How much of this is because the UFT didn't endorse Mayor Bloomberg in the last election? And how much does the UFT regret not endorsing Bill Thompson...

With no deal on a way to evaluate teachers, New York State officially moved today to take back almost $300 million in education funds from the Department of Education. Governor Cuomo called the failed negotiations between Mayor Bloomberg and the United Federation of Teachers a "tragedy" where "both sides failed" students.

Of New York State's 700 districts that had to submit an evaluation plan, only New York City and two smaller ones failed to do so. And it could get worse. State Education Commissioner John King said today an additional billion dollars is under review unless a plan is submitted by February 15.

Meantime, frigid temperatures greeted school bus drivers and matrons on day three of their strike. If no deal is reached by February 1, union workers are expected to lose their health benefits. No talks are planned between the City and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181.

Do you agree with Governor Cuomo that City Hall and the teachers union both failed public school students? What's your reaction to the threat of more money being taken away if no evaluation system is agreed upon? How is the bus strike affecting you or your students?

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The tech boom is over; prisons have been privatized; the last bastion for those with millions and billions to make a financial killing is education. Bill Gates dictates education policy otherwise he will not donate --- the same with Zuckerburg and the rest of the "do-gooders". This is why there is such a push to privatize education. Public education must be kept independent and free. It is the foundation of our society and must be run by those in the know like Diane Ravitch!

Donna

The mayor is using a typical businessman's approach involving the vital segment in our society, the children.

k
Harlem

Students in yellow buses are in their vast majority, special education and low income. they already perform below mayoral expectations and "bring scores down" in any school. teachers and schools are held accountable for everything that happens to the students... how can the mayor and the chancellor not be held accountable for sabotaging the education system?

Andreia

This so-called sunset deal -- am I to believe that this was the whole problem that Mayor Bloomberg had with the deal? If this is really being accepted by the other school districts -- what's the problem? Why are the other school districts accepting it? Are you going to tell me that they all want to keep their bad teachers? Please -- get real. But when Mayor Bloomberg addresses the issue of a teacher evaluation system he sets the tone for people believing that he is just looking forward to firing all teachers and starting over from scratch. I just cannot swallow the notion that a vast amount of the NYC public school teachers need to be fired and that they are the cause of the failure of the NYC public school system and the failure of the children. DON'T BUY IT. You can spin the numbers all you like and we all have been there before.

End Mayoral Control -- best answer I heard all day. Let the State handle it!

Lisa
Upper east side

It really is sad to see so many adults put children last.

As a teacher I can see both sides of the argument. The mayor is right that some teachers should be removed. I have a co-worker that does nothing. When he is required to put up work for display he (in all seriousness) dictates to his classes what to write and you see paper after paper with the exact same paragraphs. He is doing the same thing this week with our midterms and he is not the only one. Speak up about a co-worker like this and the union will make your life hell.

The problem with the evaluation system is this same clown is given great reviews because he never fails anyone! It would be hysterical if it wasn't for what happens with these kids when they are on their own for the state tests. You would think it would be a red-flag to see such high report card grades next to failing ELA scores but here in NYC that is the game.

God bless the governor- he gets it. A deadline should be a deadline and I hope the fool who runs my union and the other fool who runs our city continue to fail to agree so the real education experts from Albany do take over and do clean house. The city system is a disaster all around and it is time for someone with some real concern to really put our kids first.

Thank-you,

Tom in Ridgewood

Bloomberg's legacy will be that no matter how good or bad previous mayors might have been, he was the one who declared war on the Citizens of New York. He is an incompetent dictator who has lost all sense of perspective. The governor should have him removed and put someone competent in his place until the election.

Frances
East Village

The city is doing the right and responsible thing as stewards of public money by sending the bus service out to bid. The way I understand it, the court ruling says that the city cannot require job security - but most bids for public business have some sort of scoring system involved. Perhaps the city could find common ground by giving points/preference to companies who agree to retain or rehire existing drivers.

Matt, Astoria

Its so sad that this great country has no interest in our children's education they should be first on the list. These kids are this country future. I don't see our politician fighting To keep hands off our school funds. Thank you Governor Cuomo for standing up for our children because as I see it our Mayor has turn his back on them. I pray the strike ends soon I feel for the working parents whom have to get to work late because of all this mess.

M A from Manhattan

THIS HAS BEEN A BAD SCHOOL YEAR FOR TEACHERS & CHILDREN NATIONWIDE! ..AS FAR AS THE STRIKE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS...JOB SECURITY IS ILLEGAL FOR THEM..BUT BUYING A 3RD TERM FOR MAYOR ISN'T????...WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO???

MCGRIFF FROM BROOKLYN

The bus drivers are the blame along with the union bosses. Their contracts are between the union and the bus company's not the Mayor. They are the ones who should sit down and work out their contracts. Mayor Bloomberg is always being blamed for everything, the .fact that he is wealthy has nothing to do with this's issue. No job has a guarantee security, the bus drivers need to realize that.

Mark

Don't complain about the strikers or the UFT. This Mayor of ours Is nothing but a union buster. Take it from me, I'm a retired transit worker. When we struck in 2005 for 3 days he called us crooks and law breakers. He never said anything bad about the MTA who pushed us to the strike. Bottom line is the Mayor is against all Unions in this city.

Thank you,
Mark, from Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn

With all the cutting I don't understand, why keep cutting down on teachers, and old people benefits BUT HIKE UP ON METRO CARD COST, everytime I blink, I keep hearing metro card cost is up. The question to ask is WHERE ALL THE TAX PAYERS MONEY ??? WE DO PAY TAX, they make sure to plug it out of our pay checks, tax payers need to know "WHERE THEIR HARD EARN MONEY GOING"

As for Bloomberg, he can go suck an egg. STOP THE CUTTING BLOOMIE, workers need their jobs to servive.

Ruthann
Queens

I am SHOCKED AND APPALLED that Diane Ravitch, "researcher" from NYU, would arrange an interview to blame the failure of our education system solely on poverty AND give such an incomplete and biased explanation of teacher evaluation systems! I grew up in a low income household, went to college and earned a masters degree. I have 8 years in the field of education and I understand first hand that the purpose of teacher evaluations is to help all our teachers become better at their CHOSEN profession. Teacher evaluation systems are anything but random. They are well researched tools to help teachers improve their craft. When done correctly, evaluation systems support teacher development. I support the idea of unions (because lord knows the turn over at charter schools is unsustainable) but not at the cost of our children.

Jenny

The Board of Bloomberg has yet to show any improvement in our education system. His refusal to collaborate honestly with teachers and parents has made getting a decent public education all but impossible for our children.

Steve
Forest Hills

SENIORITY USE TO BE A THING TO BE PROUD OFF BUT BLOOMBERG HAS MADE IT SOMETHING TO FEAR

PEDRO
BRONX

Mayor Bloomberg is feeling the clock quickly ticking away from his promise to be the 'Education Mayor'. His recent actions show that he is in a state of panic.

D.
Harlem

Teachers have always been evaluated based on their job performance for decades. What major Bloomberg wants to do is to have an easier way to micromanage, persecute and prevent tenure at all costs and terminate the so called "bad teachers", a biased opinion in itself, without due process.

Rafael
Bushwick

I think the Governor is the last person to speak about failure. Just looked out he handled Sandy, Albany, etc. the problem his the head of the teachers union. They don't want any responsibility when it comes to the kids, all the union bosses are concerned with are their jobs. Every ad from the union boss is about support and helping the teachers never the kids., its a joke

Mark

People, and the media, need to understand that teacher evaluations, the school bus strike, and school closings are all connected. The big picture is Bloomberg's union busting agenda. I would bet that it was the mayor that broke off negotiations on the evaluations because he insisted on being able to fire teachers without cause. closing schools and firing experienced teachers to hire cheaper inexperienced teachers, putting the bus company contracts out to bid and not guaranteeing jobs for union members under the new contracts are all union busting tactics. Wake up new yorkers and speak up media people! we have another madison, wisconsin going on here, it's just more on the down low. stop bloomberg now!

meryl from manhattan

This is not just another union fighting to retain their rights, which includes maintaining job security and seniority rights but a definite precedent for the future of unions in general. The City is failing the students in that it is failing their providers who, in turn, are parents and homeowners themselves.

Rafael
Bushwick

This whole debacle was instigated by the Mayor. He has had it in for the teachers since Day One. He has contempt for them and has shown it over and over. The other day he very condescendingly said that teachers should be treated like professionals. Really? When is he going to start doing just that? This mayor wants to get the schools privatized and in the hands of his cronies. Let's be honest, that is his ultimate goal.

Frances
East Village

John,

What do you expect from the Mayor of Bloombergia, an expanding fascist city and with King Komo, an expanding fascist state?

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

Parents better start demanding that this mayor and his administration start trying to compromise and negotiate with the union because if they don't and the mayor sees that they can manage without bus service, you can bet he will start eliminating many routes and they will not only find that these experienced drivers are replaced but that many that have bus service now will no longer have it. This is just the beginning of what this mayor has planned-- DON'T BE FOOLED IN THINKING THIS WONT EVENTUALLY AFFECT YOU AS A PARENT

Sammy

The UFT had a deal on the table and because Bloomberg did not get his own way.....he was the one who made NYC kids pay the price. Bloomberg failed them. Not the UFT!!!!!

Ree

A tragedy with Bloomberg involved the man who doesn't give an inch but expects a mile? Really? And now Cuomo wants to up the anti by penalizing ALL the children? This is mind Boggling! So sad for a country that once upon a time was so Great. If our Forefathers could come back, they'd kick the current politicians out this time with greater ferocity.

Terry
Hamilton Beach

CITY HALL FAILED THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS - THE UNION HAD AGREED TO A PLAN WITH THE DOE - BLOOMBERG REFUSED TO SIGN IT!!!! DON'T LISTEN TO BLOOMBERG'S GARBAGE - JUST LIKE HE WON'T BUDGE WITH THE BUS EMPLOYEES, HE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A DICTATOR IN A DEMOCRACY!!! HE'S A TYRANT AND THE FASTER HE IS FINISHED WITH HIS TERM, THE BETTER ALL NEW YORKERS WILL BE!!

Jessica, Arden Heights

It is the students that are being held hostage in this tug of wills. The threat of holding money will only make matters worse. It is apparent that neither side wants to give in to the other. The State should step in assign an arbitrator and end this now. If both sides cannot agree, remove private bus service and issue bus passes for students to use NYC MTA buses.

Brian
Grymes Hill

Really
This is a shame
The greatest city in the world
And we can't educate our children
Shame shame shame
On all o them
As for the bus drivers and helpers
Shut up and be happy in this climate there are lots of people That would be happy with what they are making along with their benefits
Jim
UWS

Hi John,

What nerve both this Cuomo and Bloomberg have. How dare them continue to pass laws to please themselves and now these people are to lose their benefits because this mayor and governor are being spiteful towards one another. This is unheard of as far as I'm concerned. All of us tax paying citizens are always treated as though we are 2nd class citizens. Neither one of you two ever explain how you spend our tax paying dollars and if anyone questions anything we get sarcastic answers. Quite frankly we are all getting sick of it. They should be ashamed of themselves. They both have overstayed their welcome. Both of them should leave. HOW DO THESE PEOPLE SLEEP AT NIGHT=AND HOW SOON THEY FORGOT SANDY !!!

Thank you John,
maxxiee
mp

IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE MAYOR AND SCHOOL CHANCELLOR ARE NOT TAKING ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE SEVERITY OF THE STRIKE. THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING EACH STUDENT AND EACH PARENTS JOB. WE ASK YOU NY1 NEWS TO GO OUT AND PLEASE GIVE MORE PUBLICITY TO THE STRIKERS SO THAT THEY CAN BE HEARD THROUGH YOU. THERE IS A BUS DEPOT LOCATED BY HUMBOLT ST AND CALYER ST THAT NEEDS TO BE HEARD. THEY ALL ALSO HAVE FAMILIES TO FEED. THE MAYOR AND CHANCELLOR NEED TO ATLEAST GO TO THE BARGAINING TABLE AND SEE HOW THEY CAN HELP, BY NOT HELPING IS JUST GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE ON UNEMPLOYMENT COME JUNE SO WHATEVER MONEY THEY ARE TRYING TO ECONOMIZE ON GETTING LOWER BIDS IS JUST GOING TO BE SPENT ON THE FAMILIES THE CITY WOULF HAVE TO SUPPORT ONCE THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT IS DONE.
THANK YOU

M. NAVARRO

Why all the fuss about teachers? The worst a teacher can do is mess up a few classes. On the other hand, a principal can destroy an entire school.

Michael from Brooklyn