tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.comments2011-05-09T06:31:18.850-07:00The Teacher LoungeThomas Morsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06457915109076088043noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-11115114801512324462011-05-09T04:29:06.067-07:002011-05-09T04:29:06.067-07:00Can anyone please provide me links to similar Lett...Can anyone please provide me links to similar <a href="http://www.sampleletters.in/" rel="nofollow">Letters</a>. Thanks in advancerajumadhurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11770100572870354581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-89678376367170234122010-03-11T04:10:49.870-08:002010-03-11T04:10:49.870-08:00What about participating in and building the March...What about participating in and building the March for California's Future, now going up the San Joaquin Valley. CTA undoubtedly represents teachers in some of the schools along the way. Plus, unity with CFT and AFSCME, the march's organizers, would certainly help in Sacramento, no?David Baconhttp://dbacon.igc.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-42242841009309631082009-11-06T12:49:41.157-08:002009-11-06T12:49:41.157-08:00You couldn't have summed up the horrific situa...You couldn't have summed up the horrific situation, the forces playing in or the "silence is the voice of complicity" perspective more perfectly, Tom. What a sad, frightening time it is.Lauren Blankenshipnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-90678647425409006062009-09-30T16:59:06.691-07:002009-09-30T16:59:06.691-07:00Close the Loophole is not the only organization ta...Close the Loophole is not the only organization taking on this issue. The Proposition 13 Reform Task Force has been gathering support for split-roll reform of Proposition 13 for three years. To read about our organization and endorse our resolution in support of a statewide ballot initiative, see our web site at prop13reformtaskforce.orgAnn Ricehttp://www.prop13reformtaskforce.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-16751912623180150842009-09-25T08:33:05.855-07:002009-09-25T08:33:05.855-07:00Great article..You should get in touch with the bi...Great article..You should get in touch with the bizymoms <a href="http://www.bizymoms.com/san-leandro/index.php" alt="http://www.bizymoms.com/san-leandro/index.php " rel="nofollow"> San-leandro </a> community to feature these on their page. It’s free and the moms will love them it. I am sure that they will have some great ideas as wellUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13692319043643396050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-5138587317210354962009-09-25T07:50:42.437-07:002009-09-25T07:50:42.437-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13692319043643396050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-50105700260346565622009-08-21T19:56:13.976-07:002009-08-21T19:56:13.976-07:00So, by fight are we talking about a state-wide str...So, by fight are we talking about a state-wide strike? That would get their attention. That would mean business if we also got other unions, and not just the ones in the schools, but lots of other unions to support our strike by going out themselves. Shut down the state until all children get equal education, not education based on their economic status.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-8322743107472312182009-07-05T19:47:17.330-07:002009-07-05T19:47:17.330-07:00What a joke. Everyone one of us "private sec...What a joke. Everyone one of us "private sector" folks, if we're lucky enough to have a job, have been getting any 401k match cut, pensions cut, health care cut, and finally salaries cut (or put on part-time work). Why in heaven's name should government not get cut? Sorry. You're gonna get cut too. You can't tax me anymore, I'm literally not making any money to pay it. And I'm just one of almost 20% of your fellow Californians. Good luck squeezing taxes out of us to support your pensions and retiree health care. It just ain't there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-52928693407090441412009-07-05T07:38:26.225-07:002009-07-05T07:38:26.225-07:00Hello;
I'm a Union President of a classifie...Hello;<br /><br /> I'm a Union President of a classified employee unit in the Hayward School District. We are part of CTA and a member of our Executive Board is on the State Council. Several of us know the CTA President and Vice President pretty well. I personally support your stance on this issue and will bring in up in our Board Meeting next week. Hopefully, I can convince them to join and perhaps begin to get CTA in the mix. I'll report back late next week.<br /><br />Regards; JnBUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633986522962579860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-33588582719607079102009-06-03T10:09:56.964-07:002009-06-03T10:09:56.964-07:00I worked for a Citizen Action organization which o...I worked for a Citizen Action organization which organized ans passed split role in Massachusetts. The group was called Mass. Fair Share. We had our own Prop. 13 it was called Prop. 2 1/2 . California is the only industrial state without split roll.<br /> Part of the media strategy was what we called the "taxpayer hall of shame." We researched and made public information on the worst tax dodgers in the state. We can do that here and locally. The county clerks office online has information on what businesses and homeowners pay in taxes by street address. A nice homework assignment for teachers this summer could be to go through what local businesses are paying. Some older established companies are paying next to nothing.<br /> In a more perfect state it might be possible to create fair property taxing. If a person on limited income owns a home worth $700,000 and is only paying $900 in property taxes and then then sells the house and passes on the $700,000 to their off spring, then something is wrong with the system.Property taxes are a simplified form of personal wealth and if someone can have significant wealth and avoid paying taxes on that wealth and then pass that wealth onto their children at the the community and society's expense then the system will produce the crisi we're currently in. What might make sense would be to create a flat rate for senior citizens but deduct what would be a fair rate when the sale of the home is completed , something like a a reverse mortgage loan that is due when the home is sold.That would be a much fairer system and would raise much more money.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556526289850842234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-41362435717968276202009-06-02T21:45:50.007-07:002009-06-02T21:45:50.007-07:00Vey good article.I'm glad you teach at my sons...Vey good article.I'm glad you teach at my sons school. There are two types of political systems according to some political scientists"candidate centered systems" like ours and "party centered systems" like for example many European countries. With a party centered system there is more of an emphasis on issues and mobilizing members not just at election time but around legislation something the Democrats don't do.<br /> Progressive unions would do well to invest into party centered union activities like developing precinct networks. We became enfatuated with TV and the candidate centered system letting the precinct networks wither away. <br /> Though political machines had their faults, they did play a major role in creating the opportunity for the New Deal. At the time people felt that the precinct networks were the major defence against the media (newspapers) who were usually aligned with business.Also a lot of jobs were at stake , something like 20 percent of the workforce worked for cities.<br /> Anyway we give up a lot of power by not having precinct networks. The Democrats should put resources into this , they won't so it's up to unions. CTA is ideal for doing this since teachers are good communicators and have the summer off. My mother was a teacher and got giddy around June 1st.A commitment of just 2 hours a week could be a major step increating precinct networks if enough union members had the time.<br /> Anyway, you have the whole state in your hands. Another important union who could be an ally is CNA who could help develop a health care dimension to a precinct network. I've approached CTA about this be before but now seems even more pressing a time to consider it.<br />Craig<br />cvwilliamsgo@aol.comCraighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556526289850842234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-11609834578600129102009-05-23T08:14:31.765-07:002009-05-23T08:14:31.765-07:00I agree the the system is broken. It is not likely...I agree the the system is broken. It is not likely that the Deomcrats, Republicans and large interest groups like CTA will want to change a system that they control.<br /><br />http://alamedans.com/?p=3539Mike McMahonhttp://www.mikemcmahon.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-12860665388475191652009-05-22T13:08:25.734-07:002009-05-22T13:08:25.734-07:00I agree the tax policy must change as CA is broke....I agree the tax policy must change as CA is broke. Not fiscally but sytemically. I propose an initiative that taxes progressively six figure incomes. These folk dont pay the socil security regular folks pay. Regular fols cant afford $3 a gallon gas let alone more taxes. Sixer on the other hand they are double the medium income of California workers ($50K) whose disposable income is stretched to the limits. <br /><br />I say "Nix the six until its fixed!" and mount a veto proof legislature so millionaires like Arnie and Co. wll have to defend themselves.<br />Finally the problem of teachers in san leandro is the same as nurses in San Leandro. If teacher dont stand up for the nurses and the dangers of losing our ER, how can we expect others to stand up for education? As the economy worsens we need to see common ground. if the city council can't see the reasoning of having low income housing with a Project Labor Agreement to protect local jobs then teachers and nurses dont get involved?Well they just divide us and pick us off one by one.<br /><br /> This town needs to get a labor movement that looks out for everyone's interest. That is what will win. unitd we stand Divide we beg.Jim Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-41745787190391817742009-04-15T15:08:00.000-07:002009-04-15T15:08:00.000-07:00I'm interested to know why your union, CTA, felt c...I'm interested to know why your union, CTA, felt compelled to throw their support behind the spending cap. Why were they not on the front line fighting on the budget when the actual fight was taking place way before 1A was proposed? Why did they do a Pink Friday after the fact (since they knew the pink slips were coming)? Where is the CTA leadership (and loyalty) to really hear what's happening to teachers in the field, and to equitable, accessible public education for all? Who do we contact to ask these questions of CTA?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-57905734150957012542009-04-15T13:43:00.000-07:002009-04-15T13:43:00.000-07:00Maybe you could get your union to give up performa...Maybe you could get your union to give up performance-sapping tenure in order to save some of the younger teachers.<br /><br />Otherwise, it will continue to be pay-for-seniority (and job-for-seniority) and not performance.<br /><br />But that's what public worker employee unions have always been about.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03835371730942425872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-90036778325649005642009-04-15T13:36:00.000-07:002009-04-15T13:36:00.000-07:00Only in Orwell land is a tripling of school budget...Only in Orwell land is a tripling of school budgets (after inflation adjustment) over the past 30 years a spending cut. Only in Orwell land is continuing to increase spending, just not at a ridiculous rate, a spending cut. <br /><br />California is #1 in teacher salaries.<br />http://www.nea.org/home/29402.htm<br />Yet you have the temerity to whine about low funding and associate that with low performance. Maybe it has to do with low teacher performance, despite high pay? Maybe you understand that with your high pay and gold-plated pension & retiree benefits, taxpayers are a little more reluctant to cough up higher proportions of our DECLINING incomes to fund a black hole of worsening performance? <br /><br />You see, in the real world, where people are hired and fired (i.e. don't have tenure), you can actually get FIRED for producing an inferior product year in and year out. Spend some time in the real world for once and you'll understand why us taxpayers aren't too thrilled with chucking a bunch of our HARD-EARNED (we work 250 days/year, not 183 days, and for 8 hours/day, not 6) cash to you guys.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03835371730942425872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-54210044986539433692009-03-30T09:42:00.000-07:002009-03-30T09:42:00.000-07:00Keep up your blogging.Keep up your blogging.Richard D. Chennaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14448606142219521417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-62288767798134353092009-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:002009-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:00I'm glad I wasn't the only to notice that. :-)I'm glad I wasn't the only to notice that. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-24346382673088472422008-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:002008-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:00unfortunately, the children who are getting hurt t...unfortunately, the children who are getting hurt the most are students of color. Culturally relevant teaching means building on student strengths with high expectations rather than focusing on deficiencies and assimilation. This way students of color can bring a strong sense of identity with them as they confront the demands of the working world where again they will face the challenges of racism and discrimination. <BR/><BR/>Furthermore, White middle class culture in San Leandro is not, and should not be deemed a melting pot. While some white people may try to appropriate the style, dress and language of people of color in their spare time, people of color are forced to adopt the dress and language of white people in order to survive. <BR/><BR/>The melting pot really only asks people of color to melt, change and shift. That is still an assimilationist approach. Why not hold on to the virtues of our cultures and succeed academically?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-89209819116558874562008-10-31T23:02:00.000-07:002008-10-31T23:02:00.000-07:00White middle class culture is now melting pot midd...White middle class culture is now melting pot middle class culture in our area, there is no predominant white culture here - it's "middle class Asian and Hispanic and Other with a little White" tossed in culture. How about expecting more from students and parents and teachers? How about holding strict standards for behavior and dress and expectations? There is nothing wrong with teaching middle class values and honestly they are required for success in our job world. As long as we are fair and come from a place of understanding and hearfelt respect for the individuals in each of the different cultures and races. We also need to acknowledge that children (and parents)from lower socio-economic backgrounds may need more help, tutoring and counseling to succeed, then you can instill successful cultual values that will allow all children to succeed in our world. The racism, as you describe it, towards the poor in our communities is now instituionalized within those very same communities and is due to repetition of the negative cycles over decades, a lack of education and parental training and in many cases a broken family structure. Success in any school depends on passion, rules, dedication, tough love and strong, consistent parental involvement. Its really simple. Bottom line...our schools in San Leandro should and could do better, no more excuses, too many children and families are being hurt. "A concerned non-white, barely middle class parent"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-21202736283448670712008-10-28T15:24:00.000-07:002008-10-28T15:24:00.000-07:00I agree with each of the policy suggestions made i...I agree with each of the policy suggestions made in Mr. Morse's letter:<BR/><BR/>-More opportunities for after-school mentoring by teachers<BR/>-A revitalized ELL program with smaller class sizes<BR/>-Better college bound mentoring programs<BR/>-More aggressive community and parent outreach efforts<BR/><BR/>In the few years that I have been at Bancroft I have not witnessed an absence of opportunities take part in most of those things within contractual parameters. I have participated in after school tutoring, parent outreach in the form of open houses specialized for a certain group of students, and I have collaborated with the ELL specialist. We <BR/>have all done things like this, and more time to do so would be great.<BR/><BR/>At the same time, what is important about the district's approach is that it asks us to consider factors regarding the racial predictability of the achievement gap that are within our immediate <BR/>control- namely what takes place in our classrooms. As Mr. Morse noted: "Race absolutely matters. There's too much evidence to conclude otherwise. If a student is attending a classroom where she doesn't feel valued, encouraged, or a sense of belonging she will likely not do her best work."<BR/><BR/>Racism works on an institutional level and it is about resources. It is also about lowered expectations and dismissive attitudes based on <BR/>privilege. "Courageous conversations" ask us to reflect on how we unknowingly perpetuate racism in academia and in our relationships with students. "Culturally relevant teaching" asks us to invert the traditional role of school as a mechanism of assimilating students to <BR/>white middle class culture and instead assimilate ourselves to the culture of our students, thus creating a transformative experience for <BR/>both parties.<BR/><BR/>You mention that race, class and opportunity intersect on so many levels it would be foolish to approach achievement in a one-dimensional way and yet you finish that same paragraph affirming <BR/>that communities of color are most affected by inequality in these areas. We cannot cut an analysis of race or white privilege out of the picture as we strive to close the achievement gap. That is what “courageous conversations” really means.<BR/><BR/>-Rebecca PadillaThomas Morsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457915109076088043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-57701410605692916202008-10-28T15:23:00.000-07:002008-10-28T15:23:00.000-07:00I agree with each of the policy suggestions made i...I agree with each of the policy suggestions made in Mr. Morse's letter:<BR/><BR/>-More opportunities for after-school mentoring by teachers<BR/>-A revitalized ELL program with smaller class sizes<BR/>-Better college bound mentoring programs<BR/>-More aggressive community and parent outreach efforts<BR/><BR/>In the few years that I have been at Bancroft I have not witnessed an absence of opportunities take part in most of those things within contractual parameters. I have participated in after school tutoring, parent outreach in the form of open houses specialized for a certain group of students, and I have collaborated with the ELL specialist. We <BR/>have all done things like this, and more time to do so would be great.<BR/><BR/>At the same time, what is important about the district's approach is that it asks us to consider factors regarding the racial predictability of the achievement gap that are within our immediate <BR/>control- namely what takes place in our classrooms. As Mr. Morse noted: "Race absolutely matters. There's too much evidence to conclude otherwise. If a student is attending a classroom where she doesn't feel valued, encouraged, or a sense of belonging she will likely not do her best work."<BR/><BR/>Racism works on an institutional level and it is about resources. It is also about lowered expectations and dismissive attitudes based on <BR/>privilege. "Courageous conversations" ask us to reflect on how we unknowingly perpetuate racism in academia and in our relationships with students. "Culturally relevant teaching" asks us to invert the traditional role of school as a mechanism of assimilating students to <BR/>white middle class culture and instead assimilate ourselves to the culture of our students, thus creating a transformative experience for <BR/>both parties.<BR/><BR/>You mention that race, class and opportunity intersect on so many levels it would be foolish to approach achievement in a one-dimensional way and yet you finish that same paragraph affirming <BR/>that communities of color are most affected by inequality in these areas. We cannot cut an analysis of race or white privilege out of the picture as we strive to close the achievement gap. That is what “courageous conversations” really means.<BR/><BR/>-Rebecca PadillaThomas Morsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457915109076088043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-65932132946537433532008-08-23T10:01:00.000-07:002008-08-23T10:01:00.000-07:00Claire Bove writes:I have been reading your blog -...Claire Bove writes:<BR/><BR/>I have been reading your blog - I really like what you have to say about charter schools. I had the experience of mentoring a teacher who was working in a charter school a couple of years ago - and when I would go into the office, and see the other teachers, it scared me to see their faces. They all had really high energy smiles, and they talked and moved with an intensity that worried me. I know that kind of energy comes from a commitment to serving kids, but as you so correctly pointed out in your blog, it is not sustainable. I could almost feel the burn out as I watched these teachers. <BR/><BR/>I like how you describe the whole spectrum of problems with charter schools - it is not just one thing - and that they exist at the expense of other public schools. They seem to get a free ride with a lot of people because they are "public" - but they have many of the aspects of private schools - I don't think that gets said very often or very loudly.<BR/><BR/>I'm looking forward to reading more !<BR/><BR/>take care,<BR/>claireAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-25935198396076174042008-06-30T17:11:00.000-07:002008-06-30T17:11:00.000-07:00I'd like to have a system of evaluation set up for...I'd like to have a system of evaluation set up for every person working for our schools. Teachers, Custodians, Administrators, Office Clerks, and Librarians. They should all be evaluated and evaluate each other every year.<BR/><BR/>TonyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8608132015453670025.post-36846214383700782062008-06-24T16:48:00.000-07:002008-06-24T16:48:00.000-07:00It's a great idea that would meet mountains of res...It's a great idea that would meet mountains of resistance. It would also open the door to a discussion about a similar process for other stakeholders, like teachers. That said, I've been thinking for some time that the until we figure out how to radically restructure central offices and the leadership thereof, the successes of education reform advocates will forever be limited to the "islands of excellence" of small schools and other limited experiments. Public and peer reviews may be one way to breakdown some of those barriers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com