prayer for giving and receiving

Heavenly Father,
     You are the giver of all things.  You own a thousand cattle on a thousand hills.  The earth is yours, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.  You hold the heart of the king in your hand.  Father, you are awesome and mighty in all your ways.  You are kind and compassionate.  You know what we have need of before we know it.  Lord help us to be as faithful and kind as you are.  Help us oh Lord to be able to give without thought of repaymnent, knowing that you will honor your word.  Remind us, oh Lord, that the financial blessings that we receive come from You.  You release them into our hands in many different ways, but they are, in the end, from you.  Help us to be joyful givers so that we may also receive with joy.  Help us so that we are not afraid to release blessing into the hands of those who are in such desperate need of a blessing.  Teach us, Lord not to give our garbage, but to give our best.  Help us so that we can give what we would lie to receive.  Remind us, oh Lord, that we should not be upset to receive garbage, if garbage is what we give.  Please remove the fear and doubt Lord, so that we may walk a closer walk with you. Help us to trust you with our finances.  Remind us that it is man who gives too little and takes too much,. Teach us the secrets of giving and blessing so that we may represent you well here on earth.  Teach us to give much and then prepare us to receive much.  May the people know that we are Christians by our generosity and by our love. In Jesus name.  Amen. 

Give, and it shall be given unto you...

The bible says, 'Give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom".  The principal of giving works.  It works very well even in our day and time.  As all the public sector workers (I'm included in that number) face September with paycuts  compliments of our governor and NJ legislature, let us remember that there is a principal of giving that transcends what the world considers normal.  The principal of giving is simple.  It just says that if you give to God, He will return it to you multiplied.  We can either be afraid and panicked about our reductions in pay due to increases in pension and healthcare, or we can get involved in the principle of giving.  I began to notice that the principle works when I was much younger, and though I strayed away from it, I have returned to find that te principle is as solid now as it ever was.  For example, I used to wonder why we always had so many clothes in my family.  Yes, I do love to shop, well, I did at one time, but  that couldn't cover the amount of clothing that we seemed to have in our closets.  Then I remembered "the principle".  I have always made it a habit to give to others who were less fortunate than we are.  Even in times when we felt that what we had was little, I still gave.  I make sure to give from my own home and my own budget; clothing, furniture, toys, food, school supplies etc. to shelters and families who are struggling.  Soon other people would discover that I was giving, and they would give things to me to be distributed.   I'm sure if they check, they will find that same principle at work in their lives.  Anyway, the more I gave from my own home, the more our closets would become full to overflowing (not with the donated clothes. those belong to God).  I would always run into a sale with a two-fer, or I'd get a discount coupon for something I really wanted.  It would be from a place that I had never received anything before.  Sometimes my friends or family members would say, " I bought too many, or the wrong color, so just give these jeans, sweaters, etc. to your children.  The items would still have store tags on them.  After a while there were so many that I had to ask if they could be donated.  "Give, and it shall be given..." 
     The same thing would happen with food, and all the other things that I would first give from my own house and pocket.  I would, quite by accident, stumble into great deals, or be the receiver of gifts.  One year I helped a homeless family to live in a temporary dwelling and have food to eat every day.  I did it because it was necessary. I did it because God commands us to help the helpless.  I did it knowing that even though I was using my summer savings, my God was watching, and would cover me.  (As a teacher, I get no paycheck in the summer months so I have to work an extra job and save the money.)  I didn't know how I would pay the summer bills, but God knew.  He covered them.  I received checks from companies that said I had over paid, and they had just gone over their books.  I got a summer job at a place where it is almost impossible to get one.  My insurance co. gave me a big check for being a good customer with no accidents.   (No, I wasn't cancelled).  It's just the principle of giving.  My dogs had puppies, to my surprise, and people offered to pay for them.  Well, they are pure bred and registered with papers, so I know they are worth money, I just didn't know we were going to have the little additions this summer.  In any case.  God is awesome.  His word is faithful. 
     I tithe from anything that I receive.  I tithe to my church.  When my dog has puppies, sometimes I am able to pay the tithes on their sale in advance.  I just wait expectantly for God to be faithful.  I have never been disappointed.  He is one bank that has interest and never fails.  You may not get the return right away, but you always get it, and it's always right on time.  God is faithful.  The principle of giving works.  "Give, and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom."  Generosity pays.

There is a time for everything

Now is the time for all strong people to stand up beside their union.
We are in the situation that has befallen us because there were those among us who turned their backs against their union brothers and sisters.
We must stand together and vote together now.
I have been told by some of our legislators that the next thing we will lose is our seniority and our tenure.  The governor will continue to win whatever he presents to the legislator because he has divided the democrats and now has enough votes in the senate and the assembly to win each time.  several of our Essex County legislators have turned against us.  We can still count on Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, Senator Ronald Rice, and Assemblyman Caputo among a few.  Lets lend our support to those who stand for us.  In the next blog I will have the names of the Democrats who promised to stand with us and then fell to support the enemy as we lost our bargaining rights.  We now stand to lose thousands from our paychecks.  Many of us already have more than one job out of necessity.  Our ability to support ourselves comfortably has been compromised.  Each year we will have to find other ways to supplement our income. 
     - Now is the time for all good members to come to the aid of their union -

Internet sources for info

Some of the posts that you have read on teacher to teachernj are copied and pasted from online news sources.  Most are not my research, but that of the reporters and journalists on line.  That makes it easy for you to look up again if you should ever desire to do so.  A few of you have asked where to find the information.  I try to make sure the title and source are showing.  If not, just leave the commenton this blog, or send the question to laurensotrucoop@aol.com.  Stay informed!! I'm glad you are enjoying the info.

And our bargaining....and pension....???

4 41. (New section) a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any
5 other law to the contrary, public employees, as specified herein, of a
6 local board of education shall contribute, through the withholding
7 of the contribution from the pay, salary, or other compensation,
8 toward the cost of health care benefits coverage for the employee
9 and any dependent provided pursuant to P.L.1979, c.391
10 (C.18A:16-12 et seq.), unless the provisions of subsection b. of this
11 section apply, in an amount that shall be determined in accordance
12 with section 39 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the
13 Legislature as this bill), except that, employees employed on the
14 date on which the contribution commences, as specified in
15 subsection c. of this section, shall pay:
16 during the first year in which the contribution is effective, one17
fourth of the amount of contribution;
18 during the second year in which the contribution is effective,
19 one-half of the amount of contribution; and
20 during the third year in which the contribution is effective, three21
fourths of the amount of contribution,
22 as that amount is calculated in accordance with section 39 of
23 P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
24 The amount payable by any employee under this subsection shall
25 not under any circumstance be less than the 1.5 percent of base
26 salary that is provided for in subsection b. of section 6 of P.L.1979,
27 c.391 (C.18A:16-17). An employee who pays the contribution
28 required under this subsection shall not also be required to pay the
29 contribution of 1.5 percent of base salary under subsection b. of
30 section 6 of P.L.1979, c.391 (C.18A:16-17).
31 This section shall apply to employees for whom the employer
32 has assumed a health care benefits payment obligation pursuant to
33 section 6 of P.L.1979, c.391 (C.18A:16-17), to require that such
34 employees pay at a minimum the amount of contribution specified
35 in this section for health care benefits coverage.
36 b. A board of education may enter into a contract or contracts
37 to provide health care benefits including prescription drug benefits
38 and other health care benefits, as may be required to implement a
39 duly executed collective negotiations agreement, and may provide
40 through such agreement for an amount of employee contribution as
41 a cost share or premium share that is other than the percentage
42 required under subsection a. of this section, if the total aggregate
43 savings during the term of the agreement from employee
44 contributions or plan design, or both, from that agreement as
45 applied to employees covered by that agreement, and to employees
46 not covered by that agreement but to whom the agreement has been
47 applied by the employer, if any, equals or exceeds the annual
48 savings that would have resulted had those employees made the
A

employees of a local school district....

A4133 GREENWALD, O'SCANLON
25
employees of a local school district, 1 regional school district,
2 county vocational school district, county special services school
3 district, jointure commission, educational services commission,
4 State-operated school district, charter school, county college, any
5 officer, board, or commission under the authority of the
6 Commissioner of Education or of the State Board of Education, and
7 any other public entity which is established pursuant to authority
8 provided by Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes; or
9 employees of a State public institution of higher education, other
10 than employees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
11 Jersey shall contribute 5.5% of compensation to the system, and all
12 such members described above enrolled in the system prior to July
13 1, 2007 shall contribute 5.5% of compensation to the system
14 effective with the payroll period for which the beginning date is
15 closest to July 1, 2007.
16 Members enrolled in the retirement system on or after July 1,
17 2008, other than those described in the paragraph above, shall
18 contribute 5.5% of compensation to the system. Members enrolled
19 in the system prior to July 1, 2008, other than those described in the
20 paragraph above, shall contribute 5.5% of compensation to the
21 system effective with the payroll period that begins immediately
22 after July 1, 2008.
23 (3) Members of the retirement system shall contribute 6.5% of
24 compensation to the system on and after the effective date of P.L. ,
25 c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), with an additional
26 contribution of 1% to be phased-in in equal increments over a
27 period of seven years commencing with the first year following that
28 effective date.
29 c. The retirement system shall certify to each State department
30 or subdivision thereof, and to each branch of the State service not
31 included in a State department, and to every other employer, the
32 proportion of each member's compensation to be deducted and to
33 facilitate the making of deductions the retirement system may
34 modify the deduction required by a member by such an amount as
35 shall not exceed 1/10 of 1% of the compensation upon the basis of
36 which the deduction is to be made.
37 If payment in full, representing the monthly or biweekly
38 transmittal and report of salary deductions, is not made within 15
39 days of the due date established by the retirement system, interest at
40 the rate of 6% per annum shall commence to run against the total
41 transmittal of salary deductions for the period on the first day after
42 such fifteenth day.
43 d. Every employee to whom this act applies shall be deemed to
44 consent and agree to any deduction from his compensation required
45 by this act and to all other provisions of this act. Notwithstanding
46 any other law, rule or regulation affecting the salary, pay,
47 compensation, other perquisites, or tenure of a person to whom this
48 act applies, or shall apply, and notwithstanding that the minimum
A4133

It's happening to judges, too...know one?

1 the payroll of each new member
2 initially enrolled on or after January 1, 1996, in the retirement
3 system, 3% of the salary for the judicial position held by the
4 member. There shall be deducted from the payroll of each member
5 of the system on and after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending
6 before the Legislature as this bill) an additional 9% of the salary for
7 the judicial position held by the member phased-in in equal
8 increments over a period of seven years.
9 Every judge of the several courts to whom this amendatory and
10 supplementary act applies shall be deemed to consent and agree to
11 any deduction from his compensation required by this act and to all
12 other provisions of this act. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or
13 regulation affecting the salary, pay, compensation, other
14 perquisites, or tenure of person to whom this amendatory and
15 supplementary act applies, or shall apply, and notwithstanding that
16 the minimum salary, pay, or compensation or other perquisites
17 provided by law for him shall be reduced thereby, payment, less
18 such deductions, shall be a full and complete discharge and
19 acquittance of all claims and demands for service rendered by him
20 during the period covered by such payment

Your paycheck is shrinking - Sept. 1, 2011

8. N.J.S.18A:66-29 is amended to read as follows:
6 18A:66-29. Members enrolled in the retirement system on or
7 after July 1, 1994 shall contribute 5% of compensation to the
8 system. Members enrolled in the system prior to July 1, 1994 shall
9 contribute 5% of compensation to the system effective with the
10 payroll period for which the beginning date is closest to July 1,
11 1995, provided, however, that any member enrolled before July 1,
12 1994, whose full contribution rate under the system prior to the
13 revisions by this act was less than 6%, shall pay 4% of
14 compensation to the system effective with the payroll period for
15 which the beginning date is closest to July 1, 1995, and 5% of
16 compensation to the system effective with the payroll period for
17 which the beginning date is closest to July 1, 1996.
18 Members enrolled in the retirement system on or after July 1,
19 2007 shall contribute 5.5% of compensation to the system.
20 Members enrolled in the system prior to July 1, 2007 shall
21 contribute 5.5% of compensation to the system effective with the
22 payroll period for which the beginning date is closest to July 1,
23 2007.
24 Members of the retirement system shall contribute 6.5% of
25 compensation to the system on and after the effective date of P.L. ,
26 c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), with an additional
27 contribution of 1% to be phased-in in equal increments over a
28 period of seven years commencing with the first year following that
29 effective date.
30 (cf: P.L.2007, c.103, s.1)
31
32 9. Section 26 of P.L.1981, c.470 (C.43:6A-34.1) is amended to
33 read as follows:
34 26. a. The annuity savings fund shall be the fund to which shall
35 be credited aggregate contributions made by members or on their
36 behalf to provide for their allowances. The aggregate contributions
37 of a member withdrawn by him or paid to his estate or his
38 designated beneficiary in the event of death as provided by this
39 amendatory and supplementary act shall be paid from the annuity
40 savings fund. Upon the retirement of a member where the aggregate
41 contributions of the member are to be provided in the form of an
42 annuity, the aggregate contributions of the member shall be
43 transferred from the annuity savings fund to the retirement reserve
44 fund.
45 b. There shall be deducted from the payroll of each member of
46 the system 3% of the amount of any difference between the salary
47 on or after January 19, 1982 for any judicial position held by the
48 member and the salary for that position on January 18, 1982, except

New Jersey Amistad for History classes 2012

Greetings Scholars:

 

The New Jersey Amistad Commission would like to extend to you an invitation to submit your application to our 5th Annual Summer Institute at Montclair State University - August 2-4, 2011.

During the 3 days, 50 educators will have the opportunity to work in collaboration with knowledgeable historians and scholars, receive training and extensive tutorial with the on-line textbook for Educators – the Amistad web-based curriculum resource, as well as experience multimedia historic presentations by “Living Voices”.  The sessions will be highlighted with thematic multimedia presentations which will be accompanied with historical lectures, so that participants can craft unit and lesson plans, study texts, topics, and ideas central to elementary and secondary social studies/ humanities education. Selected fellows will have access to Montclair State University’s library collections, with time reserved to pursue individual research. Further, the Institute aims to prepare participants to return to their classrooms with a deeper knowledge of current scholarship in American History with an understanding of the significant contributions of African-Americans.This summer, the central focus for the Summer Institute will be thematic historical periods with an extensive tutorial with the Amistad web-based curriculum resource units that support those time periods.  The four historic themes for this year will be:

 

·         The Revolutionary War (African American soldiers and the question of freedom)

 

·         Immigration and Industrialization (Great Migration, Ellis Island, Industrialization, child labor, Triangle Factory fire)

 

·         Nativism and the American Identity (Americanization schools, Westward expansion)

 

·         Peaceful discourse and the Struggle for Civil Rights (Suffrage, Farm Workers Movement and   the Civil Rights Movement)

 

The Amistad Institute at Montclair State University will allow Educators a unique opportunity to be trained on the utilization of our web-based curriculum resource, a premier multimedia resource for teachers in the state but also allow a venue to receive professional development credit hours by enhancing their content knowledge and teaching methodology in areas of specific historical emphasis. The Amistad Summer Institute wants to guarantee opportunities for the multitude of district curriculum specialists and classroom teachers that will require training for statewide compliance with the Amistad legislation as well as the new Social Studies standards adoptions in 2012.

Completed applications should be submitted to the New Jersey Amistad Commission and should be postmarked no later than Friday, July 15, 2011. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and applicants will be notified of their acceptance no later than 1 week after deadline.

Upon notification of acceptance to the institute, applicants need to submit an e-mail by Monday, July 18, 2011 to Glender Terrell at glender.terrell@doe.stat.nj.us , which indicates whether or not they accept the offer. Please contact 609-984-6428 with any questions about the application process.

I look forward to receiving your applications-

In the Service of our Children -

Stephanie James Wilson

 

Stephanie James Wilson, M.A.

Executive Director

Amistad Commission - NJ Department of Education

Public Speaking workshop offered by the Center for American Women and Politics

The Center for American Women and Politics invites you to...

Special Workshop Series
We are pleased to present a special workshop series as part of our Ready to Run™ Campaign Training for Women. The sessions in this series are designed to provide more in-depth training than is possible at the larger conference.
Workshop Series Session #2:
Public Speaking: Effective Presentation and Communications

Thursday, July 14th, 9:00 am to Noon

Eagleton Institute of Politics
191 Ryders Lane
New Brunswick, NJ 08091

The registration fee is $40.00. Fee includes workshop materials and breakfast.
Space is limited to the first 40 registrants, so sign up now!

Session Description: This interactive workshop will focus on effective public speaking and presentation skills. You'll learn how to deliver your message more powerfully and how to identify your authentic style of presentation. Find out the secrets of verbal and nonverbal communications techniques to capture and maintain any audience's interest, as well as specific strategies for dealing with speech anxiety and practice tips.

Workshop Presenter:
Karla Jackson-Brewer, Communications and Public Speaking Expert

Karla Jackson-Brewer is an entrepreneur and the co-founder of Sine Qua Non: Allies in Healing, a therapy practice in New York City. She has been serving clients in the area of personal emotional growth for the past 27 years and more recently has become an emotional intelligence coach for Star Factor, Inc. She is a fellow and vice president of the board of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership. Jackson-Brewer has consulted with numerous organizations in the areas of organizational and staff development, communications, public speaking, curriculum development, women's issues, issues of diversity in the workplace and in schools, and issues of violence in communities. She currently teaches on and provides personal coaching in public speaking. She is an adjunct professor in the Women's and Gender Studies Department and the Africana Studies Department at Rutgers.
For more information about this workshop, please contact Deanna-Marie Norcross at (732) 932-9384, x223 or dnorcros@eagleton.rutgers.edu.
Center for American Women and Politics Eagleton Institute of Politics
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
191 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 732-932-9384

Free summer program sent by Leah Owens

The Center for Sustainable Development
Free Summer Program

Dear All,
During the summer of 2011, The Center for Sustainable Development is seeking to implement a comprehensive Back to College Summer Program specifically designed for the young adults of Newark aged 19 and above.
The Back to College Summer Program represents the cornerstone of the Center’s work with Newark Youths. The model features a six week, three days a week program. Students will be taught Essay Writing, Math and Life Skills. The program is designed to challenge our youth to confront the never ending journey of adulthood and the responsibility of creating our lives by design, not by default.
The program focuses on our youth who have dropped out of high school together with those who have dropped out of college and are looking to get back into college but need some form of educational assistance or a kick up the rear.
The program is designed to prepare our youth to meet the challenges of a college education through a coordinated, progressive series of classroom lectures, activities and experiences which will help them become socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent to successfully withstand the rigors of a two or four year college.
The program will also include a mentor paring partnership initiative; the partnership is designed to equip the mentors and mentees with the tools and skills needed to become an effective mentor mentee paring. This section of the program focuses on encouraging a better understanding of youth culture and trends to assist the adult mentor in developing a sound, productive and fruitful relationship with the mentee.
Registration and more information on the program, an Open House will be held at Room 237, Conklin Hall, University Avenue, Rutgers University, Newark, at 2:00pm prompt.
Date of Open House: June 24th 2011.

Program Start Date: 11th July 2011 and end 18th August 2011.
All participating students will be required to report to Room 313, Bradley Hall, Rutgers University, Newark, at 10:00am prompt on the start day – 11th July 2011.

Respectfully,
Obi C. Ene. ene.obi@gmail.com

New York Times article on pension reform bill for New Jersey

New Jersey Legislature Approves Deep Cuts in Benefits to Public Workers

New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday approved a broad rollback in benefits for three-quarters of a million government workers and retirees, the deepest cut in state and local costs in memory, in a major victory for Gov. Chris Christie and a once-unthinkable setback for the powerful public employee unions.The Assembly passed the bill as Republicans and a few Democrats defied raucous protests by thousands of people whose chants, vowing electoral revenge, shook the State House. Leaders in the State Senate said their chamber, which had already passed a slightly different version of the bill, would approve the Assembly version on Monday, and Mr. Christie, a Republican, was expected to quickly sign the measure into law.

Such lack of Compassion

I now understand that our legislature is moving forward on removing heat assistance from the needy, removing medicaid from anyone who makes at least $100 a week, and seniority will be removed from public workers.  

This sounds like Marie Antoinette - "Let them eat cake!"  No compassion

***IMPORTANT***know your Weingarten Rights

In 1975 the Supreme Court of the United States set a ruling that stated "employees have a right to association representation during investigatory interviews by management.  These rights are called Weingarten Rights."

If anyone in a supervisory position questions an employee in order to get some information which could be used for disciplinary action, the employee must:

1.     Be informed that there is a possibility that disciplinary action may take place

2.     Be aware that the interview is of an investigatory nature

3.     Be given the right to receive representation

If we as employees are just being given instruction on how to improve our job, or how to implement some new protocol, then that is usually not an investigation into wrong doing and won't warrant representation.  

If the review has already taken place and the supervisor is just giving information on a decision that has already been made involving discipline, then representation isn't necessary.

When an interview which is of an investigatory nature occurs, there are 2 main rules which apply.

1.     The employee must make a request for association representation either before or during the interview.  Employers have no duty to inform workers of their rights.  Workers who fail to request association representation can be questioned at length.

2.     Once an employee makes a request, the employer must choose from among the following options:

a.   The employer may grant the request and delay questioning until the association representative arrives and has a chance to consult with the employee.

b.     The employer may deny the request and end the interview immediately (and possibly proceed with discipline based on other evidence).

c.     The employer may give the employee a choice of either continuing the interview without representation, or discontinuing the interview.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN AN EMPLOYER IGNORE OR DENY A WEINGARTEN REQUEST AND CONTINUE ASKING QUESTIONS.

look it up yourself for more info.  Be In The Know.

The Letter

                 Governor Christie’s Letter for Change

 

We received a copy of a letter sent out by Christie's office with the governors letterhead.  It starts out "Dear School Board Member"  and goes on to say.  " The time for reform is now...We must empower principals...We must...focus our efforts on teachers and children.  I propose that we reward the best teachers, based on merit, at the individual teacher level.  I demand that layoffs, when they occur, be based on a merit system and not merely on seniority.  I am committed to improving the measurement and evaluation of teachers...And perhaps the most important step in that process is to give schools more power to remove underperforming teachers."  He goes on after several 'fluff' paragraphs to say, "The seven bills I submitted to the legislature call for:

 

*     Implementation of a multiple measured statewide evaluation system by the 2012-2013 school year that required observation and evaluation of all educators at least twice per year with summative evaluation at the end of the school year using the rating categories of highly effective, effective, partially effective, or ineffective.

*     Tenure attainment only after ratings of "effective or "highly effective" have been received for the proceeding three years.  Tenure status is lost after an evaluation as "ineffective" for one year or partially effective for two years.

*Reforming laws governing reductions in force ("last in, first out") so that any layoffs are based on effectiveness--not seniority--and determined by an evaluation system established by the Commissioner of Education.

*     Mutual consent that calls for agreement by both the principal and teacher on all teacher assignments to schools.  Where a principal does not consent to a tenured teacher's placement inhis or her school, that teacher will continue to receive compensation for 12 months while searching for an assignment in the district, after which he or she will be placed on unpaid leave.

*     Reforming teacher compensation to focus on an educator's demonstrated effectiveness in advancing student learning, as well as whether the educator is teaching in a failing school or is teaching in a subject area that has been identified as a difficult-to-staff subject area.

*     Due process changes to eliminate a provision requiring a teacher against whom tenure charges were filed to begin receiving full salary and benefits after 120 days of start of the process as well as implementing a firm deadline requiring Administrative Law Judges hearing tenue revocation cases to render a decision within 30 days.

*     Allow for school districts to opt out of the Civil Service System."

 

He wrote the letter addressed to School Board Members to ask them for their support.  There is more to the letter. I didn't copy it all, because there was so much more fluff.  

Think about it

Well, with the new proposals looming over our heads, teachers who can retire, or who are considering retiring are wondering what to do. Every situation is different. Don't allow yourselves to be bullied. I hear that you only need one day to post your retirement. You need more to resign or transfer. If you hear of job openings, let me know because there are people looking for one. (no, not me) Let's make sure we remain one unit, one family of educators. Don't resort to witch hunting and looking for who "should" retire. Let's all rise together or we may all lose.

Does moving equal thinking or is it the threat of elections looming?

The New Jersey Democratic Assembly moved its State Convention to a different hotel in order to avoid a picket line by union workers. I love it when we send a message to the wallets of people who think workers don't count and don't deserve consideration for pay increases or benefits. At least our Dems in the assembly are listening and are thinking.

Assembly Dems appear to be taking a stand

The pension/healthcare package being introduced by Senate president Sweeney is not popular with the Dems in the Assembly. YEA!! We all await Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver's leadership on the matter in the assembly. The bill may pass the senate, but perhaps will get bogged down in the assembly. Many of the assembly Dems think our medical benefits should be negotiated at the bargaining table. That rolls in our favor. It's good to hear.
Also, YEA for Assemblyman Tom Giblin. He is afraid of very little and is a personal favorite of mine. He along with several others really do believe in standing up for the middle class. We who actually work for a living and pay taxes are the real employers for all politicians. Funny how they seem to forget that once they get into office. Sometimes they play their own agenda and then say that its what we the people wanted. What a bunch of !!!!####***

Keep Living, Keep Loving, Keep looking up in prayer!

The Latest 5/1/11

Pink slips came out this week in Belleville. All non-tenured and supervisors were handed their RIF papers. Let's all keep them in prayer that they will be called back to work.
It seems that Sweeney has decided that his bill which I detailed in an earlier April blog, will be passed by the end of June. The primary races will be over, but the general elections won't happen until November. Let's keep our eyes open. Be alert and watch to see who votes for you. They don't deserve our votes if they can't find their way to support us. Apparently the healthcare and pension will be joined together in his bill. A two-fer I guess. How much money will we who are public workers lose from our paychecks. It will be a financial loss no matter how you look at it. Will it affect the amount of pension public workers will receive? You betcha!
There was another bill passed on to the governor's desk for his signature which says that if you are a public worker and you work in Jersey, you must live in Jersey. It's only fair. It's a tax thing you know. Otherwise it wouldn't matter where you live.

KEEP LIVING, KEEP LOVING, KEEP PRAYING, KEEP LOOKING UP!

talking to Trenton

WEll, it appears that there will be some form of tenure change. Many of the politicians who say they "serve" us have said it's a wrap. It is certain. When we tried to inform them that tenure just gives a teacher due process, the response was -it's time for a change. Tenure protects teachers from nepotism and anger firings due to personality clashes and petty administrators. Many businesses put their new people on probation for 30-60-90 days. Teachers are on probation and unprotected for 3 years. How many of us have seen a new teacher fired because someone in the district needed a job, or because the administrator got haughty? It's a shame.

Whatever the agenda is, public workers, especially teachers, seem to be the target. To all our detractors, if the shoe were on the other foot, you'd be singing a different tune. Someone needs to tell the politicians that public workers pay taxes...ie. their salaries.

The msnbc news show reported that the Republicans are targeting unions because they are large supporters of the Democratic party. The Dems support public schools. Their (the Republican Party) premise is that if the Democratic Party doesn't get financial support from the unions, the Dems won't have a chance. This plan came about when they (The Republican Party) lost the house, the senate, and the presidency. Well, chances go around. That happens on each side of the aisle. The attempt to create a one party system should be stopped at it's core. Educated people don't vote according to party like cheerleaders in a high school, they vote according to the character of the people and their platform. The political party should not be the only factor.

The Death and Life of the Great American School System

For immediate release
For More Information,
Contact Kaleena Berryman, at 973-353-3560

The Coalition for Effective Newark Public Schools presents nationally acclaimed authorDiane Ravitch, author of the book
“ THE DEATH AND LIFE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM”, at a forum entitled, “Wake Up Newark: Pushing Back to Save Public Education”, to be held at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 West Market Street, Newark NJ on May 17, 2011, from 6 to 8pm.

Diane Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. From 1991-1993 she was Assistant Secretary of Education and Counselor to Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. President Clinton appointed her to the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees federal testing. She is the author or editor of over twenty books and her articles have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines.
Diane Ravitch will speak about her views on education reform. Writing in the Wall Street Journal (March 9,2010), in an article entitled “Why I Changed My Mind About School Reform”, she concluded, “What we need is not a marketplace, but a coherent curriculum that prepares all students. And our government should commit to providing a good school in every neighborhood in the nation, just as we strive to provide a good fire company in every community.
“On our present course, we are disrupting communities, dumbing down our schools, giving students false reports of their progress, and creating a private sector that will undermine public education without improving it. Most significantly, we are not producing a generation of students who are more knowledgeable, and better prepared for the responsibilities of citizenship. That is why I changed my mind about the current direction of school reform”.
The Coalition For Effective Newark Schools is an organization that advocates school reform emphasizing the needs of all children in Newark through improved teacher training, improving curriculum to make it interesting and less tied to standardized tests, more parent and student engagement in schools, and more accountability from school officials. Members of the Coalition include the City-Wide Parents Organization, Abbott Leadership Institute, Secondary Parents’ Council, Teachers as Leaders in Newark, One Newark Education Coalition, NAACP – Newark Chapter, Newark Teachers Union, Education Law Center, City Association of Supervisors and Administrators, and People’s Organization for Progress.

The Death and Life of the Great American School System

Pushing Back to Save Public Schools
Featuring
Dr. Diane Ravitch Nationally acclaimed author of
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM:
How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education
(Books will be available for sale)

Tues., May 17, 2011
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Bethany Baptist Church
275 West Market St.
Newark, NJ 07103(Doors will open at 5:30pm. For more inform

State testing is taking place in many of our schools right now.  Good luck to everyone!  You know that our governor wants to tie our salaries to these test scores along with some other indicators of  student progress.  We shall see what we shall see.  

As we move toward the end of the school year, keep your eyes and ears open.  Share information.  You never know who may need a position in another school system.  Feel free to share any projects or strategies that you found helpful this year. 

     Also we need to stand up for ourselves and speak to people in our circle of friends and in our communities about what we really do, what our hours really are, and how much we really care about our students.  

  

Congratulations to the districts that got their budgets passed!  

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

The complaints that are currently being made, are comments about poorly performing teachers.  In that we are all professionals who have dedicated much of our lives, including extra hours, holidays, and  weekends to our profession, none of those comments could possibly be about us.  We use our own resources and our own money to give our students the supplies and tools that they need to make their education more exciting and successful.  We create projects and we use technology in our classes to keep our students involved, sharp, and up to date with technological skills.  New Jersey has been rated 5th in the nation in successful education.  A large percentage of our students go on to college and complete their degree.  

We care.  We work.  We strive for excellence.  We are teachers and we aren't afraid of the big bad wolf.

Health Insurance for the poor to be cut

The families with the most "at risk" children are in danger of losing their Family Care health care because they make more than $18,000 a year.  Have any of the politicians tried to live off of $18,000 per year?  That is not a living wage for a family of 3.  The Children's Health Insurance Plan - CHIP - is a healthcare plan provided by Medicaid.  It's given to families with children who don't have access to affordable insurance through their employer.  If you only make $18,000 a year, private insurance is  almost an impossible thing to get.  The newspaper reports that the state will save about $300 million by making these cuts.  Is the health care of our poorest families worth it?   

JUSTICE.....finally

Osama Bin Laden has been killed today by American troops.  He was found in a mansion.  He has finally paid.  The payment wasn't enough for the 3,000+ people and their families who were devasted by 911, but justice is always sweet.

Happy Resurrection Sunday

Celebrate the resurrection on this Holy week as you go about your daily involvements.  I know that many of us are also checking papers, adding grades, creating study guides, and writing down new projects that will keep our students focused and engaged.  It's what we do!  You love it, you know you do.  Have a happy!

notice of an opportunity for teen student athletes

 pass it on.

Delta Teens:  Scholarship for Student Athletes in Essex County - Due May 1st

Delta Teens:  Scholarship for Student Athletes in Essex County - Deadline:  May 1st
 
The application is available on the website.  Open to student athletes who attend school in Essex County .
 
  www.LarrySchumacherScholarship.org

from W. Holder

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outsourcing

I just heard that Montclair is another district to outsource teacher aides.  Please pray for the faithful workers of Montclair.  If any of you have heard of outsourcing or know of job openings, blog it right here.  Let's support one another.

Sweeney's benefit bill

I know this is public knowledge, but in case you didn't have time to research it, I'm sending the info on Sweeney's bill to you.

    It is a 7 year phase in and the larger your salary is, the more you will pay for benefits.  People making 29,999 and less will pay 6% of their premium and it will go up to 12% at the fourth year and every year thereafter up to the 7th year.  

30,000-$49,999 will start at 10% and go to 16% at the fourth year up to the 7th year.

50,000-$74,999 will start at 13% and go up to 19%
by the fourth year and remain so up to the 7th

$75,000-$99,999 will pay 18% year one and go to 27% at the fourth year.

Salaries $100,000 and up will start at 21% year one and go up to 30% by year four and remain so until year 7.

This bill will take 7 years and will leave the state budget short by $110,000.  Why should the state budget be balanced on our backs?

Coalition for NPS

 The meeting has ended, but the coalition still exists.  Get involved!

Coalition Members 
Secondary Parent Council * Teachers as Leaders in Newark   (TaLiN) * Abbott Leadership 
Institute (ALI) * Youth Media Symposium (YMS) * NAACP – Newark Chapter * Parents Unified 
for Local School Education (PULSE) * One Newark Education Coalition (ONEC) * Newark Teachers 
Association (NTA) * Education Law Center * Africana Institute, Essex County College * Parent 
Advocacy and Service Academy (P.A.S.A.)* People’s Organization for Progress 
 
To become a Member or Supporter of the Coalition for Effective Newark 
Public Schools, please call 973.353.3560 or email Coalition4ENPS@gmail.com 
BLUEPRINT FOR A 
 
WHAT ARE WE UP AGAINST IN NEWARK? 
 
School Closings and Co-locations 
The Layoff of 422 More Teachers 
Overcrowded Classes, Less Support Staff  
No Real Plan to make ALL Schools Better 
 
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? 
Parents, Educators, Students and Community  
We Need a Permanent Organization to Beat Back the Attack! 
Citywide Unity Event 
March 26, 2011 / 10am-1pm 
Rutgers-Newark, Conklin Hall, 
University Avenue, Room 100 

legislation

go to www.njleg.gov and check out the legislation as it rolls off the presses.  Keep up with the Sweeney bill, and the bills that the gov. supports so strongly for health care payments.  Has Teresa Ruiz put out her tenure bill yet?  Don't the politicians understand that without tenure, abuse of teachers and teacher rights will begin - again?  Any politician or administrator who has a relative who needs a job, will use their influence to take your job and give it to their friends and family despite your proven professionalism.  Tenure protects us from abuse and needless firings.  Who is to say that those who take your place will be better?  Do the legislators even care who is teaching the children?  Your legislators are voting against you.  Why are you voting for them?  Here's what I believe...A vote for me as a teacher, is a vote for you -legislators.

"In the end, it won't be the words of our enemies that we remember, but the silence of our friends" Dr. Martin Luther King

Newark Schools

I just want to give a shout- out to all the organizations that are fighting to make Newark schools work better by keeping them open.  The closing of so many schools, and a second round of firings or layoffs will result in less service for the children.  

Kudo's to Liz Owens, Mrs. Holder, OCOS, Junius Williams and the ALI sessions, and everyone else who is working to keep our eyes open.

 

I have heard that some of the social workers in the NPS were already laid off last year.  Children in urban areas need the support.  Don't stay quiet, let your voices be heard.

new school year

In September 2011 we will all be facing a new school year.  What kind of school year will it be?  Will our classes be crowded?  Will we be minus a few of our friends?  Will our pay checks have shrunk?  No one has paid into our pension for about 16 years.  People keep talking to me about how much our pension is costing the tax payers, yet since Governor Whitman, no one has paid into our pension but us.  We are taking care of our pension fund despite failed promises to help fund it.

     Next school year we may have to take a $6-8,000 pay cut if we have to pay 30% of our healthcare premium and the pension is increased.  Can you afford a pay cut that is that deep?  Of course our critics will say that it isn't a pay cut because our gross income won't change.  Anyone who can do math can tell that an increase in payments from our salary is a decrease in income.  

Dont forget

Don't forget to be your own best advocate.  It's important that we communicate with the people in our neighborhoods, PTA's, community centers, places of worship, and even at dinners and play dates for our kids.  Remind people that we are their neighbors and we are the same people whose company they enjoy day to day.  Remind your friends that we help make things possible.  Remind them that a vote for their local school budget is a vote for the kids, their communities, and the future!  WE NEED TO VOTE!!

time for negotiations

Well, it's time for negotiations for a lot of our teachers and districts.  We are the backbone of our society, so let's all remember that.  We do great jobs in New Jersey, and we deserve all the best.  Our graduation rate, and college rate are tops.  Congratulations to all you teachers and staff who work in our public schools and make this country great!

what I hear

I hear that teacher aides, cafeteria workers, janitors, and secretaries are being outsourced. They are some very important people in our schools. They are dedicated to their school, the children, and the teachers and staff. Without them, the school wouldn't function well. They are our friends and we all need to support them.

Teachers and jobs

Teachers are facing difficult times just like everyone else, but in New Jersey we are being demonized by our governor. It seems that teachers finally got to the place where we earn a living wage in some districts, and now that wage will be greatly decreased. There are so many teachers who need to have two jobs in order to support their families. Now will we need 3 jobs?