of any confrontation with officials, CSA asked for permission for the reporter to accompany me and have access to the school. Permission was granted.

Upon my arrival, several CSA members greeted me and a number of my staff who had accompanied me. We were interrupted, however, when a sensitive student-related incident arose and one of the school's Assistant Principals quickly and professionally handled the situation out-of-range of the reporter's eyes and ears.

I was impressed by how well the AP knew the student and how effective she was at minimizing the impact of the situation on the student as well as the entire school. It was during a private conversation between myself and the AP that the Learning Instructional Superintendent (LIS) appeared and made his presence unmistakably apparent.

Meanwhile, the reporter tried to interview the Principal. I say "tried" because the LIS did more than hover in the background; he placed himself uninvited into the conversation. It was abundantly clear that the LIS was not going to allow the reporter access to the school or the Principal alone. The LIS's physical presence was intrusive and his verbal responses preempted those of the Principal. Yet, the reporter continued to be polite, calmly asking questions and recording the responses. The Principal deferred to the LIS.

When all the expected CSA members were present, we introduced the reporter and began our private meeting. Shortly thereafter, the LIS came into the conference room. The atmosphere changed from conversation to abject silence. I asked the LIS to please come outside with me and told him that this was a CSA meeting to which he was not invited. He replied: "My orders are that wherever she goes, I go. Otherwise she will have to leave." I asked him what he was afraid of and he responded that he had his instructions.

Not wanting to make a scene and knowing this reporter fairly well, I suggested that she accompany the LIS on a walkthrough and proceeded to hold a privileged CSA meeting. The tension in the room was palpable. It was several minutes before people felt comfortable enough to begin talking about the concerns and issues that they confront on a daily basis.

Safety matters, personnel, budget, school closings, excessing rights, contract negotiations, filling vacant positions, and professional issues consumed the conversation. It was clear that their willingness to speak openly about issues, engage in a discourse about professional matters and be critical were stifled by the presence of the very person who should encourage an open dialogue and respect their professional suggestions. What kind of leadership do we call that?

What does one call a governance structure or governing body that places a greater value on silent compliance than the freedom to speak?

Then, there is the tale of the interim acting Principal who devoted his professional career to his school community, helped to raise student performance over the course of his tenure as an Assistant Principal and then, as Principal. He was the first choice of the C-30 committee comprised of, as you all know, parents, community members, CSA and UFT representatives. Known as an outspoken advocate for the school and unafraid to speak out privately and in public, he was denied the appointment. The reason as it was told to CSA: He "talked too much!" Whether that comment by management refers to the quantity or quality (or both) of the applicant's speech remains unspecified. Yet, it was that fact that he spoke out often that cost him the position. What does one call a governance structure or government body that uses intimidation as a method to achieve its ends?

Would anyone ever expect to get a letter in his file on the first day of summer school? To add to the insanity, not one, but two probationary Principals got such letters. "For what horrendous abrogation of responsibility?" you might ask. " Did someone ignore a crisis in the school, a fight between gang members, an incident involving a sexual act or a robbery? Did someone fail to evacuate the school during a fire or a bomb threat? Did someone fail to handle a mob of students milling around the school's gates?"

Well folks, it was none of the above. Apparently some signs were not in the "right place." If I didn't hear this first-hand, I would assume it was an urban legend about the stupidity of the Board of Education, an anecdote born from the years of poor management at 110 Livingston Street. But no, it's the truth, and it comes from a rigid, constricted view of how things will be done that emanates from Tweed, the new regime that was going to clean house.

These are simply a few small windows through which we can peer into the environment in which professionals are required to work. I am not pointing a finger at those who have the selfesteem and leadership skills to support the Principals in their assigned schools, but at those who crush individuality, discourse and dissent through micro-management and punishment.

Indeed, there is, and has been now for three years, a disconnect between the public statements and pronouncements that the Chancellor makes and the reality experienced under the thumb of regional personnel. Fear is insidious and does not serve our citizens well, whether they are employees or stakeholders in a public school system. Cultures built on threats, intimidation and suppression of ideas are the very reason we have First Amendment rights and a Constitution like no other in the world.

I know this regime shall pass, and I know we supervisors and administrators will still be here. But the damage done to the soul of our system, the hearts of its employees and the minds of our children will not be easily undone. It will be challenging to replant the seeds that allow respect toward others to grow as well as to cultivate a hothouse of dynamic and challenging discourse.

Several years ago, in a private conversation with the new Chancellor, I described the "regime" I saw unfolding in Tweed. Perhaps I was over-emotional in expressing my concerns. I was upset. But as inappropriate as my remarks may have been, I, unfortunately, was on target, and my greatest fears have been realized as I watch the heavy hand of autocracy strangle the free flow of professional ideas about education and leadership that CSA members still encourage in their schools. We hope that the professional culture is not permanently changed.

UFT Contract Summary - from the UFT

Opening the Door to NYC Education Corruption Part I: Update on Retaliation of All Whistleblowers

Brooklyn Local Superintendent and Principal Cheated on Regents Tests, Then Covered Up Their Actions

Retaliation Against All Whistleblowers is the Name of the Illegal Game in New York City

Teachers Are Easily Sabotaged When a Principal Wants To Get rid of Them: La Guardia High School and Brooklyn Technical High School

A NYC Math Teacher Fights Back After Receiving an Unfair 'Unsatisfactory' Rating from a Principal

Silencing Opposition: A NYC Math Teacher Fights Back After Receiving an Unfair 'Unsatisfactory' Rating from a Principal

What Are We doing, When We Set Up a Small Group To Tell The Rest of Us What We Must Do?

America's Public School System is Taken Over by a Corporate Culture That Gives Us A Chief Academic Officer

Louis Gerstner, Jr. is Advocating for a Fool's Errand

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