Trailer Trash No More

Chaz asked: Did they make a path to your trailer?

I'm no longer in the trailer. Ex-Principal Suit did not like my complaining about security so he punished me. He took me out of the trailer and put me in the building.

I thought I would hate it back inside, but surprise, surprise, I'm happy to be back. It is nice not to have to carry my coat all day long. It is great to have a place to leave my things and to not have to worry about who is going to walk in off the street.

Hey Suit, I hope you don't read this but if you do, Thanks! You did me a favor. Now that I am in, I don't want to go back out. I'm trailer trash no more!

Modern Day Fairy Tale

The puddle is mostly dry--just mud and garbage remains.

On a good note, my air conditioner is working. On a bad note, the air in the trailer next door is not working. The kids and teacher feel like Hansel and Gretel being pushed into the oven by the wicked witches Bloomberg and Klein.



Suit had his little grand daughter in school today. I wonder how he would feel if her classrooms looked like the one my students learn in every day.

Build A School Here

No air conditioning in this trailer. And now, no fresh air.The SO is collecting money to build a school in Kenya. It would be nice if Bloomberg spent some money on the schools right here in NYC.

Update

The railing leading up the ramp to my trailer. The wood is rotting and it is hanging on by a few screws.
The step under the adjoining trailer. It is rotting away and wobbles when it is in use.No trailer post is complete without a puddle picture. It is becoming a trash receptacle.
The broken gate that used to lock the trailers when they were not in use. It finally got fixed after the Monday morning surprise. The whole process took less than ten minutes.

At the moment, I am winning the war. I don't want to print the last e-mail, but, it was not pretty. I printed a copy and gave it to the union and Principal Suit. Even if Suit is behind the viciousness, I don't think even he would put in writing what my AP sent in an e-mail. Over the years this guy has bullied many teachers. He cannot bully or scare me.

Yesterday I felt I had won the first round as Mr. AP would not speak to me. He's a grudge holder and his holding back meant he was really angry and he would only be really angry if Suit had spoken to him about the e-mail. Today Mr. AP passed me in the hall and went out of his way to be nice. I explained a math concept that he did not know and he wished me a pleasant vacation. In the past, a few teachers have stood up to him and he always backed down. I hope that is what he will do with me.

In other news, another trailer was trashed. The teachers were livid. One of them went screaming to Terence about the need for real security outside. She complained about the "do nothing" safety officers (something I have not, and will not do.) He gave her some stupid excuse and accused her of leaving the door open when she left the trailer. (She is not the last teacher in the room and always waits for the next teacher to arrive before leaving.) Today I actually saw a dean standing right by the trailers during a change of periods.

We aren't there yet, but we are making progress. While I don't take credit for the progress, I know my voice made some difference. Maybe now, with others behind me, something will be done.

The E-Mails Keep Coming and Going

I keep e-mailing him, every time he e-mails me:

Me: Just to let you know--I did not say anything bad about security. I said there is no security, which Terence admits is true.

I too, try to maintain a good relationship with security.

AP: I know you did not. But he [Suit] blamed you for it to the security. You should know him by now.

Have a good evening.

Me: I said nothing bad about the security staff and I want them to know it. I will speak to them.

AP: But the net effect of your complaints was that they got into trouble.

In Chinese, there is a saying: "When doing calligraphy, do not attempt to do the same stroke more than once. If you do, you will make it worse." I would just leave it alone if I were you. It will look like you got them into trouble and now you try to talk your way out of it.


Me: I spoke to Sergeant []. I did nothing wrong and told him so. He agreed with me. He did not even know that I started the thing. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I have a right to my opinions and to speak my mind and I will keep speaking out against injustices. My words got the trailer door and the gate fixed.

Hopefully the e-mails will now end. I will not let his be the last one. Fighting for what is right is not complaining.

I now know that Suit has been behind all of this. I suspected this from the beginning. He never liked my letters and had my AP ask me to stop. I won't stop. My letters are not abusive and they are not threatening. I have a right to say whatever I want. Suit is stuck with me. I think I will hang around a few more years to get on his nerves.

Response to Monday's Greeting

I was furious when I got home and decided to let my AP know exactly what I thought so I sent him the following e-mail:

Dear [ AP's first name],

I really resent your saying that I am wrong in complaining about the lack of trailer security. This has been a problem for years and it has been building since the man walked in off the street last year to use the bathroom.
We have nearly 500 kids walking between the trailer and the building between classes and close to 250 in the trailers at all times. No matter what you say, we are vulnerable to outside disturbances.

I did not know that we were in business to keep our friends in security happy. We are here to help the children and part of helping them is keeping them safe. For years, I have spoken to everyone about security and nothing has been done.

You can remove me from the trailer, but that won't solve the problem. I am not afraid to be out there for myself. I don't have problems with my classes. It is the kids that are in danger. The kids smoking behind the dumpsters don't effect my classroom but they do set a tone for the school. There is also a problem with outsiders taking a short cut through the yard.

The school has to find the money to provide security outside. That is something that is not optional anymore. I'm sorry if this offends you, but it can't be helped. I will not sit by idly and wait until someone is seriously injured.

[First Name]

And, believe it or not, I think I won! He sent me back the following which, for him, is an apology:

Dear Ms. POd:

The idea of complaining does not sit well with me. Life is too short to complain or listen to complaints. Like I said, if there is an issue I can do something about, I will. You have some legitimate concerns and it is not being addressed properly.

I want to let you know that a security booth was ordered 6 months ago. Granted, that was not early enough; however, it was ordered. I believe it was ordered after the last incident.

The Administration has been trying to get the custodial staff to replace the lock in [ ] and they are still waiting for a part. Everything is contracted and you are a union member and you should know that. I went to the Principal later today and informed him about the situation again. He got on the phone and directed the custodians to install a pad lock on it while we wait for the part.

I will speak to the head security and see if they have made plans for the trailers. I will let you know when I find out more.

If you do not see a lock tomorrow morning please let me know. I will be more than happy to go down to the custodian's office to make sure they install a lock.

I learned not to complain when I was 12 years old because my grandma told me when you complain, you wipe out all the good things you do and all people remember is that you complained.

My advice to you is that you get all the facts before you start to complain. I really have no problems when you say things about our department because either it is an over sight on my part or you did not have all the information. But I have to try to maintain a good working relationship with other departments; particularly the security department.

Have a good evening and I hope you feel better.

Math AP

PS. Please remember that, very much like you, I just work here and we happen to be colleagues. You might learn to take my approach - take it easy! You can't control what you can't control. You can only manage it.

The PS from a man with no self control and no patience for anyone, from a man that thinks he can control the world.

I feel good now. I feel vindicated.

Of course, I could not let him get the last word in so I replied with this:

Just to let you know--I did not say anything bad about security. I said there is no security, which Terence admits is true.

I too, try to maintain a good relationship with security.

Monday Morning Greeting

These pictures greeted my class this morning. The teacher mentioned shares the trailer with me.

I called the dean's office when I saw the pictures. No one was in yet. I called the APO. She came out and was visibly upset. She brought back paper to cover the offensive drawings and then had the custodians come out to remove them. I told her that I took pictures, as did one of the kids in the class. I just e-mailed them to her.

Later in the day, we had a departmental meeting. My AP is furious that I have been complaining about security. He said he was "friends" with the security and now they were mad at him because of my complaints. He said he would solve the problem by not letting me teach in the trailer anymore. He would put a man out there who can handle things better. Tomorrow I am going to file an EEO complaint about that comment.

I am not going to let this issue of security rest. It is too important. I will not be made a scapegoat for the school's problems. If I decide to leave, I will leave kicking and screaming and exposing as many of the problems as I can. If I go, this blog will no longer be anonymous. It will name the school and all its participants.

I'M MAD AS HELL AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!

No Security Needed

Steam is pouring out my ears.

I'm so angry, I feel as if I could assault an administrator.

One of the sweetest boys in my ninth period class today was brutally assaulted as he left his trailer and headed into mine. Some kid swung something at his face and broke his nose. He was covered in blood. He did not know the boy who assaulted him.

There was no security around. We have eight trailer classes. On the average of 30 students per class, that is 480 kids in this area every period.

I want to hurt an administrator because the administrator is the one saying there is no money for security outside. He says we don't need it. We have cameras now. Cameras did a lot to keep this kid from getting hurt.

A kid walked into my ninth period class today to hand his friend french fries. I made him leave (and he did) but there was no security to prevent this from happening.

Last year a man walked in from off the street to use the trailer bathroom. I filed a police report and complained about the lack of security. Still, nothing is being done.

I've had it. Tomorrow I am writing to the principal, the AP in charge of security, the parents association and all the newspapers. I don't want to anyone else to get hurt.

Trailer Update

Now the railing is coming off!
But, on the plus side, the hole in the trailer is fixed. It only took four little screws to reattach the piece that had fallen off! On the minus side, it rained and the puddle is back.

A Pleasant Surprise

We have soap and paper towels!

There's a Hole in the Trailer

There's a hole in the trailer. Maybe they are looking for a new classroom. Might be good for a swimming class.

School Condition Update

My puddle--picture taken from inside the room.
My puddle, picture taken from the top of the ramp. The white stuff floating around in it was pretty scary stuff. I was assured it was not toxic, but who knows? Today the custodian (one I trust) told me it was the sodium chloride put down to melt the ice.
View from the top of the ramp. At this time the puddle is so deep, it is impossible to get in or out without getting soaking wet
Today's puddle remnant. What an enticing place to get an education!
More puddle residue.

On another note, while my trailer has soap in the bathroom, the trailer next door still has none. Trailer people must be immune to germs. Both trailers are still missing paper towels.

Good news, the APO is getting all new furniture in her office and one the F Status people has had an office carved out for her. She has her own desk, phone and computer.

Isn't the NYC DOE great!

Get Out the Hip Boots

My puddle--good thing there are no really late classes in here.
You would need boots to enter and leave.
This shirt, seen on one of my students, says it all.

Inspection

The trailer inspectors showed up today--three of them in fact. They walked around the trailer, noting and photographing all the irregularities that I have been posting about for years.


I made sure to point out the exposed electrical box, the windows that no longer open and the lack of fire bells and PA system. My trailer buddy pointed out his holes in the walls, his constantly running faucet and the rails falling off the ceiling. We both forgot about the leaky ceiling but luckily I ran into these guys in the cafeteria and told them about it. I also forgot to mention the fetid puddle in front. I hope they noticed it. There was no water in it today, but it was full of mud and old leaves.


The kids enjoyed my little tour of the classroom. I bet the administration wouldn't like it and I have a feeling, the custodian with these guys did not like it either. TOO BAD!!! NYC kids deserve to learn in a decent environment.

Trailer Pictures

The trailer soap dispenser. I guess Klein and Principal Suit are no longer worried about germs.
Trailer window shade. Too bad it is not big enough to cover the entire window.

Trailer Conditions

NYC Ed is always complaining about trailer conditions. How many classrooms come with their own swimming pool like the one outside my trailer pictured above.

AT LAST!!!!!!!

This is what I saw after the first day. The base was there but it did not work. There was a part missing.
Looks like there might be something under here. Oh, no, it's locked. Will the custodians come in the morning to adjust the heat? Lucky us, it is a Board of Ed locked box. It only pretends to work. Maybe merit pay would get it locked. (Thank goodness merit pay hasn't come to thermostats yet.) We can adjust the heat or air conditioning to our liking.

A kid said today "It's really cold in here. Please turn up the heat." I looked at her and said "No." I kept teaching. She gave me a strange look, as I never talk to any kid that way. "I then said, "Remember, we have no heat in here." A few minutes later we heard heat coming through the vents. It went on and off, not working yet, but a sign that it might be working soon. I left to go to lunch. There was still no heat. I cam back to teach my last two classes. There was a new thermostat in the back of the room. Unfortunately, it was covered by a metal box. The box looked locked. I wondered if we would be able to adjust it. And then, I flipped the box open! We have a beautiful, electronic, functioning thermostat that is fully accessible.

Now my only worry is the door lock. Sometimes I can lock it, sometimes I can't. I really hope no one comes in and messes with this one.

Thermostat Repair Guys

So three guys showed up period one today to fix the thermostat. My class gave them a standing ovation. One kids yelled, "take a picture", so I did.

The three guys worked for about fifteen minutes. Actually, one guy worked and the others stood around as his support group. Too bad the support group didn't help because after the fifteen minutes they told me they needed a part and left. They returned ten minutes later, stood around, attached something to the wall and left again. The thermostat is not fixed.

While they were trying to fix this, I mentioned that the thermostat is the adjoining trailer was also not working. They told me they knew, but mine was in worse shape. Mine looked worse but not working is not working and that one does not work either.

I don't know if they returned to fix it later in the day. I left the room early (half day, parent teacher conferences). I bet if these guys worked for merit pay the thermostat would be fixed.

Home Improvement

I found the grafitti covered in my classroom today.
Now the room is mosaic colored. Too bad they didn't actually paint the room.
And I didn't see the broken thermostat anymore.
Wait, I removed the poster and found the thermostat taped to the wall. The wires are still cut and it still does not work.
The hole in the wall is still there.

I suggested to my students that they run a story on the conditions of this trailer in the yearbook or the school newspaper, but then realized that Principal Suit would never let them be printed. The kids talked about doing it behind his back. I told them not to. After all, he is in charge and right or wrong, it is his decision.

Baby It's Hot Inside....

Students taking exam outside. The one in the background is sitting on the steps.

Broken thermostat.

Someone got into my trailer Wednesday after school and cut the wires on the thermostat. I guess that is what can happen when there is no security. I guess that can happen when the cover on the thermostat has been missing for a year and the thermostat itself has been hanging by a single wire on the wall for just as long. Now the air conditioner does not turn on. We never really had a thermostat, unless you count turning it on and off 10 times a period. So now the room is a furnace. My complaints to the administration were met with "lots of rooms don't have working air conditioners." The other rooms aren't located inside tin boxes with windows that barely open. The other rooms should have working air conditioners as well. I bet Suit has a working air conditioner in his office. My kids had an exam today. Many opted to take their chairs outside where the weather was much better.