UFT Scores A Pretty Good Deal -Maybe

It's all over the internet today that the UFT and DOE finally reached an arrangement about working conditions. On the not so good side, it's fairly complicated and there is a short period of time to (re)create school schedules around it. On the plus side, it reduces the class size by 1/3 and makes sure remote only teachers and blended teachers aren't given any extra work to do. 

You really have to read the full MOA in order to understand this work place rule thing. The DOE and UFT had a major challenge: how do the blended students learn on days they are not in. The solution was to combine every two classes of students and add a third teacher. Pretty clever! 

Under the arrangement, the schedule for three teachers would look something like this:

(Regular) Teacher 1 - 34 students (total)

(Regular) Teacher 2 - 34 student (total)

(Remote Blended) 3 - 0 students. 

The remote blended teacher posts work (and does mini-lessons for no more than 30 minutes) for the 68 students (total) on the days those students are not in attendance. It's actually 68 MINUS anyone who is in school. All three teachers share all of the parental contacts and grading. 

When you look at a full high school teacher's roster, the arrangement looks more like this:

(Regular) Teacher 1 - 170 students (total)

(Regular) Teacher 2 - 170 student (total)

(Remote Blended) 3 - 0 students. 

The remote blended teacher posts work (and does mini-lessons for no more than 30 minutes) for the 340  students (total) on the days those students are not in attendance. It's actually 340 MINUS anyone who is in school. All three teachers share all of the parental contacts and grading. 

Many folks are on social media crying about the 'remote blended teacher' actually has 68 students per class and 340 students total. This isn't true. Those folks obviously aren't math teachers and, in their frustration, they have invented 340 extra students. They misread the rules. It's as simple as that. 

In the meantime, the Remote Blended Teacher position is the premiere role to go for when you get back. I mean, they really should let you stay home but that's a whole other conversation.  For now, remote blended teachers work out a schedule with their supervisor. They are set up in a classroom of an office. They do their 15-30 minute 'mini-lessons' every day and they grade only 1/3 of the work. 

For those who really 'get' the system in the DOE, that remote blended teacher spot is for you. Oh, yes!!

Don't like tech? That's fine. The regular blended teacher gives work and mini lessons for 340 students but only scores/grades work from less than a usual teacher roster. So that's a but easier as well. 

'Would any of this work in my school? Um .. no. Most of my admins are just don't have the skillsets to manage something like and the one who is far too busy. Also the teachers in my school are especially gratuitous and even a bit toxic. So they'll probably say something like "nah. I'll grade just my assignments". But if you're someone who knows how to assert themselves or if you're in a school with good people, then the blended remote teacher assignment is for you. '

If this plan were released in May, it would be pretty exciting. As it stands, it's released in late August and, unless the DoE compels every school to change their program (for a 4th or 5th time) to fit this new plan, then most schools will just ignore it. 

But .. if you're school can switch over and if the people in your building are knowledgeable and competent enough to willfully make the switch, then this is a pretty good plan. 

And anyone who tells you otherwise is nuts.