Category Archive

More than teaching
Nov 12, 2009

Teaching is so much more than test results. Regardless of the critics’ demands, we can’t teach and children can’t learn when they are feeling sick or hungry or worried about adult-size problems.

Building an army of advocates
Oct 29, 2009

As teachers and unionists, we double our impact. We can bring to bear not only our individual strengths to educate and empower children, but also our collective strength. With the power of our numbers, we can successfully advocate on behalf of children who usually can’t do it for themselves.

Tales from Lake Wobegon
Oct 15, 2009

The Department of Education has created a Potemkin Village of false facades and fake accomplishments while driving the workers behind the scenes harder and harder to maintain the illusion.

What we do for kids
Oct 01, 2009

I wear my union label proudly — and perhaps no more proudly than I did in late September, when the UFT again demonstrated its commitment to the city’s children, especially its poor children, in three separate ways.

Getting off to a good start
Sep 17, 2009

As we begin a new school year, we also need to begin thinking in a new way about how we move our profession forward.

A message from UFT President Michael Mulgrew
Aug 13, 2009

Being a New York City teacher is a rewarding and fulfilling profession, but don’t let anyone tell you that it will be easy. Certainly, the first few years will be among the most challenging of your career. As you navigate the road ahead, remember that the union is here to help you do your job.

A final message
Jun 29, 2009

No one has had a better job than I, working at the vortex between public education and the labor movement, the two most powerful engines for social and economic justice.

June priorities
Jun 04, 2009

Some people … prefer an either-or stance, black-and-white positions. But we know that there are no simple answers in a system as complex as ours.

Turn around — don’t close — struggling schools
May 21, 2009

It’s time for a new strategy — one that of course focuses on instruction, but also aims at the root causes of chronic school failure, one that addresses the needs of the community and its families.

The case for common standards
May 07, 2009

On May 1, UFT President Randi Weingarten testified before the House Education and Labor Committee on the need for rigorous, common academic standards.

The promise and pitfalls of charter schools
Apr 23, 2009

We need a vision of public education that has district schools and charter schools working together, side by side, to educate all. Policies that pit school against school have created a senseless war that accomplishes nothing educationally and claims students as its casualties.

Sharing the pain
Apr 02, 2009

Amidst the current economic uncertainty, myths are circulating about the pension programs and health insurance of municipal workers. These myths not only misrepresent the problems, they stand in the way of finding realistic solutions.

The president’s education agenda
Mar 19, 2009

What was it about President Obama’s first major speech on education that left so many teachers surprised, disappointed, and even angry? UFT President Randi Weingarten offers her perspective.

Now more than ever unions matter
Mar 05, 2009

Checks and balances
Feb 19, 2009

Because of a death in her family, President Weingarten was unable to write a column this week. Instead, here are excerpts from her testimony on Feb. 6 before the New York State Assembly Committee on Education’s hearing on the city’s school governance law.

Who speaks for the kids?
Feb 05, 2009

Our governance system needs fixing. In this school budget battle, where is the independent voice to champion kids?

The greatest economic challenge of our lifetime
Jan 22, 2009

We must and we will fight for our economic security — but more than that is needed.

Déjà vu?
Dec 11, 2008

Will we be returning to the post-fiscal-crisis years, when students were forced to learn in schools falling apart because of years of neglect of routine maintenance?

Protecting kids and colleagues in tough times
Nov 20, 2008

We must not permit a return to systematic disinvestment in our schools and opportunistic demonization of teachers and teacher unions.

A new day
Nov 06, 2008

We will be better able to face the challenges to come secure in the knowledge that President Obama and Vice President Biden are well equipped to lead us to a better tomorrow.

The leader we need now
Oct 23, 2008

Education has taken a back seat in the presidential campaign, and that is unfortunate. However, it is clear that it is an important issue for Barack Obama.

Civic lessons
Oct 09, 2008

Talk about teachable moments! Every day lately makes me think of another lesson I could rip right from the front pages of the newspaper.

Teaching is a team sport
Sep 25, 2008

Perhaps Sen. Obama put it best when he told the AFT convention in Chicago this summer, “Reform must be done with teachers, not to teachers.”

Letter to the members
Sep 12, 2008

We will continue to broadcast the message that teachers in classrooms are the linchpin to giving our kids the world-class education that is their right.

Letter to the members
Sep 12, 2008

We will continue to broadcast the message that teachers in classrooms are the linchpin to giving our kids the world-class education that is their right.

A message from UFT President Randi Weingarten
Aug 07, 2008

The state's fiscal situation has deteriorated, and our governor has been sounding the alarm. Plus, a special message for new colleagues.

What's good for the goose
Jun 05, 2008

Come the end of the school year, it seems almost everybody gets evaluated except those who run the school system.

2008: A year of milestones
May 22, 2008

The need for permanent, independent advocacy — to strengthen the parent-teacher connection and to ensure an ongoing voice for the community in education — was the point of my Spring Conference speech, which is excerpted here.

Supporting school safety
Apr 24, 2008

Tenure: Mine, yours and theirs
Apr 10, 2008

I made the decision to run because the threats nationally are more challenging even than here.

360-degree accountability - March 27, 2008
Mar 27, 2008

The public school system has always lacked an accurate, fair and transparent accountability system that takes into account all the aspects of good education. We have a solution.

A simple message — but loud: March 13, 2008
Mar 13, 2008

Advocacy groups and elected officials have rallied around our Keep the Promises campaign.

Seeds of knowledge
Feb 28, 2008

We will continue to stand up for a well-rounded education, which is why we have begun airing a new television ad, “Seeds of Knowledge” to illustrate the importance of educating the whole child.

Keeping our promises to kids
Feb 14, 2008

Facing the new challenges
Jan 31, 2008

In her semi-annual letter to members, UFT President Randi Weingarten says the challenges educators now face are coming from "both Tweed and from our worrisome economy."

Why we’re for Hillary
Jan 17, 2008

One need spend only a few seconds with her to see that her vintage line about making America better so that “everybody has the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential” is really her moral imperative.

City needs to show respect for educators
Dec 06, 2007

What do teachers need most of all? Respect and the support to do their jobs.

One step forward, two steps back
Nov 15, 2007

Accountability is important, but shouldn’t we be building upon and fixing the New York State and federal NCLB accountability systems rather than inventing a totally new one?

Welcome to the UFT
Nov 01, 2007

It is thrilling to see the UFT promoting in such a big way our core mission of organizing working people to collectively fight for a better life, not only for themselves but for the children of needy families they serve.

Turning negative to positive
Oct 18, 2007

We have shut the door on individual merit pay and we have paved the way for others to see working together as a team and respecting teacher voice as the keys to successful schooling.

Fixing NCLB — the right way
Oct 04, 2007

The proposal to mandate individual test-score-based performance pay has gained broad support from both sides of the aisle, despite a full-court press against it from the AFT and the NEA.

Mutual admiration society
Sep 20, 2007

Perhaps the old lawyer’s admonition, “Don’t ask a question whose answer you don’t already know,” slipped the mind of former U.S. Justice Department Attorney Joel Klein when he decided to survey parents, teachers and students about their views on our public schools.

Opportunities and challenges
Sep 06, 2007

Principals who don't yet understand will have to learn pretty quickly that they need you as partners if they want their schools to work.

New school year brings...Opportunities and Challenges
Sep 06, 2007

Principals who don’t yet understand will have to learn pretty quickly that they need you as partners if they want their schools to work.

A message from UFT President Randi Weingarten
Aug 09, 2007

You are at the gateway of the most rewarding experience of your lives: becoming a teacher in a New York City public school.

A message from UFT President Randi
Aug 09, 2007

Your new job will not be easy, but don’t lose faith. As you navigate the road ahead, remember that your union is here to support you throughout your career as an educator in New York City.

Right makes might
Jun 07, 2007

Some years you are ready to pull your hair out. Then, once in awhile, while nothing is perfect, there’s a year like this one.

A marriage of missions
May 24, 2007

Whatever else I accomplish in my life, I think I will never be more proud than the day that Gov. Spitzer announced his executive order to give 60,000 home child-care providers in New York State the right to unionize.

Build it and they will come
May 10, 2007

If we are to close the achievement gap, we must make sure that the children who are furthest behind have the teachers they need to help them catch up.

A voice for parents and teachers
Apr 26, 2007

When people are not paying attention, sometimes the only way to be heard is to raise your voice. It may not be considered good pedagogy, but it is an integral part of collective action, and the truth is, it often works.

The Dayenu budget
Apr 12, 2007

The basic foundation for a more equitable school funding system that meets the mandate of CFE has been laid.

Assessing teacher quality
Mar 29, 2007

One thing I have learned after years of advocacy work is that it’s very hard to change people’s belief systems.

The power struggle
Mar 15, 2007

Guest columnist Diane Ravitch says it was a departure for her when she attended a protest rally on Feb. 28 in New York City, called “Put the Public Back into Public Education.”

Is there any there there?
Feb 15, 2007

The plans revealed last month by Gov. Spitzer and Chancellor Klein reflect starkly different values and approaches.

Here we go again
Feb 01, 2007

As I listened to the mayor’s announcement of yet another reorganization in his State of the City address, I started outlining the letter I hope many of you have received at home by now. We’ve reprinted it here.

Back in the political arena
Dec 07, 2006

The latest — and hopefully last — court decision in the 13-year-old Campaign for Fiscal Equity case is one of those classic “Is the glass half empty or half full?” tests. The answer depends on your outlook.

Two windows, two wins
Nov 16, 2006

This was surely a week worth savoring.

Ask teachers what they need
Oct 27, 2006

The folks on the front line – teachers – are rarely asked what they need to strengthen our schools. A nonpartisan advocacy organization called Common Good recently did just that and published a report based on diaries kept by eight teachers recounting their workday experiences. The study makes a compelling case that time spent on student assessments and testing, mandated teaching procedures, student discipline, school management and paperwork is overtaking the school day and preventing educators from actually teaching.

Sweat the small stuff
Oct 05, 2006

As you probably have noticed — or at least I hope you have — the UFT has launched a new online reporting system to make it easier for members to report threats to the safety and security of students and staff.

A voice for us
Sep 21, 2006

UFT President Randi Weingbarten is taking a page out of Al Shanker’s book. Starting this month, she's writing a monthly column in The New York Times “Week in Review” section.

Focusing on what matters
Sep 07, 2006

Teachers always remember what I call that “Ah-ha!” moment — the instant when you get through to a student and open a mind or change a life.

A message to new teachers from Randi Weingarten
Aug 17, 2006

Welcome! You are at the gateway of the most rewarding experience of your lives: becoming a teacher in a New York City public school.

Bridging differences
Jun 08, 2006

I thought this dialogue between Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier, who are renowned education thinkers from different camps, would make a fitting final column.

Common sense about class size
May 25, 2006

The UFT President used the occasion of this year’s Spring Conference to launch our new campaign to lower class sizes once and for all.

A matter of time
May 11, 2006

In my conversations with members and visits to schools I am noting lately a growing awareness of the need to build our union’s capacity for what I call collective activism to meet the challenges ahead.

Carpe Diem
Apr 27, 2006

The spring break and a couple of plane rides helped UFT President Randi Weingarten catch up on reading some news publications that have been piling up. Here’s what she garnered from the marathon news catch-up.

Taylor Law not tailored to workers
Apr 13, 2006

At a recent City Council hearing, I outlined some of the problems with the Taylor Law, the state’s 39-year-old collective-bargaining law, and two commonsense proposals to fix it.

Parents and teachers: The beginning of a beautiful friendship
Mar 30, 2006

Tim Johnson, the chairman of the Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Council, is guest columnist for UFT President Randi Weingarten in this issue.

Blowing the whistle for kids
Mar 16, 2006

What happens to those who shine the spotlight on just plain bad practices — educational practices that aren’t good for children, for example?

20/20 with blinders on
Mar 02, 2006

“20/20’s” broadside against public education, “Stupid in America,” which aired last month, should have come as no surprise.

Whose contract is it anyway?
Feb 16, 2006

If the chancellor, when it suits him, is going to call the UFT/DOE contract OUR contract, then we should fight to make it ours.

Making budget choices
Feb 02, 2006

Here are some excepts from UFT President Randi Weingarten's speech at the union's annual breakfast with state legislators last month.