UFT 'stunt' violates school rules as NYC mayoral hopefuls vie for endorsement
NYC mayoral candidates likely violated long-standing rules forbidding the use of school visits for political purposes to participate in an endorsement 'stunt' by the powerful teachers' union, The Post has learned.
With the blessing of schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the United Federation of Teachers announced in March that candidates must spend a full day teaching in a NYC public school to be considered for its endorsement.
'To be eligible for the UFT endorsement, you will need to spend at least seven (7) periods in a public-school classroom, helping the teacher and paraprofessional with lessons, classroom management, and whatever needs to be done to keep the students engaged,' read an invitation to candidates from Vanecia Wilson, director of the UFT's Political Action Department.
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8 The UFT enforced a new requirement for endorsement in the NYC mayoral race this year: each candidate had to teach for a day in a city public school.
Jack Forbes / NY Post Design
'If you choose not to participate, we will not consider you for mayor,' read the invite that went to 12 Democratic, GOP and independent candidates.
'Mayoral candidates have traditionally promised to listen to educators and to base their education policies on the recommendations of the people doing the work,' UFT President Michael Mulgrew said in a press release. 'Then they get in City Hall and all that goes out the window . . . If you want our endorsement you have to understand the work we do.'
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The UFT picked the schools where the candidates would teach, and put a union staffer in the classroom 'to facilitate' if necessary. Aviles-Ramos 'signed off' on the plans, and the press was banned.
8 City schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos signed off on the union requirement, according to an emailed invitation.
Gabriella Bass
The Post confirmed that at least four mayoral candidates — former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens), Comptroller Brad Lander and former Comptroller Scott Stringer — all taught for a day last month.
Lander said he taught third-graders what a comptroller does and served as a judge on a mock 'Shark Tank' competition at PS 96 in East Harlem.
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Ramos visited PS 224 in East New York where she prepped students for state math exams, participated in an exercise about Earth Day and spoke with teachers about chronic absenteeism.
8 Former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, at a town hall this month, spent a day at PS/IS 30 in Sunset Park in April.
Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post
8 NYC Comptroller Brad Lander taught 3rd graders at PS 96 to meet the UFT's requirement.
Robert Miller
Stringer went to PS/IS 30 in Sunset Park and helped a class of English language learners with math drills.
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State Sen. Zelnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) is 'scheduled to teach soon, and [is] looking forward to it,' a spokeswoman said.
In a 'Good Day New York' interview Tuesday, Mulgrew said Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens) and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) also taught in schools for a day.
Mulgrew, who was seen Friday in Lower Manhattan chanting alongside Cuomo at a rally for gun safety, said the UFT endorsement will come in June.
8 UFT President Michael Mulgrew appeared on 'Good Day New York' for Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday.
FOX 5
At least one candidate refused the offer because it appears to blatantly violate Chancellor's Regulation D-130, which restricts political activities in school buildings.
'While I think I am the best candidate to support our courageous public school teachers, I cannot agree with the UFT's process for making its endorsement,' Jim Walden, a lawyer running a longshot independent campaign, told The Post.
'Chancellor's Regulation D-130 makes clear that public schools should not be used for political purposes. The endorsement process is, by definition, political,' he said. 'I hope the UFT will grant me an exemption from this requirement. If not, I will not be seeking its endorsement.'
8 Independent candidate and former federal prosecutor Jim Walden hopes the UFT will grant him an exemption.
AFP via Getty Images
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The regulation, which applies to DOE employees, states that candidates can visit schools if approved by the principal, but that 'schools must request and seek to ensure that such visits are not to be used as vehicles for personal political purposes.'
The rules also prohibit any person, group, or committee to use any school during school or business hours 'on behalf of, or for the benefit of any elected official, candidate, candidates, slate of candidates or political organization/committee.'
David Bloomfield, an education law professor at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, said mayoral candidates should have done their due diligence before agreeing to the UFT's 'quid pro quo.'
'Woe betide the poor principals who gave in to this stunt, which appears to violate one or more protocols of D-130,' Bloomfield said.
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8 David Bloomfield is an education law professor at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center.
'Teachers, too, need to beware of actions that can be construed as campaigning for their classroom visitor,' he added.
Investor Whitney Tilson, seeking the Democratic nomination, said he would guest teach but isn't seeking the UFT's endorsement, according to Chalkbeat. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa said he would take part, though it's not clear if he did or is scheduled to do so.
The DOE acknowledged that candidates are not permitted to visit schools as a condition for political endorsement by any group, but said regulations carve out 'allowable conditions' for visits. Spokespersons for the DOE and City Hall refused to specify the conditions.
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8 Mayor Adams made a mental health announcement in a Lower Manhattan subway station this week.
Paul Martinka
The UFT insisted the regulations were followed.
'Providing anyone who wants to be New York City's next mayor an opportunity to see what goes on in our classrooms is a net benefit for our students, educators and for public education,' Mulgrew said in a statement provided to The Post.
A veteran teacher blasted the move.
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'I would not judge a mayor on classroom skills,' said Arthur Goldstein, a part-time ESL teacher at Francis Lewis HS in Queens who retired after 39 years in the DOE.
'And I'm sorry, but one day in a classroom with big shots standing around does not make you understand what teaching entails.'
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