TEACHERS FOR CHANGE ------ March 2004
A.J. Duffy’s Vision
My Dear Friends,
Our profession and UTLA are both in deep trouble!
We are overburdened with mandates from federal and state governments, as well as, from LAUSD.
LAUSD is fat with waste and a growing bureaucracy whose single paramount ability is to waste financial and human resources which should be directed towards our schools.
UTLA has developed a bureaucracy of its own, which hinders our ability to help members. We have made no real effort to counter the destructive effects of programmed teaching systems and high stakes testing.
Our public relations should be geared not only towards fighting the absurdity of the above but should also hail the many gains made over the last several years by teachers and health and human service workers.
I want to be your president so that I can bring back the glory years of 89/90 when, under the leadership of Wayne Johnson, former UTLA/CTA President, we had a sense of dignity and power, a sense of mission and a sense of accomplishment.
The election may be a year and a half away but I intend to bring the message of change from now until the last ballot is cast and counted. My theme, as a candidate and as your president will be:
THE SCHOOL SITE IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE CLASSROOM IS THE NUCLEOUS AND CORE OF THAT UNIVERSE.
I encourage you to join my campaign to be the first person in over a decade to bring real reform and true purpose to our union.
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What Happened to Just Teaching Special Education Students?
By James Arlington
Webster Middle School
Under the guise of accountability, special education teachers spend an inordinate amount of our teaching time burdened by paperwork and mandates caused by federal, state and district bureaucracy.
Special education teachers have to find the time to test, observe, write up reports, up-date student progress on goals every four months in addition to the regular progress reports. We also conduct IEP meetings, distribute accommodations and goals and collaborate with general education teachers. Of course, we also have to teach the standards and curriculum and write lesson plans just like all teachers do. I understand that there is some money available to help relieve the special education teacher to perform some of these duties. However, many principals do not know how to obtain this money or simply refuse to do it.
Special educators have to: write, implement, and monitor behavior plans, transition plans, prevocational and vocational goals; distribute booklets, surveys, and questionnaires to parents at IEP meetings; advise parents of their rights before IEP meetings, summarize those rights and make certain parents understand the committee’s decisions after the meetings. General education teachers are also being pulled away from teaching time to attend countless IEP meetings. This will only increase as we mainstream more special education students into general education classes! Since when did we become attorneys?
Just when special education teachers became comfortable with the new IEP forms introduced in 2000, we are now mandated to use the new Welligent Web-based IEP system and yet most schools and classrooms are not internet ready to handle this process. When does LAUSD intend to train us?
There continues to be a shortage of special educators in this district. Many special education classrooms continue to be staffed by un-credentialed teachers. Sadly, all special education teachers are burning out at an alarming rate.
UTLA has not taken a leading role in fighting these mandates. What happened to just teaching special education students?
It is about time that our union has a leader who will fight these insane mandates that come with little or no resources. I believe as do other special education teachers, that it is time for a change of UTLA leadership at the very top. Let’s all work for that change.
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Teachers For Change is one of the oldest caucus in our union. It’s heyday was the 80’s and 90’s. TFC stood for forward thinking opinions and always protected the rights of teachers and health and human service workers.
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Why I’m Supporting A.J. Duffy
By Linda Arlington
Former Chapter Chair, Walgrove Elementary
I am supporting A.J. Duffy for President of UTLA because during my time as a Chapter Chair in West Area he was always there for me. He always returned my phone calls the same day! A.J. Duffy had the answers to my questions and if he didn’t he researched the issue and had an answer within 24 hours.
Walgrove had a problem with a principal who had been removed from other schools because of her attitude towards teachers and health and human service workers. A.J. Duffy worked with our teachers, classified staff and parent community groups. We worked with him for 2 years documenting our principal’s actions until finally she was removed and demoted! He was there for us 24/7!
I have known A.J. Duffy for 10 years. I have seen him work on union member’s problems tirelessly. I have witnessed him talking to district officials and have seen his skills as a negotiator. He has the ability to cut through the multi-layered bureaucratic malaise that is this district. A.J. Duffy is an organizer. We need his brand of determination and ability!
Our union has become too bureaucratic and unresponsive. We have so many workplace issues that are not being addressed. Our members need to be number one on our union’s priority list.
Where is the power that our union once had? We need a shake up at the very top. I know that A.J. Duffy is the one to reform this bureaucratic and unresponsive union. Teachers and H.H.S. workers know he is about service to them. A.J. Duffy will make this union better and restore our sense of worth and dignity.
A.J. Duffy has a plan, a will and determination to turn our union around. He is the leader we need!
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Join the Campaign to elect A.J. Duffy, President of UTLA. You can help by contributing money to the Campaign to Elect A.J. Duffy, President, 3547 Federal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066. You can also help by distributing the TFC newsletter and campaign literature at your school and get other teachers to do the same at their schools. Call to contribute or talk (310) 915-0923.
