ATRs, the unrepresented -- no elected representatives in the UFT

"The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected.
"To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another."
Thomas Paine, First Principles of Government


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

'The Chief,' the paper of NYC labor, gives front page coverage to ATRs and their testimonies

The teacher and counselor members of the New York City Absent Teacher reserve know first hand the ramifications of the reformers' attack on senior teachers, and the attack on the schools in underprivileged (and now gentrifying) neighborhoods. As the schools get shutdown, trimmed down or are given the "Renewal" treatment by Bloomberg/De Blasio, the teachers there get punished for serving the needier students: they become excessed into the DOE's ATR pool.

3 comments:

  1. Unfortunately many ATRs are being harassed by Field Supervisors not acting in good faith.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ATRs can put a complaint for differential treatment with respect to other regular teachers. All teachers should have a regular program according to Article 7. The ATR pool has become a dumping ground for the most experienced teachers. ATRs are also observed under a different rating system despite not having a regular program, being setup for failure. Also ATRs are not getting per session, and are not being permanently placed. The DOE has taken the positions of these ATRs away, and has hired les qualified and inexperienced teachers. Because of the fair student act an ATR will never be able to find a permanent position again as he/she used to have. Also ATRs are subject to observations out of license, and observations on students they just met in circumstances that the UFT has agreed to that are not equiparable to a regular teacher, and are totally unfair. As an educator we know that we need to know our students and their learning styles to plan and prepare a lesson succesfully. The rating officer that rates ATRs are usually someone an ATR never met. Also the Field Supervisor may not have a license to teach the subject for which the ATR has, so how can the Field Supervisor help the ATR. The whole observation process agreed by our Union that was not voted for is geared to push and harass ATRs out of the system. A complaint should be filed against the National Board of Labor Relations against the UFT for not acting in good faith, and for negotiating behind the backs of ATRs. The UFT keeps looking the other way while they know Field Supervisors are harassing ATRs to quit or retire.This whole ATR pool has been discriminatory since its creation, and the UFT needs to start defending its most experienced workforce.
      https://www.eeoc.gov/

      Delete
  2. There is no doubt that getting rid of experienced teachers is hurting our schools. Why is it that the Union is looking the other way?

    ReplyDelete