Tools

It is no surprise that kids graduating high school today are not ready for college.  But, when  Clara Hemphill of The New School's Insideschools.org. compares Bloomberg's new schools to the older ones, you've got to wonder what clueless imbeciles are actually working inside these schools today.

 "Those diplomas are probably not worth very much, but it's better than dropping out with a sixth-grade education, which is what was happening before."

There is no denying the drop out rate was higher years ago but there is also no denying that earning a high school diploma meant kids were ready to face the world, be it as a college student or a worker. A diploma meant the acquisition of skills needed for life.  It wasn't a gift.  What is the point of awarding a diploma without any worth? Even the drop outs of yesterday were better off than many of the graduates of today.  These kids learned that life wasn't a free ride and they had to work for what they wanted.  They couldn't get high end jobs but they could get jobs,  support themselves and their families and be productive members of society.  Now, these would be drop outs have the unearned piece of paper and believe life should be full of the same entitlements.

People like Hemphill are tools of the Bloomberg administration.  They are the ones destroying the youth of today and insuring a disastrous future for all.

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.

Nobody Does It Better

When it comes to wasting money and time and then more money, no one does it better than the New York City Department of Education.  Now, if you happen to be a McGraw Hill stockholder, or a city bureaucrat with ties to that company, I am sure you are vehemently disagreeing with me.

Today was Acuity test day for the algebra classes.  The kids got to spend a period bubbling answers to questions most not only had no clue as to how to answer, but had no clue as to what the question was asking.  The test predominantly covered material they will be taught this term.  The good kids were frustrated.  I don't like being given questions I can't answer and they felt the same.  The not so good kids just bubbled anything and used the period as an excuse to do no work.

We gave Acuity tests to the same kids in June and we never saw those results.  They performed as they did today. 

I have been told that these tests are given so teachers can determine what their students know or do not know. I know that the kids don't know how to graph or how to recognize a parabola.  That work is in this year's curriculum.  They haven't been exposed to yet.  Besides, I am the teacher.  I evaluate what my students know or do not know on a daily basis.  McGraw Hill is being paid thousands of dollars to do what teachers do daily.  The big difference is they are not doing a very good job and teachers are not making the money the execs at this big company make.

Money is tight, budgets are stretched to the limit but McGraw Hill and its stockholders are still doing well.

Where is the accountability for all this wasted time and money? 

Day Two

(another picture taken to kill time!)

Today's staff meeting began with the old "right to know" stuff. We have a right to know about all that stuff in the school that will kill us but there is nothing the school will do to protect us. I remember years ago a colleague requested the Hepatitis B (?) vaccine after we were told how much we needed it only to be told it was not available to teachers. We can easily be replaced with a new TFA recruit so why should the city waste any money on us. I spent the time putting on my nail hardener. Since getting rid of the tips, my nails are very soft. This was a good opportunity as they would have plenty of time to dry.

Next came our exciting once a year union meeting, another waste of time. He managed to tell us that jobs have to be posted fairly. He also pointed out that the principal violated an agreement he had made with the union by not giving us a promised free lunch today. Here is one of the exec board members handing out the minutes from yesterday's exec board meeting. It's chock full of mistakes.

Next we got treated to listening to more of Suit's performance. Schoolgal asked if we've met New Suit and the answer to that is no. It seems no committee has been formed yet because there are not enough applicants. I don't believe that Suit really wants to step down.

Giving out program cards and metro cards was the best part of the day. Even being with the kids in such an awful situation reminded me how much I love teaching and being with them.

Then we got a whole hour to get our rooms ready. I've been taken out of my beloved trailer and put into two different rooms. The people that are in my trailer want the rooms I am in. They don't understand that I must be punished for demanding security outside and they are just peons, along for the ride. I, along with most of my colleagues, refused to spend an hour cleaning rooms. I opted for a walk to my favorite retreat Dunkin' Donuts. I used my free coupon for an egg white flat bread sandwich that was delicious (and less than 300 calories.)

The graffiti covered bridge to my "secret place". How do they get up there to do that stuff?
My hideaway!

The garbage covered bridge leading to the hideaway.

We ended with more of Mr. AP's ramblings and we all got to go home an hour early. Thank goodness the kids will be back next week. I can't take any more of these days.

Discount For This?

The insurance companies give a 10% discount for taking the defensive driving class. Don't ask me why. I didn't learn anything but I did draw the picture below.

My son said that this had to be worse than staff development. He's never been to staff development. Even this was better.