One of the most closely held secrets by both the DOE and UFT is the demographics of the ATR pool. The reason being that both organizations knows that if they released the information, it would show an age discrimination issue and that only younger and untenured teachers were being selected for vacancies. However, thanks to the Solidarity Caucus we at least have a partial data set that shows that the ATR pool is made up of older and veteran teachers.
The Solidarity caucus survey numbers on ATRs are as follows:
ATRs surveyed = 127
Average age = 52
Years of Experience = 20
Rated Satisfactory = 68%
Rated Unsatisfactory = 23%*
No Rating = 9%
Excessed from school = 39%
Closed schools = 32%
Won their 3030-a = 23%
Black = 21%
White = 47%
Other = 32%
Looking at the data above, the following conclusions can be reached.
- The ATR pool consists mainly of highly experienced and older teachers
- Salary and seniority overrides all other factors.
- Racial factors have little to do with who ends up in the ATR pool.
At this point, I must bring up what Amy Arundell said to the Executive Board when she claimed that there are less ATRs in the system (1,162 according to UFT Solidarity) because more of them are being picked up daily by the schools. There are less ATRs in the system because some retired, resigned, (forced or not) or were terminated by DOE field supervisors and not because they received permanent placements. Moreover, provisionally appointed ATRs are not counted as ATRs and there are hundreds of them in the system. They are the ATRs being picked up daily as provisional hires and not permanent hires.
In conclusion, the UFT leadership's claim that its an "urban myth" that veteran teachers are being discriminated against has been found to be false as the data above clearly shows the discrimination in the ATR pool.
A major effort must be undertaken to locate and identify the ATRs so as to collect a full data set. It is profoundly disturbing that the UFT has hidden this discrimination from its members.
ReplyDeleteOur UFT is not an Union of Professionals. As we collect paycheck, it doesn't see a reason to fight for our dignity as professionalsoon ( many of us with PhD).
DeleteThe best illustration of the level of degradation of the pedagogy profession is the ATR's situation.But the Union doesn't want to see it. It's a shame!
The UFT knows what's going on - they have the demographics and won't release them. Some might expect that from a guilty employer, but not from a union that is collecting dues from those it can prove are being discriminated against. Go to The Arundel Annual Urban Myth Party and demand some answers.
ReplyDeleteHow can I become an ATR Assistant Principal? Can I go to the leadership academy and then request an ATR assignment or do I have to actually be an AP first? ATR AP, best job in DOE. No responsibility and no work. Just show up and ask kids to take their hats off, maybe break up a dice game or two.
ReplyDeleteArundel who?
ReplyDeleteWe just received a list of 1,160 ATRs. Hoping they too will take the survey here www.atralliance.org/survey2016.
ReplyDeleteToday, Amy and Michael Mulgrew stated at the UFT Executive Board that the # of ATRs is lower this year.
According to the numbers you present, the percentage of Black ATRs exceeds that of Black teachers overall (by quite a bit), as well as that Blacks in the overall population.
ReplyDeleteThat's more than a suggestion that race is part of the dynamic at work, no?
Yeah, the # of ATRs is lower this year because the UFT has worked very hard hand in hand with the DOE to terminate them. Not because they were placed. That's a fantasy they want to placate ATRs with.
ReplyDeleteI strongly disagree with your conclusion that racial factors have little to do with who ends up in the ATR pool. Your own statistics say that 53% of 127 ATR's surveyed are non-white. However, the majority teachers in the NYC Public school system are white (many newbies), perhaps as high as 80% or higher in most schools. Thus, the evidence strongly indicates that race is a factor with who ends up in the ATR pool.
ReplyDeleteI beg to differ,Chaz. There isn't just age discrimination in the creation of the ATR pool, there is racial/ethnic discrimination as well. Just look at the survey percentages of 53% non-caucasian Atrs versus 47% caucasian Atrs. If there wasn't any racial/ethnic discrimination in the ATR pool, then the survey percentage of caucasian teachers would be in the eighties, which is reflective of the percentage of caucasian teachers represented overall in the entire DOE. The fact that it isn't means that the ATR pool is used to especially push aside teachers of color, particularly if they are in their forties and fifties.
ReplyDeleteThe reason there are a larger percentage of Black teachers in the ATR pool is because the closing of the large comprehensive schools and the renewal schools have a more diverse teaching staff. Therefore, the dumping of the teachers in the ATR pool is heavily screwed by the excessing and closing of the large comprehensive schools with their diverse teacher population.
ReplyDeleteIts not race but age and salary that discrimination is occuring in the DOE.
There is not a system wide agenda to certain races into the ATR pool. The actually want to hire new black male teachers in many areas. The principals on the other hand may show some racism in how they handle the excessing in their own schools, but would need data from each principal to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that is certain is that there is a push to kill pensions and they are doing a great job with new tiers and getting people out who would have wanted to teach longer but didn't.
It is called systemic age discrimination.
DeleteThis information here from the Independent Budget Office supports the comments above.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ibo.nyc.ny.us/iboreports/2014teacherdemographics.pdf
The teachers that replaced the ATRs in those broken up former large campus schools were and are overwhelming White. (ATRs in the Bronx are overwhelmingly people of color. Much more than 53%.) If they replaced us at the same percentage then I would agree with you, Chaz. That the DOE didn't shows bias not only in hiring but in excessing us. There should be a federal law suit for age and race discrimination.
ReplyDeleteTotally right.
DeleteI met a fan of yours in my UFT origami class. She said blogs like ours helped her not feel alone and make the decision to retire, a decision she is very happy with.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are correct in the category 'won their 3020a'. That number is MUCH too high. Almost nobody wins. Complete dismissal of all charges are extraordinarily rare.
ReplyDeleteUnless by 'win' you mean remain an employee.
anon 6:22
ReplyDeleteWinning is not being terminated. You are correct only 4% are found totally innocent. However, the DOE wins Are Terminations or resignations.
Why do more teachers of color teach in the poorest schools that are likely to close? Why would they choose to teach in the more difficult schools? Maybe they have more trouble getting hired in schools in white areas. That's called racism.
ReplyDeleteThis system is going to create a shortage of teachers. ABUSIVE PRINCIPALS as Dwarka is costing the city thousands of dollars.
ReplyDeleteStark, Quail and all these corrupt supervisors will face the justice system.
ReplyDeleteWant to ask a question..... Vasquez said at a union meeting, john Adams hs last spring, that teachers who were not hired under renewel school or let go by a renewel school were going to be forced placed. Upon these placements, if they were not hired within 3 years, they would be let go completely. Any information on this????
ReplyDeleteVasquez is part of the corruption system.
DeleteAnon 9:41
ReplyDeleteNot true. After 3 years the teacher would be placed in the ATR pool, not fired.
who James Vasquez from the Queens UFT office? Guy is useless and states inaccurate information much of the time. I trust Hillary clinton more than him.
ReplyDelete