The Offical Website of the PJSTA

Posted on August 31, 2013 by thepjsta

More on Cuomo’s Death Penalty Comment

Yesterday Governor Cuomo shared how he believed that “failing schools” (failing based on his rigged tests) should receive the death penalty.

Today NYSUT President Dick Ianuzzi responded with this tweet…

Sad Cuomo uses “death penalty” when speaking about schools. Especially insensitive on Labor Day weekend and as school year starts Shameful.

— Richard Iannuzzi (@RichardIannuzzi) August 31, 2013

But perhaps the best response of all came, not surprisingly, from Reality-Based Educator on the Perdido Street School Blog. Please read the entire post. It’s worth it. But the highlight is right here…

But Cuomo has ratcheted up the level of animosity and hostility here by using such inflammatory language.

It is high time we return the favor.

If Governor Cuomo thinks it is time some schools be given the “death penalty” for struggles that are often beyond their means to fix, then it is time for teachers of all political ideologies to get together and help pull the plug on the 2014 Cuomo re-election plan and the Cuomo 2016 presidential plan.

Andrew Cuomo is a thug and a bully and a crook, that we’ve known for a while.

Now, after the “death penalty for schools” statement, he is also a war criminal against public schools.

It is time to put an end to his Reign of Terror.

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Posted on August 31, 2013 by thepjsta

Cuomo: “a death penalty for failing schools”

WARNING: The video linked to below may cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

Click here to watch Governor Cuomo call for failing schools to receive the death penalty.

New York State ~~Dictator~~ Governor Andy Cuomo yesterday called for the death penalty for failing schools. He seriously used that terminology when talking about schools. The video is rather chilling. Cuomo says…

“We’re making great progress in the education system.”

That might be the most “off-target” comment, regarding public education, that I’ve heard.

About the evaluation process he says…

“You’ll be able to know what teachers are working well. What teachers are not working well.” and “You’ll be able to know what schools are working well and what schools aren’t working well.”

“We can’t allow these failing schools to continue. Whether it is a take over by the state or mayoral control or take over by a charter school there’s going to have to be a death penalty for failing schools”

So here is the governor’s agenda:

Use junk science to show how bad teachers are. Fire them. Use junk science to show how schools are failing. Strip those districts of local control. Place control in the hands of John King. Replace the schools with charter schools, which have proven to be less effective than public schools. Have the people profiting from those charters fund Cuomo’s campaign for president.

PJSTA members, if you haven’t been paying attention to education issues you should. Regardless of how well things are or are not going in your classroom, there is a significant push to destroy your profession and it is funded by some very wealthy and influential people. The PJSTA will be offering you plenty of opportunities to ACT this year. Actions that show your support for public education. Actions that show you will NOT continue to be pushed around by forces bent on destroying you. We are excited to work with you and with our allies this coming school year as we act against those forces.

1 Comment

Posted on August 31, 2013 by thepjsta

PJSTA Joins NYSAPE

The Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association is proud to have recently joined the New York State Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE).

From their website…

NYS ALLIES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE PARENTS AND CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ITS FUNDAMENTAL LINK TO THE SUCCESS OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. WE ARE CLASS MOTHERS & FATHERS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, PARENTS AND NEIGHBORS OF GRADUATES, TEACHERS, PROFESSORS, AND UNRELENTING SUPPORTERS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION WHO BELIEVE EXCESSIVE TESTING AND INAPPROPRIATE SHARING OF PRIVATE STUDENT DATA WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT THREATEN THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR SCHOOLS, AND OUR STATE.

WHILE MEANINGFUL ASSESSMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION, THE NEW NYS STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS ARE ALIGNED WITH UNPROVEN REFORMS NEITHER SUPPORTED BY RIGOROUS RESEARCH NOR VETTED BY EDUCATORS AND PARENTS.

and their mission…

NYS ALLIES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION EXISTS TO ADDRESS MANY ISSUES INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:

1.)  EXCESSIVE STANDARDIZED TESTING IS CONSUMING 25% OF OUR CHILDREN’S ACADEMIC YEAR. IT FORCES TEACHERS TO “TEACH TO TEST”, COSTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, TEACHES CHILDREN THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHT ANSWER, TAKES THE JOY OUT OF LEARNING, AND CREATES MAJOR CHEATING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

2.)  OUR CHILDREN’S PRIVATE, PERSONAL INFORMATION IS BEING STORED IN LARGE DATABASES AND IS BEING PROVIDED TO PRIVATE COMPANIES WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF PARENTS, AND WITHOUT PROVIDING AN OPT-OUT PROVISION TO BE REMOVED FROM THE DATABASE.

3.)  UNITING REGIONAL GROUPS FROM ACROSS NYS IN ONE LOCATION WHERE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EDUCATION IN NYS.

You can find them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter, @NYSAPE.

To see the rest of the allies click here.

Students Not Scores Action

Via Students Not Scores…

Second Day of Action for Students, Not Scores!

Senator Flanagan, Chair of the NY State Senate Education Committee, has officially posted four public meeting dates to meet with NY State taxpayers to speak to the issue of the common core and high stakes testing. The problem is Mr. Flanagan will only allow the people he invites to be the speakers at the meeting and he is limiting his scope to only four locations throughout the State.

Here’s an opportunity for everyone in the State to have their opinion appear in the public record of these public meetings, without an invitation from Mr. Flanagan.

We have created a form letter, that meets the strict submission guidelines for written testimony at public hearings.

You can download the letters from the Students Not Scores site. You do not need to email them if you are a PJSTA member. Once you change the letter to insert your information, print it out. Building reps will be collecting them once school begins and PJSTA President Beth Dimino will be delivering them in person on September 17th. I’m sure Mr. Flanagan will be happy to see her!