The Social Justice Caucus of the UFT
Our 2nd event of the 2014 Summer Series on Wednesday 7/30 features a discussion on the new contract. More information below and here.
A preview of the contract and our discussion by John Elfrank-Dana, Chapter Leader of Murray Bergtraum High School:
After alerting the UFT that my principal
failed to invite me to this Advance training in July, finally there was
traction and I got a belated registration request (they had to reopen it
as it was closed already).
I found at least a few quite disturbing changes to Advance.
1. Formal observations count for no more than informals. So in a 1 formal/ 3 informal option each counts for 25% of the Measures of Teacher Practice.
This gives even more weight to those "gotcha"
observations where principals can cherry pic their facts. Yours truly
was rated Effective during formals when the video camera was rolling,
but less so during informals where they can claim whatever they want
happened.
What is the UFT's plan to counter this? Will they resurrect Principal in Need of Improvement?
2. Domains: Domains 2 and 3 now count
for 85% of your overall MeasureOf Teacher Performance (MOTP). Used to be
domains 1 and 4 had more. That gave the teacher the option to show
professionalism outside the classroom. Not any longer.
3. Feedback: We
called out the administration early on last year from not providing
feedback within 48 hours, as the Advance FAQ defined effective feedback
as within 48 hours. This is not the written report. Under the new and
improved Advance they have 15 school days to provide feedback. They
moved up the report to 45 days from 90.
They also now have the
right to observe you a 2nd time before they give you feedback for the
last informal. How this is supposed to help teachers is beyond me. It
keeps us looking over our shoulders just in case you thought you might
have a little respite from the hyper scrutiny.
4. 3rd Observation Protocol: Brahman
Caste Teachers - Those rated Highly Effective, get a 3rd observation
protocol the rest of us slugs don't. It's some combination of peer
review and an informal or two. More gnawing at solidarity.
I got the last word in
the PD. The discussion was how to motivate members to choose peer
observation as a PD method. I said we used to have that carrot in Art.
8J Option A where a colleague's observation counted for a formal, in
lieu of a formal observation from our AP. No such luck any more! See how
far the UFT has lead us down the path to our own demise?
For more discussion on the new contract and mobilizing your chapter please join us
Wednesday July 30th 4:00pm-7:00pm
The Dark Horse 17 Murray St. NYC Near City Hall, Chambers St, WTC $5 Drafts & Well Drinks
Life Under the New Contract
This
fall we will be returning to a radically changed work environment,
which educators are approaching with a mix of hope and anxiety. How can
school workers use the new contract to advocate for themselves and their
students? How can we activate new people, strengthen our union
chapters, and empower ourselves at work? Which members are more
vulnerable under the new contract, and how can we support them? MORE
wants to campaign this year around tenure, paperwork reduction, ATR
rights and chapter leader elections, and we need your ideas and energy!
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Wednesday, July 30, 2014
MORE Summer Series Today: Life Under the New UFT Contract
I can't make this today - taking soon to be demised Rockaway ferry into city for matinee - but this is only a first shot at life under the new contract. How about the health care cost savings?
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