Teacher Voices

School Librarians Are Critical to Students’ Literacy: Why There Should Be One in Every NYC Public School!
achievement gap · Diverse Books · Educational Equity · literacy · NYC Teacher Voices · Teacher Voices

School Librarians Are Critical to Students’ Literacy: Why There Should Be One in Every NYC Public School!

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(This is a guest post by J.F. (Jenny) Fox, a mother, author, school book committee chairperson, and library advocate. She lives in New York City, where her sons attend public school in Brooklyn. Her books include Friday Night Wrestlefest (Roaring Brook) and the Head-to-Head History series (Kids Can Press). Her website is: jffox.com. Twitter: @bookishfox.… Continue reading School Librarians Are Critical to Students’ Literacy: Why There Should Be One in Every NYC Public School!

Who’s Schools Are They Anyway? Should Parents Have Any Say In Education?
Accountability · NYC Parent Voices · NYC Schools · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC

Who’s Schools Are They Anyway? Should Parents Have Any Say In Education?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

In response to recent state, local and school board elections where education finally(!) became a key voting issue and parents turned out in unprecedented droves to support their candidates, the Michigan Democratic Party tweeted out the following statement: This is not a winning strategy. And deciding that THIS is why parents are families are frustrated… Continue reading Who’s Schools Are They Anyway? Should Parents Have Any Say In Education?

NYC Vaccine Mandate Doesn’t Stop Teachers Protesting Or Parents Debating
coronavirus · NYC Parent Voices · NYC Schools · NYC Schools Reopening · NYC Teacher Voices · Parents Helping Parents · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC · UFT

NYC Vaccine Mandate Doesn’t Stop Teachers Protesting Or Parents Debating

Alina Adams1 Comment

New York City’s vaccine mandate, which required anyone who works in a public school or a community-based center contracted by the Department of Education (DOE) to have gotten at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to continue working, finally went into effect on Monday, October 4, 2021. Although Mayor Bill de Blasio… Continue reading NYC Vaccine Mandate Doesn’t Stop Teachers Protesting Or Parents Debating

Parents Stand Up For Teachers In Possible NYC School Covid Strike
coronavirus · NYC Parent Voices · NYC Schools · NYC Schools Reopening · NYC Teacher Voices · Parents Helping Parents · School Attendance Policy · School Budget · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC · UFT

Parents Stand Up For Teachers In Possible NYC School Covid Strike

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Earlier this week, we printed a post from New York City public school parents willing to go on strike to demand a remote learning options for their children, and from those who insisted it wasn’t necessary and would only make the upcoming year worse. One incensed parent wrote me: TM: Parents are afraid of unvaccinated… Continue reading Parents Stand Up For Teachers In Possible NYC School Covid Strike

NYC Issues Vaccine Mandate: Teachers For Choice Push Back
coronavirus · NYC Schools · NYC Teacher · NYC Teacher Voices · preK · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC · UFT

NYC Issues Vaccine Mandate: Teachers For Choice Push Back

Chloe PashmanLeave a comment

After attending a HUGE “Teachers for Choice” rally at City Hall last Wednesday, I really saw firsthand how the vaccine mandate movement was building. Thousands were there and countless news outlets. Teachers for Choice is led by Michael Kane, a DOE teacher who has left the UFT due to these mandates, and is encouraging others… Continue reading NYC Issues Vaccine Mandate: Teachers For Choice Push Back

NYC Teacher Speaks Out: Equity For ALL? (Part 3 of 3)
DOE Fails · NYC Teacher · NYC Teacher Voices · preK · School Budget · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC · UFT

NYC Teacher Speaks Out: Equity For ALL? (Part 3 of 3)

Chloe PashmanLeave a comment

Part #1 Part #2 For decades, Community Based Organization preschools in NYC have been the main source of “PreK For All” seats for the city’s children, and are now single-handedly making the “3K” expansion that the mayor brags about a reality.  Most of the children and families served in CBOs are the most underprivileged in… Continue reading NYC Teacher Speaks Out: Equity For ALL? (Part 3 of 3)

NYC Teacher Speaks Out: “Essential” Workers? (Part 2 of 3)
DOE Fails · NYC Teacher · NYC Teacher Voices · preK · School Budget · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC · UFT

NYC Teacher Speaks Out: “Essential” Workers? (Part 2 of 3)

Chloe PashmanLeave a comment

Part One Most Community Based Organization preschool staff, like myself, worked in person, throughout the past year, when many in the NYC education field “went remote.”  I am the leader of a CBO pre-k in the Bronx that has served the community for over 70 years. Recently, the mayor and city council didn’t think school… Continue reading NYC Teacher Speaks Out: “Essential” Workers? (Part 2 of 3)

NYC Teacher Speaks out: City Still Falls Short on CBO Pre-K Pay Parity Promises (Part 1 of 3)
DOE Fails · NYC Schools · NYC Teacher · NYC Teacher Voices · preK · School Budget · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC · UFT

NYC Teacher Speaks out: City Still Falls Short on CBO Pre-K Pay Parity Promises (Part 1 of 3)

Chloe PashmanLeave a comment

“NO 3K Without Equal Pay!” This is a slogan that was written several years back on a sign that has been gathering dust in an office closet at the Bronx Community Based Organization (CBO) preschool in a NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) development where I work. Guess it may be time to take it out again,… Continue reading NYC Teacher Speaks out: City Still Falls Short on CBO Pre-K Pay Parity Promises (Part 1 of 3)

Two Pre-K Teachers’ Views on Mandatory COVID Vaccines
coronavirus · NYC Schools · NYC Teacher · NYC Teacher Voices · preK · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC

Two Pre-K Teachers’ Views on Mandatory COVID Vaccines

Chloe Pashman1 Comment

My Brooklyn colleague, Marina Kolmanovsky, wrote this about the prospect of requiring Pre-K teachers to get vaccines before returning to work: While my view on the Covid vaccine might be an unpopular one, it is nevertheless my opinion, and I have no desire to get it. My site has been reopened since June 4, 2020… Continue reading Two Pre-K Teachers’ Views on Mandatory COVID Vaccines

Who Will Pay For NYC’s “Free” College and “Free” Pre-K?
Educational Equity · NYC Schools · NYC Teacher Voices · preK · Teacher Voices · Teaching in NYC

Who Will Pay For NYC’s “Free” College and “Free” Pre-K?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

During his speech to joint sessions of Congress on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, President Joe Bident promised “universal free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as two years of free community college for young adults.” Neither proposal is new to New York City.  Just as neither proposal is exactly free. Governor Cuomo introduced… Continue reading Who Will Pay For NYC’s “Free” College and “Free” Pre-K?