One word:Unbelievable!
Another cutback! Lovely, Randi....I see how hard you fought on this one.
I've predicted it before and will predict it again....Randi will negotiate a lagged payroll like we had in the early 1990's. No giveback, no reduction in benefits and no cut in the schools is ever too disturbing for Randi and her minions.
Can't wait to see what happens with all the ATR's there will be this year. Is anybody monitoring to see if the ATR's are being hired before new teachers? I think not.
I really want Randi to fight against the way teacher salaries are budgets and teacher transfers. A senior teacher in my school (in Queens) wanted to transfer to Staten Island as her husband's job transferred to NJ and it would be an easier commute. She is an outstanding teacher with accolades from everybody and got not even one bite. Thanks Randi!!! Good job defending teacher rights.
Teacher's Choice has always been a joke, IMO. By handing us a pittance, the city can claim that they are funding teachers, the union can claim the sort of hollow 'victory' that Randi is now claiming, and principals have an excuse not to properly supply teachers with the most basic tools we need to do our jobs effectively.
I know that I personally spent at least $1500.00 last year on school supplies, ranging from transparencies for lessons, to chart paper that I am mandated to use, all the way down to pencils for all the students who have to be tested but can't be held responsible for bringing in their own #2's.
Now, with a 40% reduction, will we be responsible for buying 40% fewer supplies, or will we be expected to make up the difference out of our own pockets? Who is going to pay for all the lovely backing paper and border we need to make our principals look good?
I have an idea. Let's ask Randi to reduce our union dues $10 a paycheck. That would put an additional $260 in our pockets that we could use to help educate kids, and hey---isn't that what Randi's all about?
Look, it's just Randi being Randi... Hey, can we trade her for Manny Ramirez?
Have you been involved in campaigning beyond criticising the union from the sidelines. Look, we undeniably took a hit on Teachers Choice. But given the horrible budgetary situation, isn't the loss, though regrettable, small by comparison with what we have been able to hold on and, ( I know you may diagree) in some ways gain (55/25.) May I suggest that teachers refuse to donate a ream of xerographic paper or siphon a dollar amount of their remaining Teachers Choice when strongarmed by principals to do so. Basic supplies and materials are not supposed to be funded out of teachers' pockets or Teachers Choice. The dollar loss in our new Teachers Choice allotment is less than what many of our colleagues donate because they are intimidated by principals or just don't know better.
55/25 seems great until you witness what is happening to experienced, (15 years+), teachers = ATR's, Rubber Room, Charter schools, TFA, inexperience being celebrated. Budget tightening is understandable. When Randi puts on a positive spin and takes credit for a Teacher's Choice "loss" when so many other negative things have occurred is a problem. Campaigning or not.
Actually, Pogue, what Ms. Weingarten negotiated for most working teachers will be 55/27, though the patronage mill folks don't generally say it. While all newbies will pay, it's likely that far fewer than half will benefit, particularly when you consider the potential for future Weingarten givebacks.
And we paid dearly for it--not only the calamitous 05 contract, much-hyped over on Edwize, but the merit pay that isn't merit pay, which dovetails nicely with that sixth class that isn't a sixth class.
I'm not sure whether that 3rd reorg, the one that made principals need to consider the salaries of incoming employees was another quid pro quo, or whether Ms. Weingarten simply supported it out of sheer and utter lack of vision.
You will remember she did that right after the bus fiasco, when Bloomberg and Klein's PR was at an all-time low.
She certainly helped them get back on track, though.
That photo says it all.
School Safety reports may cause blindness! Side effects of cuts to teachers choice a good thing. 75% reduction in paper cuts guaranteed 85% reduction in toxic fumes from dry erase markers.
Teachers need to file grievances under Article 7R if they don't get basic supplies. We are entitled to them and most schools don't use this provision of the Contract. Insist that your Chapter Leader demand basic supplies, particularly with the cutback in Teachers' Choice.
Huffing on dry erase markers got me through the day, man!
Seriously, though: My school was pretty well-stocked...if you could make the 30-minute window of opportunity down at the supply room. I constantly forgot and would find myself borrowing from other teachers.
As a former NYC Public School Teacher I find this APPALLING! I remember 2005 when Teacher's Choice went up to $260 and that didn't even seem like a lot... This cut is a huge slap in the face.
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