PJSTA to Host Meet and Greet with Peter Magistrale

**UPDATE: This event has been postponed.**

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The PJSTA is excited to host a meet and greet session with Peter Magistrale on the evening of October 28th at the residence of one of our members in Stony Brook.  The session will begin at 7:00 pm.

Magistrale is running in opposition to incumbent John Flanagan for New York State Senate in District 2.  The district is made up of portions of the northwestern part of Suffolk County, with it’s eastern edge being in the Comsewogue School District.  John Flanagan has a long history of opposing quality public education in New York State as he has been at the forefront of support for Common Core, high stakes testing, and privatization reforms that benefit his big money donors.  He famously has been quoted as saying that charter school parents are the best… even though there are no charter schools in his district.

Magistrale has worked closely with public education activists throughout his campaign and has a deep understanding of the issues that face our schools.  He recently earned this glowing report from none other than Diane Ravitch

The biggest obstacle to political, social, and educational reform in New York State is Senator John Flanagan from Suffolk County on Long Island. Flanagan succeeded Dean Skelos as Republican majority leader of the State Senate after Skelos was convicted on various counts. Flanagan is a major supporter of corporate reform, especially charter schools and vouchers. He is no friend of public education.

This fall he faces a challenge from a highly qualified Democrat in his district: Peter Magistrale. Peter is working closely with parent leaders on Long Island who understand the problems and needs of the public schools. He will fight for us and with us.

Please reach out and help him! His election would not only change the leadership of the State Senate, but return control to the Democratic party. Governor Cuomo has already said that he will do nothing to help Democratic candidates for the State Senate. The governor prefers to work with the Republicans. The Senate is currently divided with 32 Democrats and 31 Republicans, but five renegade Democrats caucus with the Republicans to exercise greater leverage for themselves and their districts.

Please click here to RSVP for the meet and greet with Mr. Magistrale.  For more information you can email us at pjsta1vp@gmail.com.

Howie Hawkins, Brian Jones, and Where they Stand on Public Education

Yesterday the PJSTA hosted an approximate 50 people who came out to hear gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins speak.  Hawkins, the Green Party candidate endorsed by the PJSTA, is the only pro-public education candidate in the election.

To see where each candidate stands on issues related to public education click here: GOVERNORS RACE SIDE BY SIDE

To listen to Hawkins and his running mate, Brian Jones, talk about the issues related to public education, check out the videos below…

Hawkins and Jones on Teacher Tenure 

Hawkins and Jones on the Triborough Amendment 

Vote YES Today!

I’m going to keep this very simple.

Vote “YES” on your school budget and visit the NYSUT Action Center on Facebook to help us spread the word and MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

Today, in districts all over the state, we have an opportunity to vote on our local school budgets. Your “yes” vote can make the difference between your local schools–and your local students–winning or losing.

Vote “YES” on your school budget and visit the NYSUT Action Center on Facebook to help us spread the word and MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

On Tuesday, May 21, please go to the polls and vote”YES!” Please make sure that your family, your friends and your co-workers go the polls and vote “YES!” And please post this message on your own Facebook wall to spread the word across your community and across the state

Ann Romney Says Charter Schools Are the Answer!

Renowned education expert Ann Romney, when asked by Good Housekeeping about an issue close to her heart:

“I’ve been a first lady of the state,” the wife of the former Massachusetts governor replies. “I have seen what happens to people’s lives if they don’t get a proper education. And we know the answers to that. The charter schools have provided the answers. The teachers’ unions are preventing those things from happening, from bringing real change to our educational system. We need to throw out the system.”

So PJSTA members, while you are preventing people from getting a proper education today, please make sure to stay safe from the storm as well!

We love you too Ann.

Letter Writing to President Obama

The great Diane Ravitch, one of public ed’s biggest supporters, is organizing a letter writing campaign to President Obama.  All PJSTA members should have received an email about it sometime in the past two weeks.  Below is the text from this blog post by Ravitch.  She explains what should be in the letter and how you can submit your letter.

I will write about this every single day from now until October 17.

Please write your thoughts about what needs to change in federal education policy and send a letter to President Obama by that date.

You can write it now and follow instructions here.

Anthony Cody, experienced middle school science teacher and fabulous blogger, has offered to coordinate our campaign to write President Obama on October 17.

We call it the Campaign for Our Public Schools.

Our campaign is meant to include everyone who cares about public education: students, parents, teachers, principals, school board members, and concerned citizens. We want everyone to write the President and tell him what needs to change in his education policies.

Tell your friends about the Campaign. If you have a blog, write about it. Wherever you are, spread the news. Join us.

Here are the instructions:

You can send your letter to Anthony Cody or to this blog.

Or you can send it directly to the White House, with a copy to me or Anthony.

Anthony will gather all the emails sent to him and me and forward them to the White House.

1. Email your letters to anthony_cody@hotmail.com.

2. Or submit them as comments to this blog. You can respond to this post or to any other post on this blog about the October 17 Campaign for Our Public Schools.

All letters collected through these two channels will be compiled into a single document, which will be sent to the White House on Oct. 18.

In ADDITION to this,

3. You can mail copies of your letters through US mail to The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 20500

4. You can send them by email from this page: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

If you choose to write or email the White House, please send us a copy so we can keep track of how many letters were sent to the President.

One more thought: when you write to the President, also write to your Senators and Congressman or -woman and to your state legislator and Governor. Send the same letter to them all.

Let’s raise our voices NOW against privatization, against high-stakes testing, against teacher bashing, against profiteering.

Let’s advocate for policies that are good for students, that truly improve education, that respect the education profession, and that strengthen our democratic system of public education.

Let’s act. Start here. Start now.

Join our campaign. Speak out. Enough is enough.

Diane

Campaign Kickoff Event for Tim Bishop

The Long Island Federation of Labor is holding a campaign kickoff event for Tim Bishop on August 9th from 6-8 pm at IBEW Local 25 (375 Motor Parkway, Hauppague).  This will be a chance to show support for Mr. Bishop in his bid for re-election.  If it fits your schedule please try to come on down.  Feel free to bring a friend or two!  Food and beverages will be provided.  If you go, make sure to wear a PJSTA shirt!

U.S. Representative Tim Bishop