tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29536003.post4015960600738149989..comments2023-12-24T08:35:08.509-05:00Comments on Pissed Off: The Last SabbaticalPissedoffteacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07924089808582137198noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29536003.post-70764493252846703012013-05-22T22:07:45.827-04:002013-05-22T22:07:45.827-04:00I am a visual arts teacher in an elementary school...I am a visual arts teacher in an elementary school. My principal approved my art history/studio art coursework application when I applied for sabbatical this year but was denied by my superintendent who claimed the coursework wasn't rigorous enough. She recommended that I take "graduate" courses... however, most grad coursework is offered in the evening. I had to reapply using the CUNY Sabbatical for Teachers and was approved. Unfortunately, so did every other teacher applying for a sabbatical because I was put on a waiting list. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29536003.post-80038814776584469392012-03-21T10:23:00.709-04:002012-03-21T10:23:00.709-04:00I applied for and took a sabbatical in 2010. My f...I applied for and took a sabbatical in 2010. My first two applications were denied because they did not approve of the classes I wanted to take, even though I provided a list of about 15 choices. As a high school English teacher, I wanted to take some American literature classes (my college coursework years ago was more English than American), history classes related to the literature I taught, art history classes so I could supplement my literature classes with enrichment in the other arts, etc. I tried twice to get my sabbatical approved, with course offerings from Brooklyn College. The principal approved my application both times but the superintendent did not. Finally, I was only approved when I changed the application for the sabbatical program at the College of Staten Island. I didn't want to go to Staten Island, but more importantly, the courses in the program there were of little interest to me and I felt that could probably teach them better myself. But in order to take the sabbatical, I had no choice -- so what you have been told is true, at least so far as the BASIS superintendency is concerned. As it turned out, the courses I was forced to take were useless and the teacher running the methodologies course was new to New York City and had only run a small charter school in Boston. He was a really nice guy but wasting hours in that class really hurt, not to mention the bridge tolls. I wanted to learn, to expand my teaching, and was willing to take classes several days a week in order to sign up for classes to would do both me and my students a world of good. But no, the DoE would not allow it.burntoutteacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448087701896945121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29536003.post-79747709984388526522012-03-20T18:43:43.105-04:002012-03-20T18:43:43.105-04:00From a friend on sabbatical. She was told this wa...From a friend on sabbatical. She was told this was the only way her sabbatical would be guaranteed. I'm glad I am wrong.Pissedoffteacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07924089808582137198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29536003.post-960485056194498022012-03-20T18:40:59.160-04:002012-03-20T18:40:59.160-04:00Where did you get these ideas? I have a friend wh...Where did you get these ideas? I have a friend who was approved for a sabbatical this term (who chose not to take it so he can retire next January), and it was for history/social studies courses at SUNY-Old Westbury (not private).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com