I'll Get you, My Pretty



My buddy Chaz wrote an excellent post about the DOE's weakening the disciplinary powers of the teacher.  He makes wonderful points about how we are harming the student by not correcting the behavior and how allowing it to continue will leave the student unprepared for college and careers. 

I have only one thing to add to this terrific post.  These disruptive students will remain in the classroom and keep others from learning.  Protecting, as the DOE calls it, the rights of a few will destroy the majority. No one can learn in a room full of noise and chaos.

Thinking about this brings a sinister thought to mind.  Is the DOE destroying classroom management tools as another way to get back at teachers?  Leaving these kids in the room will prevent learning,  test scores will go down and there will be more evidence to show a teacher is incompetent.  Sounds too evil to be true?  I don't think so.  Look at all that has been done to the school system since Bloomberg took over.  This goes right along with everything else he has done.

Appreciation



Jill, a teacher at the local community college got sick one evening.  She knew she would not make it to school the next day and worried about her class.  She tried calling the school and the chairperson, but got no response.  Jill decided to take matters into her own hands and called a friend to sub.  Both women wondered whether the school would object since memos were issued every semester telling teachers they should not arrange their own coverages.

The friend thought it would be an okay thing to do as she is also on the college payroll.  But, years of working for the DOE taught both of them to take nothing for granted.  Years earlier, the friend took a bunch of kids who were just hanging out in the hall into her classroom (the teacher was on a trip and no arrangements were made for those left behind) and got into trouble for doing something without administrative approval.

Friend got the surprise of her life this time.  The college thanked her many times over for coming in and covering the class.  They were happy Jill took it upon herself to make sure the kids got the class time they needed.  Both women were appreciated for using their common sense and their brains, something they were not permitted to do while working for the DOE.

Punishment



Regents are over. Grades are in.  No learning could possibly take place, yet, the DOE, in its infinite wisdom has decided the following:

Due to snow days this year, the DOE has mandated that Monday, June 27^th be an instructional day. In addition, students will receive a list of their Fall 2011 courses in Periods 2 and 9. Therefore, on June 27^th we will schedule 30 minute classes .

This is nothing more than teacher punishment.  Nobody will be doing anything.

DOE Statistics--Following The Business Mode

I Must Be Missing Something

The DOE is running radio ads recruiting teachers.

I heard the commercial on Z100 this morning as I was getting ready for work.

They are looking for people who want to be heroes.

There are 100s of ATRs without classrooms, yet the city feels it must advertise for more teachers.

School budgets are at an all time low. Extra curricular activities are being cut. Tutoring programs are being cut.

MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON ADVERTISING!!!!

I just don't get it.

Read About NYC's Greatest Bargain

Great Bargain