The Time is Now for Transparency at the UFT Delegate Assembly

I have been a UFT delegate for about a year now. In fact my first meeting was the
"emergency meeting" that was held when the new contract was agreed upon. I think I went to that a little headstrong and spoke when I should've listened, but everything is a learning curve.

But one thing I would like to see is the Delegate Assembly meetings become much, much, more transparent to the rank and file. The DA is for all intents and purposes is like Congress, right? Wait, bad example. Is like the New England Town meeting? Help.

Yes, any rank and file member off the street can come to a DA meeting and observe. But one can only observe in an inhospitable room on the 19th floor with through closed circuit TV, with a grainy analog picture. In this day and age should there not be at least a clear digital picture?

Why isn't the Delegate Assembly streamed live? The UFT website and app, Facebook, Periscope, and Twitter (Am I leaving anything out?), can all be used to show the UFT in action but more importantly get more teachers involved in the process as well as giving the rank and file more ownership. Where would we be as citizens without C-Span if Congress was allowed to operate without cameras? Yeah, poor example.

The voting process can use tweaking. When a resolution is voted on delegates hold aloft their voting cards. Nothing is counted. That's hard. What's easy is to say something passes by proclamation by just seeing a lot of cards being held up.

The UFT has an app. Can there not be a delegates only section on the app? And in this delegates only section delegates would be able to vote yay or nay on any resolution? This can be done. Heck, I have seen it done with lesser technology. This way, each vote would be secret as well as have an accurate count.

Lastly, why do I as a delegate get an advanced copy of the topics of each Delegate Assembly? Why must the rank and file be in the dark? Again, the outlets for the UFT to share the DA agenda with the rank and file are limitless. It's time this agenda was shared ahead of time (Click to enlarge if need be).

Yeah, it's nice to support the Hurricane Dorian victims and to raise the awareness of the 2020 census. I get it. I have no problem with the resolution supporting the UAW in their strike. But again, the point is being missed.

Where are the bread and butter issues and issues that effect the communities? What's going on with hiring ATRs permanently? What about abusive administrators? Useless chapter leaders? Lack of school nurses? Bus issues? Gifted and Talented? Specialized high schools? Retaining UFT members (I know I am leaving plenty off)? If there were a clothing drive for Dorian victims I would do what I could. If someone was needed to go door to door to raise awareness of the census, I would. But first things must be first. And that is simply our teachers, our communities, and our union and other unions.

The UFT has been taking baby steps. First with the app, and of course, with the concierge service. Let's have full transparency. It's time.

A Music Teacher Can't Teach Music Out of Shit Served

Arthur Goldstein wrote an interesting piece today about overcrowded music classes in I
would assume his school, Francis Lewis HS. I was not aware that HS music could have 50 students in one class. I have always been aware (and I could be wrong) that even in elementary, Phys. Ed could have 50 students with one teacher.

Which brings me to elementary music or the appearance of it in one Bronx elementary school. Two years ago I wrote about Aaron, a teacher that was written up for bullshit and a failed attempt (gratefully) at suicide during his 3020-a hearing.

Aaron was the music teacher in his school at the time of his troubles.  In fact, Aaron was in my school for a year as an ATR music teacher about ten years ago. In that one school year at my school he put in a grant in and received about a dozen keyboards. The kids loved Aaron and loved going to his class. Sadly, when the year ended Aaron was not kept on.

At the school he was at when I came across him in my ATR travels and as of the basis of the writings above Aaron was yet again the music teacher and no longer an ATR. The school was damn lucky to have him. He gave of himself, going above and beyond constantly. The Christmas Spectaculars he put on were the talk of the community. Sadly, his principal did not care for him and wanted him out.

If Aaron Judge comes up to the plate without a bat, he won't get a hit, correct? Well, Aaron's principal decided not to supply him with the necessary accoutrements for him to succeed as a music teacher. Namely, he was not supplied with any musical instruments at all. Nada. Bupkus. Nichts.

What did Aaron have? He had iPads. What was on the iPads? Garage Band. That's it. No YouTube. No nothing else. How is a music teacher supposed to introduce and teach the appreciation of music with just an app? Why didn't the principal supply Aaron with the materials that would give him, not only the chance to succeed and shine, but to stimulate the minds of the students? The students were to learn keyboarding and whatever else, on an iPad.

I am all for integrating technology into the curriculum. But there has to be training. Aaron had ZERO chances or offers of professional development. Aaron was set up to fail.

Aaron is a professional musician. He has played on Broadway countless times and has played in several prominent jazz bands. Aaron as a deep love and historical knowledge of music, though I am perplexed at his lack of knowledge of Rush. Aaron is without a doubt a principal's dream to have on staff as a music teacher.

But the principal didn't care for Aaron. He wasn't part of the "cool kids" clique. Aaron had to be brought down at the expense of the students.

Christopher Vasquez Hates the UFT. Or He Loves the UFT? But He Seemingly Wants to Violate Me in a Vile Manner.

We here at SBSB wish to thank Chris Vasquez, formerly of Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation and Mount Vernon High School, for the shitloads of quality material he is supplying. As was mentioned at The Crack Team's last meeting, "Keep it up, Chris! There is gold in your little mind!"

Why not write about Chris? Here is failed (Terminated twice!) teacher that has no qualms violating teachers privacy, while scaring and intimidating a mostly female Facebook teacher's group. On top of that he is nothing but an outsider, looking in for eternity, while bashing my union. Want to bash the UFT, be a UFT member, not some outside inane drone.

Last night, Chris tweeted this(click to enlarge)...

So Chris is saving something for the next UFT election? Could it be invitations to his next birthday party? Or does he, along with his Patrón, have some secret method or formula to wrest control from Unity in the next UFT election in 2022? Good luck to that. It ain't happening. New Action/MORE had the best chance to build momentum from 2016 and we see how well that went. Chris' Patrón saw how low MORE sunk so let Chris keep rubbing one out in the corner while he fantasizes.

But he is bartering his ceasing to "overthrow" the UFT he claims that he left a clue or something for him to cease. Thanks to hard work from The Crack Team, it is now known what Chris left them.

All UFT members at the borough offices and 52 Broadway please pay attention.

Next month on specially branded King Vitamin cereal boxes there will be a treasure map on the back. Inside all boxes will be special "decoder glasses." Put the glasses on and look at the map. Doing this will lead you to where Chris left the "means." We here at SBSB salute Chris and his feeble ingenuity.

But we here at SBSB are confused. Whilst Chris obviously loathes the UFT, he just can't seem to let the UFT be a memory in his rear view memory (click to enlarge).

So Chris seems confused.Chris comes across has someone hurt by the UFT and has some bad feelings. Yet, in looking out for Chris he'll overlook everything if he gets a contract to work for the UFT. Doing what exactly? Maybe Chris can be a concierge? If Chris can promise me two tickets for the Nets-Heat game on January 10, I will welcome him with open arms at the UFT Welcome Center.

But it seems yet again that Chris is misplacing, or at least ignoring, his principles for personal gain. Why not? Chris learned well from his Patrón.

But most disturbingly is (click to enlarge)...

Seems Chris not only wants to shag me, but actually rape me in a church basement.

It is a compliment that at my age anyone finds me sexy, so thank you Chris. I try to do my best.

But it's not that I don't want to believe the data. I don't want to believe Chris' convoluted per-determined data that emanates from Chris' feeble brain.

On the other hand, I think Chris is a sick fuck to not only joke about rape but the fact that Chris has ideations of rape should preclude him from not only ever being employed by the United Federation of Employees but any public school system in New York State and/or the United States.

Women are raped day in and day out, and Chris Vasquez thinks nothing better than to joke about rape? Or maybe he is not joking at all?

Chris has apparently crossed the event horizon and is out of control. Chris seemingly shows that he is all about himself and for himself. That his needs alone are all that matters.

Chris it's time. It's not to late. Break free from the shackles that your Patrón has put you in. It is time to no longer be emasculated.