Double Standard

Remember when Mayor Bloomberg called the striking Transit Workers a bunch of thugs? Now, when convicted, disgraced Rep. Vito Fossella throws a party, the mayor comes. What is Mr. Fossella, a choir boy? What a two-faced individual our mayor is.
Amazing that in Illinois the people can't get that crooked governor out. If Gov. Paterson, in N.Y., knuckles under to political pressure and appoints Caroline Kennedy to the senate, he is one step below that of the governor of Illinois. There are many qualified deserving people to go to the senate. Mrs. Schlossberg makes some phone calls and toots her horn and everyone is supposed to knuckle under. What a joke. Personal preference for Sen. Clinton's seat: Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi.
SNL reached a new low when it took aim at Gov. Paterson's handicap. The governor answered them beautifully. What they did was really a slap in the face to all blind people. How you answered the insult was terrific Gov. Paterson. Now, don't knuckle under to political pressure.

Calls by Caroline

Everyone rightfully jumped on Sarah Palin for not being experienced. We have some terrific people in N.Y. to replace Sen. Clinton. Personally, I'm hoping that Tom Suozzi gets the nod. I was very impressed with him when he challenged Eliot Spitzer for governor. What a mistake we made! Now, Gov. Paterson can rectify that error.
Caroline, it's true that you come from a political family. Just because your Uncle John was president and Uncles Bob and Ted served in the senate does not make you automatic senate material. I know that you worked hard in the election of Barack Obama to the presidency. I hope there isn't going to be some sort of political payback for this. If this does occur, the republicans will be jumping up and down. Remember your history- the corrupt bargain of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay so that the former could gain the presidency in1824. Let's not have a similar situation now.

Secretary of Education

Instead of putting in some hack, President-elect Obama would be better served by having committees of retired supervisors and teachers running the Department of Education. Retirees in this field know the score. They know what the children and teachers need to make a school successful. Don't put in a person who never taught a day in his or her life.

Mayor Bloomberg-A 3rd Term for What?

It is only because Mayor Bloomberg is so vehemently anti-union that the media is advocating a 3rd term for him. As the title suggests, a 3rd term for what?
Despite what the Mayor and Chancellor Klein say about our schools, conditions have never been worse. Discipline has all but collapsed in far too many schools. While this has been going on for more than 40 years, our current Mayor refuses to do anything about it. Why will the 600 school concept not be returned for the unruly? This is a disgrace. What the mayor can be faulted for is his refusal to do anything about class size and the current 1,400 teachers who were excessed from their respective schools. These people should have been placed before new teachers were hired. You call this good management, I call it incompetence.
Under this Mayor, landlords have never had it better. Look at the recent increases for rent stabilized apartments. Since economic times are so bad, why aren't there being rent freezes put into place?

Come On Yossele (Joe)

Sen. Lieberman bemoans the fact that if it were the other way around, the Democrats would be bemoaning the fact that Sen. McCain was too friendly with a terrorist. Aen. Lieberman, how about the Republican values theme? Can you imagine if a Clinton or another prominent Democrat was pregnant out-of-wedlock? What the Republicans would be carrying on. Sen. Lieberman, please do all of us a favor and leave the Democratic Party. Go and become a Republican with your new Republican friends. You probably deserve each other.

Circumventing The Law

Who said that Mayor Bloomberg isn't a politician? He is the best. With all his money, he is one heck of ashrewd politico. In 1993 and 1996 people voted for term limits. Why is he afraid to give people the right to modify the law? Is he afraid that the term limit law would be upheld in such a referendum? Shame on Ron Lauder. He was such a proponent for term limits and now says that in the case of Mayor Bloomberg, it's all right. We are starting a very dangerous precedent by allowing this mayor to run again in defiance of the term limit law. Let's also realize that another 4 years of Mayor Bloomberg means another 4 years of Joel Klein. We can't afford that. The only way to avoid this would be for either Mr. Bloomberg not to run or lose or Sen. Obama win the presidency. If Obama wins, he might have a position for Klein in the Justice Department. Another reason we can pray for an Obama victory.

Shaping Our Priorities

While students scramble for seats in the New York City school system and 1,400 teachers were unfairly excessed, all Chancellor Klein can talk about is that teachers shouldn't wear campaign buttons. Just as bad, Ms. Weingarten is able to answer him quickly on this matter, but the other 2 more pressing matters still goes ignored. This is wrong. Is it any wonder that our schools are in the condition they're in?

To Your Good Health John McCain

Sen. McCain, if you are elected, I will attend my synagogue daily to pray for your continued good health. The very thought of Gov. Palin as president gives me the creeps.
Speaking of good health, Sen. McCain, why can't the people of the U.S. have health care similar to what Congress has? Your plan for health care is horrible. Tax credits? People can't afford this to begin with.
I'm not surprised by your health plan. The Republican Party never wanted medicare to begin with. President Eisenhower was dead set against it. Ironically, President Eisenhower and the other Republican President, Ronald Reagan, both underwent devastating prolonged illnesses. Luckily, they were covered by governmental insurance. The average Joe, Sen. McCain, would have been wiped out.

N.Y.C. What to do with the excessed teachers

Thank you Miss Weingarten for agreeing to that miserable 2005 contract where senior teachers lost seniority transfers and where principals can excess teachers at will. As a result of this, people who have taught for many years have been excessed due to a drop in student population. At first, the newspapers made it appear that these people were incompetent when they had been receiving satisfactory ratings all the time. Now, you don't hear that as much.
Miss Weingarten, let my teachers go. You are not the personnel director for the central board. You are working for the benefit of teachers in this city. Infact, now that you're AFT President, you should seriously consider relinquishing your UFT presidency.
Let the excessed teachers who want to retire-go!!!!! They have suffered enough from the indignities of a totally uncaring school system which you have so ably helped to transform. As long as these teachers do not suffer the indignity of a penalty for retiring early, if they want to go, don't step in their way.

The Post Couldn't Wait

At least, wait until the end of the debates. The N.Y. Post can't wait to spill their venom. What a bunch of losers they are.
Right, Sarah Palin has so much experience that we can afford to endorse the lady before we hear her thoroughly. Perhaps, the Post is doing the same job of vetting Palin as the Republican Party did.
Poor Dorothy Schiff. She must be turning over in the grave.

Sociology 101

Sociology 101: What is (are) the role(s) of a community organizer? When are the Democrats going to answer Mayor Giuliani and Gov. Palin? Both of these "gems" insulted community organizers!
I am quite sure that community organizers play a positive role in society. They aid the impoverished, something that the Republican Party shall never understand.
Did you hear that an aide to Sen. McCain stated that 47 million without health insurance isn't so bad? After all, they get treatment in emergency rooms. I hope that he doesn't have to depend upon such treatment. What a moronic statement to make. Look what you're dealing with.
I wonder when the Palin Family will be available to make The Beverly Hillbillies. They would also shine in a repeat of the old Walter Brennan series- "The Real McCoys."

Sarah Should Inherit The Wind

Imagine, Gov. Palin wanted to ban the book "Inherit the Wind" from the libraries in Alaska. She also attempted to have a librarian fired in an attempt to censor the book. Who is she to make herself judge and jury regarding what is and is not to be read?
I really feel sorry for Gov. Palin's children. They need a mother to sit home. The family is dysfunctional. From what I read, there are no academics being stressed here. You don't hear of her children attending college.

What Mrs. Palin Reminds Me of

When listening to Gov. Palin's speech last night, I was reminded of my days as a teacher. I had a parent of a student who was involved in this committee and that committee, in the meantime, her child was failing every subject and she used Open School Night to organize parents in the auditorium to condemn the school. She never bothered to meet with teachers to find out why her son was failing.
Gov. Palin has a dysfunctional family. There is no doubt about it. Since she is a Republican, she is virtually getting a free pass about this. Where are her family values? She should be an advocate for sex education being taught in the schools. Had her daughter had this course of study, she might not be in the predicament that she is in now. Folks, could you imagine if a liberal's daughter were pregnant? The right-wing would be screaming up and down about the decline of moral values in this country. What a bunch of phonies they are.
Since she can't control what is occurring in her family, she pursues other activities. Obviously, this is nothing more than a diversion to get away from her own personal problems. Gov. Palin, you need to stay home and work with your children. With Down
Syndrome, your son will need all the love and support he can get. I'm not sexist. I'm realistic.

Come on Giuli!

As always, former N.Y.C. Mayor Rudy Giuliani proved himself to be quite vicious with his key-note address at the Republican convention.
Mayor Giuliani heaped piles of criticism on Sen. Obama for being a neighborhood organizer. Neither he nor Gov. Palin ever bothered to find out what are the functions of such an organizer? Had Giuliani, as mayor, bothered to organize neighborhoods, he would not have left the city with such racial divisions.
While I have often disagreed with Mayor Bloomberg on most issues, you must give him credit for reestablishing ties with various groups.

Sister Sarah Goes to Church

Barack Obama had his Rev. Wright and now Gov. Palin apparently attends some church as well. Seems that Sarah goes to a church where the minister states that Israel and the Jewish people are being punished since they refuse to recognize Jews for Jesus. Who is he to say such things? Jews for Jesus is definitely a deceptive group. Come to the Sheepshead subway station and view how this group tries to fool Russian Jews to come to their "Houses of Worship."
Mrs. Palin, how come you didn't talk about education, the economy and health care in your speech? You know how to read and deliver a speech quite well. You had nothing to say since the Republicans do not traditionally view these topics as relevant to their ultimate goals-doing very little domestically. As a retired teacher, I used to ask my classes to name 3 domestic achievements of any Republican president other than Theodore Roosevelt.

Hush...Hush, Sweet Lieberman

While his loving Hadassah sat in amazement among her newly found Republican friends, hubby, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, gave quite a speech.
Joe, your views on social issues are just the opposite of Gov. Sarah Palin. Yet, last night you sang her praises. How false of you. You hardly know Lady Sarah.
I thought that you would just laud Sen. McCain. Instead you really opened up on Sen. Obama. Joe, as a fellow Jew, I admired you. I was so proud when you were nominated for V.P. by the Democrats in 2000. Last night, I was totally ashamed of you.
Joe, if the Democrats had a daughter who was unmarried and pregnant, the religious right would never stop carrying on. Joey, Surala (Sarah) did endorse Pat Buchanan for President in 2000. Believe me, she would never think of you.
Surala is a good name for Gov. Palin. The root letters form suris, the Jewish word for trouble. Mrs. Palin, who SHOULD STAY HOME WITH HER CHILDREN AS SHE HAS FAILED MISERABLY with Bristol, will give McCain plenty of SURIS during this campaign. Shouldn't she be for sex education being taught in school? Bristol might not be in such a predicament now. What a wonderful role model Bristol is for other teenage girls! Is society now going to endorse unwed pregnancies providing the couple marry? This would now be a first for the religious right. What a bunch of phonies they are.

I Remember 1964

When Sen. Barry Morris Goldwater ran for President in 1964, he criticized Lyndon Johnson for the moral decay in the U.S. under Democratic leadership. With his surrogates John Wayne, Raymond Massey and Irene Dunne, he harped away on this.
John Wayne had to be kidding. Did he not impregnate actress Gail Russell? When he refused to marry her, she killed herself. Massey and Dunne were from a bygone era. Their careers finished, they thought back of the days of mom and apple pie and all other sort of nonsense.
The Conservatives would be ready to kill the liberals if a daughter of the latter group found herself in trouble. It's just amazing how they now distort the situation to serve their own needs. The amazing thing is that there are plenty of right-wing wackos out there who will identify with this situation and agree with the Palins in general. Why wasn't Sarah for sex-education being taught in the schools? Perhaps, daughter Bristol and beau Levi Johnston wouldn't be in such a pickle now. Excuse me, Bristol shall soon or already be craving for pickles.
I object to the Conservatives with their holier than thou approach to life. Don't shove your attitudes on the rest of us.
Nothing like trying to keep yourself warm on a cold Alaskan night.

To Be Right Wing and Mishuga

Remember how we all worried that Sen. Obama would not be the best choice for our beloved eretz Yisroel? Isn't Sen. McCain supposed to be a firm supporter of eretz Yisroel? Did you know that Gov. Sarah Palin supported Pat Buchanan, the worst of anti-Semites, for president in 2000?
This Baked Alaska plays well to the far-right wackos. Hopefully, that's about it. Besides talking to these right-wing fanatical sickos, it will be Hush...Hush, Sour Sarah throughout the campaign.

McCain's Double Standard

Yes, I agreed when Sen. McCain criticized Sen. Obama for lack of experience. Now, McCain wastes the criticism by turning around and nominating soccer mom Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice president. He must be kidding to do this.
She is under investigation for firing her brother-in-law, a state-trooper, who was going through a messy divorce with Palin's sister.
The choice of Gov. Palin has to be up there with the horrible choices of Sprio Agnew and Dan Quayle respectively for vice president.
Any woman voting for McCain because Hillary Clinton is not on the Democratic ticket should have their head examined. Hillary's views are about 100% contrary to Gov. Palin.

Karl Rove Does It Again- The Bigoted Stinker that he is

I'm not surprised. It has been reported that Karl Rove telephoned Sen. Joseph Lieberman and asked him to remove his name from consideration for being John McCain's V.P. choice.
Mr. Rove, you're nothing more than a bigot. Infact, you look just like a bigot. You probably belong in 1930s Germany.
By choosing Sen. Lieberman as his running mate, Sen. McCain would show that he is an open person. Naturally, he will probably name some safe choice, especially one who is anti-abortion.
What would the south do regarding Obama and Lieberman? A black person and a Jewish person might be too much for the bigots down there to swallow. Imagine a Biden-Lieberman debate? That would be absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately, it will not happen. If it did, we would all see that the bottom of the tickets are far superior to the people at the top. Dream on Mr. Greenspan. That's why I'm still and will always be so green.

Memory Lapses When Convenient

So, John McCain doesn't know how many homes he has and Mayor Bloomberg can't remember how he voted regarding term limits. Hope they're not getting into the Margaret Thatcher category.
You can be rest assured that the mayor voted for term limits. In this way, he could make it to City Hall even faster.

Lady Sings the Blues

Should Barack Obama lose in November, I don't want to hear Democrats blaming Hillary Clinton for his loss. Sen. Clinton has gone out of her way to be most conciliatory following her loss.
It is now up to Sen. Obama to give specifics as he attempts to become our nation's 44th president. Will the Obama-Biden ticket succeed? Only time shall tell.

Mexican Shiva

I cannot believe that a film has been made dealing with a Mexican Jewish family trying to observe Shiva. Shiva is the solemn procedure observed by Jewish people following the death of parents, brothers, sisters and children. This should not be made into a movie. Enough is enough already.

Let's Make it Harder

Yes, let's make it harder for New York City teachers find parking. Mayor Bloomberg, how about your staffers forfeiting their placards? They could also take the subway. What do you want? I know you want teachers to come late so that it will be easier next June to rate them unsatisfactory.
Where is Ms. Weingarten in the matter? Instead of arguing with the mayor, she takes her usual conciliatory 3rd grade-like tone. What else are you giving up Randi? How much more can teachers take? They're treated like dirt.

Testing 5 Year Olds

The brilliance of Joel Klein, N.Y.C. school's chancellor, never fails to amaze me. That is, his complete ignorance of educational matters. This is a great one. Klein and our mayor are adamant about testing 5 year olds. Why not test them while they're in mother's womb? Unfortunately, many of them are wild there already. Let kids be kids. Imagine, they'll give up finger-painting to prep for the exam.
Mr. Klein, after you leave the chancellor's position, please teacher in one of our many surr schools. You taught for 6 months in a Queens intermediate school prior to fleeing from the system.

The Animal Farm

100 varied animals in the back of the private house. Congratulations to the neighbor who called police. These animals would be welcomed at 1237 Ave. Z in Brooklyn. Here is where everything goes.

Randi in Denver

Of course, the darling of the Liberal establishment, Randi Weingarten, is at the Democratic convention. Interesting that while she spoke, the media chose not to cover her. Someone should tell Ms. Randi that she is due back in N.Y. on Thursday as is her teachers. Remember, she made sure to get the teachers back in August so that she should be further subjected to more boring meetings. Of course, Randi must have given her optimistic cheering voice in its usual 3rd grade tone.
Has the UFT ever allowed significant discussion to take place before an endorsement is made?Instead, they shove their selection down the throats of the membership. Snow would fall in August and there would be cures for both AIDS and cancer before Randi would endorse McCain. Instead, she will go for the same nonsense that helped elect liberals who destroyed the school citizen.
A pleasure that failed President Jimmy Carter did not speak. Commentators were pointing out that he was kept quiet for fear of further alienating Jewish voters. This turns out not to be the case since Carter didn't speak in 2000.
I must say that the speech of Senator Kennedy was inspiring. Michelle Obama did help her husband by her discourse. Nancy Pelosi is a complete dud.

Mrs. Thatcher Losing Her Marbles

Sorry to hear that Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher has dementia. It must be pretty bad if she doesn't realize that her husband died 5 years ago.
Of course, many in England realized that the Iron Lady was off her rocker when she tried to cancel health insurance for the British citizenry when she was in office. No wonder she was so close to President Reagan. We know what he thought of health insurance provided that he was protected all the way.

Where Are the Parents?

A 14 year old steals the keys to the car and takes a joy ride with other youngsters, the youngest being 8. The car crashes, three children are hospitalized. Can't the parents control their children? I am surprised that the UFT doesn't get blamed for this.
When our parents will fulfill their responsibilities as parents, then we will have youngsters who shall become productive members of society. Until then, wayward youth and our BLACKBOARD JUNGLE will continue.

McCain-Powell

You have to be kidding. Am sure that Gen. Powell doesn't want to run with Sen. McCain. As we realize, Colin Powell became quite disillusioned with President Bush's policies. This came out after he was no longer Secretary of State.
As I have previously stated, Sen. McCain needs to select Doris Day as his running mate. Some of McCain's ideas belong back in the 1950s or they should be hidden. As we are aware, Ms. Day has been in hiding for over 25 years. She would certainly add some color to the McCain campaign: At campaign stops she could belt out: LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME, I'LL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU, STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROTHER, and of course QUE SERA, SERA. -Whatever will be, will be.

Friday Hooky in Public Schools

Wow! The Daily News discovered this. This has been going on for over 40+ years. There are many things that this paper and others are completely unaware of. How about when the girls put vaseline on during class? Do you know what that means? It means that there will be a big fight after school.
As for the absenteeism on Friday: Too bad that the constantly disruptive children aren't absent each day. When they are absent, so much more can be accomplished.

Why Not?

Why isn't Israel permitted to sit on the Security Council in the U.N.?

Don't Go Against the Will of the People

We have voted for term limits twice. Let's keep it that way. Thank you for your service Mayor Bloomberg. Please exit on January 1, 2010 gracefully.
As for Gov. Paterson, just because you're afraid that Mayor Bloomberg will run against you in 2010, that doesn't mean that you now support the possibility of over-turning the term limit rule so that his honor can run again. We know very well that if Mayor Bloomberg runs for a 3rd term, his money will carry him in in a landslide. 8/23/08 11:40P.M.

The Machamuvitz (Angel of Death)

Deepest sympathy to the family of the 5 year old killed by a malfunctioning elevator in his Williamsburg apartment building. What a tragedy, that on their way to school, 2 brothers would meet up with such a terrible thing which caused the death of the younger child.
Those elevators had been out of service constantly. Tenants reported this to the Buildings Department. Nothing gets done in this town whether it's them, the sanitation, Con Edison, etc.
Now, of course, there will be an investigation. It reminds me that every time after a plane crash, the supposed Transportation Safety Board steps in to investigate. Nothing really ever happens.
My heart goes out to the family of the youngster. Due to orthodox law, the burial had to take place quickly. Will members of the family be visited by Administration officials as they observe shiva? Probably not.

Windmills Out of Your Mind

Mayor Bloomberg now wants to put windmills by the city bridges. What for? Windmills out of your mind.
We have so many other urgent problems in this city. This is all that he can think of right now? Ridiculous!

Asbestos in NYC schools-What else is new?

In the mid 1990s the opening of schools was delayed for 1 week after summer holiday due to the asbestos threat. Miraculously, the threat ended and all schools re-opened after a week.
For 19 of my 32 years in the system, I taught at IS 320 in Brooklyn on McKeever Place. The building was filled with asbestos. The District Superintendent refused to close the building. Staff and students were there as workers removed the asbestos. As our wonderful students jumped to the top of the ceiling, this garbage came down. Is it any wonder that IS 320, now P.S. 375, has had a very huge number of faculty deaths from cancer. In addition, other colleagues have had bouts with the dreaded disease.
Nothing is being done. Everything is kept quiet. This administration and others should be ashamed of themselves. There is still plenty of asbestos in city schools and everyone knows it. Do something!

Those 100 College Presidents

What have these guys been smoking? They suggest that the drinking age be lowered? What kind of morons are these? It's bad enough that in N.Y.C. we have a school's chancellor who fled teaching after 6 months, but for college heads to advocate this? No wonder, and rightfully so is MADD so outraged.
These 100 guys need an immediate sabbatical or booted yet, they need to be expelled.

That Missouri Broad

Score one for Sen. Claire McCaskill. (D-Mo) She has been trying to make the talk circuit in her quest to be put on the Obama ticket.
She now criticizes Sen. McCain for not exactly backing President Bush in the Russia-Georgia crisis. In other words, now is the time for all good men to come to aid of their party is her motto.
Wonder what fellow Missourian Harry Truman is thinking about this up in heaven? He realizes that America has come a long way if a major political party is about to nominate a black person for the presidency. Didn't Mr. Truman even use the n word to describe black people? We all know how anti-Semitic his mother-in-law was. Business partner, Eddie Jacobs, was not allowed over to the house as he was Jewish.
Sen. McCaskill for Vice President? Not really. What would she add to the ticket? Well, speaking about swing states, Missouri certainly leads the pack in that one. In 1952 it followed the lead of most of the states by voting for Dwight Eisenhower. Surprisingly, 4 years later, it was the only Eisenhower state to desert him and vote for Stevenson. (Kentucky and West Virginia had gone for Stevenson in '52 but swung over to Ike in 1956.) Is it time to reward Missouri with Claire on the ticket? Obviously, this is ridiculous reasoning, but a woman on the ticket might cool off the Hillary supporters, those who still can't get over that she will not be the Democratic nominee. Is it time to honor the memory of Harry Truman by putting another Missouri person on the ticket?
Now, for Sen. McCain. He would be so perfect for the 1950s. Some of his ideas need to be hidden. I know. John McCain should consider Doris Day for the Vice Presidency as she is a woman and she has been in hiding for over 20 years now. On the campaign, we could still have her belt out Love Me or Leave Me, I'll Never Stop Loving You, Once I Had A Secret Love and certainly Que Sera Sera! What will be will be. The future's not ours to see. How could I forget-Stay on the Right Side of the Road? That would bring the house down and have Ruth Etting turning over in the grave!

The Undecided

After reviewing the Saturday night forum between Senators Obama and McCain, this voter is more confused than ever regarding who to vote for. I shall need much more time via the debates before I make a final determination. Sen. Obama is too courteous and comes off quite kindly. Sen. McCain is gruff with his immediate answers. I wish he would stop referring to everyone as my friends. We're not his friends. Sen. McCain sounds as if he is still at the OK Corral ready for that final shoot out.

Mr. Olmert, Go On Retirement, Now

The Knesset has voted 16-4 to release 200 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture of good will to the head Palestinian animal Abbas. You can throw up from this. They are probably allowing killers to be released who will only inflict more harm on eretz Yisroel. What have the Palestinians done as good will for Israel? These Palestinians only want the total destruction of Israel. Am Yisroel Chai!

Did You Know?

How many people are aware of the fact that Randi Weingarten receives a double pension? Does that now become 3 pensions as she has been elected president of the AFT? What a joke. How many people in the union hierarchy receive double pensions? Teachers don't receive double pensions.
How many people are aware that when Rudy Crew left the chancellor's position, he was supposedly given extra time so as to qualify for a New York City pension? Would a teacher ever be granted extra time? Crew and others have horse like pensions, far more than pedagogues who taught for 30+ years. This should all be investigated. Supposedly, Dr. Crew was to do consultant work in order to get in the extra time. People where he was supposed to report to claimed that they never saw him. Big-time rip off.
Police, fire and sanitation workers rightfully receive VSF money added to their pensions. The UFT never bothered to fight for this for the membership. Where have they been? Why is this allowed to go on? If teachers were given this money they're entitled to, their pensions would rise to at least $12,000 per annum. It's a disgrace that the union leadership has not fought for this.
Instead of working for the membership, Ms. Weingarten ran to put Mayor Bloomberg's coat on and sat comfortably next to him at the World Series. Right after that came the horrendous 2005 give-backs.
What will Ms. Randi give up next? Health benefits for retirees? Teachers having to ask permission to use the bathroom? Forfeiture of summer vacation?School year ending June 30th? No more sabbaticals? 40+ in a class? Teachers given no warning of pending u-ratings? Schools opened on High Holy Days? No more grievances whatsoever? Reduction or elimination of prep time in junior and senior high schools? Elimination of the February vacation? Elimination of tenure? Increase tenure to 10 years for probationary teachers? Return to 35 years of service and at least be of age 65 to retire?

Setting It Straight

Thanks to the constant venom of the New York City editorial boards, the public is allowed to think that teachers get paid for the summer. This is NOT true. Teachers are paid for 10 months and the pay is spread out for the remaining 2 months. As always, the city does very well by this arrangement. As a result of this, they are able to hold on to the interest.
Everyone can't wait to jump on the backs of teachers. Too bad that the UFT has become such a weak union that this is allowed to go on and on. New leadership is needed regarding the UFT leadership. Randi Weingarten's Unity Caucus has been in power for over 40 years now. It's time for a change. When Ms. Weingarten finally leaves the UFT presidentcy to devote her efforts at the AFT, there has to be a new direction. Thanks to the 2005 contract teachers gave up far too many hard fought gains.

Obama, the anti-Christ, Oy Vey

Sen. McCain, your ads that infer that Sen. Obama is the anti-Christ are absolutely ludicrous. Stop it. Nice to see you posting Charlton Heston parting the sea in "The Ten Commandments." Don't use my favorite film to secure votes for someone who may not be my favorite candidate. What a terrible election this is turning into. Both candidates leave a lot to be desired. Bring back Al Gore. He'd get my vote in about a minute.
Am really beginning to think that the Vice Presidential candidates will be superior to those at the top of their respective tickets. For all of us who live in New York City, let's see if Mayor Bloomberg endorses someone. As soon as he does, we will know to vote for the other guy.

Charitable Phone Calls

While we can all appreciate the fine work done by charities, the following has to stop. You get solicitation phone calls from them asking you to donate. They ask you to donate a certain sum or they will say how much they want. If you tell them that you will donate providing you get the written information in the mail, they go on and on and repeat themselves. One doesn't want to be rude but one is going to hang up the phone.
How about these charities that call you and don't answer when you pick up. You hear noise in the background. They are calling to see when you're at home so they can call again. This is absolutely absurd.

Attention to John Gambling

How fortunate you are that your father and grandfather came before you. Your entire philosophy is that the problem with the school system is the unions. Why don't you leave the comfort of your air-conditioned office and start teaching in one of our many surr schools? You NEVER went to a New York City public school. It's so easy for you to criticize from the outside.
Am sure that you work under a contract. Still so stingy? Even though I haven't listened to you since 1992, I vividly remember you stating that you didn't have cable for your children. I guess that you're pinching pennies. It must be hard for you to be on a fixed income. Ha! Ha!

Mice on the Subways

Mice jumping on the subway platform. They ought to be made to pay the fare like the rest of us suckers. Imagine, even the mice can't take the subway conditions and are trying to come out. The filth is unbelievable. Let's clean the subways.

Thank You Deputy Mayor

It was music to my ears this evening to hear Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheeky state that Mayor Bloomberg will not run for a third term by trying to turn around the term limits law. Thank you. That's the best news I've heard in ages. The people want term limits and I'm glad that Mayor Bloomberg will respect our wishes.
Yes, Mr. Bloomberg is a brilliant person who lacks compassion for the common man. How can he want to give away so much money and yet take the attitude that he does regarding unions? How can he be so involved in health issues especially at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and yet his employees pay their own health insurance?

To All of You Holocaust Deniers Out there

If the Holocaust never occurred, will all you deniers please answer the following question: Where is the Lilienfeld Family of Austria? When the Anschluss took place in March of 1938, they fled to Poland and obviously were never heard from again. Doctors, lawyers and teachers made up this family. They were all wiped out.
And yet some bastards out there claim that the holocaust never occurred. Do you have such a guilty conscience that your way of dealing with this dreadful horror is to deny its very existence? Shame on you.

Let's Hear It for Curtis Sliwa

Finally, something I can agree with regarding what Mr. Sliwa says. He claims that we need more vocational schools. Right on Mr. Sliwa. You correctly stated on channel 1 that not everyone of our youth is academically oriented. You hit in on the head. Thank you.
Now, if you would only stop blaming the UFT for the ills of the school system. When you say the Union of Failed Teachers, I cringe. Teachers don't tell students to misbehave. Our schools are in the shape they're in because of a complete lack of discipline. No one wants to understand this. It's so easy instead to blame the teacher for everything.

Russia and General Sherman

Where are our so called Human Rights Activists as Russia obliterates Georgia? Seems like we're way back in the civil war times when Gen. Sherman marched through Georgia, U.S.A.
If Israel ever did this, the Human Rights Group and other liberals would be screaming bloody murder. G-d forbid, if this happened to our beloved eretz Yisroel, the Human Rights Group would be silent.

You're Nothing But Human Garbage

To the father who put on that Oscar calibrated performance when his daughter was arrested for shooting a cab driver. Mr., what was your poor imitation of an excuse of a daughter doing with such other brats late at night to begin with? We always hear how wonderful these miseries are. As a retired New York City teacher, I was able to predict which children would wind up like this.
Mr., a cab driver is now blind because of the actions of your daughter. The Babylonians had the right idea...An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. They shoot horses, don't they?
Your daughter and the other recalcitrants deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law for what they did to this poor man. I can just imagine what your daughter was like in school. Teachers who had to suffer with her were probably threatened with unsatisfactory ratings for either not motivating or being unable to control her outrageous behavior. If only we could see her school record.
You'll probably get one of these outrageous liberal lawyer who will claim that your daughter was a victim of circumstances. We will hear the liberal line that she was culturally deprived, socially maladjusted, emotionally disturbed, etc. We know that she didn't mean to do it. The gun just kept going off as it did with Ann Blyth in 1945's "Mildred Pierce."
Why are these brats brought into the world? They are perfect examples for the need for abortion. Look what she did. Any remorse shown by her is as phony as they come. May she and her cohorts rot in hell.

That Queens Supervisor

To the Queens supervisor who is already spoiling the summer vacation of her department members: Miss, please remember that the summer vacation ends on Aug. 28th for teachers. It's bad enough that teachers have to report before Labor Day, don't make it worse.
In addition, if you are putting out lesson plan calendars and other nonsensical items, will you be giving demonstration lessons this year to the most difficult students?
As a supervisor, what are you doing to improve discipline in the school so that teachers can teach?
How long did you teach before you fled to the world of supervision? It's so easy to criticize from outside the classroom. Anyone can do that.
Will you try to make it easier for your department members or will you continue to create a climate of fear by intimidation? The latter is not conducive for good education to take place.
Did you teach the subject that you are supervising? Did you teach long enough to acquire tenure? Did you become a supervisor because you're talented or because you knew someone?
Try to have a good year by being pleasant to the staff. Lady, teaching is an extremely difficult job. You and others make it worse by your constant harassment of staff.

Lead By Example

To the Certain Queens Supervisor who is harassing her department before school begins: If you are setting forth lesson plan deadlines and other information, it is imperative that you give demonstration lessons to the most difficult classes this year.
How long did you actually teach before you fled to the world of supervision? It is so easy to criticize from afar.
As a supervisor, what are you doing to improve the discipline in the building so that teachers can actually teach?
I hope that you actually taught the subject that you are supervising. No one can fairly evaluate anyone if they haven't taught that particular subject. Could we supervise a brain surgeon?
Let us remember that we have a presidential election this fall. Are you planning on bringing in voting machines to show the students how democracy works?
I hope that you have a good year and actually do creative things other than harass teachers.

A Lesson for Miss Bloomberg

Since the mayor's daughter is so eager to maintain mayoral control over the schools, I recommend that she start teaching in one of our many surr schools. Since she probably lacks the appropriate credentials to teach, this can be remedied by obtaining a waiver in the same way that Chancellor Klein did in or to head this deteriorating system.
Before Miss Bloomberg or any other person can talk about the schools, it is imperative that they teach in a difficult setting under the conditions that Chancellor Klein and the mayor are advocating.

Normy and Eric- Hopelessly Liberal

Norman Siegel and Eric Adams are just hopelessly liberal.
If the police were forced to handcuff a 10 year old girl on a schoolbus, that child must have really been carrying on. By acting out, the child posed a danger to herself, to others on the bus as well as the driver. What would have happened if because of her misbehavior, the driver had met up with an accident. The liberals would be blaming the driver.
The child was acting up because she was most probably continuing misbehavior from a day in school. When are we going to discipline children? We should sue her parents for endangering everyone on the bus.

Congratulations to Our President

I have much more respect now for standing up to China while visiting that country. He chastised them for human rights violations against their own people. We need more people to do this. This is what should have been done in the 1930s when the scum Hitler began to rave and rant against the Jewish people.

Klein and Bloomy Keep Dreaming!

Chancellor Klein and Mayor Bloomberg live in a dreamworld in New York City. Both gentlemen are beaming with pride as they talk about the fact that violent crime has gone down in our public schools. While this may be very true, we are not getting the full story and here is why:
Both men conveniently don't mention about non-violent crime. We have far too many disruptive students in our classes. Why? The parent(s) will not sign for a special education evaluation. Therefore, the child is allowed to continue disrupting classes.
Not all the brats attending city schools are violent. We have children out there who constantly disrupt classes by talking, screaming, throwing objects, running around the halls and classrooms to make it virtually impossible for the teacher to conduct a class.
Gentlemen, why are you so hesitant in bringing back the 600 school concept for unruly children?

Savage is Acting Like One

As a retired New York City teacher, I take exception to what radio host Michael Savage said about autistic children. Mr. Savage, autism is a disease and those afflicted with it are handicapped. To compare them to brats is insensitive and outrageous.
If you want to see brats in action, I cordially invite you and others, especially from the editorial boards of newspapers, to visit New York City classrooms during the current school years. Bring your cameras and let the film roll. Watch for the disrespect, cursing, and violent acts. Watch some of our "children'" in action as they routinely run through the halls while creating general mayhem. I guarantee that you would have a whole new perspective on education and brats. Don't blame autistic children.

2 Less Votes for McCain

Sen. John McCain will be receiving 2 less votes this November. Anne Armstrong and that wealthy Republican lady from Rhode Island died today. So the Republicans lost two of their stalwart broads.

Bye Bye Olmert

Israeli P.M. Olmert will step down. This is a long time coming. Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain may be dealing with Benjamin Netanyahu. It looks like Bibi can come back and watch out you Palestinian hooligans if he does. Am Yisroel Chai!

Vive Sarkozy!

People criticize French President Sarkozy for liking Sen. Obama. We should be grateful that we finally have a French president who is pro-Israel. Maybe, this will cut down on the anti-semitic acts in France.

Ludacrous is Ludicrous

What kind of jerk is this Ludacrous? Spell it correctly fool, especially since you are ridiculous. How dare you say that John McCain should be paralyzed. What kind of moron are you? If you don't like McCain, don't vote for him. Idiotic remarks like this will only help Sen. McCain as people are edgy regarding Sen. Obama. It has been said that this is Mr. Obama's election to lose. Having people such as this imbecile Ludacrous talk out will accomplish this. Ludacrous, shut your stupid mouth. You'll set back civil rights by 50 years if you keep this up.

Troops to Start Coming Home

Happy to hear that the troops may start coming home from Iraq. Despite this week's bombing, the President announces this. Is this another ploy to elect John McCain president? You have to wonder.

New Way to Go

This 2008 presidential election may very well produce Vice Presidential nominees who are better qualified than their respective candidates at the top of the ticket.
The tickets of both Truman-Barkley in 1948, and Clinton-Gore in '92 and '96 both proved that geographic balancing of the ticket may no longer be the thing to do.
Let's see how it all plays out in November.

Fiscal Irresponsibility

Everyone is praising N.Y. Gov. Paterson for his fiscal responsibility. If our governor is as sincere as he claims to be, he would immediately impose a freeze on both commercial and apartment rents.
Everyone was woefully quiet when the Rent Guidelines Board approved the increases this past June. These increases were excessive.
Remember when President Nixon imposed his wage and price freeze in 1971? Mr. Nixon also froze rents. None of our current crop of politicians will do this as they're in the pockets of the real estate industry. Shame.

Gas Explosion In Queens Apt. Building

You're doing a fabulous job, Kevin Burke of Con Ed. Have you met former FEMA director Michael Brown? The both of you would have so much to talk about in the field of mismanagement and incompetence. Of course, our N.Y.C. mayor insists that you're doing a good job.
Everyone was at that building. There has been no gas there since June 11th. 15 minutes after Con Edison left the building, boom! What goes on here? Who is running Con Edison? The Key Stone Cops? The nerve of this utility collecting an additional 22% increase from its subscribers. We ought to get back 50% forwhat we have to put up with. Could you imagine if this were the school system? Bloomy and the rest of the gang would be jumping all over teachers demanding accountability.
Mr. Burke should submit his resignation. With his probable stock options, he'd make out like a bandit. Joel Klein should be made the CEO at Con Edison. He'd literally be in the dark regarding what to do, but at least we'd get him out of the school system.

Let Me Be Fair

Sen. Obama, in all fairness to Sen. McCain, you could have gone to visit the injured troops. You could have circumvented Pentagon regulations. This would have gone a long way instead of another photo op sesssion.
Vice President choices: evergreenspan predictions:
McCain-Romney or McCain-Lieberman longshot:McCain-Mrs. Dole
Obama-Clinton, Obama-Biden, or Obama-Bayh longshot: Obama-Dodd, Obama-Edwards

Those Republican Nominees and Eastern Europe

While I'm not an ardent fan of Sen. Obama, it appears that Sen. McCain is looking to throw the election. Didn't the Arizona senator know that Czechoslovakia is now the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovakia? If I hadn't retired from the N.Y.C. school system, I'd suggest that he take my social studies class.
This reminded me when President Ford said during a 1976 debate with Jimmy Carter that the Soviet Union exerts little influence in Eastern Europe. My students couldn't believe that gaffe!
Of course, President Bush must be happy that Czechoslovakia broke up. Imagine him trying to spell that country?

Let's Get Serious

The traffic reporter on WINS radio could not pronounce the name of certain bridges. She made mention of this during her report. She didn't even try to say the names. Some help to motorists. Who is putting a letter in her file?

Arabic Studies In, No, No to Hebrew Studies

Where is the fairness here? Debbie Almontaser's School for Arab Studies is allowed to exist but a similar proposal for a school concentrating on Hebraic studies is condemned? Why not? If you're going to allow this for the Arabs, we Jews want our schools as well.
What are we afraid of? A school where there will be discipline? Teachers will be lining up as the place will be a desirable one to teach in.
Naturally, all this started in defiance of the idea of separation of church and state. Looks like Atlantic Ave. has more power than Borough Park. Shame.

Oy, My Dear Israel

We allowed the Palestinian "animals" to control Gaza and has this brought us peace? The Palestinian idea of peace is exactly the same as the late scum Hitler. His idea of peace was a piece of this country and a piece of that country before gobbling everything up.
How can we even deal with so called people who bomb buses and use tractors to kill people? Could you imagine if the Israelis did this? We would be condemned universe wide.
How can we deal with people who glorified the animal recently released by Israel? He killed a man in front of the latter's 4 year old daughter and then bashed the head in of the daughter. This is what we release? Defecating on this piece of garbage would be about the only worthy thing to do this misery. They shoot horses, don't they?
The Palestinians advocate the extinction of our beloved Israel. May their hands come off before they can do further damage. Amen.

OOPS! What Was I Thinking?

What a mistake I made. I meant the national league west. Nevertheless, mistake or no mistake, Arizona, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Colorado and San Diego are all having a miserable season. Are the other teams that much superior? Again, if you can't finish at .500, you don't deserve to be in the playoffs. Ridiculous, if you think otherwise.

American League West A Disgrace for This Season

We're heading to the end of July and the western division of the national league is a disgrace beyond belief. Not one team in that league is playing .500 ball. This is ridiculous.
If this continues, by the end of the season the head of the division should not be allowed to participate in the playoffs. Imagine making it to the series with such a poor record! What's going on here?

Holding Back Tenure from Teachers

The city is so happy that more teachers are being denied tenure. What will this accomplish? More people will exit from this decaying system. Since the city is so happy to list this, how about listing the number of suspensions of unruly pupils this year as well as the number of students going to alternative schools ?. It's because of the lack of student behavior that teachers can't teach. Let's be fair on all accounts.

Mayor B on Education

Mayor Bloomberg testified in Washington today.
He spoke about the great strides made in education in N.Y.C. and attributed these improvements to the gains that the city made in their recent contracts with the Principals' Union and UFT.
The principals gave up tenure to get a hefty raise. Why did they do this? Many voted for this as they knew they were retiring. As a result, they left their colleagues holding the bag. The mayor and Mr. Klein would love to do the same with teachers.
As for the UFT, they gave up plenty in the 2005 contract which I have discussed in a previous blog. Suffice to say that the teaching staff in the city is and will always be suffering from the contract gains that the city made in '05.

Where the 29% Comes From

N.Y.C. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a 71% favorable rating in the latest polls conducted. Believe me, the 29% who don't think this way are definitely members of the New York City school sytem.

Don't Take Me Out to the Baseball Game

Anyone paying to see the outrageous prices at the all-star game deserve to be labeled suckers of the year. Why pay for men to stand with a stick and hit the ball?
As far as the nostalgia being created by the demise of Yankee Stadium,the taxpayers are paying for this new stadium whether you like it or not. Why glorify George Steinbrenner? Didn't President Nixon pardon him? No wonder Mr. S donated plenty when Nixon ran for the presidency.
The Congressional area where the stadium is located is one of the poorest in the nation. In reality, will the people living there benefit from a new stadium? Methinks not. Ditto for the demise of Shea Stadium.

The New Allies

How interesting. Al Sharpton and Joel Klein are going to team up to try to improve inner city schools. I couldn't think of 2 people who know less about our schools than these 2 jokers.
I've heard that Al was quite a character in his days at Tilden H.S. Everyone at the school knew to give him a 65 in their course so as just to pass him on.
As for the current chancellor, what he has done in his years in the system, Gen. Sherman did not accomplish with his march through Georgia.
If you really want to see improvements in these so called schools, it's time to restore the 600 school concept for the unruly. Longer days and longer years? For what? The current student population is literally bouncing off the walls by the middle of the day. There is no discipline in far too many of our schools. Children run amok through the halls. The best part of this battered system is that it is being run by people who never taught one day.
Our schools will never improve until we allow corporal punishment for the unruly, and that teachers are given the upperhand. Teachers are on the front lines. Give them the needed respect they so richly deserve. Teachers must be allowed to suspended the chronically disruptive recalcitrants.
Of course, this nonsense that school is for everyone needs to stop. Attending school must be regarded as a privilege, not a right.
You know who the people are who know about this city? Police, fireman and teachers. Teachers in this town have a lot in common with the sanitation department. While we have some great children out there, teachers are also dealing with plenty of garbage each day.
By the way, what has been the productivity of our uniformed service members? It's the teachers in this town who have been scapegoated by working longer for more pay. Ms. Weingarten, that's not a raise!
Has Chancellor Klein ordered his principals to bring up the parents of the chronically disruptive child and read to them the riot act before school begins?
No, we'll just have another year of full test preparation as children run wild, teachers retire or quit en masse and those in the classroom pray for another June to come as quickly as possible.

A Trade to Forget

Imagine, Israel had to give up 5 animals to get back two deceased soldiers. The "chaledias" from Hezbollah certainly pulled off a fast one. One of the animals that Israel gave back to them killed a man 29 years ago in front of his small child. The animal then killed the girl by crushing her skull.
How could eretz Yisroel conclude such a trade? Something is terribly wrong with Olmert to allow this. Was Olmert pressured into such an agreement?
The Horrible Hezbollah should be wiped from the face of the earth. They should only join Hitler in hell. I'd love to hear our presidential candidates comment on this swap. How can anyone justify this? Sad day for sure in Israel.

A New Thought for Education

I knew a doctor who almost didn't become one because of the foreign language requirement that he had to face. This physician was brilliant and a terrific doctor as well. Had he not been able to practice medicine, the profession would have really suffered. Dr. Max was my doctor for many years. When he told me the story, I was shocked. Of course, having excelled in foreign languages in high school and college, I found this hard to fathom.
My weakness was in chemistry. To put it mildly folks, I was a chemical retardant. The teacher that I had for chemistry at Erasmus Hall High School was a nightmare for me. She spoke way above my head and I knew little of what she was talking about. Instead of having some compassion for me, she went after yours truly and others who were weak in her discipline. This is what she accomplished. I walked out of chemistry despising her as well as the subject. Luckily, I had a more normal person the following term and in college I had the chemistry instructor of my dreams. He brought the material down to my level.
This is what is basically wrong with education in this country. You can be ruined by being weak in one particular subject. This is wrong. I wound up teaching English and social studies for 32 years prior to my 2001 retirement. Of course, there are people out there who shall answer me by saying that you need to have a well-rounded education. Nonsense! Not everyone is excellent in all subjects. I proved that so many years ago.
The horrible teacher I had won all kinds of accolades at Columbia University for excellence in teaching chemistry. What excellence? Lord only knows the damage she did to others as well as the potential careers she may have ruined.

The Horrible Lady

How do you like that horrible woman who ripped off the system by adopting 11 children and abusing them? What a stiff this is! How could this poor imitation of a human being be allowed to adopt 11 children? Wasn't the CAS watching over these children? Why weren't there periodic visits? The judge was more than justified to give her a stiff sentence. This hag should be caged in the same way that she caged a handicapped child.
Will the Civil Liberties Union come to her defense? This woman needs a whipping.

Charley and Rent Stabilization

While I have always been a proponent of rent control and rent stabilization, what Rep. Charles Rangel has pulled is absolutely ridiculous. For one, how could he use one apartment as a commercial establishment? Doesn't that violate rent rules? I knew a dentist who had an office in a rent controlled building and that apartment was not covered under rent control. This is correct.
By having these apartments, Rep. Rangel was denying other people the right to secure them at the rent stabilization level. This is most unfair. I understand that Rep. Rangel will be facing an ethics probe. Glad to hear that he is giving up the commercial establishment or campaign office.
Mr. Rangel, it may very well be time to join Joe Bruno, an arch foe of rent control and rent stabilization, in retirement.

Let's Zing it to the Teacher

As weak as the UFT has become, we realize its importance when we read the article about the teacher being banished to the rubber room for reporting his principal for not providing appropriate educational services for special education children.
For reporting this, this principal, an apparent poor imitation of a human being, went after the teacher. If all this is true, what will be done to the principal? Rubber room for her? No! She ought to be shown the door.
Was this principal from the infamous Principals' Academy? What a joke that is. I heard of one principal from that institution of lower learning that walks around with their handbook in a similar manner to the late Chairman Mao Tse-Tung of China.
We need principals and assistants who actually taught. Anyone else knows absolutely nothing.

Our NYC Mayor, A Sociologist is Born

Well, our mayor in New York City is doing research on the poverty problem here. How nice. Has he now become a sociologist?
Let him look to his pals known as the real estate group in this city. They virtually have a stranglehold over tenants. Thanks to these greedy landlords, they are helping to push middle class people out. New York is fast becoming a city for upper or lower class people. The squeeze is on middle class New Yorkers.
During the last increase by the Rent Guidelines Board, the mayor was woefully quiet as tenants got walloped with a 4 1/2 and 8 1/2 percentage increases for renewals on 1-2 year leases respectively. Look what the landlords pushed through. If your lease is expiring and you've lived in your apartment for more than 6 years, the increase is automatically $45.00 or $85.00 depending upon how long you sign for your lease renewal. What a rip-off! How much more can tenants take? It is way past the time for New Yorkers to become members of The United Tenants Party!
Tenants should be made aware that they are entitled to a free paint job every 3 years. This applies to rent controlled tenants as well as rent stabilized people. The landlords are getting away with murder. Too many of our senior citizens are not up to painting their apartments. Others, have to work to pay for the rent and don't have the time to pay. When was the last time that your hallways were painted? When were the fire escapes done? There are rules about this that are routinely forgotten or just ignored.

Jesse Dearest

Jesse Jackson's latest comment will just show you how low this guy can really go. Remember his Hymie Town remark? That was quickly forgotten. The man is nothing more than an absolute bigot.
I would have had more respect for Sen. Obama if he would have totally cut ties with the Reverend Jackson.
Is Sen. Obama really talking down to black people when he tells them about paternal responsibility? Methinks not. The senator should be applauded for that. As for Rev. Jackson, he continues the myth of George Kingfish Stevens of Amos and Andy fame. By his actions, he continues the myth of African Americans as shiftless, lazy people. The black community ought to retire the Rev. Jackson from public life. Perhaps, he could write a book or go on a lecture circuit with Louis Farrahkhan. The two of them richly deserve each other.

Optimum Online Webmail

The greatest laugh is hearing that new commercial for our children to seek out free lunches during the summer. I wonder if the person in the commercial has children in the New York City school system. The lunch food is absolutely atrocious. The odor especially from frankfurters and beans can knock you out.
You're much better off bringing your own food.
How do I know this? As a retired N.Y.C. schoolteacher, I spent many an hour on cafeteria duty thanks to our lovely UFT contract that allowed this. For those of you who say so what,? let me explain: Do doctors patrol the hallways of hospitals? Do lawyers patrol the corridors in the courts? You want the teaching profession to be regarded as just that- a profession! Great, now treat pedagogues in a professional manner.
Getting back to the food in the cafeteria, as I stated, it's absolutely awful. Perhaps, if it were kosher, we'd be far better off. No wonder there have always been food fights in the cafeteria.
How nice if our UFT leadership as well as the CSA spent some time in the cafeteria to get a first hand view of conditions there. The mayor and the chancellor could do the same thing. Snow will probably fall in August first.

No Supervisory Exams

Teachers are required to be duly licensed. This is correct.
Why not the same for assistant and principals? Why should they get these cushy jobs and enjoy a lifetime out of the classroom without taking an examination for it? Isn't that unfair?
When was the last time that the UFT and CSA hierarchies were actually in the classroom teaching?
All supervisory personnel should be required to teach. This means not taking the best classes and leaving regular teachers all the leftovers. This applies to Chancellor Klein, Kathleen Grimm and others at the board. I would love to see their classroom skills, or lack of them. When they leave their current cushy jobs, let them start teaching in one of our many SURR schools under the current unbearable conditions that they have helped to create.

The Academy for Principals

What a school system! It just gets worse and worse.
For years we had assistant principals and principals supervising teachers in subject areas that they themselves never taught. How can you fairly evaluate a teacher if you never taught that subject?
It tales between 5-10 years to develop as a good classroom teacher. Nowadays, we make you an instant supervisor. You attend the Academy for Principals and presto you become a supervisor. There are no exams to take. Go to the academy and make the right contacts and you're heading a school. What a disgrace.
Thank the Lord that I retired. I would resent taking orders from someone who never or rarely taught. What could I and others possibly learn from such a person?
I heard of one story where a 24 year old person was made a principal of a high school. This person was asking teachers in the school what a shelter drill is.
The UFT should encourage teachers to challenge unsatisfactory observations if it can be shown that the person who observed you never taught that particular subject. Mr. Klein and his fellow gang of incompetents want accountability. This is a perfect example.

Klein Time

It's time for Chancellor Klein to return to classroom teaching. After all, the Chancellor taught for 6 months before fleeing to a career in law. How did he do as a teacher? Did anyone ever bother to see his file?
The Chancellor and those who agree with what he has done to the New York City school system, they should be made to teach in one of our many SURR schools.
The 2005 UFT contract is the biggest disaster. In 1968 and 1975 teachers struck for improvements in their working conditions and for the right to be treated as professionals. We can never forget the one day strike in 1961 when teachers walked for dignity as well.
In 2005 the union gave up extremely hard fought gains. It was my pleasure to have been on the picket lines in 1975 and as a student teacher observer in the 1968 walkout.
How do you give up seniority rights? How do you give up the right to grieve letters? How do you allow pedagogues to be made to return to cafeteria and hallway duty? Former Chancellor Crew could not get over the fact that teachers were subjected to this demeaning form of work. Teachers are there to teach. It's bad enough that teachers have to be social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists since parents do not do their jobs.

The School System's Dirty Little Secret

The public is not being made aware of the treacherous conditions created by those in charge of the New York City school system.
As a result of their school population decreasing, too many teachers have been excessed. This is not the fault of the teachers. This has happened to dedicated teachers teaching for many years. The newspapers and Chancellor Joel Klein are trying to blame these people for incompetence and threatening to terminate their employment all together. Currently, under the present UFT contract, this can't be done. Who knows what will happen when this contract expires?
Instead of using these teachers in classrooms to lower class registers, the teachers are being relegated to substitute status. This is demeaning to the teacher. These people did not get master's degrees to do substitute teaching.
Why did this happen? The city is taking advantage of the miserable 2005 teachers' contract that did away with seniority.
Parents should be demanding that these teachers be returned to regular duty and not harassed by school officials for being unable to find teaching positions. The system created this problem. Now, it's time to remedy it fairly.

Victory for the Landlords

Look how quiet it has become since the Rent Guidelines Board socked it to tenants last week. What a sneaky thing to do with that guaranteed $45 or $85 increase for so called lower-paying tenants.
How much more do tenants have to endure in cockroach infested buildings? No landlord should receive any increase whatsoever if he or she has violations in his or her building.
Both landlords and tenants must be required to open their books for inspection. Increases should not be automatic.
As always, our mayor remains silent in this matter. Is this to placate his real estate cronies?
The city council yells and screams and then is very quiet.
The Rent is Too Damn High Party needs to be replaced with a more vigorous group. Tenants could conceivably form an important voting block in the next mayoral election.
At least there is some good news for tenants. Gov. Paterson has a rent controlled apartment and Joe Bruno, a pro-landlord, anti-tenant State Senator is retiring. It's about time. Remember how Sen. Bruno and former Gov. Pataki were screaming that rent control and rent stabilization were dead in 1998?
Fair market rents? Nonsense. Look what happened in Boston when there was rent deregulation. Within a period of time, rents had to be regulated due to the ever greedy landlord.
By the way, tenants in rent controlled and rent stabilized buildings should take advantage of the law that allows for a free paint job every 3 years. Most tenants don't take advantage of this and our landlords are saving plenty of money.
The time has long gone when we used to read of landlords abandoning their buildings. Nonsense. The real estate market is very lucrative today and our greedy landlords know this. They're still making money despite their protests.
Years ago city workers were asked to have 0% increases in their contracts. Landlords should step up to the plate and do the same.

Dogs in Apartment Buildings

Here we go putting dogs ahead of tenants in apartment buildings. People in buildings don't have to be subjected to barking dogs along with their feces in elevators, stairwells and hallway areas.

It is grossly unfair for a dog to be locked up in an apartment.

Dogs belong in private houses, not apartment buildings. Of course, there should be exceptions. Small dogs and people needing seeing eye dogs should be allowed to continue.

The Terrible NYC School System

Our naive public is being fooled into thinking that the NYC school system is improving. Test scores are supposedly up. Let's get the real score on the system.
Teachers can't wait to retire. Thanks to 55/25 hordes of teachers are leaving the system. Others just quit or transfer to other systems.
Discipline just gets worse and worse. Teachers are routinely blamed for everything. The idea is that they are not motivating the recalcitrants.
It's long overdue that we reestablish the 600 school concept for the unruly. A longer day and longer year are ridiculous. Children run amok through the halls creating havoc. The disruptive child has his own agenda. That agenda is that no one learns anything while he or she is around.
We have supervisors out there who never taught one day in their lives. How can they supervise a teacher fairly? At least teach the subject that you are observing the classroom teacher teach!
Chancellor Klein should commit to teaching in one of our many SURR schools once he leaves the chancellor's position.
How could the UFT have allowed seniority to be done away with? We have teachers teaching over 20 years who have been excessed and now relegated to the substitute status. What an insult this is. You can't grieve a letter? You're back in the trenches supervising cafeterias and monitoring hallways? Teachers are there to teach. Do doctors patrol the corridors of hallways? Do lawyers monitor the corridors of the courts? Of course not. Only teachers are dumped on by uncaring administrators and a mayor who will never understand what a teacher goes through from September until June.
I look forward to replies. To all my fellow teachers still teaching, have a wonderful summer. You've earned it. To all of us who have retired: Thank the Lord that we made it!