Tuesday, July 19, 2022

PARENTS-TEACHER SUE DOE TO GET A SECOND CITY COUNCIL BUDGET VOTE; WHY ISN'T THE UFT INVOLVED?

This is from Class Size Matters Executive Director Leonie Haimson:

Dear James:

Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of four parents and teachers in the NY Supreme Court by the pro bono law firm, Advocates for Justice, to halt the Mayor's damaging budget cuts to schools and require that the City Council have another opportunity to vote on the education budget.  Here is a press release with more detail and quotes from the plaintiffs; and here are the legal documents. If you’re going to read only one of them perhaps the shortest one that also outlines many aspects of the case is my affidavit.

In essence, the lawsuit is based on serious procedural errors committed by the Mayor and Chancellor, including by allowing the City Council to approve the entire city budget ten days before the Panel for Educational Policy held a hearing and voted on the education budget, which state law requires must happen first.

Instead, the Chancellor declared an emergency and sent the diminished funds to schools weeks earlier before the Council or the PEP had a chance to vote. In this way, he attempted to short circuit the legally mandated process.  The attorney Laura Barbieri and her team found that in twelve out of the last thirteen years, three different Chancellors have invoked the same bogus "emergency" with the same boilerplate language – each time without explaining how an actual emergency existed. The Daily NewsAM New YorkChalkbeat, and NY Post reported on the lawsuit, among other outlets, in varying levels of detail and objectivity.

Even earlier in the day, there was a rally to protest the cuts in front of Tweed, organized by the Progressive Caucus of the NYC Council, at which many parents, advocates and Council Members spoke about the havoc these cuts would cause to schools and students' lives. Five of the members who had voted to approve the budget said they very much regretted their votes, apologized, and said their actions would be different moving forward: CMs Shahana Hanif, Lincoln Restler, Jennifer Guttierez, Shekar Krishnan and Carmen de la Rosa. CM Alexa Aviles who was one of only six members who initially voted against the budget was also there and explained why she had been so passionately opposed to these cuts. A video of this rally is posted on my blog here. These CMs are demanding the Mayor withdraw these cuts by Aug. 1.  Later in the afternoon, the Mayor claimed that his devastating cuts were only a “rumor”, in an encounter with parents also described on the blog.

In any case, we expect that the court will schedule a hearing on the lawsuit soon, as the attorneys are asking for an immediate temporary restraining order to stop the cuts from going forward while the substance of the case can be argued. I’ll let you know of further legal developments as they occur.


We totally support Leonie, the parents, the teacher, and the Advocates for Justice. I would happily sign on to the suit. I don't think I am alone there.

I have one important question:

Why is the UFT not involved in this lawsuit or the protests? 

The UFT Delegate Assembly passed a resolution last year on lowering class size. The budget cuts will certainly have a negative impact on class size. This is what the UFT DA said in November concerning a class size bill that was before the City Council:


Note it says the UFT will lobby for more funding sources and the Union is open to possible litigation. We also were going to support related state legislation. 

That state legislation to lower class sizes in New York City easily carried in the State Legislature but has not been signed yet by Governor Hochul. 

Where is the UFT push to put the lower class size bill over the finish line? Where are the rallies, the press conferences, the tweetstorms, the campaign to pressure Hochul to sign the bill or to get the Legislature to override her? 

Why isn't the UFT at the very least leading the protests to reverse the budget cuts?

Perhaps the UFT was too busy reelecting Michael Mulgrew and Randi Weingarten at the AFT Convention in Boston to get involved with what's happening back home. 

Or, maybe the UFT is too timid to take on corporate Democrats such as Governor Hochul or Mayor Adams publicly. 

The UFT siding with corporate Democrats over progressives will have real-world consequences on school budgets and class sizes. 

112 comments:

Anonymous said...

https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-council-members-apologize-for-passing-budget-with-school-cuts

Anonymous said...

UFT (@5:30pm)
It's time for the mayor to #RestoreTheCuts and #FundOurSchools.

Anonymous said...

Petition calling for Mulgrew to step down as UFT president on change.org

https://chng.it/BKJccxKhXD

Anonymous said...

MORE-UFT Retweeted
No IDC NY
@NoIDCNY
Public education is under assault by the charter school industry. Unneeded school budget cuts forced by
@NYCMayor
intentionally help his far-right billionaire donors destroy NYC schools as they pour money into his 2025 reelection and his delusional plans to run for president.

Anonymous said...

Gabe Tobias
There's a big question we need to ask about
@NYCMayor
school cuts:

Why would a mayor who campaigned heavily on education AND had more than enough federal $ to avoid these cuts decide to pick an ugly fight?

There is one way it makes sense.

@ghgtobias
In a
@nypost
editorial yesterday, a right-wing columnist spelled out their current anti-public ed strategy.

For the right, pandemic upheavals are an opportunity to further their war on public education, replacing public schools w private, charter & religious schools.

Anonymous said...

This is one of the most out of touch events ever... Mulgrew planning a golf outing when we are facing these massive budget cuts is textbook @UFT #RestoreTheCuts @MOREcaucusUFT @UFTersVsMulgrew @UFTSolidarity #Teachers #nycdoeteachers @ufcuft @NYCDOE_Teachers

Anonymous said...

In Internet slang, a troll is a person who posts inflammatory, insincere, digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, with the intent of provoking readers into displaying emotional responses, or manipulating others' perception.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps because public education is failing and students who don’t even attend can pass classes. Why pay $38B in one year for that?

Erwin said...

I'm in summer school.

The summer is half over.

There are students showing up for the first time, as they will do until the last day, with no punishment.

They are also adding new students at this late date.

Why does nobody discuss this?

Anonymous said...

They show up on the last day the punishment is you dont pass them. No?

Anonymous said...

9:43: Where have you been? This has been going on in summer school for 2 decades now. Students can show up when they want and how many times they want. It used to be after your 3rd unexcused absence, you were taken out of the summer school program, but of course, too many kids were failing so the doe just gave into the kids.

Erwin said...

Actually, no. My admin said as long as they log in and "do the work" they automatically pass. Work they can look up on the internet. Do you know how easy it is to get a 65 when you can look up each answer? There is no attendance requirement.

Anonymous said...

The city, the DOE and the UFT do not care about students and staff. All they care about is dues paid and money in their pockets. Organized mafia working together.

Anonymous said...

Money, politics and machines

waitingforsupport said...

Im curious Erwin, did your admin send an email stating this or did they tell you verbally? Also do you have to grade the work?

Anonymous said...

Please, identify the "far right" that you are referring to.
Adams ran as a democrat.

Anonymous said...

This is an adults' blog. You can skip posts, if you get easily "inflamed ".

Anonymous said...

Maybe in a charter school. Not doe.

Anonymous said...

Do not forget the power of playing politics.

Anonymous said...

CRIMINAL MISMANAGEMENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

FAKE EMERGENCY & FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES AMOUNTS

TO CRIMINAL MISMANAGEMENT.

TAKE AWAY MAYORAL CONTROL. ADAMS IS NOT WORTHY OF MAYORAL CONTROL.

THIS IS $$$$ FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Anonymous said...

Where is your de Blasio now? Adams see, He dropped out of the race for NY-10th district!

Anonymous said...

11:43 why do you care so much if they are able to complete the work without coming into your class? Not trying to be funny, but there are many online programs that students complete - APEX is one that is used and frankly, it's can be very rigorous. College have, and have had for a while asynchronous courses. They can't force you to take work on the last day, because who is going to grade all of that crap in time to give them a grade? Most kids are not going to do the work at all. We had NX classes during the pandemic where all they had to do was check in and work independently and most of them didn't even do that.

Erwin said...

Yes, via email. Said, if students have 0% attendance, “But do they do the work?” If they have no attendance but have a passing average, on multiple choice questions, where they can simply look up answers, they must pass. A remote class, that is supposed to cover 85 days of a fall or spring term, they can’t bother to log in, after being told attendance is expected.

Erwin said...

This is not rigorous. It is an online program where the entire 6 weeks of work can be done in 2 hours.
How about based on principle?
How about because the teacher told them to attend?
How about because we were told that they expect bell to bell instruction?
How about because the students must be engaged?
How about because the students are given enough of a free ride?

A no show showed up for the first time yesterday, with 50% of the summer over, 105 minutes into a 120 minute class. As I was speaking to the remote class, he interrupted to demand I take his attendance. After telling him he was almost 2 hours late to a 2 hour class, he said Wi-Fi issue. The whole summer? Come on. Can I have a little standard?

So a no show all year, turning an 85 day term into a 23 day term, from home, where they don’t have to get out of bed, still isn’t good enough?

Who is the rigor and bell to bell for? Myself?

Anonymous said...

@3:07 not true. There is no way a student did the work if he shows up on last day (online is a different story). Nobody can force you to pass him if he didn't do any work. They can try and bully all they want.

Anonymous said...

LOL? Why do we care if students show up? Is there a job they can no-show and keep? What happened to career and college ready?

Anonymous said...

Liberal grading policies at work, Erwin. Don’t make yourself crazy over it. Just do your job and grade according to the standards your administrators give you. That’s what they’re paying you to do.

Anonymous said...

932. Do the work-What does that mean? I can ask a no show to add 2 and 2. They will pass. I can ask a no show to sit in front of a computer and do some crap, they will pass. Not showing up should be unaccpetable. Especially when they are allowed to be at home and log in.

Anonymous said...

6:49 why would you set them up with a program that they can do in 2 hrs? How do you do bell to bell with that type of program pray tell? Clearly you have never used it. It can take students 2 hrs to do ONE module. Regardless, if you have a standard that they must attend, or you won't take late work, or being that late means they don't get credit then don't pass them. 2 hrs late to a 2 hr class? What is so complicated about that? ZERO for that day.. We already KNOW Admin will put the pressure on, just DONT pass them and hold your ground and that's it. What are they going to do to you if you fail them? Nothing.

Anonymous said...

10:46 Add 2 and 2 and they will pass? Not in my class they wont. I know you're exaggerating but don't blame anyone else because you've compromised your principles.

Anonymous said...

9:43 if theyre completing the work there's no reason they shouldn't pass if that's the policy. Its 2022, the age of technology not 1954. But aside from that, yall complain about behaviors when they're there and complain when they don't show. Its a power and control thing. If they show mastery (which most wont if they don't have instruction) they shouldn't pass. Stop allowing your admin to bullying you and then complaining about it.

Anonymous said...

Besides 9:43 you totally distorted what I said. I said if they are able to complete the work. You have a hard enough time teaching now you want to take on career and college readiness for students who don't show and you have no connection with? Does no one come to your classes? Why not focus on them?

Anonymous said...

When we went remote in 2020, I gave 1 assignment per week for a PE class. Almost nobody did it. None of it. I then got a message from my AP stating that the work was too hard. Trust me, it wasn't.

Following school year, still remote.
Live daily meetings to give live instruction-Maybe 5% attended.
I gave an essay-I got cursed. My English and Global teachers don't even make us do that.
I got emails stating that I was the only one making them attend live and the other teachers were "working with them" so they can pass.

No work, no attendance-That is how we work with them


This is the sham of shams.
For $38B per year.
Education
Integrity
I don't think so.

Anonymous said...

1113, what program did you use? There are many online programs.

A 10 question multiple choice test can be done in 3 minutes, maybe 7 minutes if you need to google the answers.

Anonymous said...

12:45 There are. We use Apex and others but why would anyone only use multiple choice?

Anonymous said...

Soem of us must use what admin gives us.

Anonymous said...

"Grading must be based primarily on content area knowledge and skills and not on non-mastery measures. Schools may not factor attendance into students’ grades or grade students predominantly on participation or preparedness."

Anonymous said...

139, you have to say that classwork/participation is (about) 50%. Then, they lose 50 or so, they can't pass.

Erica said...

My school discharged a few people from summer school. They left a slew of no-shows on the rosters. A few they discharged, they let back in. I am being asked today-50% of the way in-if they readmit the students, can they still pass?

waitingforsupport said...

How am i to determine if a student has"content area knowledge and skills"? This is the DOEs out if someone decides to sue. The onus will be on you. The DOE wants a higher grad rate, will pressure admin to ensure that it happens and administrators pressure educators. We ASSUME we MUST pass everyone but what i just read does not say that. I don't get that from what 139 pm posted. If the DOE is sued they will turn around--toss you to the wolves--and say " problem solved. We had a bad apple"

waitingforsupport said...

@1115am. That's what I'm saying. Can people really be that fearful of admin? Your administrator walked into the DOE for a job--just like you. Nobody is going to make me do anything wrong out of fear. But that's just me and you. Smh

waitingforsupport said...

1113am.... i may be wrong but I think some of these people never really cared for the profession, some are really terrified that they just can't get a job elsewhere, others are terrified of getting a letter to file. Whatever the reason they are not being effective in the task assigned: TEACH

waitingforsupport said...

I would say as of today, the answer is NO. Lol.

Anonymous said...

This is the issue,

When a student gets a report card with 8 grades and passes 7 of the 8 classes, while having 30% attedannce in each class, the one failing grade is looked at as incorrect and that teacher gets yelled at all days by students.

How does one get other teachers to raise standards?

Anonymous said...

When I started at 22 years old I tried, I still do. But why bother when the same stuff keeps happening and standards don't exist? And then you get cursed out by students, and then you are told to change grades and you are told you have to give them an opportunity.

Anonymous said...

2:08 tell them no.

Anonymous said...

2:52 there's all kinds of weird stuff going on. We have one teacher who fails students who haven't been in the building for years. I noticed that a student who does come regularly but probably doesn't do too well, she failed. Ridiculous.

I would call the parent and let them know exactly what's what. I don't let students yell at me without checking them and now your parent/guardian will know exactly why you failed if they didn't before. Also I keep portfolios on all my students and I make sure they have their name on the assignment, whether they did the work or not so they can see what they didn't do. That usually shuts them up.

We have grade team meetings where we talk about that stuff. Those teachers probably don't want to deal with the wrath of the Admin. Just hold your ground.

Anonymous said...

waitingforsupport@ 2:27 - I said the next scholarship meeting I get called into I'm going to wear earplugs and just nod. Lol

They'll usually ask "what did you do to make sure this student passed or came to school"?
Me: I'm not calling this student that has been absent for 3 years. I'm busy calling parents of misbehaving students who are in front of me and I only have so many hours in the day. Nope, not doing it.

Anonymous said...

I should add, waitingforsupport, I also call parents of students who behave. I hear them in the background calling my name and I have great conversations with the parents. If they're out sick I call to check on them, or if they've been coming but are now absent I call and ask about them. It can't just be all about the kids who don't come and don't care regardless of your best efforts.

Anonymous said...

The administrators are just idiots. Do they really think that this student is only cutting your class? A phone call home is going to make no difference. The parents have heard it all before. Sorry we're not miracle workers.

Anonymous said...

2:52: The only reason they are passing their classes is the teachers want to make themselves look good. They like putting up the illusion that if they have ninety percent passing in their classes that they are good teachers. Again, nobody is questioned about passing kids who don't deserve to pass.

Anonymous said...

10:21, that's usually true, but at my school, teachers who had been coerced and bullied for years into passing students, were suddenly out of the blue questioned as to why students were being passed if they weren't present or hadn't done the work. Why is a student receiving a 90 in class and receiving a 33 on the Regents? It's a no win situation so the best thing to do is go with your gut and if you have the paperwork to support why he failed, then do it. Knew one teacher who failed a kid and the parent came up to the school demanding answers and the paperwork was in a shambles, with files and files of ungraded, unorganized work. The teacher may have been right but he couldn't support it.

Jeff said...

Again, nobody is questioned about passing kids who don't deserve to pass.

Bingo.

Anonymous said...

Again, not true. They play both sides of the fence to cover their own asses. They tell, and pressure, you verbally to pass the kids, and in writing they'll ask why you passed so and so if he didn't deserve it.

JR said...

If students can do work with no attendance and no teacher interaction, why are we getting paid? They can fire us all, make zoom classes of 1,000 or 10,000 and have someone from India cover it for $10 an hour.

Anonymous said...

What difference does it really make? The students who want to learn, learn. If you graduate h.s. and get a job and you can’t perform, you’re fired. No employer is going to say I was going to fire you but I looked at your high school transcript and you were a stellar student. Too much emphasis is placed on students who come to school just to be abusive and disruptive. If the focus was only on students who want to learn, scores would improve and more importantly kids with motivation would be pushed to do their absolute best. Separate the students based on work ethic and the good kids are better off. Have a separate school full of social workers for the other group if you think they can be saved.

Anonymous said...

Some of the students who want to learn do not learn well, in a chaotic environment. Students who are abusive and disruptive, abuse and disrupt. Who wants to go to school (student, or teacher) day after day to be in that environment? Separate the students based on work ethic sounds fine and dandy, but it's not like you can separate them in another room. How does anyone hear instruction, do group work, hear a video, how can you hear yourself think. You say "have a separate school full of social workers for the other group if you think they can be saved". Brilliant! You think the Principal will go for it? How do we get that done. We're trying to brainstorm practical solutions in our current environment, nobody's saying anything about "save every child". I wouldn't stress the summer remote environment. How likely that they're going to do the work required to pass if they're not coming at all.

My students are upfront with me. If they didn't pass the Regents, some told me in advance, they're not coming to summer school, they'll repeat the class, and retake the exam in January. I'm not calling them, I'm not passing them. Thank you for the heads up, have a blast!, it's a wrap, I'll see you in September! And frankly, when things are in order, and ended a lot better than they started, you do look forward to seeing them in September. The incoming freshmen, good lawd. Now that's another story.

Anonymous said...

Lol @ 10:50. Yep.

Anonymous said...

Bottom line is students have to see the light for themselves. If the student does not want to go to school, it doesn't matter how much guidance you give him or her or who his/her teachers are that student is not going to come to school. This is why I think we should encourage students to drop out or at least not try to change their minds. Let them see the real world and when they are ready and motivated to get their high school diploma they will come back and do their work.

Anonymous said...

8:28 "'encourage students to drop out". Wow. Is this a joke? Please don't say that around a parent or Admin. That's the type of thought you should keep to yourself. How about pointing the student to a guidance counselor or transitional coordinator who can go over different options that might be better suited? Night school, GED prep, there are many different paths and the traditional path is not suitable for everyone, but you should never encourage a student to drop out of school. They may not want any of those options either but at least they've been made aware.

If they drop out (as many do) they may not return because the real world will either get them killed or in prison. Maybe you don't care about that either because as some of you have gleefully posted you don't live near them anyway and you "live away from crime and poverty". Great! But believe it or not there are decent hardworking people living in drug and crime infested areas and the last thing they need is another drop-out looking for a quick buck by purse snatching or another vagabond roaming their subway.

Anonymous said...

But the question is- can they pass for not or hardly attending?

Anonymous said...

8:42: So I guess let them stay in school, cut class, and give them a worthless diploma for doing and learning nothing. Great solution. I wasn't really saying encourage them to drop out but don't discourage them. Let students go to school who want to learn.

Anonymous said...

12:26 what part of "How about pointing the student to a guidance counselor or transitional coordinator who can go over different options that might be better suited? Night school, GED prep, there are many different paths and the traditional path is not suitable for everyone" didn't you understand?

Unlike you, I can read and what you said was "I think we should encourage students to drop out or at least not try to change their minds". Who said anything about giving them a worthless diploma for doing and learning nothing. I've been posting for days (one of very few who took that stance) that people SHOULDN'T pass them if they don't do the work and don't attend. So your little "great solution" comment is nothing but a dud of a straw man.

It's not YOUR PLACE to encourage students to drop out of school. WTF.

Anonymous said...

1:59: You sound like one of those teachers who are trying to save the world. How much do you think counselors can do? I just think that school should be meant for students who want to learn not those who just want to cut and cause trouble.

waitingforsupport said...

527. I think the DOE hired you to teach. You said "schools should be meant for students who want to learn". I say, schools should only have teachers who teach and grade honestly". So what should we do about the commenters who fleece the students? Why do you think doing one's job is "trying to save the world"?

waitingforsupport said...

Well said at 842. Some of these people think they are safe from the harm they are causing because they "don't live in these communities".

Anonymous said...

5:27 Hardly. It's been said "you can't save the world because you have to touch each person". So I can only try and save those who sit in front of me every day, and while I don't save all of them, I try not to cause more harm. A lot of misery on this blog, and when teachers try and share their best practices, they're shot down with a can't do attitude. I work hard but I'm not miserable, they come to me with their stories, and I do what I can. Some of them can't stand my guts and the feeling is mutual. But what they're not going to do is come in and set my room on fire. Some of those feelings change as the year goes on, and sometimes it doesn't. In another post I emphasized that it's a TEAM effort and I would never assume I can take on that task by myself. The counselor has her job and I have my job. It's HER job to explore alternatives, and I have pointed students in that direction. Try it, you might find you're not as miserable as some of you sound right now.

Anonymous said...

waitingforsupport @ 8:26 It makes me think of the Principal who is under fire for saying she wanted to get rid of white teachers who don't care about the student. Her mistake was bringing race into it, because there is certainly nothing wrong for clearing her school of teachers who don't care about the students. And you're right that apparently teaching or caring is considered "trying to save the world". They have no classroom management so they'd prefer that most of the students don't even show up and just drop out altogether. They have very low expectations for their students and don't think there is any promise in them. What the fuck is that? Honestly some of my worst and toughest students who are now juniors or seniors, we can now laugh and share stories. Of course I've had days when I've dreaded going to work, not just the students, but the program, and the admin. Teaching is HARD. But hopefully we have more good days than bad. If not, find another fucking job, if not for the sake of the kids, then for your own sanity. What's the point of paying your dues, and being a veteran teacher if you still haven't figured out how to get your class in order.

Anonymous said...

Thread has drifted way off topic.

waitingforsupport said...

937... there you have it.

waitingforsupport said...

10:03 right again. Last week i was out shopping when I heard someone call my name. I turned to find a former student who was a pistol. Omg. This kid came late every day, was always talking back and eventually graduated in his 5th year of hs. I held him accountable. Each time he wanted to drop out i just asked him to walk me through what his life would be like. He was upset that his friends were graduating and he wasn't. I asked him why did he think that happened,etc. Simple questions that took less than 2min out of my day. He eventually started sharing with me about personal reasons why he was often late,etc. I empathized with him but continued to hold his feet to the fire. I told him and every student that I want the best for them so I'm not going to
do any pretending. Long story short today he is a fireman. He was doing a meal run. He made it. 2 min. I guess some folks on this blog like 527 would say i was trying to save the world. Lol. Maybe i am. I certainly don't want to make it worse. 2 min

waitingforsupport said...

Absolutely 1003 because we know there are many teachers of every race who don't care.

Anonymous said...

"I certainly don't want to make it worse". Agreed waitingforsupport. No to mention, we get paid a decent salary (not the best for the amount of work, or level of education that we have) but it's a decent salary, benefits, summers off, christmas break, winter break, spring break. Now we want to just advocate for doing nothing at all. Lol. And we wonder why there's such pushback for giving us more money in the face of students "dropping out" by the tens of thousands.

Anonymous said...

I’ve had straight up psychopaths, even one rapist in my classroom. These aren’t kids throwing spitballs or fart bags on a teacher’s chair. Sounds like some of you have had it pretty easy if you think it’s about classroom management techniques. The worst part is no one gives a shit about the other kids having their education stolen by thugs.

Anonymous said...

8:37 Spitball or fart bag? ROFLMAO. Hahahah. Yeah right. What do you teach, elementary school in Williamsburg? What do you think it entails when it comes to "classroom management". One colleague's idea was to kick a fucking chair out of the way and confront the 6'5" 300+ lb guy who thought he was going to intimidate him (ya know, emotionally disturbed). I'm not mad at him at all, worked for him! It also takes preparation on your part. Some teachers don't like if they can't stand in front of the room and pontificate, commonly known as "the sage on the stage". Have students moving around, get them involved in activities, students at any age love to make artsy posters or diagrams, go through stations. It takes a lot of planning but it helps and then you can hear yourself talk when you review.

I could give you example after example of classroom management, and none of them would involve spitballs and fart bags. That sounds dumb as fuck. Some of our students are gang members and so were their fathers (is that a thug enough for you) and they'll even show you their mugshots. One student is in jail as we speak, another is recovering from his bullet wounds. So what the hell are you even talking about?

Oh no, a thug, whatever will you do? OF COURSE the thugs can disrupt the education, that's why you have to get it under control. And some of them are "wannabe gangstas" and need to act tough to fit in. You don't expect them to get it under control do ya? It's an ongoing thing and you have to be consistent because they will try and wear you down and apparently in your case, they won. Like the old commercial "never let 'em see you sweat".

If you can't handle teaching in NYC schools, because yes, it is filled with disruptive and thuggish behavior, maybe you should find another job because they ain't going away in case you haven't noticed and you can't just tell them to drop out or you'll get hit with a lawsuit so fast your head will spin.

Don't know where you teach but the students at my school know that they are not in charge, though they damn sure try when they first show up. Our biggest issue is the freshmen, and they are there every fucking day. The others have already gotten the memo that we are not having it, and if you even tell a teacher or Admin to SMD you might just get suspended, pulled from a sports team, and whatever else it takes. By the time they become juniors and seniors, if they are not interested in following rules, they just don't come.

Anonymous said...

12:54: I'm the one who said the comment about allowing students to drop out. I did not write 8:37. You call yourself a caring teacher, but your tone and language doesn't show that.

Anonymous said...

8:58 I don't care that you don't see me as a caring teacher. The only thing that matters if if the students feel I am a caring teacher and whether they are able to learn. They are not moved one bit by colorful language, although I do temper it in their presence. What I don't care for are teachers who fault the parents and the kids for everything. Stay stuck on stupid and in your misery. Like I said earlier, you subscribe to a "can't do" attitude regardless of how many suggestions are given. You didn't say "allow" students to drop out, you said ENCOURAGE. There's a difference. I guess you think that tone and language makes you a caring teacher. Big fail. Do the students a favor and find another job. Snowflake.

Anonymous said...

By the way dumbass, this was in response to the poster who was shivering at the thought of "thugs": "Some of our students are gang members and so were their fathers (is that a thug enough for you) and they'll even show you their mugshots" I don't shun the gang members and so-called thugs. In fact, they're in and out of my classroom all day long where I can try and show them a better way. Clearly you can't relate which is why you hate your job. You can only handle kids sitting neatly in a row, all doing their work and listening attentively and not speaking out of turn so that you can pontificate to your heart's content. LOL. Uh, SURE.

Anonymous said...

Wow, it’s just like being inside an unmanageable class, or listening to Mulgrew speak in sentence fragments that all end with dumbass or snowflake.

Anonymous said...

10:09: You just know everything about me don't you. You should go into administration and yes I blame the parents and the system. Why is it so many schools are allowed to refuse admitting these students. I do teach these so called thugs too. I'm not the teacher who needs to teach in an elite school to avoid the ghetto kids. Those are the teachers you should be attacking not me.

Anonymous said...

"That all end with dumbest or snowflake". I guess it fits.

Anonymous said...

Leftists seem to think it’s perfectly normal for students to act like thugs and it’s the teachers job to rein them in. Kicking a chair and acting ghetto are classroom management techniques. Conservatives seem to believe if students are violent they should be expelled. That’s why I live far from nyc in a conservative town and babysit and pass for a living in nyc. NYC ain’t worth my piss if it were on fire but they pay babysitters pretty good.

Anonymous said...

6:59 I know nothing about you except you think it's a good idea to encourage students to drop out. Tells me all I need to know about your thought process and commitment to young people.

Anonymous said...

6:59 you also know nothing about the parents. You just assume they don't care. They're battling outside influences, bad teachers who don't care and a dysfunction 3system.

Anonymous said...

12:23, You make all of us look bad. Stop making a living off of kids you don't care about.

Anonymous said...

12:23 it IS your job to rein them in? Whose job is it? The Principal? Well they ain't doing it and there you are still in the classroom while they throw spit balls at you. But who said anything about violent? Now you're just making up shit. The discussion was about disruptive kids or kids who wouldn't do work. NO ONE said anything about violent kids. Youre only a babysitter if you don't know how to teach and get your class in order. Poor you. Glorfiied babysitter. No wonder we can't get a decent raise. I dont think it's normal for them to act like thugs. I think its fucked up but unlike you I don't go in with a defeatist attitude. Didnt you (or another poster) say you had thugs and a psychopath in his class? Why didn't you kick them out since its so easy to do? Hmm? Youre blaming teachers on this blog because those kids are in your class and we learn to work with what we have? Youre mad because we don't support encouraging them to drop out for talking too loud? They don't drop out and then what? They're still in your class. ROFLMAO. Not much for finding solutions are you? Youre mad because you want others to be as miserable as you. FRAUD who steals collects welfare from NYC taxpayers. Youre no better than the "thugs" you complain about. They'll mature over time. You're an adult and still a fraud and a thug.

Anonymous said...

12:48. I don’t care. No. The non thugs get taught.

Anonymous said...

2:35 you don't teach at all. Besides, what do you consider a thug? Who are to you to say they're violent? You don't know your students. Also, who said anything about it being a "leftist" who kicked a chair, you right wing wacko, you. So afraid of your students you hide out in admins office all day pretending you're a liberal. Very pathetic. ROFLMAO.

Anonymous said...

Unproductive. Look, I don’t care if you fight on here, but be aware, some on here may simply want to instigate and make a spectacle out of it to embarrass, bash, distract, and defend certain issues. Most likely not teachers, and they don’t belong here.

Anonymous said...

2:35 sharing information on here, where you can read it and respond, is like casting pearls before the feet of swine. The fact is that the students who want to learn also cannot learn if you room is filled with mayhem and chaos so you're only kidding yourself that you teach the "non-thugs", and I'm sure to a racist fraud like you it doesn't take much for students to be labeled as thugs.

Anonymous said...

Yes I do blame the parents. How can you have your child not going to school and failing all his/her classes, yet you don't care. Don't give me the sob stories. Both of my parents did not graduate high school, but they made hell sure my brother and I went to school and we did our homework. My mother also worked two jobs when my dad became disabled. We weren't A students but we certainly didn't cut school and have failing grades going down the report card.

Anonymous said...

12:23 you have nothing to offer in terms of suggestions. Just your usual "I live far from NYC..". Why are you even here and trying to insert yourself into the conversation just to say "expel students"? Teachers don't have the authority to expel students so it's not a fix that teachers can fall back on. But you mention that you pass them anyway and there's your problem right there. They have no respect for you because you don't set boundaries. Don't blame anyone but yourself.

Anonymous said...

Conservatives think it's ok to attack the Capitol police with bats, pipes, and bear spray, and leave a pile of poop on the walls and floor, while they try and take the moral high ground on violence. Yep, go right back to your little conservative town of make believe purity.

Anonymous said...

8:14 Wow, so much ignorance. "How can you have your child not going to school and failing all his/her classes". Are you fucking kidding? Were you homeless? Lived in a shelter? Dealt with a fire? Had a drug addicted mother or an absent father, or one in prison? Had your best friend shot? Where exactly do you think you're teaching? Aren't these students also dealing with lack of resources and overcrowded classroom? Or is that just some bullshit that's not really happening? Do you know what a shambles the special education system is? Unless they're D76, these students aren't even getting the resources or services they're supposed to get, and many of them aren't properly placed.

Some parents drop their child off in front of the school and the kid goes out the back, or acts out in class, and does no work. I remember one parent literally crying because the kid had a drastic change when going to high school. That lasted about a year or so. The kid is FINE. An athlete, passing all of their class, and has turned around. Your family is your family and you sound ridiculous and ignorant to think that all families should function the same way, have the same dynamics, or the same type of teachers who will look out for them, because you made no mention of that in your own little sob story. Just admit it, you're not looking for solutions, you just want to whine and complain because you can't find a way to inspire your students and they have gotten the best of you.

So it goes back to what some of us have been saying, find another job because apparently you're no good at this one. Quickly.

Anonymous said...

8:14 thanks for confirming that you have a "can't do" attitude. Instead of "Yes We Can", your motto is "No, We Can't". People like you and the conservative nutjob at 12:23 are the most uninspiring teachers (if you can even be called that) I've ever seen. I doubt you have ever bought any joy to your classroom, or put a smile on a kids' face. Very sad for your students.

Anonymous said...

This discussion started with people commenting that the students don't show up. Can you blame them? Would seem to me that if you have students that have parents who don't care, as a public servant, a teacher for crying out loud, you would step up your game. But nope, just pile on, parents don't care, I don't care. When parents care, then I care. Maybe one day, when you're in the hospital with no visitors and unable to communicate your nurse will say, nobody cares about this patient, so neither will I. That will be perfect karma for some of you.

Anonymous said...

D75*

Anonymous said...

^unmasked

Anonymous said...

Parents are satisfied with current class size. They marched for BLM but have never marched for class size. They cared enough about BLM to march. When they care they march. Sorry to disappoint but I won’t be dying in any hospital. I’ll be dying at home among many grandchildren just like my grandparents did. La familia has it covered.

Anonymous said...

12:42 you know these parents marched or do you just assume because they're black and brown that they were marching for Floyd and BLM? How stupid and stereotypical can you be? Dying at home? You're just that arrogant you think you can determine your time and method of death.

Anonymous said...

@10:48 are you admitting to being at the Capitol on Jan 6?

Anonymous said...

What a coincidence. People brought kids to the BLM marches but not one parent in attendance. Out of all the parents in NYC, none of them marched? They must all be racists. That explains why they don’t care about class size.

Anonymous said...

3:11 Every pathetic excuse to not do your job. Who said none of the parents marched? Now you will only care if all DOE parents marched? I thought you were solely interested in what the parents of your students did? The bottom line is you don't know who marched, or advocated for justice in other ways, or maybe didn't advocate at all. But you sure have a lame answer for everything, every excuse for why you don't do your job and defraud the DOE for a paycheck. It sounds asinine and weak as hell that you won't do your job, a job that you get paid for, until parents march. Who the fuck are you? You really must be a troll just stirring up trouble, because nobody could be so pathetic. What a wretched person you are.

Anonymous said...

3:03 No you can't dummy, not unless you're planning suicide. I'm sure you won't be missed. In fact the students might start coming back to school. heehee.

Anonymous said...

3:03 you poor little victim. What a complete nutjob you are. Weren't you the one calling people pedos and misogynists. Why yes, as a matter of fact you were. Again with the "who, me" bullshit. Very lame.

Anonymous said...

Top ten reasons why right-wing wackos won't teach:

Parents didn't attend PTA meetings
Students didn't say "good morning teacher" when they entered room
Parent didn't come to Back to School Night
Class size roster is too large (even though students don't actually attend)
Students showed empathy for George Floyd
Parents marched for George Floyd
Student didn't complete homework
Parents didn't march for class size
Still trying to extricate head from Admin's backside
and the real reason: is a mental case lazy bum who would rather steal from the DOE, and make excuses, than do their job.

Anonymous said...

Please be careful there are different bloggers on here making comments. One person thinks it's the same blogger making these vitriolic comments.

JB said...

Ironically, in my school, the liberals have the most lazy attitude and pass the no-shows. The most conservative guy has the highest stadards and actually grades realistically.

Anonymous said...

10:34 Not in my school, and not according to this blog, which anyone can see for themselves. But ok. It about personal standards. Besides not all conservatives are "right wing wackos". Just like not all Democrats are "leftists'.

Anonymous said...

Honorable Conservatives:
Richard Painter
George Conway
Colin Powell
Mitt Romney
Larry Hogan
John Kasich
Marie Yovanovitch
Liz Cheney

Anonymous said...

I don't think anyone thinks its one person posting. But there is one person who likes to brag that they don't work while blaming parents of children of color for not marching. Thats across several threads.

Anonymous said...

833 curious what comments do you consider vitriolic