Living Without Pain

For the first time in over a year, I was back in the trailer, albeit temporarily. I was covering a class for my friend who will return on Monday.

I used to love being in the trailer, in spite of all the problems. It was nice to get a breath of fresh air, even in the rain and it was even nicer to get away from the noise and the prying eyes of the building. When Suit took the trailer away, I was unhappy with my undeserved punishment (the only way he could get me to stop complaining about security was to remove me from the situation.) It didn't take me long to adjust to the building comforts. It is nice not to have to carry my coat all day long and when I need something from the office, the office is right next door.

Day one in the trailer and I am with the pounding drums of the JROTC marching band and the balls banging against the walls of the handball court. Day two I am hit with rain and no coat or umbrella. Being away for so long made me forget I needed to be prepared. While the trailer bathrooms are working, the water fountains are not. Day three I notice the security booth I fought for is still empty and there is not a safety officer or a dean to be seen either before or after the class.

Being in the trailers for so long reminded me of the fibroid tumor I lived with for many years. The pain and the discomfort was something I grew used to and tolerated. It wasn't until the tumor was removed that I realized how bad I was feeling for years. Suit, in his attempt to punish actually rewarded me. Knowing he did something good for me would probably make him ill. Too bad he doesn't read this blog.

Security Booth Update

The empty security booth.
No one in sight--inside or outside.
No one near the back doors.

They got me out of the trailers and now they are saving money on security.

I've been watching. The booth is empty. No one is patrolling outside.

The teachers in the trailer will not say a word.

Everyone is happy....That is, unless something goes wrong.

There's A Body In The Booth

Security Booth Update

The electricity is in. I suppose there will be a live body in the booth soon.

Mystery Solved

The mystery is solved.

We have a security booth.

No person has used it yet.

It looks like there is no electricity or phone wires connected yet.

But,it is a start.

I've heard it referred to as the PISSED OFF TEACHER SECURITY BOOTH.

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!

Letter Update

Principal Suit stopped me in the hall tonight and thanked me for my letter. He told me it was just what he needed and that it was right on the money. He said a guard would be posted outside the trailers.

I'll believe this when I see it, but at least it is a step in the right direction.

Update on Yesterday's Event

The following is the letter I left about yesterday's incident. I don't understand why other teachers refuse to speak out. I spoke to our Parent Coordinator today also. She said she would discuss security with the PTA.

April 1, 2008

Dear Mr. Terence,

I am writing again regarding the lack of trailer security. This afternoon, a boy was struck in the face while leaving his trailer and coming into mine. He was covered in blood and his nose was broken. There was no security around. Luckily, a teacher walking by took him to the nurse’s office.

While teaching period 9, a boy tried to walk into my trailer to hand his friend French fries. This time I was able to stop him, but he did disrupt the class for a few minutes. If he was looking to cause trouble, I could not have stopped him.

Last year, a strange man walked into the trailer to use the bathroom. Nothing has been done to stop this from occurring in the future.

There are eight trailer classes with an average of 30 children per class. When periods end, there are almost 500 children walking between the building and the trailers. Yet, there is nothing being done to protect them or their teachers.

At this point, I am ready to send a copy of this letter to the parents association and to all the local newspapers. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS WHO GO TO THIS SCHOOL AND THE TEACHERS WHO WORK HERE. Cameras might catch the perpetrators but they are not protecting us. This is not the best school in Queens if it is not safe to be here.


Extremely Pissed Off Teacher

Cc: Principal Suit
Chapter Leader

The guilty kid has been caught and the victim was convinced by the dean in charge not to press charges. I guess, what does it matter if an immigrant kid is hurt. What rights should he have? The victim was back in school. The nose was not broken but a tooth was chipped. Physically he is going to be fine, emotionally, I am not so sure.

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.