Sunday, March 03, 2019

MANY SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FOREST HILLS PRINCIPAL IN NO CONFIDENCE RESOLUTION

The press and bloggers continue to cover the situation at Forest Hills High School with Principal Ben Sherman. The NY Post has an update detailing some of the allegations against Sherman that are in the No Confidence Resolution.

From Sue Edelman's article that she cowrote with Melissa Klein:

Maybe he’s the one who’s smoking something!

Forest Hills HS Principal Ben Sherman, whose stewardship of the once prestigious school has led to a teacher mutiny over issues such as rampant pot smoking by students, was accused last month of a litany of strange behavior in a faculty no-confidence vote.

Teachers presented a detailed list of concerns last week to Queens high school Superintendent Juan Mendez, asking that Sherman, who came to the school in 2017, be removed.

Now Sherman is under investigation, and Chancellor Richard Carranza has appointed a top official to come to the school every day to closely supervise Sherman, city Department of Education officials told The Post on Saturday.

Sherman’s alleged antics include leaving both the door to his office and to his bathroom “completely open” so his secretaries could see him urinating, according to the no-confidence document.

When confronted four months later and asked to shut the door, he replied, “Did they not like what they saw?” the document says.
The complaints accuse Sherman of making inappropriate comments to both teachers and students. He allegedly said to two girls wearing large earrings: “The bigger the hoop, the bigger the ho!”

He asked another female student, who was selling snacks and water for a fundraiser, “Are you selling handguns? I’d like to buy a Glock,” the document says.
He told a teacher “Hubba, hubba, I like what I see through the holes of that sweater,” it says.

On one occasion, the school’s crowded hallways became a virtual three-ring circus when Sherman juggled and rode a unicycle, it added.


“These actions and behaviors are ideal if you are hanging out with friends or … your children,” the complaint says.


“However, these hijinks should not transpire in a school hallway, especially one in an overcrowded building that is at 198 percent capacity.”


Sherman admitted in a letter to staff that he sometimes slept in his car overnight to see what time teachers arrived to snag parking spots in front of the school.


The teachers contend Sherman’s tenure has led to an increase in not only drug use but vandalism and larcenies, with student lockers regularly being burgled.


The school’s parents association also wrote to Mendez warning “the safety issues at FHHS have reached a point where they are beyond Principal Sherman’s ability to control and correct.”

 So what is the DOE response to all of these allegations?

They referred everything to the Special Commissioner of Investigations while keeping Sherman in place.

Could you imagine what would have happened had a teacher been accused of these wrongdoings, particularly the open door policy in the principal's restroom? He or she would have been removed from the school immediately. Blogger South Bronx School is all over the DOE double standard.

Let's play make believe. Regular guy teacher at Forest Hills High Aaron Rabinowitz is quoted in the Post saying the same exact words (on marijuana soon being legal) with the same flippant attitude .


Yep, you are right. Aaron would be exiled to the Rubber Room posthaste, have 20 stipulations in his 3020-a and risk his 23 year career go down the drain.
Ed Notes covers the UFT higherups' involvement at Forest Hills.

He quotes a Forest Hills insider:

"Why hasn't the UFT President commented or visited the school? Interesting, the lack of concern. He has been invited three times since April. He had promised to come last May, then cancelled. "
We do know from Norm (EdNotes) that Staff Director Leroy Barr, District Rep James Vasquez, Special Rep Washington Sanchez and Borough Rep Amy Arundel have all visited. 
From a Forest Hills staff member, ICEblog was sent Principal Sherman's apology.

"I know you have been reading a lot about me recently.  I recognize there are many concerns.  I am against students using drugs, vaping, or smoking in our school.  I am against students loitering in the hallways, staircases, or other places.  I am not a perfect person.  I have many faults, just ask my wife.  I apologize for statements which have offended you, including saying 'because I am the Principal.'   I need to listen better to you.  If I have given anyone the impression that I am soft on crime or that I am permissive about drug use I apologize." 

Our Forest Hills contact tells us that Superintendent Mendez and the DOE are trying to blame teachers for the safety issues.


From a Friday email:
Yesterday, the DOE sent inspectors to find at the school what they sent them to find.  This is namely anything that might pin the school's lack of discipline on the teachers.  One example is them asking students why they are sitting in the hallways while classes are going on.  Instead of actually finding out that the Administrators let them sit there, they look to pin it on the teachers by asking them "if any  teachers asked them to move."    You know things like that.  The students were really active while they were there,  so they got an eyeful of the Wild West Show.

 Last night Superintendent Mendez met with some select members of the Parent Association.  They demanded he come to answer questions that they had about how the building was being run.  From what I heard, he did his best to try to spin it into a teacher slamming session.

 Today, Mendez came in and did some surprise mini observations on a number of staff along with Sherman.
From the local Queens press QNS, we have Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz' statement defending the school and not rushing to judgment on the principal.

“Parents moved in to the neighborhood so their children could attend FHHS. I have been in the school countless times and I can tell you that what I read in the newspaper is nothing like the fine school that I experienced in those visits,” Koslowitz said, referring to the story’s first appearance in the Queens Chronicle.
She adds:

“I am asking that the DOE immediately intervene at FHHS to insure that all laws, rules, regulations and policies are being adhered to,” Koslowitz said, then referenced the New York Post article that put FHHS under the spotlight. “With respect to the principal, I am not rushing to a judgment based on a newspaper article. Those disciplinary matters will take their due course. But, the health and safety of the students must be guaranteed and guaranteed without delay.” 

I also saw the story covered on FOX 5 news on Thursday evening but I can't find it at their cite so if anyone can  locate a link, please help and we will add it on.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, another uft success. Trust me, there are many more principals who need to be investigated.

The Ape of Reason said...

We're not out of the woods yet as there may be an effort put forth by the DOE to retrain him and preserve his job. I think the combined forces of the UFT, the NY Post, and the blogs were vital in terms of getting us this far. Could be a blueprint for future action at other schools.

Anonymous said...

QUESTION: What does Mike Mulgrew do everyday? I mean, what does he really, really do? What kind of work does the man do on a daily basis? Does anybody have any real info on what his workday is like? I'd love to know.

Anonymous said...

He is the greatest labor leader ever.

Anonymous said...

6 to 10 inches tomorrow, let's see our buddies screw us again. Oh, we have a seat at the table...

Anonymous said...

Yeah, too bad for those who have to go over the bridge, nobody gives a shit.

Anonymous said...

Snow has begun

Anonymous said...

Still no comment from James taking down his Middle College colleagues comments about him. Still to embarrassed to admit it so he will focus on another school

Anonymous said...

4:19, I work in Middle College High School IF YOU ONLY KNEW!!....

Guess what, the beauty of you being anonymous proves that you are clueless about what goes on in Middle College HS. Just keep in mind the mass of teachers who James Eterno worked with and helped know how much he can be trusted...and it is SAD to say that this blog is HIS ONLY PLATFORM to help protect teachers from the corrupt system we work in. It seems you don't know much about anything about Middle College High School. This ARTICLE IS ABOUT FOREST HILLS.

If you are trying to damage a person's reputation, at least get your FACTS straight. You have no idea about why the post you complain about was taken down or the comments. The truth is it was taken down at the request of people on the inside after going public about our issues had the desired effect of waking up the UFT and putting the principal on notice.
After the blog post, a vote on PROSE was postponed and two UFT meetings were called. We felt it was better to debate in house after the comments on the blog got personal and were ignoring the contract issue. The whole truth about how the UFT worked with the principal to encourage us to violate our own contract might eventually come out. Stay tuned.

Anonymous said...

Closed, bitches.

Anonymous said...

They cant mess up their weave

Anonymous said...

Look evil uft conspired to close schools http://www.uft.org. I guess haters are going to hate

James Eterno said...

You have to concede the snow closing DOE policy has improved under de Blasio for whatever reason after the Farina beautiful day comment.

Enjoy the snow day off tomorrow.

The Ape of Reason said...

There are two primary ways to stop a person (or our school system) from bleeding to death, one is to use a tourniquet and the other is to wait.

Anonymous said...

At 4:25, since James loves to "speak out" and "expose" things, why is he not speaking out on what happened at Middle College HS. Why did he take down the post?

James revels in the idea that admin cannot have differing viewpoints from their staff, otherwise they are horrible leaders; a pattern I've noticed in his blogs.

I have friends at Middle College who hate James. Unless the entire staff requests James invlovement, mind your damn business James, and stop bringing public negativity to our schools.

Anonymous said...

Only abusive or potentially abusive administrators and their followers hate James. The friends you have at Middle College know James will be there for them in a second if asked. Teachers on the inside asked James to put up the Middle College post and later to take it down.

The principals in DOE bring the negativity upon themselves. Teachers use this blog as a place to vent their frustrations with all things DOE and UFT. Many are glad it's back.

Anonymous said...

And if principals have different viewpoints from their staff and try to shove their DOE crap down our throats, they probably are horrible leaders. We are highly educated certified professionals. We don't need Leadership Academy egomaniacs micromanaging us.

Anonymous said...

If my principal showed me his penis I would have called the police, not the UFT.

Anonymous said...

Right. So when 2-3 people in a school complain to James he goes and tries to embarrass the school. It doesn't matter what the rest of the staff thinks. It is only what James' ego says. So he can look like a hero.That is what he did at Middle College. The whole staff know the 3 people who complained (and handful of people that just had questions). Including you 4:25. You are the only one that gets an audience from James or from your rants at meetings at our school. You don't get along with your own colleagues and we all know "that's the way you are". All of the noise you made including this one shows you don't speak for the staff. The PROSE passed with 75% of the staff agreeing despite your attempts to obstruct and James' ego driven intervention. I'm just asking for him to acknlowde his mistake since he took the posts down so as to not be embarrassed for his misguided and unwanted intervention. In a school that has relative peace and collaboration which he enjoyed for years.

Anonymous said...

James did that to my school as well, blogging about our school because his friends complained to him. James when you blog about a school and leave the blog posted, whenever people look up the school they may see your negativity and focus on the negativity which then overshadows the hard work we teachers are doing and may affect the future incoming students. Long-term, this is a great disservice to us, teachers you claim you are supporting.

Think about it, James.

Anonymous said...

11:01, Let's deal with the issues. We went public about being lied to by administraion and our contract being violated. Mulgrew was telling people it is one professional assignment per teacher and we are forced to do three or four.

Was staff not told that if they voted no, time schedule would revert to default? That was not true.

As for ranting at meetings, you don't know what you're talking about. Never happens. We get along with people. No need to be personal.

Anonymous said...

I don't see you complaining on other blogs like Chaz or South Bronx School or Ed Notes telling them to stop mentioning schools and principals who violate the contract. Some of the stuff at Chaz on administrators is ten times as harsh and direct as anything written here. You singled out this blogger. Why? Those schools will come up when googled when Chaz or other bloggers write about them but you go on and on here. Why?

Anonymous said...

11:01, Are you saying that 2 or 3 people are complaining at Forest Hills? That was a 90% vote of no confidence. Blogs give people a chance to express themselves where otherwise they would have no voice.

Anonymous said...

The school is an inanimate object. School is made up of students, safety, office and medical staff, teachers, and administrators.

The MCHS issue discussed on the blog had to do with Administration and nothing else. Ever since MCHS underwent new Administration the atmosphere has changed for students and teachers. Anyone that attended or visited often under the previous principal notices IMMEDIATELY and not in a positive light.

James blogged about it to stop the tyranny and improve the atmosphere for teachers and students. Anyone with half a brain knows the issue was Administration not the teachers.