Barbecue Time

Several years ago, a math teacher was very upset about barbecues her supervisor was having.  She was never invited.  He told her his yard was small and he only invited his friends.  She told him she thought she was his friend but he said his house and his guest list.  She wouldn't give up pestering him for a future invite.  I think he might have eventually given in.

These "invite only" parties caused lots of bad feelings in the department.  The blatant favoritism was not good for morale and it took a toll of the staff.  Something must have happened because this year's invite just went out and almost the entire department was invited.  I did notice at least two names missing, the names of senior teachers.  Those who have been around will have to get their Memorial Day hot dogs else where.

(Long Island City and Roosevelt Island pictures here.)

Back Up Your Words Mr. Education Mayor



Now Bloomberg is encouraging high school students to become plumbers instead of going to college. Aside from the hypocrisy of the college readiness programs he has been pushing for years, he should be smart enough to know plumbing, or any trade, requires intelligence, skill and lots of hard work.  It is not for everyone, although he might feel anyone who can't make it in college could be a plumber.

If Bloomberg really believes in vocational education, why, in his 11 years as the education mayor has he not initiated one program to help train students in these fields?  Why has he continued this asinine testing program which just turns kids off and away from school?  Why has he allowed and encouraged programs that graduate everyone regardless of what they have learned or of how often they attended class?  Why has he created a generation of children who feel they are entitled to everything yet have done nothing to earn anything?  How can people like this be prepared to do the hard physical labor required of plumbers when they have never dirtied their hands for anything.

Bloomberg is right.  We need plumbers, electricians, carpenters, hair dressers, cooks, and endless other occupations that do not require college.  But, these jobs require education and a work ethic which is something he has cheated 11 years of students out of.  Shame on him for throwing out ideas he has refused to support.

Friendship

 



An old friend of mine called me to talk about her fringe friends, the ones who she only talks to a couple of times a year and sees even less.  She wants to drop them and worries about how she is going to do this.  (She hates to hurt anyone.)  She says she wants to concentrate her efforts on real friends.

I told her I don't agree.  Maybe it is because I don't have many real friends, but I value everyone who cares enough to keep in contact, even if it is only once in a very long time.  You never know who your real friends are until you have to call on them to do something slightly out of the ordinary.  And, the people you consider real friends often are only there as long as you are useful to them. 

I'm not bitter, just realistic and certain recent events have shown me that some of these "fringe" friends are the real friends, the ones that care the most.  I am happy she has lots of friends and can clean out the ones on the edge.  As for me, I'm glad my spring cleaning never included the people at the borderline.

Principal Suit Is Still Going Strong

 



My blogging buddy NYC Educator (scroll through the blog, he has several posts) has decided to use my Principal Suit as a representation of all the awful and disgusting Principals and assistant Principals in the system.  He's got some really funny stuff over there.  Rereading my posts about the original Principal Suit and reading his posts would make anyone wonder how these maroons got the jobs they have.  But, anyone who knows anything, knows our idiot education mayor Bloomberg is to blame.

Go read the escapades to Principals Suit.  Maybe yours won't seem so bad in comparison.

Engagement and Caring Make A Good Teacher

 



I covered a class I am unfamiliar with today and was nervous.  The teacher did not leave me a topic to teach or work to go over.  He said the class was good and they would provide the problems.  Still, I picked up the book last night and went through some of it today.  When I got to the college, I expressed my concern to the secretary and the chairperson.  The seemed to have more confidence in me than I had in myself.

Well, the class went great.  The students stayed for most of the two hours, asked lots of questions and some even thanked me when they left.  They said I clarified topics that would help them on their final.

While returning the text, I again ran into the chairperson.  She asked me how it went and said, "see, they stayed for the entire class."  She said I was great but when I contradicted her she said" a great teacher cares and knows how to engage a class".  We talked about some of the former Packemin teachers that are currently at the college and how good she thinks they are and how awful the AP at Packemin considers them.  She said, no one is perfect, but caring and engaging are what counts. Stats don't mean anything.

I love this woman and I love the atmosphere in my department at the college.  It is nice to be able to do a job without constantly being put down.  It is nice not to be told to go observe and learn from the 20 year old teacher with 30 minutes experience.  It is nice to know that the job we have been doing has actually been a job considered well done.

I Love Photo Shop

It is amazing what Photoshop can do.  These pictures would have been deleted without it. 



Freedom Tower

Highline and Hudson River Park Pictures here

Walcott Dry Your Crocodile Tears And Face Facts

 



Newsflash to Dennis Walcott--in his too long term, Bloomberg has made the level of education in this city an all time low.  Walcott should dry his tears and look at the system today and compare it to the one that educated his children and, if he can't see a difference, he needs to go back to school.

Back when Walcott's daughter was a student at Francis Lewis HS, learning mattered.  She had to go to class, do homework and pass rigorous regents exams.  If she didn't cut it, there were repeater classes and summer school.  There was no boot camp and no chances to get her friends or to pay someone to answer online questions for her.  She worked and her teachers made sure she worked and learned.  I'm not sure, but  she might have been in an algebra class of mine.  I don't think Walcott would have had any problem with the quality of education she received.  And, since she is a success today, that reinforces what I am writing here.

Many kids today graduate without being able to perform simple arithmetic operations, write a coherent paragraph, or even be able to read.  Under fear of having their schools closed, Principal's are getting everyone out.  Kids are taking 8 regular classes, 2 after school classes, Saturday classes and then doing credit recovery work online.  None of this makes any sense.  A child who could not do well with 5 classes certainly can't handle a course load like this.  My former AP thinks every teacher should be able to have 100% of their classes passing.  This is hardly a reasonable goal.  I've had kids say to me, "If I don't pass, you can get fired."  Teachers have to pass them, whether they deserve to pass or not.

Bloomberg's reign has created an era of entitled students who think showing up half the time is enough.  I see this in the college.  The secretary told me the tale of students walking in, demanding to see the chairperson because their teacher refuses to give them extra credit to make up the homework they did not hand in, the tests they failed and the classes they missed.

I'm not a teacher worried about my job.  I've left the system.  I've had enough with the bull that passes for education reform.  I've had enough of the bright kids getting mediocre educations so everyone can pass.

Walcott, wake up and listen to those Democratic mayoral candidates.  I've been in the system.  They know what they are talking about.

Self Preservation



Mrs Lui is a kind, caring teacher.  She spends hours of her own time helping her students and fighting for them.  And, while Mrs. Lui has more than enough years needed to retire, she has been hanging on She worries that when she leaves, no one will fight for "her kids." The AP is young, inexperienced and more concerned with statistics and looking good than with children.  The teenie bopper teachers, the ones will go along with everything she says.   The support staff which includes guidance, social workers and psychologists are busy covering their own rears and running their outside businesses.

Mrs. Lui has finally decided enough is enough.  The school is starting to affect her health.  She has been losing weight and has been unable to sleep at night.  She worries about the kids but has decided her health must come first.  Mrs. Lui will leave in June.  Her "lambs" will now be tossed to the wolves.  Actually, they have been tossed for a very long time.  She only managed to save a few.  She can't stand watching the children she loves being abused.

The first year will be hard.  She will miss them and feel the guilt of desertion.

Mrs. Lui, I promise you things get easier. You did a great job for many years.  It is now time to care for yourself.

Happy Mother's Day

 



My mom's goal in life was to be a good mother.  I never realized how good she was until I became an adult and met people with mothers who didn't do the things she did, the things I never thought about.

My mom loved me unconditionally.  She thought I was a genius.  She thought I was beautiful.  She thought I was the most special thing G-d ever created.  I never believed these things about myself but always tried to be the best I could to make her happy.

My mom wasn't perfect but, no one is perfect.  But, she was as close as you get to perfection.  As a child I didn't appreciate the two hour rides to City College that got me speech therapy.   I hated the rummaging around in Alexander's, finding that perfect bargain dress.  I hated her forcing me to drink that glass of milk every morning.  But, as an adult, I am grateful and thankful for all these things.  I've met too many others whose mom's didn't care enough to even try.

I'm not sure I believe she knows what I am saying or thinking now.  She died six years ago, but I know.  My mom made me who I am today.  I only hope my own children think I was, and am, as good a mother to them as she was to me.

(Picture from a Passover Seder.  Passover is the time of year I miss her the most.)

One Major Problem With School's Today

A fellow blogger always writes about the problems in her school, the unequal treatment, the "mean girls" who run the place, and her incompetent supervisor.  She is pretty sure her Principal, a person who she she used to think respected her and considered her a good teacher, reads her blog.  His door is always open.  He too listens, and does nothing.

I always think Scott Adams is a fly on the wall at many schools.

Grammar Not An Issue

I remember way back when I got my license to teach, I took a comprehensive exam, part of which included an essay.  Grammar counted.

Grammar doesn't matter anymore.  If it did, how could a person who doesn't know any become a teacher, let alone an administrator.  Below are excerpts from a department memo.

Please encourage those of your students who are boarder line passing or almost passing to attend tutoring on Saturdays.

Since a lot of students showed up, we need to stagger them so that the teacher is not overwhelmed.

some students were programmed into none AP ...

I just spoke to the Principal about the double period classes we intend of offer. I was under the wrong impression. We, as a department, will make a decision together as to how we will proceed. We want to make sure these students were prepared for ...

(Subjects deleted to protect the identity of the memo writer)

(picture from 5/4 Yankee game--more posted here.  free tickets, field level courtesy of Delta airlines)

The Reason She Is The Way She Is



Path To Administration

 



Unhappy in the field of finance, the man decided to become a teacher.
TFA did not want him so he bit the bullet and paid for the courses he needed to get teaching certification.
After completing the course, he went to the two good schools in the area and applied for a job.  He kept on the APs case until a position opened up.
He took his licensing exam and failed.
A kindly older teacher took pity on him and tutored him so he could pass.
He taught 5 classes for a while, crying quickly when a student was difficult.
He taught 7/0 = 0 and thanked the teacher who corrected his mistake. He promised to correct his mistake with the students.
He got tired of being in the classroom and decided to take administration courses.
He became a dean to gain internship hours.
He liked the power of walking the halls and telling everyone what to do.
He got his degree without buying a single book and by using borrowed papers.
He got passed over for an administrative position he wanted and cried.
He became an administrator in a department he knew nothing about
He picked the brains of experienced teachers to learn what he needed to survive.
He has done all he can to make these experienced teachers leave so he can surround himself with newbies who know less than he knows.
He cares nothing for the children he is in charge of.
He has done so many immoral and illegal things to make himself look good that they are impossible to list.

This is one person.  How many other administrators out there are like him?  Too many, I am sure.  Administrators used to be educators.  That is a term no one would ever use to describe this guy.

Teacher Apprecialtion



The teachers at Packemin are getting a treat with their lunch today, something special to show appreciation.  I'm guessing they are getting a piece of cake or some candy.  It might even be a special red pen.

There are a lot sweeter ways for the administration to show appreciation.  They can start by stopping the constant walk throughs, especially on half days and days before and right after vacations.  If they don't know by now who is doing their job and who isn't, they should not be administrators.  They can stop showing favoritism to certain teachers.  They can stop the verbal abuse and the screaming and yelling.  They should stop insisting every teacher have 100% passing in every class.

In other words, administrators should become humans and start treating teachers they way they want to be treated.  Keep the cake and bring on the humanity.

On The Road To Administration



Ah, the joy of being the school pet. 

You can come in late.  No one will notice as long as someone covers for you.  Besides, your own AP is never around early enough to notice.

You can spend half (or more) class time in the hall, talking to your friends.

You can keep your coffee cup full by taking multiple trips to the coffee pot during class time.

You'll be an AP soon, you have all the qualifications and the people that are in power are behind you.

(Paraphrased from a friend's blog.  This stuff is actually going on!)

Just Had To Share

E

A friend sent this and I just had to share.

Still The Teacher's Fault

The girl was having a rough time.  She was not getting along well with the boy she was living with.  Her parents disowned her.  She got the flu.  She wrecked her car.  Her grandfather, who she was very close to, died.  And then her landlord told her she had to leave the apartment she had been calling home.  While searching for a new place to live she lost her text book.

Faced with all these problems, she could not deal with school and took several weeks off.  She missed two exams.  Her passing grade was now an F.

Her teacher will not be held accountable for this failing grade.  The  supervisor understands that classes are a mixed bag and there is no way to determine the type of students who end up in them. Sometimes classes end up with motivated, bright students and almost everyone passes and does well, kids with no external problems.   Other times, there might only be two or three passing.  The supervisor knows the teacher is doing a good job.  This supervisor, a real master teacher does not need to rely on statistics to know who is good and who is not good.  The supervisor would never send out a memo with a line like this in it:

If you have one of the lowest passing percentages at the end of the 3^rd quarter of any Regents courses you taught, please stop by my office so that we can discuss what we can do to improve the performance of your students. Please come with specific ideas. Getting the failing students to Saturday tutoring is a priority.

What specific ideas could a teacher possibly have to solve this girl's problems?   If the solution is so easy, this supervisor should be able to supply it to the teacher.

Who Needs Technology?

I love my chalk boards!

 

Smart boards do not make teachers better.

NYC Skyline

From Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Government Waste



 



Government waste--at least $890,000 a year on bank fees for bank accounts that have no money in them.  All this is due to poor management and lack of attentiveness to detail.

And the Federal Government still can't get a budget together!

(Newsday, April 25 pg. A41)

Unequal Treatment = Unequal Job Performances

Principals and other adminsitrators should watch this and see how their unequal treatment of teachers will affect work performance

From A Friend's Facebook Page

Ironic! Isn't it? That as the so called corporate model in managing the public schools is being introduced into the public sector, i.e civil service ,the entrance exam you took to get the job, the number of years of experience and training that you have accumulated mean nothing to a principal who needs your experience, training and facility with languages and knowledge of different cultures because an urban area like New York City is so complex and diverse. What's happening today is that because of ageism, a bad economy and ill will on the part of the City experienced workers are being thrown out with the garbage, told they are no longer needed and or wanted. I do know one thing that today it is my turn to be shunted, humiliated and abused so as to leave but tomorrow it will be someone else's i.e. those young teachers they are praising so much that "they" say will be the salvation of public education. If apathy towards your working conditions(read grateful to have a job) and hostility towards your colleagues reigns supreme then think of just how poor your working life is and how unhappy you will be until it your time to be thrown out with the garbage arrives!

I marvel at some of my colleagues who tell me they have a great relationship with their boss/bosses and they socialize with him/her after working hours. I've ne...ver been that lucky nor do I want to be. When the "spaghetti hits the fan" and we all have to "cover our assets" I doubt friendship is important at all. Perhaps the rule below only applies to those in the trenches as I keep meeting colleagues who work in rarefied and privileged work places where everybody gets along and sings "Kumbaya". Not this working class kid!

Longer Day Not The Answer

A longer school day is not the answer to helping students.

Even in a motivated class, kids burn out after a while.  I used to run all day tutoring sessions before the AP.  The kids wanted to be there but after 4 hours, nothing went in and stayed in.

And, when kids don't want to be there, nothing will help the material sink in.

This is just another attempt to make it look like the city is doing something to help its students.

Actions, Not Words

 





I just don't understand what is wrong with so called educators today.  Yesterday I drove past a school that proudly displayed a banner with a motto saying how the school prepares students for success in college and careers.   Yet, after speaking to teachers, I find it hard to believe that the school is actually doing this.

Teacher morale is at an all time low.  Teachers who never considered retiring are retiring in droves.  Teachers who were considered great educators are now being judged by APs with little to no teaching experience.  Instead of looking forward to work (yes, hard as it may be to believe, many of us enjoyed our jobs) they drag themselves in, only showing up because of a strong allegiance to their students. I don't care what anyone says, no one is a great teacher their first two years in the classroom.  You can't learn to teach by sitting in a classroom, you need on the job training.  And, the best on the job training comes from experienced teachers, the ones being demeaned and demoralized and being encouraged and even helped out the door.

As a college teacher, I can say first hand that today's students are not prepared for success in college.  They managed to get high school diplomas with credit recovery classes, "help" on regents exams and heaven knows what other made up courses.  They are used to sliding by.  They don't have a work ethic and they have no education background, thanks to the high schools they attended.

If the school with this motto really wants to do all of this, the school needs to:
1.  Hire APs who have taught a minimum of 10 years and have taught the subject they will be in charge of.  They need to be master teachers in the subject and be able to demonstrate proper lessons.
2.  Hire APs who like the students.  One AP I know has been overheard saying she hates the population she is now in charge of.
3.  Respect experienced teachers.  Listen to what they have to say.  They have been out in the field and know what works and what does not work.
4.  Stop empowering any teacher.  Everyone should be treated equally.
5.  Allow kids to fail.  There is nothing wrong with repeating a course until material is mastered.
6.  Stop passing everyone through just to keep numbers up.

Actions count.  Mottos mean zilch.

(Pictures from Rockefeller Center to cheer everyone up!

Math Ed Justified

VAM

Dilbert nailed this one.

Poor Special Ed Kids

 

What happens to the kids when the people in charge don't know or don't care or don't know and don't care.

New DOE

 

Thanks to Alice for sharing this on Facebook.

Maybe this is the reason so many kids are not prepared for college work.

 

Let Those That Are Affected Decide

 



Trips, classes, seminars, fun.  Keeping pensions coming and good health care alive

That is what retired teachers need the UFT for.

Personally, my biggest problem at the UFT is finding parking spots by the Queens office.

Let's give the votes back to the teachers that need them.  Educate everyone with the issues.  Teach the people that need good leadership to vote responsibly.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the April 16 trip to Carnegie Hills section of Manhattan.  It was great seeing the Central Park Conservatory (north of the area) and learning the history behind the old mansions I walked by hundreds of times.

Quote of the Day

 

Dedicated to the woman sitting at a desk and getting paid for a job she is too stupid and too heartless to do properly.  Many readers will know exactly who I am referring to.

More Proof Class Size Matters





The Tai Chi class begins at 10:15.  At that time, usually 15 people are present.  It is hard to park in the area and many are late.  At 10:15 the class has lots of room to spread out.  It is easy to see the teacher and it is easy for her to see us and to correct our mistakes.

By 10:30 the class is full.  There are 35 bodies moving.  Although the teacher moves around, it is often hard to see her and to follow her movements.  She still walks around and helps but not everyone gets this assistance.

Small classes work!

Tarnishing a Career



One of the worst APs in the city state country world, claims he was mentored by one of the best APs ever.  If he really loves her, like he claims, he wouldn't tarnish her memory by saying this.  The poor woman will never get her eternal rest with this kind of stuff being passed around.

From A Friend's Facebook Page

I think I have been doing a good job of this.

Getting Through H.S.--the NY Way



One of my good buddies wrote that her school wants to do away with all repeater classes.  She wondered what other schools did in that situation.  I told her of an easy fix many NYC schools do--they pass everyone!  This way, there is no need for these classes.

Kids don't need knowledge to pass anymore. All they have to do is answer a few questions online.  They don't even have to answer them all or pass the assignment.  One administrator told her teachers to stop pushing the kids to finish assignments because once they did half, they would get credit.  I've even watched an administrator doing entire assignments for one student at a time on the smart board.  The whole class participated in this child's credit recovery.  Or, they can "attend" after school classes.  I put attend in quotes because too many excuses are made for absences, kids get big breaks, to smoke outside,  to eat, and get rewarded with trips for breathing.

Schools don't want repeaters because repeaters aren't earning the credits they need to graduate.  It is an education system that educates no one.  No one cares as long as the stats are good.  Administrators will keep getting their accolades and their bonuses and that is all that matters.

Tribute To A Fine Administrator



Anyone who reads this blog knows I am not a fan of any administrator, but I want to make an exception here and pay tribute to one of the last great ones, Joyce Prenner, an AP in charge of the history department who just passed away.

Joyce was a no nonsense woman and truth be told, I did not like her much when I first met her.  Proctoring regents in her department was always a chore because of all her rules, but I soon realized her rules were what made proctoring in her department so easy.  There were always clear and concise instructions.  Envelopes were always complete and there was always someone around to answer questions.

I never worked directly for Joyce, so I can't attest to what it was like to be a member of her department, but I know from people in her department that she was truly a master teacher, someone who knew her subject and knew how to teach and to help her teachers become better teachers.

I did get to know Joyce well when I began teaching College Now classes as she was the liaison between the school and the college.  She took care of business efficiently, made sure the teachers in the high school had everything they needed from the college and made sure the college got what they needed from the teachers.  She stood up for us when necessary.

Joyce saw through the nonsense in school.  I often went to her to discuss problems I was having with my own AP and she lent a sympathetic ear.  She reminded me of my worth and my own competence and I could see her feelings on the subject clearly yet she never said a bad word about him.

I know there are some who don't share the admiration I have for this woman, but I hope they can look past their feelings and see the bright, competent person she was.  I wish the administrators of today, the ones with almost zero teaching experience could learn from her.  I never wanted to be an administrator because I knew I was not nearly as smart as the administrators of Joyce's era.  It is a shame that today's teachers have no role models like her.

RIP Joyce Prenner.  You certainly deserve it for the job you did here on earth.

Upcoming Grades

 
Dear All:

If you are teaching a class that terminates with a regents, you should know right now if the student will pass the regents or not.  If you believe the student will pass, give the student at least a 55.  I know you make recommendations which you can change, but you better have a good reason.  And, as you know I have been very nasty in the past to people who changed recommendations and who did not properly predict who would pass and who would not.  I don't want to write a letter for those of yo who did not get it right the first time, but I will.  Give seniors who try a grade of no credit.  If they are seniors they should know better than to cut and not do homework.  Lower class men do not know any better so you can be forgiving to them..

Please put comments on all students report cards.  We must use this opportunity communicate with parents.  I know you call and write all the time, but it is not enough.  We must keep our rears covered at all times.

Ask me any other questions you have.  I might yell at you.  I might not give you an answer that you or anyone else can understand, but that is the way it is.  You can change your grade anyway.

Thank you.

When The Boss Won't Make A Decision





Over and over again the dogs in the pound went to the Chihuahua with problems. She was the one in charge.  She was the one with the best living quarters and the best food.  It was her job to find solutions.  But, she never did.  Little Chihuhua lived in fear of making the wrong choice.  Don't get me wrong, she didn't care how this choice affected others, she worried that a bad decision would come back to haunt her.

The little dogs were left to find solutions on their own.  When the solutions worked out well, she took full credit, never mentioning the true problem solvers.  But, when things went wrong, she was quick to throw the dogs who came up with these decisions under the bus.

The pound is in trouble.  Chihuahua has deputized many of the new dogs to help her run the place.  But, power has gone to the head of these inexperienced pups. Chaos is ruling.  Chihuahau is sitting at her desk, bug eyes staring, never blinking while things fall apart around her.



Why I Had To Leave The Profession I Loved



Teachers lately are writing letters, some about why they are resigning and some why they are choosing to stay and fight.

I was the teacher who wanted to die with a piece of chalk in my hand.  I loved my job and only joked about actually retiring.  My family was shocked when I went through with my decision to leave.  But, even the toughest warriors have to sometimes admit defeat.

I left the system before VAM, so test scores were not an issue for me.  I even took some of the hard core students from younger teachers hoping I could help these kids but, at least I could help the newer teachers have better stats, something my AP really cared about.  Stats weren't a problem for me.  Although my AP would constantly berate me for them, the Principal and the AP of student affairs knew the students I worked with and appreciated what I did with them.  They understood that although I never had a 90%+ passing rate, I got more of those kids through than most other people could.  But, even their approval wasn't enough on a daily basis.

The AP of a department is the lord and master of what goes on there.  He creates policy, programs teachers and students and takes no criticism.  There is no give and take.  It is only take, take, take on the APs part.  There are always a few teachers that the AP has decided are worthy of extra consideration or, for some reason or other the AP fears.  There was a guy several years ago who came  to school in smelly, ripped clothes, taught by handing out copied pages of a book and always found ways to get out of marking regents.  He never got a late schedule, even when it was his turn to take one.  He taught in one room and had one prep.  And there was this woman who had a reputation as being the meanest teacher in the city.  She too always had choice classes, one prep, the same one year after year and he made excuses for her late arrival every day.

Anyway, these teachers left the profession a long time ago and there is no use crying over what was.  But, what is makes another story.  There is obvious favoritism  towards the newbies, where they get the best classes and their opinions and thoughts count for everything.  Being told your grade and that of other experienced teachers meant nothing if the newbie gave the child a lower grade stings.  Being told your exams are worthless because the second year teacher had a problem with it pained.  Constantly being told to retire and that you didn't need new courses and new materials bites. 
And, being ignored and totally left out doesn't feel too good either.  Listening to Monday reports of the parties the newbies attended at the APs house (where you were discussed and ripped apart) hurt.  Having to resort to a bit of blackmail to get a class that in reality no one else wanted just sucked.

This little jabs, while not job threatening, took their toll.  I admitted defeat when the job became a rock around my neck, when my energy was more on survival than my students. 

I was one of the lucky ones.  I had enough years in to retire with a healthy pension.  And, after an initial adjustment, I know I made the right decision.  Still, I wish I could have held on for a few more years.  There is a group of students due to graduate this term that I was especially close to.  Many had academic and other problems and I know I was doing a decent job of helping them through.  I wonder how many of them made it.  And, I wonder how many of them are really ready for college and life.  I know they had potential.  I hope they really got an education, not just a diploma. I wish I wasn't forced to hand in my papers before I was ready.  Those constant hits got me in the end.

Product Of Bloomberg Education

Sign outside Noguchi Museum by a construction zone.  I was hoping it meant no graffiti, but most people think the guy who wrote it just can't spell.

Get The Message To Retirees

 



At my retired teacher class today we all complimented our instructor and then someone said it is a good thing she doesn't have Bloomberg as a boss because her stats, based on our class would be horrendous.  Everyone laughed.  I used this as a good time to tell everyone to vote MORE.

The majority of the people in the room had no idea what MORE was and what principles MORE stood for.  Most had no idea that UNITY and New Action were kissing cousins.  Some had no idea who Mulgrew was and those that did had little to know understanding of how he has sold out the rank and file.

I hope my little speech got MORE a few extra votes.  MORE needs to reach out to the retired teachers and let them know what is really going on.

Why Math Is Important

 

I looked at my pint of beer and thought that it was the smallest pint of beer I ever had.  And, then I noticed the marking on the glass said 0.3 L, which is just a little over 10 ounces!  I called the  waitress over and explained my dilemma .  She answered "I don't do math" but went to the bar and poured water from another pint glass into one like mine and saw I was right.

 

Moral of the story:  Don't mess with a math teacher's beer!

Another Memory From The Past

Found this one too...

I remember this girl had major health problems the year she was in my class and NYS was messing around with her insurance so she had problems seeing her doctor and getting medical health.  I remember bringing her to the school social worker to get some help.  I don't know what happened to her but I do remember she was doing better by the end of the year.

I don't remember the Mike she mentioned on the bottom but I am glad I was able to inspire him and hopefully he did better too.

There is so much more to teaching than test scores.  I know the tide will turn again and teachers will once again be allowed to care, but, until then, generations will be lost.

I Hope She Can Be The Teacher She Thought I Was

I was cleaning up some old papers yesterday and came across this card from a former student.  Just reading it made me smile. 

The student who wrote this got interested in teaching when I asked her to tutor a young algebra student I met in the library.  She worked with this girl all year and it was rewarding for both.  The girl did well and this student ended up going to college to become a teacher.  She is currently teaching math in a middle school in Westchester.

I hope the school she is teaching in is one like the one I taught in when she was in my class.  I hope it is a school that allows and encourages nurturing, where emphasis is on teaching, not test scores.  I hope it is not a school where the AP insists on idiotic methods like left hand, right hand raising and writes insane memos to the staff.  I hope it is not a school where the teacher is always wrong unless that teacher is one of the AP's chosen ones.

I hope I really was as good as her words say but I have my doubts.  I know if the administrators in the school she works in permit it, she will be the teacher she describes.