Monthly Archives: November 2007

Academic Freedom November 28, 2007

GLOBAL NEWS The following article raises key issues related to academic freedom.  What is the meaning of “academic freedom” in the current, highly politicized environment in which we teach?  Can restrictions be placed upon teachers in terms of their right to speak out about political issues like the Iraq War?  Isn’t informing students about the [...]
Comments Off | By Suzanne |

Tenure Threatened for K-12 November 26, 2007

Global News  On November 26, 2007, I attended a candlelight vigil organized by the United Federation of Teachers held outside the Department of Education headquarters at 52 Chambers Street.  Despite a steady drizzle (the UFT provided candles and rain ponchos), hundreds of New York City public school teachers turned out, as did the police and [...]
Comments Off | By Suzanne |

The Epidemic of Contingent Faculty Labor (November 20, 2007)

Global News On November 20, 2007, the New York Times published a front-page story with the headline “Decline of the Tenure Track Raises Concerns.”  We are pleased that the Times has finally seen fit to give prominent coverage to a longstanding problem in hiring practices in higher education that should be of major concern to [...]
Comments Off | By Suzanne |

Split within AFL-CIO on Single-Payer Healthcare (November 17, 2007)

Global News  An interesting split appears to be developing within the AFL-CIO between the leadership and the locals concerning presidential endorsements and for-profit, employer-based plans and a national, single-payer, not-for-profit plan.  Read the article at Commondreams.org.  –Suzanne Verderber
Comments Off | By Suzanne |

Anti-Labor Decisions by NLRB (November 15, 2007)

Global News  According to the AFT website, "thousands of union members and supporters rallied in cities across the country on November 15 [2007] to draw attention to a slew of anti-worker decisions handed down by the National Labor Relations Board, declaring that the NLRB should be ‘closed for renovation' until the nation gets a board [...]
Comments Off | By Suzanne |