New Action Proposals and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision for NYC Schools
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the September 2015 UFT Citywide Chapter Leaders Meeting). For a printable version click: Leaflet 2015 September In his first day back to school remarks “Equity and Excellence” Major Bill de Blasio laid out two goals for our schools and school childre
Is it time to put large schools back together?
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the June 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: June June 2015 Leaflet Front On June 1, 2015, New Action introduced a resolution (here) to consider the circumstances of campus high schools. In the last 15 years many of large high sc
School Budgets – Return to Unit Costing
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the March 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: May 2015 Leaflet Before Joel Klein, schools budgeted for a certain number of teachers (units). The DoE under Bloomberg/Klein deducted actual teacher salaries would be deducted from sch
Tripod Surveys – Don’t Count, Won’t Count – but Fariña Won’t Let Go
(from the New Action leaflet distributed at the March 2015 UFT Delegate Assembly). For a printable version click: May 2015 Leaflet In the new new evaluation law, there are no student surveys of teachers. But there were in the old new law, which is why the DoE prepared “tripod” surveys and sent
Put them back!
Klein broke up neighborhood schools – It’s time to fix this!
Teacher Diversity in Our Schools
Under Bloomberg/Klein the number of teachers of color in our system fell dramatically. The UFT’s Social and Economic Justice Committee (which New Action co-chairs) played a leading role making the issue of diversity of the NYC teaching staff a UFT priority, bringing it to our Delegate Assembly in
Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave– A Demand Whose Time Has Come!
UFT members are often shocked to learn that all they receive upon having a child is six weeks of UNPAID maternity leave. Teachers who devote their lives to fostering the growth and development of our city’s children find that they receive no real support from their employer when they have a chil
Special Education
Special Ed for 12 years under Bloomberg was devastated. It was if he took a bulldozer to special education under the guise of reform. Children with special needs suffered the most. Klein empowered principals and ignored children, emboldening incompetent principals. Under the Individuals with Disabil
In Support of Opt Out
In New York State our children are being inundated with Common Core exams that determine their teachers’ ratings (even gym, art and music teachers!) and narrow the entire school year to a rigid “teach to the test” agenda. We stand in solidarity with parents who want to opt their children out
Unfairly Discontinued Probationers
Probation is a training period. Principals, APs and mentors work with beginning teachers. But during the probationary period, teachers can be discontinued at any time. Under Bloomberg weak, abusive, or incompetent principals used probationers as scapegoats. They did not try to help these teachers. A