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Arts programs may be on the chopping block this fall as school principals look for ways to cut costs in the face of Mayor Adams’ school budget cuts. But for many educators, the pandemic has proven that arts instruction is more important than ever.

Leaving no stone unturned at Green-Wood

A tour about pollinators and another that focuses on architecture are just two of the many educational tours that can serve as class trips at The Green-Wood Cemetery, a 478-acre National Historic Landmark chartered in 1838 in western Brooklyn.

Unfair funding

It's time for the Department of Education’s Fair Student Funding formula to live up to its name and provide New York City public schools with the resources to help all our children succeed. The per-pupil funding formula that has determined the...

Mulgrew: We won’t swap time for money

UFT President Michael Mulgrew told members at a virtual union town hall on Aug. 22 that one item that would not be on the bargaining table in contract talks expected to begin sometime this fall would be longer workdays in return for larger pay raises...

Fostering success

New York City has taken the first steps to support students in the foster care system by beginning to establish a government team dedicated to that purpose. It must go the rest of the way and help these kids get everything they need to thrive.

Hopeful sign for class-size bill

The landmark class size bill passed by both houses of the state Legislature in June has not yet become law because it still lacks the governor’s signature.

Stepping up to support families

The UFT doubled down this year on its customary end-of-summer initiatives to support students and teachers with school supply giveaways, information, resources and plain old fun.

Tips for preparing your classroom

Your classroom is more than a physical space. Here are some ideas to consider as you begin a new school year, whether you’re setting up a classroom for the first time or looking at one with fresh eyes after the summer.

Blooming with pride

Fourth-year teacher and sustainability coordinator Amanda Cleary launched a garden club at P 37, a District 75 school on Staten Island, and along with vegetables and flowers, pride and a sense of responsibility are nurtured there.

A 'get to know you' activity

Second-grade teachers Linda Querni and Patricia Greco used Play-Doh as a "get to know you" activity at the start of school. Students used the Play-Doh to answer the prompts and then discussed with their classmates to learn about each other.

RTC at AFT convention

Kudos to David Smoke, PS 315, and Cindy Lerner, PS 19, in Manhattan

When PS 315, the East Village Community School, moves on Sept. 8 into the First Avenue building that houses PS 19, the chapter leaders for the two Manhattan schools can take a bow for their work in ensuring a smooth merger that meets the needs of...

UFT media advisory for Thursday, Sept. 8

The UFT is launching a September radio ad campaign welcoming students and staff back to school and pledging to keep fighting for the funding New York City schools need.

Wellness Matters: Time management  

As a UFT member, you work in a demanding setting, and your experience tells you that effective time management is a key to success. The following tips can help you manage your time better in the year ahead.

A letter from Michael Mulgrew to the mayor and chancellor regarding school budget cuts

The following letter from UFT President Michael Mulgrew was issued on Aug. 11 to Mayor Adams, Chancellor Banks and Department of Education officials regarding the anticipated budget cuts for the upcoming 2022-23 school year.

City and DOE appeal education budget ruling

The city and its Department of Education (DOE) have appealed an Aug. 5 court ruling that invalidated the City Council’s vote on the education portion of the 2022-23 budget, while the Council considers legal options to restore the funding cuts.

Managing transitions

Summer is a time when most people take vacations — and a time of transition from the rest of the year. But while summer may be eagerly anticipated, transitions are not easy for everyone.

Court denies city's request for an injunction in "false" vaccination case

New York City has lost its bid for a Temporary Restraining Order that would have allowed the city to suspend without a hearing more than 80 teachers who have been accused — but not found guilty — of falsifying their COVID vaccination status.

School funding cuts spark uproar

Hundreds of protesters demanded that the city Department of Education restore more than $215 million in school budget cuts at a rally on June 24 outside City Hall, where the City Council was holding an emergency hearing to probe the reductions in the...

Allies

In 1996, New York Teacher reporter Jack Schierenbeck, a gifted writer and labor scholar, undertook to write a series of articles detailing the history of the UFT. The result, “Class Struggles: The UFT Story,” was a vivid and insightful retelling of...

Testimony regarding school-based education cuts

UFT President Michael Mulgrew testified before the New York City Council Education Committee regarding school-based education budget cuts for September 2022.

Power your life with a healthy diet

Summer is a great time to get your diet on track for more energy and a healthier and longer life. How much do you know about the building blocks of a healthy diet? This may be the time to fine-tune—or overhaul—what and how you eat.

Mayor threatens to cut school budgets

As Gov. Kathy Hochul considers signing state legislation to reduce class sizes in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams is threatening cuts to next year’s school budgets even as he sits on billions of dollars of federal education aid.

Spring Education Conference Town Hall

The UFT’s Spring Education Conference began with a panel discussion called “Speak Up” at which a half-dozen teachers spoke about what New York City public educators and students need to thrive.

Learning the ‘essence of grit’

The past two years have been filled with unique and challenging experiences that taught me the essence of grit. I have come to realize that slow progress is still progress.

Developing phonemic awareness

Hana Nudelman, a universal literacy coach at PS 34 in Manhattan, uses this chart in her literacy centers to help develop phonemic awareness in early learners. Students say the picture word out loud and then use the different colored Post-its to...

Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards 2022

The UFT gave out $5,000 college scholarships to 189 high school seniors at the 53rd annual Albert Shanker Scholarship Awards Ceremony & Reception on June 7 at UFT headquarters in Manhattan.

School Nurses Appreciation Dinner

The question of whether school nurses have received the recognition they are due was top of mind at the UFT School Nurses Chapter’s appreciation dinner at union headquarters on May 11, which is National School Nurses Day.

Provider Appreciation Awards Ceremony 2022

More than 230 people gathered in Shanker Hall at UFT headquarters on May 13 for the 9th annual Family Child Care Providers Chapter's Provider Appreciation Awards Ceremony. The event honored outstanding members of the chapter and offered the chance...

Middle Schools Conference

The UFT’s Middle Schools Conference was back on April 9 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, with workshops on social and emotional wellness, culturally responsive STEAM classrooms, integrated co-teaching and other topics.

UFT Educator Panel

Eight New York City public school educators, selected from hundreds of applicants, met with education and political leaders at the “Listen Up: The reality is…” UFT Educator Panel on April 14 and detailed what they need to best help students succeed.

District 11 Scholarship Dinner Dance

Nearly 350 school staff, administrators, community members and local elected officials celebrated at District 11's fourth UFT Scholarship Dinner Dance on May 6 at Villa Barone Manor in the Bronx.

Federation of Nurses/UFT Nurse Recognition Day Celebration

Federation of Nurses/UFT members celebrated in person on May 17 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, honoring their work and their profession as they recognized 20 nurses for their advocacy, leadership and service.

Academic High Schools Awards Celebration

Heroes, change agents, fierce organizers, advocates, motivators, troubleshooters, trusted advisers and leaders. These are some of the words used to describe the educators, unionists and unified school communities honored at the UFT’s 2022 Academic...

5K Family Run/Walk

UFT members and their families who participated in the the the union's eighth annual 5K family run/walk on May 14 raised more than $5,000 for the UFT Disaster Relief Fund to benefit educators and their families in war-torn Ukraine.

End of the school year

"Your EKG is great, blood pressure is down, pulse is strong — either you've quit your teaching job or the school year is almost over."