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Monday, September 24, 2012

What's worse: the Rubber Room or the ATR?


Our resident gadfly, Philip Nobile, sent the following email to Amy Arundel, who is the UFT's liason to the teachers of the ATR.  To the best of our knowledge, Ms. Arundel has not yet replied.  
Amy: 

Tom Bennett, my Brooklyn District Representative, told me that ATRs must perform any duties that regular teachers perform. Since C-6 assignments vary from school to school, it’s hard to know whether some ATR orders violate the contract. 

Chaz’s current blog post on ATRs had this comment from an ATR:
If a principal tells me to answer phone -file - copy or do cafeteria duty, I politely say NO and that I will grieve immediately. Then I go back to the teacher's room and take out my book. It has worked every time because it is the LAW! Atrs are letting themselves be abused even more than we are!! Don't let them abuse you - just say no.
Do you agree? 

An admirable chapter leader further commented on how he/she protects ATRs: 

I'm a chapter leader in a small school in the Bronx. One thing that I make sure is to inform the members, even the ATRs, of their rights. I check the ATRs' program to ensure that none of their rights are violated. When the rotation of ATRs begin in October, I speak to the ATR(s) and tell them about their prep, lunch and professional periods. If I see something wrong, I immediately go to administration to have it corrected. It is the responsibility of the chapter leader to protect the members. I don't know how chapter leaders do it in a large comprehensive school, but in a small school there should be no excuse from the chapter leader.
Bill Kalogeras at Automotive is the only CL who treated me similarly in my travels last year throughout Brooklyn/S.I. Why hasn’t the UFT drawn up an advisory to CLs on how to handle ATRs? Or have I missed it?

In the good old days of rubber rooms, we not only had elected reps (liaisons) and monthly meetings at 52 Broadway, but Randi produced a brochure on our rights. 

Can you explain why ATRs in good standing get less respect than accused members in the past?


Philip

6 comments:

  1. there should be guidelines that all parties adhere to.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anytime I need to know my rights, Amy has always responded and let me know. Why do you bite the hand that feeds you?

    ReplyDelete
  3. it's b/c the city and the union wishes atrs would just disappear. we are a large enough group(close to 2,000 if you believe the papers and union which i don't b/c i believe the number is much higher) that the union knows they can't turn their backs on us and throw us to the wolves. however, the atr situation is a main reason why there has not been a new contract and that annoys the union.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Which is why we need to band together for meetings such as the one on October 10.
    NYCATR announced this on Sept. 29. Also see the funny Sept. 29 video, leading up to the meeting announcement at Excess'd - A Teacher Without a Room.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1) ATR's participate in the school day. They are working with students and permanent staff. Their concerns have an impact on students and all staff. We have been made to feel as if ATR's do not matter and function in an alternate universe. However, the more we accept that status, the more fellow UFT members and others will see us that way. We need to be present in the very same chapter as our colleagues. So that, for one, the might understand that we are not professionals under punishment with separate rights, but professionals with equal rights. Many of our colleagues are so new to the profession, they have no idea how ATR's came to be. Some think we are actually in the "Rubber Room." If they see us being defended by our own separate CL it reinforces the impression. More to the point, however, if we are refended by the same CL then they must realize that being unfair to us is impractical. This also forces the CL and District Reps to do their jobs and defend us. For, there but for grace go any of them

    2) We need to be kept in the loop of educational changes. By being active and connected for however long we stay in a school, the more we can do so. We need materials from staff developments that CL's can share with us. We need to not shy away as some might like us to, but to try as we can to get to know the people we work with. The more we accept the role of outlier, the harder it is to stand up for ourselves.

    3) Members of Rubber Rooms weren't allowed on their school campuses, so it made sense for each "Room" to have its own UFT Chapter. First of all, we are neither on trial or banished for any reason. Second of all, we do not meet in one location en masse. Asking us to meet from our various sites guarantees that only those of with the time to do this will be represented. We are all in schools every day. We should be represented by our CL's in schools. If we have issues at our school, how do we reach our CL? Don't we want to make use of the CL and District Rep, at least for support, as they have familiarity with everyone involved. If we do bring in a special rep, shouldn't that be by choice?

    We need to insist on our equal place in the school community. It's not fair that some CL's have our backs and some tell us we are lucky to be paid. It's not fair that some schools go out of their way to make sure we have lessons for students and some don't. All UFT members need to treat us as equals. They won't do so, if we are separate. Nor will they understand fully how important it is that they fight.for us because they are "us."

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1) ATR's participate in the school day. They are working with students and permanent staff. Their concerns have an impact on students and all staff. We have been made to feel as if ATR's do not matter and function in an alternate universe. However, the more we accept that status, the more fellow UFT members and others will see us that way. We need to be present in the very same chapter as our colleagues. So that, for one, the might understand that we are not professionals under punishment with separate rights, but professionals with equal rights. Many of our colleagues are so new to the profession, they have no idea how ATR's came to be. Some think we are actually in the "Rubber Room." If they see us being defended by our own separate CL it reinforces the impression. More to the point, however, if we are refended by the same CL then they must realize that being unfair to us is impractical. This also forces the CL and District Reps to do their jobs and defend us. For, there but for grace go any of them

    2) We need to be kept in the loop of educational changes. By being active and connected for however long we stay in a school, the more we can do so. We need materials from staff developments that CL's can share with us. We need to not shy away as some might like us to, but to try as we can to get to know the people we work with. The more we accept the role of outlier, the harder it is to stand up for ourselves.

    3) Members of Rubber Rooms weren't allowed on their school campuses, so it made sense for each "Room" to have its own UFT Chapter. First of all, we are neither on trial or banished for any reason. Second of all, we do not meet in one location en masse. Asking us to meet from our various sites guarantees that only those of with the time to do this will be represented. We are all in schools every day. We should be represented by our CL's in schools. If we have issues at our school, how do we reach our CL? Don't we want to make use of the CL and District Rep, at least for support, as they have familiarity with everyone involved. If we do bring in a special rep, shouldn't that be by choice?

    We need to insist on our equal place in the school community. It's not fair that some CL's have our backs and some tell us we are lucky to be paid. It's not fair that some schools go out of their way to make sure we have lessons for students and some don't. All UFT members need to treat us as equals. They won't do so, if we are separate. Nor will they understand fully how important it is that they fight.for us because they are "us."

    ReplyDelete