I’d like you to meet Jim Frenette. He’s more than my dad. He’s also a retired teacher. In Tupper Lake, where I grew up, teachers were — and still are — a respected profession. It wasn’t just me and my family who looked up to him, whether he was wearing his school shoes or his [...]

Almost 30 lawmakers joined with NYSUT and citizen groups to oppose the proposed state budget’s competitive grant proposal. Many provided quotes in advance that you can find here. Parents were compelling and NYSUT’s Andy Pallotta drew strong support when he declared education is not a game show. The assembled citizens and  lawmakers added their voices [...]

This is a television commercial created by the Schoharie Teachers Association as part of a grassroots campaign to spread the good word about New York’s public schools. It will air in the Capital Region shortly after winter break. Why did they produce it? Because they were sick of hearing that New York schools are 38th [...]

It’s not baseball season, but Michael Mulgrew threw his pitch to lawmakers today. Here’s some video so you can hear it for yourself, and pictures of the variety of UFT members and NYSUT officers who met with lawmakers to talk about what schools in New York City need. (Sorry about the lighting in a lot [...]

Before we get to a rehash, first let’s talk about you. By 5:52 p.m. NYSUT members had sent over 5,000 emails to the state Board of Regents. The message was to stop blocking millions in federal funds and let school districts keep the educational support that their students need and deserve. Here’s a link to [...]

Here’s video of NYSUT’s Andy Pallotta remarks at today’s People’s State of the State, followed by a short video of an Occupy Albany protester and then photos from the event. Here’s the link to the Times-Union coverage of the event with video of PEF’s Ken Brynien’s comments. Even though the sun shone brightly, it was [...]

Johnathan Chase teaches social studies in the Edmeston schools. Edmeston is right of Interstate 88 and it’s the same exit for Brooks BBQ if you are ever in the area. Chase is one of the many amazing teachers in our schools. Here’s a link to an explanation of how he weaves music and the history [...]

On Monday, groups caroled on Long Island and also in Buffalo. They sang mock holiday songs to protest corporate tax loopholes in the state’s tax structure. The issue is that even though this month’s tax reform was just a step on the path to make sure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. The [...]

Sabrina Stevens Shupe is a self-described teacher-turned-activist who has become one of the nation’s most articulate and thoughtful young voices in the conversation about so-called education reform. Shupe is a former elementary teacher in the Denver area and a member of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, an NEA affiliate. She was one of the organizers [...]

OK, it’s more than a week before Christmas. Lawmakers are still deeply divided on so many issues at the national level. We thought you might like this take on it.