Class Action Alleges That The Board of Education Fails to Deliver on Promises and Obligations to Teaching Fellows, and The UFT Doesn't Care
If you're a New York City Teaching Fellow, chances are you have never been told by the Board of Education that, by virtue of New York State Department of Regulations, you are entitled to the following as part of your transitional B certificate:
-- A written three year committment of employment by the Board of Education
-- Eight weeks of
daily mentoring.
-- Intensive mentoring thereafter.
-- A
written contract with the Board concerning your teaching load, mentoring schedule, and observation schedule and strategy. That's right, you're not supposed to be subjected to the same hit or miss style of observations that is so prevalent in the system.
One thing that is certain is that UFT dues are being taken out of your paychecks. What are you getting in return? Good question. Even though the UFT is supposed to negotiate terms and conditions applicable to your category of employment, it hasn't done so. Instead, the UFT will categorize you as a CPT or PPT (it can't seem to decide which), essentially ignoring all the rights provided to you by the New York State Regulations.
Let's see. The UFT is supposed to represent your best interests, but it doesn't even try to enforce for you the rights that New York State law gives you under your Transitional B Certificate? And you're paying how much in dues?
Could it be that there is a feeling that NYC Teaching Fellows have got it too good? Subsidized masters degrees. No long student teaching years. Three year committments, daily mentoring, written teaching plans. . . Maybe the Teaching Fellows are a threat to the status quo, the bureaucractic rigor mortis that has a grip on the school system and the myriads of petty tyrants and dictators who jealously guard every last square inch of their turf. Whatever it is, we aim to get to the bottom of things, and change them for the better.
You can read the full text of the lawsuit here:
Steward v. City of New York
Any current teaching fellows, or teaching fellows who have been terminated or disciplined should feel free to contact Michael G. O'Neill, using the Online Contact Form below or by calling 212-581-0990.
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