Some More Stickers

We handed out 220 stickers in Albany this afternoon.  We've already got a bunch of pictures in from inside and outside the capital building.  Let's keep sticking stickers in Albany-- Cuomo can't ayoid this issue for long.

Stickers Across Albany

We've got some stickers all over Albany this morning.  With the teacher rally later this afternoon, we'd love to see you all post some pictures if you find one of our stickers.

A Teacher Rally on March 26th!

Wanna stand up and actually show your support for the teachers of New York?

OF COURSE YOU DO!!!

Well, NYSUT (the New York State United Teachers) is leading a rally in front of the Capital Building on March 26th.

Cuomo hasn't listened to his dropping approval ratings, he hasn't listened to union leaders and administrators voicing opposition, and he hasn't listened to his political peers.  So-- join NYSUT in bringing the fight to his doorstep.

We'll be there-- and we're preparing to leave our mark.

New York Voters Hate Andrew Cuomo's Education Agenda

The Daily Kos (in an article found here) points out exactly how much opposition Gov. Cuomo is facing on his crusade against teachers.  According to a Quinnepiac poll, 39% of voters actively disapprove of the governor's reform plans.

We couldn't say it any better than the article: "Cuomo is still the governor and he still has a lot of big money on his side. He can do a lot of damage. But you'd think this level of animosity toward his education agenda—anger so high it pulls him down—would at least give him pause. Then again, his modus operandi has always been more about bullying people into going along with him than about getting them to actually like him."

Teachers Union Fights Cuomo's School Reforms

Karen Magee, the president of NYSUT, breaks down exactly how Gov. Cuomo is turning over schools to wealthy supporters who will profit from privatization.

The article, found here, points out how the teacher's union intends to fight this privatization.

Keep in mind, despite universal disapproval from school unions, Cuomo seems more resolved than ever to push this plan through.

A Breakdown of Cuomo's Teacher Ratings

The Huffington Post (in an article found here) breaks down how teachers will be rated under Gov. Cuomo's plan:

50% of a teacher's rating would be based on state test scores, 35% of a teacher's rating would be based on the findings of an outside "independent observer" who will conduct a one time visit to the classroom.  This means, a total of 85% of our evaluations would be removed from the hands of our community and placed in the hands of the state.

85% of teacher evaluations is in the hands of the state, and that 85% determines what teachers stay, what teachers leave, and what teachers are labeled "ineffective."

Cuomo's Battle & The Union's Response

The New York Times (on January 20th-- after a rally in front of the Capital Building), reported on how exactly Cuomo's reform plan and budget would affect the teacher's union, the status of public schools, and the status of charter schools.

The article (found here), outlines the moves that school unions have made to publically oppose the Governor's plans.  Among other statements, this article quotes NYSUT's president (Karen Magee): "He has declared war on the public schools.”

But, who would really know more about schools... teachers and union leaders or a politician?

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Disagrees With Cuomo's Plan

Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joined the chorus of politicians openly opposing Gov. Cuomo's education reforms this week.  Heastie urged Cuomo that struggling schools "need additional resources-- not a takeover."

In the New York Daily News article (found here), Heastie argues that blaming teachers and threatening to take over schools or open charter schools is "not the right way to go."

Washington Post: Cuomo's Reforms Threatens New Teachers

The Washington Post (in an article found here), points out how risky it would be to become a teacher in New York should Gov. Cuomo's reforms pass.  The article points out how Cuomo's proposal would endanger the jobs of new teachers who are working through the standard learning curve of becoming a great professional teacher as well as young teachers looking to obtain tenure in their individual school districts.

For those of you keeping track-- that means the following entities have spoken out against Cuomo's reforms:

• Special Education teachers
• Publications considered to have a liberal bias: The Washington Post
• Publications considered to have a conservative bias: The New York Post
• Gov. Cuomo's Democrat peers
• School Union Leaders

As the list of people who oppose Cuomo's ideas grows-- it becomes harder and harder to understand his refusal to make changes or seek feedback from teachers.

Gov. Cuomo Declares War On Special Education

On March 19th, Mindy Rosier (a special-education teacher) wrote about how Gov. Cuomo's education reforms would endanger special education teacher's throughout the state by forcing special needs students to take tests that are "developmentally inappropriate for our students."

According to Rosier's article (found here), special education is one of the areas that would be hardest hit by Cuomo's plan. She ends with a succinct plea: "It is not acceptable for our public schools to be invaded by an entity that does not educate 'all' as they claim, that steals our students' resources, and misinforms the media and the general public. It is not acceptable to fear for our jobs because we educate the city’s most vulnerable children. This war on special education must be stopped!"

Bill de Blasio Calls Out Andrew Cuomo's Efforts

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio "took a shot at Andrew Cuomo" in a conference in Albany.  The mayor claims that Cuomo hasn't invested enough in the state's education system.

According to the Daily News Article (found here), de Blasio and Cuomo have been at odds for months over education reform.

New York Post: Democrats Disagree with Cuomo's Proposal

The New York Post reported (on March 21st) that Governor Cuomo's own party is "resisting his proposals for education reform."

The article (found here) points out that Cuomo's approval rating hit an all-time low this month (50%) partly due to the efforts of teacher's unions.

But, despite disapproval from unions, citizens, and his own party, he won't back down.