High-stakes collapse
High-stakes teacher evaluations, which leaned heavily on student test scores, had no discernible impact on improving student achievement or student test scores, according to a report by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University...
Honor is due
For the last 22 months, the medical personnel and first responders of our city have answered the call to help people in need.
Food waste and pollution
Every day, hundreds of thousands of plastic-wrapped breakfasts are given out to New York City schoolchildren, many of whom eat breakfast at home. Teachers say, “You don’t have to eat it but take it anyway.” At the end of breakfast time, teachers tie...
Banned books
The news that some schools are banning the novels of Toni Morrison is cause for alarm. The notion of protecting impressionable students from the uncertainties of the world and the potential for dark human impulses must be dispelled.
NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
Thank you to Tom Murphy for the very necessary, very illuminating “From the Chapter Leader” column in the Oct. 28 issue about the new NYC Medicare Advantage Plus plan
Remembering the 1960 UFT strike
Thinking back to the early days of the union, all I have to say is God bless Al Shanker. He is responsible for getting us all the things that we have!
NYC, slash class sizes now
The New York City Council bill to reduce class sizes in our public schools is designed to protect our children’s health and their academic prospects by ensuring adequate space for every student in every classroom.
Happy Halloween
Enjoy your Halloween weekend!
The benefits of mindfulness
UFT Vice President for Elementary Schools Karen Alford writes that it’s been a stressful year, and the pandemic is still affecting all our lives. Some UFT members have gotten a jump-start on their own social-emotional wellness, with training in...
More challenges ahead
We are operating in a constantly changing environment. You’re teaching and supporting children while enforcing social distancing and mask-wearing, conducting instructional lunches and navigating partial classroom closures. As flexible as we’ve all...