tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37529759204016943142008-05-16T11:58:40.560-04:00NYC Rubber Room ReportBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-13548910245747259962008-05-14T08:33:00.002-04:002008-05-14T08:45:13.530-04:00
Ok, it's a terrific idea to recruit people from "top college graduates" to teach in public schools, but doesn't this miss the point? Good teaching comes from the heart as much as from the mind, doesn't it?
Do future TFA teachers get trained in having "heart"? Does the TFA curriculum include concern and love for all kids, no matter what their nationality or special needs?
May 14, 2008
Teach forBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-76061167515859138862008-05-05T09:08:00.006-04:002008-05-05T12:01:22.197-04:00Absent Teacher Reserves (ATRs) Become a NYC Budget Battle Issue
Teachers Union Fights Effort To Stop Paying Reserve Pool
BY ELIZABETH GREEN - Staff Reporter of the Sun
May 5, 2008
URL: http://www2.nysun.com/article/75785
Facing pressure to grant the city authority to stop paying teachers in the so-called Absent Teacher Reserve, teachers whom school officials say "either can't or won't get a job" but are still on the city's payroll, the United Federation of Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-54480616123409048432008-05-04T21:29:00.007-04:002008-05-04T23:26:22.942-04:00Erin Einhorn Writes About The Re-Assigned Teachers
Picture of the Re-assignment center at 333 7th Avenue (right)
and gets her facts all wrong. She just doesn't do her research. Teachers remain for long periods of time in re-assignment centers because they must have, due to the UFT, due process before they are terminated. If it weren't for Randi Weingarten and the UFT contract, teachers could be fired in seconds by any employer, for almost any Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-33120239833527979162008-05-04T13:53:00.009-04:002008-05-04T15:15:42.552-04:00Michael Fandel, Former Teacher, Removed For Improbable Cause, Speaks Out.
From Betsy: Michael Fandel is a retired policeman and professional clown who decided to become a NYC public school teacher. He was appointed to Robert Wagner Middle School MS 167 in Manhattan (76th and third avenue), and then suddenly dumped. We know the drill.
From Michael Fandel:
Time to step out of my cave and seek the light and put the laser beam of truth on the modern day brown shirts. Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-32229808859728983252008-05-04T11:25:00.005-04:002008-05-04T12:57:49.676-04:00Hundreds of New York Government Workers are Double Dippers
We just have a simple question: by hiring retired government workers who are getting their pensions as well, does this keep hidden secrets "in house"?
$LAMMED BY BIG 'DIPPERS'
By SUSAN EDELMAN, BRUCE GOLDING, REUVEN BLAU and MELISSA KLEIN
LINK
May 4, 2008 -- Hundreds of New York government workers are double dippers - collecting pension paychecks for old jobs from which they retired, as theyBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-43901816223992732082008-04-29T07:44:00.004-04:002008-04-30T07:35:54.899-04:00About Teachers Sent to Reserve Positions
The New Teacher Project, one of the methods used to push NYC teachers out of the system through reserve status, is just another part of the rubberization process. The fact of the matter is that excellent, dedicated public school teachers and staff are being eliminated from the lives of our children for improbable cause and without justice or due process. Schools are closed, opened, moved, Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-82082760459856181202008-04-27T22:52:00.006-04:002008-04-28T07:36:36.202-04:00Study Shows State Courts Vacating Many Arbitration Awards for Employees, but Not for Employers
Marcia Coyle
The National Law Journal
04-21-2008
As consumer, employee and other groups carefully build momentum in Congress for changes in the nation's arbitration landscape and business groups just as carefully organize their opposition, a new empirical study reports a "disturbing trend" at the state level: state courts vacating many arbitration awards for employees, but not for employers.
Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-90859107888177033702008-04-27T16:18:00.005-04:002008-04-27T17:08:26.758-04:00Defining a Whistleblower: Who Are These People?
The International Association of Whistleblowers is holding their annual conference at the Senate in Washington DC May 11-17. Betsy Combier, Editor of Parentadvocates.org.,(see article on Whistleblowers and IAW) is Secretary of the IAW, an organization that focuses on the need to restore our public trust in our government, our employers, and our colleagues.
The whistleblower's unending story
Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-16157592389286301952008-04-27T14:12:00.004-04:002008-04-27T15:59:04.905-04:00Playing The Ponies: A Lesson Plan on Corporate/School Fraud and Embezzlement
Playing the ponies: a $5 million embezzlement case.(high schools)
From: Journal of Education for Business Date: September 1, 2006 Author: Howe, Martha A.; Malgwi, Charles A.
ABSTRACT. Fraud is a pervasive problem, and educating future business leaders, managers, and auditors about fraud is one way to attack the problem. This instructional fraud case chronicles the actual details surrounding Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-29824600744612143992008-04-26T13:09:00.003-04:002008-04-26T14:03:20.961-04:00Re-Assignment Rooms May Start in Rochester, NY
April 17, 2008
Teachers on paid suspension may get new tasks
David Andreatta, Staff writer,Democrat and Chronicle
LINK
The City School District will spend almost $9,900 this week to pay teachers accused of misconduct to stay home while they wait — sometimes for months — for investigations of their cases to grind to conclusion.
That practice would end under a plan being hatched by the Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-81337807431855575512008-04-23T23:49:00.004-04:002008-04-24T00:16:32.853-04:00White Chalk Crime™ : The REAL Reason Schools Fail
by Karen Horwitz, Editor and Founder of End Teacher Abuse website and organization
"White Chalk Crime" is a former teacher’s attempt to initiate real school reform by presenting testimony from over 140 award winning educators about a grave social ill plaguing our nation's schools - teacher abuse and its underlying issue White Chalk Crime™.
This book is a Trojan horse filled with words that Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-45548478166466514532008-04-21T16:05:00.002-04:002008-04-21T16:47:07.530-04:00CHANCELLOR'S REGS ANTI-TEACHER
The following was sent to UFT Vice President Richard Farkas and forwarded to the New York Teacher (5/03)
To the Editor :
At a well-attended chapter meeting this morning the staff loudly voiced its concerns about a rash of corporal punishment allegations that have been made against teachers at our school. All of these allegations proved to be unfounded but teachers have been removed from the Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-31419384155711719752008-04-12T01:52:00.003-04:002008-04-12T03:04:29.976-04:00When Did Our Children Become Commodities?
Balanced Literacy. Ramp Up. SAT’s. ACT’s. CTB’s. Riverside Tests. NCS. Whole Language. NWEA. Acuity. The list goes on…
LINK
Different year, different program, different method of assessment. As teachers we enter in September, only to learn that the program we used to teach our kids last year isn’t going to be used anymore.
This year, we have a better program! Forget the fact that you invested Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-5199311519780940102008-04-10T00:20:00.004-04:002008-04-10T00:35:14.219-04:00Evaluating Teachers With Test Scores Banned In NY
Empire State Becomes 1st In Nation To Eliminate Practice, Paving Way For Easier Tenure
Bloomberg Suffers 2nd Devastating Defeat In A Week
Reporting
Marcia Kramer, CBS News
(picture of Mayor Michael Bloomberg is at right)
NEW YORK (CBS) ― First it was congestion pricing, now there has been another big defeat for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. A bill making it easier for city teachers toBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-61175896804309623132008-04-06T11:48:00.004-04:002008-04-06T12:09:53.968-04:00Throughout the New York City and Long Island Area Concern Increases Over Teacher-Tenure Laws
Alarm over planned changes to teacher-tenure laws
BY JOHN HILDEBRAND, Newsday.com, April 3, 2008
john.hildebrand@newsday.com
LINK
Long Island's school board leaders are raising alarms over changes in teacher-tenure laws now being negotiated in Albany - changes they say could potentially tie their hands in evaluating teachers based on students' academic performance.
As proposed, the legal Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-43199929662263372322008-04-06T11:08:00.003-04:002008-04-06T11:17:11.299-04:00In Yorktown, Principal John F. Sullivan is Thrown Out
From the desk of Betsy Combier: the removal of Mr. Sullivan and the reading of the reasons given shows that the rubberization process is random and arbitrary, and needs to be changed. Mr. Sullivan is so popular that the 1,300 students at Yorktown High School walked out when he was fired.
Principal’s Fast Ouster a Mystery
By JOSEPH BERGER, NY TIMES, April 6, 2008
YORKTOWN
THIS is a story aboutBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-21670573253028234962008-04-05T20:16:00.004-04:002008-04-05T21:34:22.755-04:00Susan Lee Schwartz on Human Nature and Principal Immunity From Accountability
From former re-assigned teacher Susan Lee Schwartz:
Hi there,
It's me with the insight of the day.
I read something that applies to our plight, as we all try to wrap our minds round the enormous disregard for all of us as human beings by the principals and administrations that savagely destroy our careers and lives, with no regard for the law of the land, or the union contract which binds Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-74744928418427193962008-03-31T23:14:00.002-04:002008-04-01T00:05:48.378-04:00Behold, I Send You Forth as Sheep in the Midst of Wolves
“Behold, I Send You Forth as Sheep in the Midst of Wolves”
Posted: March 26th, 2008, by learnersinherit
Posted by learnersinherit
LINK
There is a Great Divide between old and new teachers, but according to the welcoming committee at the NYCTF New Teacher Ceremony, the reason is because “older teachers don’t like you. And they shouldn’t. They are afraid of you because you have the power to do Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-59763835689670284472008-03-26T21:45:00.003-04:002008-03-26T22:37:56.899-04:00DOE to Teachers: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
City Limits WEEKLY
Week of: March 24, 2008
Number: 632
TEACHERS' GOOD DEEDS PUNISHED BY DEPT. OF ED
Under a new DOE program, those who teach lower-performing students likely will earn poor marks themselves. One Jamaica High School teacher asks: What kind of incentive is that? By JB McGeever, City Limits
Two times a year the New York State English Regents Exam descends on the high schools of Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-68801079379235267262008-03-23T20:42:00.003-04:002008-03-23T22:11:15.956-04:00Vacating a Section 3020-a arbitration award
Vacating a Section 3020-a arbitration award
Westhampton Beach UFSD v Ziparo, App. Div., Second Dept., 275 AD2d 411
It is not unusual for a party to decide to challenge the determination of the hearing officer or panel following a Section 3020-a disciplinary action. Essentially a Section 3020-a decision is treated as an arbitration award and thus the provisions of Article 75 of the Civil Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-9699006747374451482008-03-23T15:12:00.003-04:002008-03-23T16:11:15.610-04:00COURT SURVIVAL GUIDE: a funny serious look at surviving in court when you are not a judge or a lawyer
1. This COURT Survival Guide is offered as educational material only, and is by no means complete nor all-inclusive. There is a wealth of information here which can be applied to any case where a government agency is bringing a criminal action against a Citizen, such as traffic and IRS cases, the information in total may or may not apply to you. And there will always be more details and Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-10899219973615932072008-03-22T00:00:00.003-04:002008-03-22T02:33:30.970-04:00Joel Klein Storms Out of the Panel For Educational Policy Meeting March 17, 2008
Joel Klein, the man who is pretending to be the Chancellor (but as he has no contract he is in violation of Education Law 2590-h, see the article The "Who Are You Kidding??" Award Goes To: Joel Klein, New York City Board of Education Pretender"), stormed out in anger after the NYC 'school board' or "Panel For Educational Policy" (PEP) voted to support his new 8th grade promotion policy, and theBetsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-29964680596613019912008-03-18T06:33:00.002-04:002008-03-18T06:43:36.025-04:00Assembly Bill Would Bar Linking Class Test Scores to Tenure
March 18, 2008
By JENNIFER MEDINA, NY TIMES
While the state was consumed by the downfall of Eliot Spitzer last week, the Assembly passed a bill that would pre-emptively bar New York City and other school districts from linking teacher tenure to students’ test scores.
Randi Weingarten, the president of the United Federation of Teachers, said on Monday that she had not pressed for the Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-57346645067505158762008-03-14T09:34:00.006-04:002008-03-14T10:43:16.042-04:00Zeke Vanderhoek Starts a New School That Pays High Salaries (as if teaching is all about money)
The NY TIMES asks: Would six-figure salaries attract better teachers?"
Elissa, what kind of question is THAT?
Teachers who work in the public schools take on one of the hardest jobs around. I know from my experience as a mom to four young women, from my work with teachers for many years in terms of getting "their" kids services in special education settings, preventing "their" kids from Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3752975920401694314.post-31914202928565161472008-03-09T17:09:00.006-04:002008-03-16T16:52:59.645-04:00Let The Sunshine In
Dear Readers,
remind yourself every day that information is power. Oh, and by the way, in New York State you may tape anyone who is talking with you or who calls you, and you do not have to tell the person that you are taping him/her. Document everything you do, and you will succeed in opening our government to public scrutiny (we DO want that)...
Betsy
Sunshine Week: Your Right To Know
March Betsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16854478415247528997noreply@blogger.com