Beast Of Burden

Today is September 30 and three new students were added to my geometry class, the class that was only formed September 25. By the way, school reopened on September 9th, in case anyone out there has forgotten. Some of the students had been in different geometry classes but not all. As we are completing the logic unit, some are seeing these topics for the first time. All of this is due to poor programming and no open seats in geometry classes.

Now comes the hard part, what to do about the missing knowledge. Packemin is so big that no viable tutoring program is available. Oh, once C-6 assignments start, I will say "go to tutoring in the library" but I know that is a farce. The teachers are there to answer questions,. They do not have the time to teach topics. Even my hall tutoring won't help most of these kids because they are free while I am teaching.

Who is accountable for catching them up? Who is accountable for their regents grades? Is it the Principal or Mr. AP? Is it Bloomberg or Klein as their policies caused the overcrowding caused situation Or, is it the classroom teacher? We all know whose back this will fall on.

Aren't there any brilliant educational scientists out there willing to solve this problem?

U Ratings

November 7 and I got a new student today! This was her fourth change since August 31. First, she missed a week of school. She was on my roster then and removed to make room for someone who wanted in. (Since she wasn't attending anyways, it didn't matter.) Then she was placed in an over sized class. A month later she was moved again, to a newly created class. Today she came back to my class.

Little Maria is failing. She might be failing because she has been changed around so much or she might be failing because she doesn't do anything. I don't know. She seems like a sweet kid but appearances can be deceiving. Now she is on my roster. She doesn't know anything. The class she was in is at least two weeks behind mine (and I am going very slow.) She was never even given a text book. Now, according to my AP, she is on my roster. I will be called to task if she fails. I will be called down to explain why my failing rate is what it is.

Yesterday during staff development, my AP stated that he will U rate people who are not reaching enough kids. He is not going to risk losing his job because of incompetent teachers. I know that I am not oneof the teachers he was talking about U rating. I know that no one will hold me responsible for this kid. I'm lucky. I have a reputation that speaks for itself. How many other teachers are going to be put in this position without the reputation? How many other teachers are going to be put in this position and have to worry because, unlike me, they will not be retiring in the next few years? When is someone going to stand up and revolt against what is going on in the schools today?