Worthless

Obama said that that a high school diploma is not enough anymore. He's right. The diploma has been so watered down that it is not even worth the paper it is printed on.

Instead of pushing everyone into a college program they are not ready for, give real high school courses that prepare the youth of today to be responsible adults of tomorrow.

Political Prisoners

Where is Amnesty International when you need them? The ISS teachers are being held in a reserve room with no charges and no clue as to when they will be released.

My Cancer Girl

My cancer girl is doing okay. The surgery went well and she probably won't need chemo, just some other medication once every two weeks.

Appreciation

Tomorrow is the geometry regents. Yesterday and today, I gathered a group that will retake the regents and got them to come in for 6 hours (3 hours a day) of review. Yesterday, I got 9 to show up, today 8 appeared. I was hoping for more but, the tutoring was only publicized through announcements and most kids (and adults) tend to ignore them. Of the 9 the showed up, 6 were mine last year, kids that I have been harassing and promising to help.

Yesterday I handed them a sample regents to do, and then reviewed many of the topics they had forgotten. I had to make them leave when the time was up. The only complaint I got was from one of my favorite kids, K, and that complaint was that he was hungry. So, today I stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way to make sure there would be no grumbling stomachs in the room. I gave them the June and August regents to work on. The kids really got it. They couldn't believe that the June test was the same test they failed. My reward came as I listened and watched K, a kid I thought ignored me quite a bit of the time, explain things and work them out exactly as I taught last year. I threw them out after three and a half hours.

Today was a light day for my department. We had no marking and almost no proctoring assignments. People lounged around, gossiped with friends and went for a nice lunch. They asked me if anyone appreciated what I did. I'm not sure about the other adults in the building but I know the kids did. Their thanks were all that I needed.

I might always be the 60% teacher because even if all these kids pass, their stats will do nothing to improve mine since none of them are on my register at the moment. No improved stats would mean no merit pay, should merit pay ever come to be in NYC. That doesn't matter. I come to work for the kids and I know the kids I worked with learned quite a bit this week. I did the job I come to work to do.

(The picture has nothing to do with the post, I just wanted to publish the red bath tub I saw in a window in Budapest. )

You Can't Fight City Hall and Win

I just read over Gotham School's report on last night's PEP meeting. All the work and the hours people put in were for naught. From reading Blomberg and Klein's closing remarks, it is obvious that the decision was written in stone months ago. They allowed the meeting to occur last night because they had to.

Bloomberg and Klein are still citing statistics about closing 91 schools and opening 351 new ones. Notice, the number of seats the new schools have are never mentioned. There is also no mention of the placement of the students that caused graduation numbers to be so low in the first place.

My heart goes out to all the wonderful people who worked so hard for something so right to only be stomped on by the big, rich guys.

There are parallels to be drawn between the movie Avatar and our city. We, the citizens of Gotham are being destroyed so a few others can gain wealth. (The actual story has a much greater connotation.) Maybe an Avatar will come along that will help us fight back.

The Rat

Here

Rubber Rooms: NYC Teachers Paid To Do Nothing

My good friend Richochet and others had no access to last night's Pablo Guzman's rubber room story. For anyone interested, the link is posted or they can just read the transcript below. For once, teachers in this situation were portrayed in a positive manner.

CBS 2 HD's cameras witnessed firsthand as teachers who were waiting to hear charges sat around in rubber rooms and literally did nothing for days, all while being paid.

Hundreds of New York City teachers removed from classrooms on a wide range of allegations are sent to offices that are called "rubber rooms."

Many stay there for years, waiting for determinations of their guilt or innocence.

But while they wait they do nothing at all. And they're still paid -- with your tax dollars.

CBS 2 HD takes you "inside … the rubber rooms."

CBS 2 HD's hidden cameras recently got a rare look inside the rooms, which are located in every borough of New York City. As many as 530 teachers are paid to do nothing while the Department of Education investigates various charges against them. Many teachers say it's a nightmare -- being forced to sit in a room all day and not teach.

"The saddest thing is that there are some people doing nothing. Not even that," teacher Leevert Holmes said.

They're officially called "temporary reassignment centers."

The first teachers sent there many years ago came up with the phrase "rubber rooms" sarcastically because they said they could drive you crazy.

When asked if taxpayers are paying for this Holmes said yes, even though people are being paid to literally do nothing, adding it costs the public, "millions."

"I worked hard to be a teacher," Grace Colon said through tears. "To be an advocate for my students."

After 16 years as a teacher, Colon was sent to a rubber room. She was paid then, but last month was fired by the Department of Education for various charges, including the physical abuse of a student. She still denies the charge and is appealing.

Rubber rooms cost tax payers more than $53 million every year. Some teachers have been paid to do nothing for as long as seven years. When CBS 2 HD hasked the Department of Education about it they simply said the process is a long one.

Here's how it works: a teacher shows up for class, but is handed an envelope. Inside it reads there are allegations against you. Please go to this address. Eventually that turns out to be a rubber room like one CBS 2 HD saw on West 125th Street. But months can go by before a person finds out what the charges are against him or her, and those months can turn into years.

"I have never been, ah … received formal charges," Holmes said.

Holmes has been teaching special ed for seven years. He was put in the rubber room over a year ago and is still waiting to find out what the charges are.

When asked what it was like to walk in see other people in that room, Holmes said his first thought was, "I walked into hell."

"They want to drain us emotionally, so that we will resign," said Dr. Anna Maria Thomas, a reinstated teacher.

After 19 months of doing nothing in a rubber room, Thomas finally got charges of verbally abusing students dismissed. But she is still part of a federal suit against the city to close the rubber rooms.

"The suit says that the rubber rooms are an unconstitutional denial of due process," lawyer Joy Hochstadt said.

CBS 2 HD and the Department of Education exchanged several emails, but the Department did not want to put anyone on camera. Instead, they released the following statement:

"This is not an ideal system but, given the realities of the cumbersome state laws and union contract, we're in a position where we need to balance our obligation to safeguard children with our legal obligation for fairness to teachers," said NYC Department of Education spokeswoman Ann Forte.

Of the 530 teachers in the rubber rooms many will get fired. Some will be cleared and put back into classrooms, and others will just get frustrated and quit. Still, that's $53 million of your money that could be put to better use.

Most of the rubber room teachers are waiting to be declared guilty or innocent on charges like incompetence. By contrast, criminal cases, on arrests for things like sex with students, are often handled separately -- and faster -- by police and the district attorney's office.

My Power

A certain administrator is upset about this blog and doesn't understand why certain things have to get posted on the Internet.

This administrator has the power of the counseling memo and s/he uses this power often. S/he has no problems admonishing and harassing teachers in front of colleagues and students.

I can't write a counseling memo and I would never yell at anyone with an audience around. This blog is my way of letting people know about things I find really f**ked up in education today. If this administrator doesn't like it, s/he better stop the s**t and start doing her/his job correctly.

Watch Inside The Rubber Room

Undercover story on CBS news at 11:00 tonight.

I don't know the slant of the story, but I am going to watch.

Neighborhood Schools

(Looking down the hill--project is in the background)

Arthur Goldstein wrote a great article on Gotham about neighborhood schools. I couldn't think of much to add there because he said it all, much better than I could possibly say it.

But then it hit me. One of the most important things about neighborhood schools is the friendship students develop amongst each other and the way those friendships continue to flourish when you live in the same area. It got me thinking about my high school days and the people I grew up with.

I was a project kid. I lived in the projects on Gun Hill Rd and walked the few blocks to Evander Childs HS every day with the kids in my building. There was at least one kid in the building and definitely in the project that I shared a class with so if any of us missed a day of school or forgot to bring home a book we needed, there was always someone nearby to borrow the book or get that assignment from. Our parents never worried about us studying together late at night or coming home after dark as we were always in a big group and everyone believed there was safety in numbers. Every parent knew every person and their parents so they never worried about who we were with or what we danger or trouble we could have been getting into.

Aside from the academic benefits of a neighborhood school, there were social benefits. Weekends were always spent with our school mates, whether it was at a movie, shopping on Fordham Rd. or just listening to music in a friend's house, we were together. My students come to Packemin from all over Queens. In fact, I've had students from Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx. (None from Staten Island yet.) These kids are best friends until the school ends and then they separate and return to their own little place in the city. No weekend, after school or holiday plans are ever made. Many of their parents are afraid to let them do any extra traveling. Many don't want their children socializing with people they do not know.

Bloomberg's rich kids don't have these worries. They can always have their chauffeur drop them off and pick them up. These kids all have permission in school to use their Backberries and I-Phones to call for anything they need or forget. They don't need the neighborhood as much as average New Yorkers do. We need our local schools and we need to fix the problems. Closing these schools is the equivalent of throwing out the baby with the bath water.

This Truck Holds

Septic TruckThe promises of Obama for change.

The promises of Bloomberg for improving education in NYC, for improving public education and life in general.

The promises of the UFT to stand up for and to protect the rights of teachers.

Not Doing The Job

While I don't understand the fear of having this post being public, I moved it here to respect the wishes of the person involved. Change cannot occur without things like this being made public.

I Love A Bargain

My $89 Coldwater Creek velvet skirt--on sale for $23.99--used $20 coupon I got in the mail--final cost $3.99!

I even drove into Manhattan and got a parking spot immediately which enabled me to go visit my dad afterwards. Just making him one of his favorite dishes and playing a couple of Rummy-O games really brightened up his afternoon.

Still Flawed

There is a major problem at Packemin HS when it comes to giving kids extended time on exams. Because we are so large, it is not easy to get the exams to the resource room teacher. A problem that has existed for years is that our weakest kids start an exam early in the day and have to wait until much later to finish it. Sometimes, things get messed up and they have to wait days to finish. This method does not foster success.

Another problem, a problem that has also existed for years is how to get the paper from the classroom to the resource room. Years ago, we used to put the paper in a sealed envelope and let the student transport the exam himself. This worked well until one student decided that instead of going to resource with the exam, he would go to his friend and have the friend do the exam for him. The kid got caught and should have been suspended but his very pretty mom came to school and sweet talked the horny old AP of security into giving him another chance. When the teacher complained, the AP security accused the teacher of causing the problem by handing the child the exam in the first place. Needless to say, students were no longer handed exams (at least this teacher stopped) and another method was put into place.

Packemin has grown since this incident and once again the problem of transporting exams resurfaced. Ms. I, who I believe also had a test stolen this way, has re-instituted the policy of letting students carry their own exams. Well, guess what? The policy still does not work.

A young man came into my class with his exam in a sealed envelope, teachers signature across the back, as it is supposed to be. He sat down in the back and did not hand me the paper as he is supposed to do. I was busy handing out papers to the rest of the class, trying to settle down my rowdy bunch, when I noticed his folded paper being passed to the boy in front of him. I took away both papers, called both parents and notified my AP.

I have no problem giving kids extended time when they are entitled to it. I even give extended time to kids who are not entitled to it but I have a problem with the way extended time is administered. I don't have the answer but I am not an AP earning $135,000 a year. Hopefully a good solution can be arrived at soon.

Pretty Boy

NOTE: THIS IS A SPOOF ON THE REAL SITUATION

There is an interim acting chairperson in the language department of Big City High School. This chairperson has never taught any foreign language and even lacks some of the basic skills necessary to communicate in English. This guy has taught before, but his license is in physical education and he has no concept as to what should be going on in an academic class.

Things are not going smoothly with this guy in charge. Kids in French classes are being given Spanish tests and Chinese language kids are taking tests in Russian. Italian teachers are being told they have to teach Korean and the Korean teacher has been assigned to translate for anyone who needs a translator. There is even a class of hearing impaired students, taking a signed language class from a tape.

The interim acting chairperson is smart enough to know he can't do it alone. He formed a committee of experienced teachers and talks constantly about "picking" their brains. He also passes off their work taking their work as his own, yet he is still not competent enough to do the job properly.

Needless to say, the students and the teachers at Big City High School are not happy. A girl studying Russian was in tears when this guy screamed at her for not being able to answer an exam that was written in Greek. The German teacher had a meltdown when she was told she had to teach Hebrew. I could go on and on with the stories I've been told, but I am sure you get my point.

The guy I am talking about is young and very good looking. While some think he is not too bright, I know he is is right on target when it comes to looking out for himself. All the little peons who have worked with him this year are praying he doesn't get the job permanently.

Hey Bloomberg

Check out the environment Justice and his students deal with every day. Does your office look like this? Does your staff worry about health issues caused by the air they are breathing?

Oh wait, I forgot, Justice works at a school that is being closed down. Those kids, and the teachers are your throw aways. Their health and well being is of no interest to you. It is much more important to keep those charter schools looking good.

This Just In

I just got an e-mail from a colleague. New window shades are being installed right now.

I wonder why if this had anything to do with it?

For NYC Educator

Who is always making fun of math teachers and their triangles!

Single Digit

I've been collecting signatures for ICE candidates. One teacher thought he had to explain his file number to me because it was so low and he is young. (He started out as a para.) I told him I often had to explain my file number too. You see, mine is an "8" and there aren't too many of us single digit teachers around anymore.

The Moral Of The Story

Orkut Myspace Angry Comments & Graphics

Some administrators forget that they used to be teachers. Or, maybe they remember too well the crap they pulled. This graphic reminded me of a story a colleague told me about a teacher turned administrator. If you want to know the story and its moral, you'll have to click here.

Thank You, Mrs. Gottlieb

Mrs.Gottlieb, my seventh grade typing teacher stood barely 5 ft tall. But, this tiny woman packed a punch that would have knocked Mike Tyson out, even in his hay day. I remember the class, a pretty rough bunch, being terrified of her. She demanded perfect posture and two hands on the key board at all times. Twice a week, we walked into her room, opened up the manual in front of us and typed away, learning the position of the keys as we went. I remember how she spent a period teaching us the proper way to open the book. If we dared let the cover drop, the loud bang caused her to emit the deadliest looks and loudest screams anyone had ever heard.

I totally forgot about this little red headed monster until a colleague commented on the way I typed as I wrote a college recommendation and he surfed the Internet in the cafe this week. He was amazed at the dexterity I exhibited, using two hands and the way I never had to look at the keys.

I know today that her harshness was a harshness of love. Even her exams showed her love. She took 5 points off for every mistake, but stopped deducting points once the mark hit 55. Everyone in our class had a 55 average and no one failed.

If Ms. Gottlieb was around today, she would probably be in a rubber room somewhere, charged with child abuse for the way she treated us. Yes, she was tough, and mean, but she got us to learn what we were supposed to learn. My skills would not be what they are today if I had not been exposed to her.

(Pictured above is the typewriter I practiced at home on. It was my mom's, bought in 1927. It still sits in my home, not far from this computer and while it is no longer used, I don't want to ever forget it.)

Protest At Bloomberg's Place

Chants for Stop Closings of Schools

It was invigorating, picketing, chanting, doing what we could to try to save our schools. There were lots of people, great signs and terrific chants. To me, the best part was seeing all the young people who came out to save their schools. There was even a young man from Packemin HS present. He is smart enough to know that while we are not slated to be closed, we could and probably will end up on this list if Bloomberg has his way.

I also got to meet some cool people, people who know me as POd teacher and now have a face and a real name to go with the pseudonym.

It was tiring to run to Manhattan and walk a picket line after a long day of work, but it was worth it, something I will gladly do again.

Here are some of the chants I got in a GEM e-mail.


Students-Parents-Teachers United !

Will never be defeated!



Shut down the DOE - Not Public Schools.

Shut down the Mayor …….



School DEMOCRACY - YES.

THE Mayor’s Dictatorship - NO!



What do we want?

- NO CLOSING SCHOOLS

- NO PRIVATIZATION

- NO CHARTER SCHOOLS

- When do we want it? – NOW!



STOP THE DRIVE TO PRIVATIZE



Fix our Public Schools; don’t privatize.

Bail out Public Schools; Not Wall Street.

Public Education YES….

Private CHARTER Schools - NO.



Hey, hey, ho ho.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS Gotta Go.

Hey, hey, ho ho

PRIVATIZING’S Gotta Go.

Bloomberg’s Gotta Go.

MERYL TISCH’S GOTTA GO.



Quality COMMUNITY Schools, NOW!

Keep Public schools PUBLIC.

DOE SAYS SHUT DOWN,

WE SAY FIGHT BACK!



KLEIN SAYS TEST & DATA,

WE SAY FIGHT BACK!

BLOOMBERG SAYS CHARTERS,

WE SAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS!



WHEN TEACHERS WIN -- STUDENTS WIN

WHEN STUDENTS WIN – TEACHERS WIN



WHAT’S DISGUSTING? UNION BUSTING! (re: charters)

1 2 3 4 – WE CAN’T TAKE IT ANY MORE

5 6 7 8 – SMALL CLASS SIZE - JUST CAN’T WAIT ….(Quality public schools)



DIGNITY, RESPECT

IT’S STUDENTS WE PROTECT



THEY SAY: Close schools!

WE SAY: Fix schools!



HEY, HEY, WE’RE NOT FOOLS,

WE FIGHT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS!



Money for Schools; Not for Wars!



FIGHT --- FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION NOW!



PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE HERE TO STAY

THEY’RE NOT BLOOMBERG’S ANYWAY



School Closings, No

Charter Schools, NO

Quality Public Schools, YES

Snapshot

Today, the last day before the midterm exam, Mr. AP decided to do some snap shot observations. When he walked in, I thought, here goes nothing. Yesterday, I gave the class a practice sheet and told them to do it for homework. I was just going over random questions when he walked in. I was at the board and the kids were in their seats. I was doing my usual, a teacher-centered lesson. I didn't want them going to the board because their work is often sloppy, sometimes wrong and waiting for them to do it is extremely time consuming. I was sure he would hate everything he saw.

Surprise, surprise, HE LOVED MY LESSON! He thought my questions and explanations were great. He loved the test taking hints I gave the kids. He didn't have one negative word to say.

I wonder if he had been drinking.

(Pictured above--Shiner Beer from a town in Texas-- a really good beverage and only $1.50 at Pappa's, a fast food barbecue place. I couldn't eat anything there but that didn't stop me from drinking.)

Larry

It seem all he ever does is sleep. He's been in the same position for hours.

I could never be a cat.

Showing Her Stupidity

Madame Incompetent knows about this blog but as far as I know, she doesn't know how to find it. Someone told her that the department she runs has been the subject of many a post and she is not happy about that. By the way, this is the same person who was upset yesterday because she had to take care of some exams for an absent resource room teacher.

I was standing in the hall, talking to a fellow teacher, when Madame Incompetent walked by this morning. All of a sudden I heard a loud "Good morning, Ms POd" and then felt a bump on my shoulder as she flew by. Now, we both knew she tried to make it look accidental but we also know that she did it on purpose.

I didn't know being a street fighter was a prerequisite to becoming an administrator. But, if it is, Madame Incompetent has a long way to go before she will be a proficient one. Her little bump was nothing. She better learn to throw a major punch because she has will never develop the other skills required to do her job properly.

Bad Day Ahead

I stole this picture from a blogging buddy of mine. He had to go private because of the crappy administration in his school so I don't think he will mind my showing it here. I wish I could give him credit, but I don't want to even link his new page (albeit private) with mine and risk getting him in any trouble.

Giving Them Sunshine

A week without calculus is a week without sunshine and that is why I am giving my calculus class a take home assignment over regents week. It will be their first grade for the new semester.

They will bitch and moan, but I know they will do it anyway. If I give them the week off, they will forget everything they have learned so far.

I found an old test that will work fine, so I have no work tonight.

Stealing

What do you call someone who takes credit for someone else's work? You call that person... (click here to find out.)

Dedication

The resource room teacher was worried. She was terribly sick and could not make it to school. She had an exam that one of her students needed to complete. The resource room teacher gave her husband a mission. He had to get the exam to someone who could deliver it to the student as soon as possible. The husband obeyed. As for whether the child took the exam, I do not know yet.


I told the switchboard to ask the sub to stop by my room to pick up the exam. When the period began and no sub materialized, I sent the exams to the room. No one was in the room so I sent the exams up to the AP. I don't know what happened with them after that but the boy who delivered them came down and said, Ms. X is really angry with you. She is coming down to talk to you. (I still haven't seen her but I am not shaking in my pants while I waiting.)
Note: she said she was coming down to see me, not to see why there was no sub in the room.

The husband, not a teacher, could not understand why his wife would be so concerned. She was sick and someone else could take over. He didn't know the story of my students who missed their extended time (I did give it to them the following day) and the chaos that can reign when the teacher is absent. Sadly, no one in charge bothers to mind the ship, even when they are given a heads up to the problem.

I Don't Know If Prayers Will Help

My 14 year old student with lung cancer is having her surgery today.

I called to wish her well, and tell her she is in my prayers.

I'm not sure I even believe in the power of prayer, but if you do, please add her to yours.

G-d will know the beautiful, sweet smart girl in POd teacher's ninth period class.

Bully at Large

Miriam worked in the school for almost 20 years, was never late and rarely absent. One day, she got caught in a terrible traffic jam and arrived 20 minutes late. Miriam saw the person in charge, explained why she was late and apologized. She figured, this was the end of the incident until a counseling memo arrived.

Miriam was upset and in tears. How could this happen? She worked hard and did all the right things for so many years. Eventually, Miriam, together with the CL, got the incident cleared up. Miriam's wounds have not healed yet.

This is what happens when the only leadership quality a person has is the ability to bully.

Pizza Store Conversation

Him: So, when are you going to retire?

Me: I'm not ready. I still enjoy what I do.

Him: You teachers have it made. You only work half a year and get paid over a hundred grand. I would keep working too if my job was as easy as yours is.

Luckily, a friend who is married to a teacher jumped in and let him have it or I would be calling my Principal from behind bars instead of typing this post.

He's Not An Einstein, But...

Why am I telling the resource room teacher the kid is not lazy or stupid, he just needs help focusing?

Why isn't s/he advocating for him?

Blood Donation

I was almost a month behind schedule so I had to do it.

There was a crowd and waiting is something I am not good at doing.

The needle hurt (it always does) going in.

The blood didn't want to come out today.

Still, I'm glad that I went and hope my donation might be saving a life. I didn't even get dizzy or feel faint after giving.

Next donation: March 15, 2010!

Taylor Mali on what teachers make

Who's Minding The Store?

Midterm week, exams for the kids who are entitled to extended time have been put in sealed envelopes and left for the resource room teacher to administer. The resource room teacher is absent the day of the exam and no one bothers to tell the sub to check for them.

Who should be held accountable? I'm sure someone is ready in the wings with a good excuse.

Teddy Roosevelt

One of the reasons I write this blog is to try to make a difference.

I hope I go this way too.

Saturday was a beautiful day and with nothing on the agenda, we headed over to Sagamore Hill, to visit Teddy Roosevelt's home. Five dollars a piece got us a great tour with a fantastic guide. Those park Rangers really know their history and they know how to entertain as they deliver it.

I don't know much about Teddy Roosevelt and the museum was set up in his honor. The cynic in me says there must be a black side too. The pictures above are just some of his quotes that really made an impression on me.

Job Opening

Job opening:

No experience, no knowledge, no people skills and no heart required.

Have the ability to bring children to tears.

Have the ability to keep your employees united in their non stop bitching about how you do your job.

Have the ability to delegate all your work to others.

Have the ability to keep repeating the words "I"m new at this" when things go wrong.

If you qualify, it is a shame you didn't know about this job sooner. It looks like the position might have been filled. But, if you want more information, click here.