Truth In Advertising

nyceducator had a riveting story about syntatic teacher in the Bronx who is working aboard a sinking ship.

I am tired. Really tired. I stayed home today for a "mental health" day. Despite all of my good intentions for this year, a clear desk, a reward system in place, parent phone calls, and organization systems, the thought of going to school right now overwhelms me. I am literally on the verge of tears everyday as I leave my house.

Last week, a well-respected longtime teacher was pushed to the ground by a student. As my readers know, the chaos and discipline issues have been mounting since the school was opened several years ago, and have reached a crisis point. Yet, even at recent staff meetings, the principal basically told us the issues that teachers brought up were due to our own poor classroom management.

How is it possible that all teachers at the school, despite some having years of satisfactory service and impeccable reputations, are poor classroom managers?

There is absolute chaos in the halls during passing periods. Troublemakers roam the halls during class. There have been fights almost daily for the past few weeks. The students do not respect even the AP's or the principal. Yes, some teachers manage to teach - despite the chaos - better than others, but no teacher is immune. It does not seem like there are any real consequences for student violations of the discipline code beyond what teachers can do -- phone calls home and detention, which at our school is a joke. Beyond that, sometimes students get suspended for 1 or 2 days (if the teacher is diligent about following up), but the consequences are haphazard, not followed through, and often unfair. I suspect that few incidents are being officially reported on ORS. Students cry out to the teachers to help them and "do something" about the rampant bullying, chaos, and disrespect, but our hands are tied. When the teachers are viewed as "doing nothing" to keep kids safe, our authority and their respect for us is greatly diminished, digging the hole even deeper. Some teachers have started to totally give up, some have or will quit, some are present in body, but not in spirit. I am truly afraid for what will happen if this continues.

Furthermore, the amount of coverages are outrageous, as more and more teachers (especially new ones) get sick from the stress. Last year, we had vacancies all year long, as 3 science teachers, a foreign language teacher, and a dean all came and went. Over 50% of last year's staff left -- transferred or left teaching altogether. This year, we have already lost 2 history teachers, and possibly a technology teacher (who has been out over a week now). The new teachers are already burned out. Yet, when the staff bring up the concerns, we are told that if we don't want coverages, we shouldn't get sick. It is insulting.

As it is, we have no secretary, no parent coordinator, and one dean, who also teaches classes and is totally overwhelmed. The other dean has been on military duty since the first week of school and was not replaced. One AP has now taken over teaching responsibilities for a teacher who quit. The other AP is often doing minor secretarial work in the office, since we have no secretary, so is also unavailable. Their hands are tied anyway, as much as they want to help us.

We have a mostly non-existent UFT chapter, thought it is marginally better than last year (read: we have had a couple of meetings this year, whereas last year we had none). Last year, I went to the UFT office with 3 other concerned teachers (those 3 have since left) and spoke with our district rep about situations at the school. She has been to the school and knows the extent of the problems, but so far, I have seen few results. Because the staff isn't unified, no one wants to reach out their neck on their own. The DR seems to throw up her hands and just tells us she can't do anything unless the teachers step forward. But, the teachers won't step forward unless there is a guarantee (or at least, a reasonable assurance) that something good will come of the risk (which in my experience, doesn't usually happen). It is maddening.

I have heard a rumor that the principal is "under investigation". But so far, nothing has been done, as far as I can tell. The principal seems to just clamp down harder on the staff; now she has started writing letters in the file.