Mulgrew Helps Out Aviation HS

Mid-crisis, he removes their most trusted advisor.

Things are tough this year at Aviation High School. Like some other schools do (mine included), all their math teachers had volunteered to tutor during their C6 assignment for years. They worked together collectively, and agreed to offer tutoring in a lounge. They could cover for one another when absent. They had computers available to support students or do other professional work when necessary.

A new AP showed up with a new system. They would all be placed in different rooms. The math teachers were so unhappy that last year, half of them did not volunteer to tutor. This did not sit well with administration, and they were all assigned to tutor whether or not they requested it. This is a blatant violation of our C6 agreement.

It’s tough to say what the rationale was for breaking up the teachers. Students now had trouble finding them. It wasn’t as though their scores were bad either. They’ve consistently done well. Of course, many administrators feel they know better than teachers do, and some seem to feel the Collective Bargaining Agreement is just a list of suggestions.

Ibeth Mejia, the chapter leader, told me that Amy Arundell had advised her on how to proceed, had given her ideas, and was an inspiration to both her and her members. She told me she trusted Amy implicitly. She was pretty shocked to hear that Amy, for whatever reason, had been removed from her post as Queens Borough Representative.

Amy advised Ibeth to file an operational complaint. This action was supported by the entire math department. They scheduled a meeting with the superintendent to try to resolve the situation. Ibeth was shocked to hear that Amy was no longer scheduled to attend. She’d been counting on her.

Now Ibeth is a mere chapter leader, as well as an elected member of the UFT Executive Board, so she can’t simply reach out to President Michael Mulgrew (or whatever Very Important Person was in charge of this decision). Instead, her District Representative did that, coming back with someone’s divine edict that no, Amy Arundell could not continue to help represent her school.

Ibeth has written to Michael Mulgrew in protest, but Mulgrew does not answer a whole lot of criticial email. I’ve never received a response to anything critical I’ve written, and many members tell me they don’t get responses at all, ever. Because, you know, leadership.

Aviation just completed a Week of Action. There was broad support. Aviation chapter members wore t-shirts that said, “Respect educator voice,” and “Improve morale.” You’d think these would be less than controversial, but I hear some APs chided members for wearing them. In fact, they seem to have intimidated some people to the point of taking them off.

Now I would not personally wish to be someone who discouraged educator voice. That would make me a fairly ineffective leader. Michael Mulgrew, for example, sets up the UFT Delegate Assembly to pretty much cut out educator voice entirely. That’s why I’d hate to have Mulgrew, or anyone like him, as a supervisor.

Obviously, it’s not a great leader who opposes improving morale. A happy teacher is a more productive teacher. A happy teacher sets a positive example for students. It kind of behooves us to model loving what we do. I don’t want a life of drudgery for my children, yours, or anyone’s, in fact.

I’ve been very lucky to have worked for great educational leaders, even as I’ve seen colleagues who have not. Alas, there is the phenomenon of the teacher who wants to “get out of the classroom.” Anyone motivated thusly is likely not so great in the classroom. A poor leader of students is highly unlikely to develop into an effective leader of adults.

In fairness, I’m sure there’s a good number of UFT employees who needed to “get out of the classroom.” Whichever employee who made the decision to suddenly yank Amy Arundell, who was surely involved not only in Aviation, was micromanaging. This person hurt members just as bad APs hurt teachers and students. The fact that this person could not allow Amy even to continue supporting Aviation reinforces that idea.

We have union because we are stronger together. And we need leaders who will follow through. I had many disagreements with Amy Arundell. But just like Ibeth, if I were in trouble, if I were working through a crisis, I’d want her by my side.

Frankly, regarding a whole lot of UFT employees, I’d rather be alone than suffer their advice. Whoever prevented Amy Arundell from supporting Aviation HS needs to be removed.

That’s just one more reason we all need to vote in the next UFT election.