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Please, no bumping. It could destroy everything we’ve created over the last eight years–our special programs, our unique theme based curriculum, our culture, our community, our values and standards.

Just ONCE I’d like to hear Chancellor Klein say, “These potential cuts are unacceptable.”

Just once.

Ok. I just spent 40 minutes listening to the Klein webinar for principals. I can say for sure that Klein is not too excited about the potential of having to lay off anybody. The main reason being that layoffs will cause a major disruption for the DOE. Layoffs with bumping will be the biggest game of “teacher checkers” that the city has faced since 1976. And yes, he did state that U rated teachers and then ATR’s should be the first to go. That idea is wrong on many different levels. However, I say there are a lot of politics left in play before June 1st which is day that principals will get their preliminary budgets. (The budgets with the possibilities of reduced staff) The webinar did NOT mention that items such as pay freezes, step freezes, a reduced school year, or furlough days could be implemented. I really think that NY must look at these ideas as a way to avert layoffs. At the end of the day there will most likely be layoffs. However, I believe the DOE/UFT can avoid the massive extent of these layoffs through negotiation. *I highly encourage you all to spend 45 mins and actually listen to the webinar, it is quite interesting.

I’m a proud, competent , NYC public school teacher (I could say more but I don’t want to appear as arrogant as Evan and Sydney who seem to think the entire system would fall apart without them, plus my momma always told me “not to toot my own horn”) In my school I think that ALL of the teachers do a wonderful job (new and experienced, young and old … we’re all in this together and we are definitely committed to our students) I’ll even go so far as to say that although I may disagree with my adminstration on some important issues including curriculum I also believe that they have the best interest of our students in mind. We work under difficult conditions… an old dilapidated building in desperate need of repairs, upgrading, cleaning, painting, etc. Nearly half of our students are ELLs, many require special education services, most qualify for free lunch, some are homeless… you name it, we have it all….. but the children thrive inspite of everything because of the committed and dedicated staff. I do not want to see ANY of my fellow teachers, paras or aides lose their positions. We are at a bare minimum now and to increase class size or to stop supplying support services will definitely harm OUR children. So what can we do to help insure that our students, our coworkers and our schools are not destroyed by the proposed budget cuts. Well first off I agree with Mulgrew that everyone concerned should be contacting their representatives and sending a strong message that our lawmakers in Albany must find a way to balance the budget without such drastic cuts to education. OK, but what if they insist on cutting the funding to NYC Public Schools? I for one would prefer no increase over the prospect of laying off even a single teacher or increasing the size of any classes. I’ve read that the union may not be willing to accept a 0% pay raise because the other unions were given a 4% raise and it would destroy the whole idea of collective bargaining (Not sure if I have that right but it’s something like that.) OK, so I think I have a great idea! We accept the 4% increase and then WE give it back to our schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Those schools that have more experienced teachers will receive a bigger “rebate” to help offset their higher payroll. Those with less experienced teachers will still be ok because they don’t have to spend as much on salaries. Obviously since there is a definite lack of trust and respect between the two side (UFT and DOE) we would need a commitment from the DOE that they would not reduce the schools’ budgets based on this “rebate” amount and we’d also have to make it clear that this is just a one year program and hopefully when the economy improves next year it will no longer be necessary.

It’s late, I’m tired and I’m not sure if this could really work, but I think someone out there who knows better should think about it and see if they could make it work. Comments? (p.s. I have no idea how to add blank lines to show paragraphs here so I had to resort to adding a bunch of spaces. Sorry if it doesn’t turn out the way I hope.)

Stop Bashing Teachers,

Why should teachers contribute a nickel of a hard-earned raise (yet to be negotiated) to an administration that will use it to continue attacking us, deforming the education of our students and dismantling the public school system?

Why should teachers, or any other working person in this country, contribute a nickel to ameliorate a crisis that is not of their making?

there are a few bad teachers just like in any job…bad principals, chancellors, doctors, lawyers…you get the point. so we blame the teacher for all the kids faults, like michael said. TRUTHFULLY, KLEIN has given up on educating those children whose parents ARE NOT committed to the charter school system. afterall, an uninvolved parent means a poor student in his mind. he is creating a two-class system, similar to what will happen to medicine. doctors for everyone, for example our uft dentists, sorry guys, and real dentists whom we pay. teachers are expendable. with scripted lessons and a few coaches to keep them on track hire the young and ignorant and they automatically leave in 3-5 years. you know the rest….