What Exactly Does Anonymous Mean?

Today the kids were given the school survey to fill out. This year, the survey was packed in envelopes with names and numbers on the front. The kids were instructed to fill out their surveys and return them to the envelope. They were told to rip off the label so the survey would be anonymous.

One kid noticed the number on the survey was the same number next to his name. He refused to fill out the survey. A number of other kidsalso refused as record of the number took away his anonymity. The school swore up and down that it had no record of these numbers but the computerized print out in every envelope said something else.

A girl complained that in her gym class the teacher read all the questions to the kids and encouraged them to fill out the surveys in a certain way. This girl was admonished for putting down negative responses. The teacher, who did not know her, asked her name. When the young lady refused to give it, the teacher got nasty and told her she had to give her name to any teacher who asked. Luckily, this little girl had some spunk and held her ground. I wonder how many others didn't and filled out their surveys the way the principal wanted them to. And, I wonder how many filled it out the way he wanted to skew the results.

The kids in my classes resented spending class time on this nonsense. The AP exam is less than a month away and they need all the practice they can get. My math B kids have an exam next week, and they felt the same way. One kid told me that the teacher in charge of his survey spent an entire period doing it. The only wasted class time is the time they choose to waste themselves.

Parent Teacher Afternoon

Parent teacher afternoon. Instead of giving us an extra few minutes for lunch, we were scheduled for a faculty conference. Suddenly, the meeting was changed to departmental meetings. Why? To give us time to fill out the teacher survey and to show us how to get the kids to fill out their surveys. It seems that our children don't know how to interpret the questions and as a result, they sometimes give the school unsatisfactory ratings. We are supposed to explain to them that "every teacher knowing them" only means that "their teachers should know them." In a school as large as the one I work in, it is impossible for every teacher to know every child and this should be taken into account while filling out the forms. We were supposed to be happy to be able to fill out the survey on school time. I would have been happier to have a longer lunch. That alone, might have improved a couple of my answers (should I decide to fill out the survey. I marked papers during the meeting)

Before we filled out our survey, one teacher read a letter from our chapter leader telling us to fill out the form honestly. The letter also said the administration wanted the surveys done positively so they could reap a nice bonus at the end of the year. I stood up and read my letter about school security and reminded the staff that school safety was a big part of learning.

I, for one, will encourage my students to fill out the forms honestly and interpret the questions any way they see fit. A true market research survey does not interpret the questions for the participants.

We also discussed the math boot camp, but that is another whole posting, probably coming tomorrow.

The meeting broke and went down to the cafeteria for a lunch provided by the PTA. We were all allowed to take one little piece of a hero and some salad. By the time I got there, the vegetarian sandwich and most of the salad was gone. I shouldn't complain. I want to lose 5 pounds so they were just helping me along.

I would have left, but I saw some friends and decided I would hang out with them. The only seat near them was a little corner of a bench. I'm so tired of not having a spot of my own, I just walked away. Most days I am better off alone.

I'm tired, I'm depressed and I am ready to chuck it all. And, then, I am given the biggest hug by the parent of a kid that failed my class. The parent knows I am doing my best to help their child pass and she appreciate me for who I am, my big mouth and all my faults. And, then, I remind myself why I am doing what I am doing.

Election Day 2007

My poor, recuperating colleague missed staff development today. I am writing this post to keep him informed.


I decided to go to work today because I had three sets of test papers to mark and figured if I stayed home, they would not get done. Nothing says mark like listening to a Suit talk on and on. Also, it was a good day to catch up with a good friend. We don't teach in the same department and have no free periods together so we never see each other in school. At least we got to see each other in the morning and for lunch.


The day started with bagels and coffee. The bagels and cream cheese were good, but the coffee was cold (kind of like the feelings we get from the administration.) We then headed into the auditorium where we were subjected to Suit's stand up comic routine. He told the oldest, corniest, sexist jokes around. When he finished entertaining himself he got to the heart of the meeting--our report card. Our school got a B, which pretty much was the mark given to all the schools in my area. He was really proud of it. He stressed areas that we have to improve in and told us to lie (not in so many words) on the next survey so we will do better in certain categories. He is also going to work hard to get the kids and the parents to answer the surveys more favorably (or to lie for him.) Hearing how important they were in our rating makes me glad I filled it in (I did not lie and I will not lie next time.) We also got to see this year's shirt. So now I have another school shirt that I will not wear. All in all, the time passed quickly. I finished a set and a half of papers.

Session two was a meeting with AP. He began the session telling us that if a kid makes a careless mistake we should give partial credit. This, after he spent an hour in September telling us not to give partial credit, ripping apart a summer school teacher for giving an exam that was 70% partial credit. A teacher who never says a word questioned his change of heart. She wanted to know exactly what he wanted us to do. He double talked her for a few minutes and then, without giving an answer, changed the subject. Ten minutes later, someone asked for clarification on the partial credit dilemma and again he double talked and did not answer. We still don't know what he wants. As for me, I give partial credit, so I kept my mouth shut. I got to finish marking my second set of exams.

Session III continued in a different room. Half the group got to stand on a mat and figure out how to turn it over while the other half watched. I cleaned out my pocket book. We looked at the statistics of a teacher that was supposed to be anonymous but everyone in the room knew who the teacher was. He is the only one teaching that subject 12th period. Of course he was blamed for the poor passing rate and the poor attendance in that class. Someone actually tried to defend him, but that person was shot down. He doesn't care. He has standards and will stick to them. He's probably retiring this year so they can't touch him anyways.

Lunch was the highlight of the day. I hooked up again with my friend. After a quick stop in Rite Aid, we had some grandma's pizza at one of the best places around.

Back at the ranch, we then picked up our new school shirts and headed back to our meetings. The first meeting of the afternoon taught us how to use EGS (Electronic Grading System). This was boring and unnecessary for anyone who is computer literate and insufficient to teach anyone that needs to learn. At least I got to check my e-mail.

The last session was with AP again. He informed us that we better do something to make sure we are reaching all kids. He has a new son to take care of and he needs his job. Too bad he never thought about the two teaching fellows whose life he destroyed a few years ago by U rating them and taking away their licenses. They were not that bad. They had families too. He pointed out that you need a personality to teach and that you need a personality that people liked. Too bad he hasn't taken his own advice. He is one of the most disliked people in the building. The kids shake when they have to talk to him. Suit came into this meeting for a photo shoot and started berating us for not sitting in groups or using a horse shoe. I lost it. I jumped up, went to the board and showed him why the horse shoe does not work in math. Needless to say, he left quickly. The best part of this meeting was that I started marking my night class exams and made up answer key for a test they are having tomorrow. We did get a glimpse of the new Algebra regents. That one is going to be a fiasco (I need to devote an entire post to that). My chairman thinks the cutoff for passing will be in the 30's. After looking at it, I have to agree.

All in all, I am glad I went in today. I got a lot done. I got great stuff to write about. I'm keeping my colleague on his health sabbatical well informed. Can't wait for the Brooklyn Queens day staff development. Maybe we'll get lucky and have one regents week as well.