Why Elections Matter
2014 Race for New York State Attorney General: Eric Schneiderman (NYSUT Endorsed) vs. John Cahill
Why this is important: While there are currently many lawsuits of importance regarding teaching/education going through the court systems the news media has heavily covered what is often referred to as the Campbell Brown Teacher Tenure/Seniority Lawsuit. This lawsuit is actually called “Wright v. The State of New York” and the parallel lawsuit filed by a parent organization is called “Davids v. The State of New York”. Since both of these lawsuits, which have recently been consolidated into one suit, are versus the State of New York; the NY Attorney General’s Office is response for defending them.
Question: Who do you want protecting and defending teacher rights?
Eric Schneiderman who has by both his words and the legal actions he has taken so far in this case sought to defend and protect teacher tenure and seniority rights or John Cahill who has declared himself as the “students lawyer” who will fight against NYSUT and their positions on teacher tenure/seniority as well as NYSUT’s position on charter schools and their funding.
Where the case is now:
The Attorney General’s Office is responsible for representing the state of New York; but recently and with the support of Eric Scheiderman, NYSUT and the UFT have positioned themselves to act as interveners in the case. Below is a newspaper article and an update which outline where we are now in the case.
News Article: September 2014 The law suits challenging the New York State tenure law came before a judge in Staten Island; the judge combined the two suits and admitted the UFT as an intervener. **Down the road the judge will undoubtedly admit other interveners who have the right to file briefs, and, to a limited extent participate in the argument.** The suit will be defended by the Attorney-General of the State of New York under the leadership of Eric Schneiderman.
**News Article Update: October 11th, 2014
**NYSUT's motion to give teachers the opportunity to defend the state's tenure law by allowing seven teachers from upstate school districts to serve as defendants in the case has been granted. NYSUT will now act as interveners in the lawsuit. The state is represented by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in the case.
What the Media Is Saying About the Attorney General Race
July 11, 2014 by the New York Daily News
Cast into defending New York’s education-deadening teacher tenure laws, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman faces the prospect of arguing against the interests of children and for those of teachers unions.
As a “progressive” in a Democratic Party in tune with labor (see Mayor de Blasio’s defense of tenure), Schneiderman may be quite comfortable battling a tenure challenge.
His office says he has not formulated a position on the merits of two lawsuits — one filed, one soon to be filed — challenging New York’s lifetime job protections for teachers, no matter how poorly they do their jobs. Whatever the case, the litigation will test his mettle in an election year.
Schneiderman would show great courage by backing out on principle. Come to think of it, his clients in the case — Gov. Cuomo, Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch and state Education Commissioner John King — would be braver still to ask him to stand down for the good of the children, paving the way for a settlement that wipes out the teachers’ job protections as they now exist.
The suits are grounded in the theory that the laws governing teacher tenure and layoffs help deny students the “sound basic education” they’re owed under the state Constitution.
The tenure statutes armor teachers with job protections that go way past those enjoyed by any other government employee. The layoff rules require that, in the event of downsizing, schools must issue pink slips in strict order of seniority — with zero consideration of who does the better job.
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John Cahill Flip Flops on his Common Core Position
Although education policy is not typically relevant in the attorney general's race, Cahill has made it a major issue, arguing it is the responsibility of the state's top litigator to advocate for students.
—Last week, Republican attorney general candidate John Cahill voiced his support of the Common Core academic standards. On Tuesday, his campaign indicated he would run on a ballot line entitled “Stop Common Core.” “Common Core” Flip-Flop: Less than a week after telling voters he supports the Common Core standards, Cahill admitted he would run on an ANTI-Common Core ballot line. Capital New York reported: “Last week, Republican attorney general candidate John Cahill voiced his support of the Common Core academic standards. On Tuesday, his campaign indicated he would run on a ballot line entitled ‘Stop Common Core.'” [Capital New York, 7/08/14]
What John Cahill is Saying about Himself
Disclaimer: All of the text/quotes below have been taking directly from John Cahill’s official website, official Facebook Page, and official campaign Twitter page. They have not been edited in any way and are direct statements/text from John Cahill’s official campaign regarding his positions and thoughts on the tenure/seniority lawsuit, charter schools and other education issues. While he directly references “charter schools” the majority of his responses are in regard to Eric Schneiderman “siding” with NYSUT on tenure and seniority.
Direct from John Cahill
- As Attorney General I will pursue an education agenda that honors the Civil Rights Act – an agenda that includes charter schools, the education tax credit and a bedrock commitment to improving student outcomes by challenging entrenched educational interests.”
- As Attorney General, John Cahill will be the voice of students and parents who each day see their dreams pass by because too many of our schools are failing. Our current AG is ‘absent’ and I would give Eric Schneiderman an ‘F’ when it comes to fighting for our students.
- Eric Schneiderman is a tool for the special interests that would maintain a failing status quo.
- “As Attorney General, I will be the students lawyer and I will fight for their right to a quality education. Concluded Cahill, “On every significant educational opportunity of our time, Eric Schneiderman is absent or opposed.”
- As Attorney General, I promise to fight his political agenda and protecting the choices of parents on a school that will focus on their children and their children’s rights to get the education they want and deserve,” said Cahill.
- Cahill said, “My opponent, Eric Schneiderman is a lackey for the radical public union left who stubbornly opposed charter schools in the State Senate and as AG sat by silently while his ally Mayor de Blasio threatened to defund charters.”