tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post4504197707774345312..comments2024-02-06T16:00:09.709-05:00Comments on Under Assault: teaching in NYC: New info on LIFs! Just kidding.UAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18260404972111353175noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-70372441236067040712019-10-17T18:59:22.428-04:002019-10-17T18:59:22.428-04:00Trying desperately to get help regarding unsigned ...Trying desperately to get help regarding unsigned letters in file.<br /><br />Rating Officer added material without my knowledge....<br />Rating Officer argues that he has witnesses to Grievant's refusal to sign. Who must these be? Must these persons be licensed administrators?<br /><br />Can it be the School Secretary?<br /><br />S.O.S.Al Goldsteinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-15253117895404231372009-05-31T16:32:43.739-04:002009-05-31T16:32:43.739-04:00When you say a Step 3 union rep, do you mean you w...When you say a Step 3 union rep, do you mean you went to grievance on this and they are denying a Step 3?<br /><br />Article 8.J.2.b. clearly says: the Formal Obs. "includes pre- and post- <br />observation conferences and written feedback/comments."<br /><br />If you asked for it and they denied it, then you have grounds for a grievance. The remedy for that grievance would be to remove any LIF related to a tainted Formal Observation. What's their problem?<br /><br />Can you clarify what's going on here? Because I can't tell if it's a question of faulty info from a rep without your having gone to grievance, or having gone to grievance but it's being denied — as they are so frequently doing these days to make you go away.<br /><br />Many supervisors are pulling this "any time in the next 2 weeks" crap. <br /><br />What I did to combat this at my school was to ask for a pre-obs (which I got), and make a huge list of all the possible things that I know I would be responsible for in that classroom "experience." Get the supervisor to agree with that huge list, which they will because everything we're responsible for is so obvious. <br />Then if I got a U for something small (like wrong date on the board) or medium (could do more differentiation), I could produce that list of things I got RIGHT to any future arbitrator — because I'd definitely file a grievance for the contract violation and press the union like mad to take it to Step III.Under Assaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222267229529062957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-78588978944242634452009-05-31T16:17:49.848-04:002009-05-31T16:17:49.848-04:00I regret missing that last DA. If there I would ha...I regret missing that last DA. If there I would have added the story of a teacher of mine who is asking for a U observation to be removed on the grounds she did not get a proper pre-ob conference. She was in danger of getting a U and we asked for a specific day and class for the observation. The AP refused and would only promise to show up some time in the next two weeks. Despite chancellor's reg 80, requiring specific content to be discussed in preob on our side, her step 3 union rep says we can't ask for post observation removal! So even if we win the file stays in.John Elfranknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-25861511360650353522009-05-18T19:24:00.000-04:002009-05-18T19:24:00.000-04:00Pissed On - you really have to sign it. Take care ...Pissed On - you really have to sign it. Take care if you choose not to.<br /><br />Proofoflife - maybe we're talking two different things. I wouldn't bother writing up anything for LIFs since admin doesn't give a hoot. If you get a couple of LIFs and you think they are building a case against you, you can make some notes for your own records and compile them into something later for your attorney - if the need should arise. But I think a lot of times the principal gives LIFs to document for their own superiors that they are doing a "proper" job; also for general staff intimidation. I think most LIFs don't lead to anything much, because I know too many people who get them, yet still get S at the end of the year. <br /> If you're defending a U-rating, that's a whole different ballgame. I would document that a lot. On the bathroom walls if necessary. (LOL)Under Assaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222267229529062957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-49368501780927047582009-05-18T18:41:00.000-04:002009-05-18T18:41:00.000-04:00Sign it and write under your signature ' see my at...Sign it and write under your signature ' see my attached response'. If nothing else it gives the U rated advocate something to argue at a hearing should it come to that. It can also help prepare the advocate with questions for the principal before hand. It is important!proofoflifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07223433380297875666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-25197290603469727492009-05-17T22:08:00.000-04:002009-05-17T22:08:00.000-04:00I kinda like the no sign strategy. It really pisse...I kinda like the no sign strategy. It really pisses them off.Pissed Onnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-77549457796262966902009-05-17T15:32:00.000-04:002009-05-17T15:32:00.000-04:00Hi, L.I. - There's another alternative, and that'...Hi, L.I. - There's another alternative, and that's to sign it and either say outright that you are not in agreement, or write something like "Your Name, in receipt of this document." <br />It is then clear that you are signing to receive, not to agree on anything. So I guess I don't think it's as close a call as you guys do.Under Assaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222267229529062957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-48570444894547660562009-05-17T14:50:00.000-04:002009-05-17T14:50:00.000-04:00Hmmm...Woodlass we have had the same discussion in...Hmmm...Woodlass we have had the same discussion in my school here on Long Island as to whether or not to respond to a letter in the file or negative end of year evaluation. You are precisely on target that a bullying principal is likely to react negatively to any response that points out the foolishnemss of his comments. But at the same time conventional wisdom suggests that a failure to respond might suggest agreement with the letter or evaluation.<br /> All in all, the teachers as a rule at my school now respond in writing and as thoroughly as possible. There is no limit to the length of the response and the principal does not counter respond. Should an arbitrator ever read the letters or evaluations we believe we are better off with well-written coherent responses than plain signatures. Again, it is a very close call.The Veteran NY Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05805569561084847792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-67598315928901509462009-05-17T06:41:00.000-04:002009-05-17T06:41:00.000-04:00Chaz, the CL was dead wrong. You must sign the LIF...Chaz, the CL was dead wrong. You must sign the LIF, and that's that. But, I wasn't talking about signing it, only about bothering to attach a response (suggested in Strategy 4). Signing it doesn't mean you agree with it. Heck, it doesn't even mean you've read it! It just means you received it. No harm in signing.<br /><br />I'm also not saying you shouldn't write down for your own records everything you can remember — not only to get it off your chest, but because the LIF may come into play in the future, and then you'll have to defend your position and you might not remember all the facts. <br /><br />If you want to legalize it a bit more, mail your response to yourself and don't open it. (This is how you're advised to defend yourself against plagiarism with anything you've written when you don't want to go through the formal Library of Congress copyright process.) But, I see very little use in actually handing in a response.Under Assaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222267229529062957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-38418276784680101892009-05-16T21:22:00.000-04:002009-05-16T21:22:00.000-04:00Woodlass:
I know of a teacher who wouldn't sign h...Woodlass:<br /><br />I know of a teacher who wouldn't sign her LIF as the CL told her not to. I informed her that failure to sign the LIF could result in insubordination charges and I recommended that she sign it and write a rebuttal. She listened to the CL and sure enough was charged under 3020-a with one of her charges insubordination for not signing the LIF!Chazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09964739497720364749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-64740614503450089082009-05-16T21:20:00.000-04:002009-05-16T21:20:00.000-04:00I added a sample for you above (see ADDENDUM).I added a sample for you above (see ADDENDUM).Under Assaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222267229529062957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7132951117640035190.post-70571840122500701982009-05-16T21:04:00.000-04:002009-05-16T21:04:00.000-04:00Thanks. What did you leave out....I bet the good p...Thanks. What did you leave out....I bet the good parts where you really can win a LIF grievance were left out. I heard the UFT was putting together a guide on how to give up tenure. They are great.Pissed Onnoreply@blogger.com