  |
| |
|
UFT fumes over cynical guide to firing educators December 9, 2004 Educators are outraged after the disclosure that the New York City Department of Education distributed a cynical guide that instructs principals on methods for firing tenured teachers and paraprofessionals. A 61-page guide from the department, led by Chancellor Joel Klein, has incensed staffers. The manual details strategies in legally disciplining, and eventually firing, tenured teachers and paraprofessionals as well as other members of the United Federation of Teachers. The UFT has been working without a contract since June 1, 2003. Copies were obtained by New York City newspapers and the UFT. "For the last year, we have been fighting the most hostile, the most arrogant, the most disrespectful and more and more the most incompetent schools administration since the mid-1960s," said UFT President Randi Weingarten. "This 61-page 'gotcha' manual is a perfect example." Instead of advice on ways to encourage professionalism and creativity or manage budgets, the guide spells out how to write disciplinary letters that will withstand arbitrators' scrutiny. "I've never seen a document that is so unbalanced, so focused on finding the worst in teachers and not even attempting to figure out how to help principals make their schools better," Weingarten told the New York Post. Department of Education officials call the guide a training and technical assistance manual, and have not commented further. According to UFT officials, the guide contains a number of inaccuracies, including how long the workday is and that principals can require a doctor's note if a teacher is out sick for three consecutive days. (Teachers are still working under the provisions of the expired contract, which provides 10 "self-treated" sick days a year.) The UFT is the largest local affiliate of New York State United Teachers. Maria Neira, who became NYSUT's second vice president in September after 25 years as a UFT member, said she was appalled when she learned of the firing guide. She connected the lack of a contract with Mayor Michael Bloomberg's troubled 15-month overhaul of the New York City public school system. "Over the past year, members are dealing with more regulatory edicts with fewer resources," Neira said. "Morale is lower than I've ever seen when it comes to administration, but not when it comes to our kids. Our teachers, paras and secretaries are still there, every day, trying their best to help kids. It's too bad that the department of education is not working with the UFT on a contract that would retain and support teachers, instead of trying to 'get' them, as this guide suggests." The 61-page manual can be viewed at www.uft.org. |
|
| | |