Doing this kind of thing is pretty much my only hobby. I feel strongly that all involved, informed, concerned parents should be supported when they’re trying to improve their children’s education.

Given your screen name, I should tell you that while I feel strongly that the UFT has done some very, very good things for kids in NYC, on balance, I’m of the opinion that the UFT pretty much operates like every other collective bargaining agent. Sometimes unions do things which are good for their employers and/or their employers’ clients; sometimes they don’t, and I reserve the right to call it like I see it. Meaning that I would rather doubt that the UFT likes me very much. I can give you seriously negative references from a few UFT officials if you’d like. =) And while I like the concept of charters very much, I am very opposed to the corrupt ones, and also to the system (NYCDOE, NYSED) which allows corruption to flourish in regular and charter schools throughout New York State.

In some cases some charter are NO different than corrupt NYCDoE schools… they can just hire fancier lawyers.

I certainly would not accept the word of anyone in power at the NYCDOE re this point of NYS law. However, I’d check with counsel before deciding whether to do concealed recording or not in a PTA type meeting.

Now, if they’d only apply the same conduct code to NYCDOE officials themselves! I recall Joel Klein being absolutely foul – rude and insulting – to Patrick Sullivan at a public meeting (CEC?) toward the end of 2009. I believe it was the night that Barack Obama announced he’d decided on selecting Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. I sat through the meeting simply staggered at the gross official nastiness and couldn’t imagine what could possibly have spurred such inappropriate speech … until the meeting ended, I went outside, and owners of Blackberries filled me in. I’m sorry I didn’t record that meeting, but rest at ease knowing that others most likely did.

NB – I have never met Patrick Sullivan, and until that meeting, had no idea who he even was. If that’s the way Tweed officialdom treat a legitimate thorn in their collective side, I’m not understanding why they would insist on better behavior from … parents. Or kids, for that matter.