Saturday, March 16, 2019

WHY IS BEN SHERMAN STILL AT FOREST HILLS?

We have an update from our correspondent inside Forest Hills High School. It is interesting to note that the print edition of the NY Teacher arrived yesterday but there is no mention of Forest Hills. The Arthur Goldstein piece we wrote about the other day is online only. I was hoping it would be the front page story when I saw the paper was in my mailbox today.

The print edition did have space for such important union issues as "Putting a New Spin on Learning" about fostering team spirit in an elementary school and one on planning field trips. Nothing against any of the teachers or kids featured but don't the UFT members at Forest Hills High School deserve space in the Union's  print newspaper that goes out all over the place?

Why is Principal Sherman still walking the 
halls at the high school?

 

Why is Ben Sherman running UFT Consultative Council meetings?  Why is Ben Sherman still observing teachers?   Why is Ben Sherman still walking the halls at Forest Hills High School while being investigated by the DOE for lewd behavior in front of staff and students.  Ninety per cent of the teachers and a vast majority of the parents would like to know.   From what I hear, he intends on  coming back in September and moving on to business as usual.  Do those who were the recipients of these comments and acts need to be reminded of his deeds over and over again?  What kind of message does this send when we also give students pamphlets  encouraging respect for all?  Will one of you please acquaint him with one of these pamphlets.  If anyone else was accused of just one of the things he had done, they would be removed immediately while being investigated.
The rally we had last week was very encouraging, but I must tell you that morale at the school is getting pretty low as people are thinking that the DOE is all powerful and there is no way they can be made to rectify this situation.  Is concern over setting precedent more important than the welfare of the school and the kids?   Can you imagine what the senior graduation will be like (which happens to be scheduled the day after the last day of class)?  

This blog totally favors Mr. Sherman getting all of his due process rights.  He deserves a fair, impartial hearing on the allegations made against him. However, the DOE double standard is alive and well. If it is a teacher accused of  almost anything, the practice is to immediately remove the teacher from the school, usually never to return, and ask questions later. If it is a principal, the principal is innocent and stays in place until proven guilty, not beyond a reasonable doubt, but beyond any doubt. 
Membership in the DOE principal club has many privileges.

More NY Post coverage on Forest Hills.


26 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is why we can't trust the DOE or the UFT to fix this through secret caucusing in the proverbial "smoke filled" room. They have very little interest in establishing a new, very necessary precedent. The sham of an education conference this weekend on mayoral control of the schools makes this obvious. John Liu went too easily on DeBlasio and Carranza, not asking ANY tough questions.
The only way to fix this is to institute what I will call the Forest Hills model of school governance. The high light would be enabling a supermajority of educators at a school to immediately act to remove a corrupt Principal. Political bossism is alive and well throughout the NYC educational system.

I thank you for keeping our plight in the public spotlight.

Anonymous said...

Forest Hills HS would be a good place for Ms. Warthergle.

http://nyceducator.com/2009/10/another-true-story-from-darkest-doe.html

She will surely demonstrate the power of prayer.

During a Department Conference she stated, “If I were the Assistant Principal of Security, there wouldn’t be a single kid in the halls!”

James Eterno said...

I am moderating now. Therefore, it may take a while for comments to show up but the hijacking days are over. I will try to be as open minded as possible.

Anonymous said...

All that has to happen is that the PTA should call Diane Williams for a sit down with a couple of students. He’ll be gone the next day.

Anonymous said...

Dwarka 8s also a corrupt Principal bringing a school to the ground.

Anonymous said...

Thanks dad this way you can make sure only radical progressive ideology gets published. Another victory for free speech? Now my point about your post so you won’t delete it, Ben Sherman fits the mold of just what you liberals want. He’s for legalized pot, against the very effective stop and frisk he’s for blaming cops and believes white privilege is the cause of inequality. He must be in shock, his own people are turning on him. Can’t wait for the fake media to start turning on the old white guys Bernie and Biden. They are in for a lot of negative press. Thank you liberals for making politics entertaining again

Anonymous said...

James, how can you say you want Ben Sherman to have fair due process and villify him beforehand? What if he is vindicated after the due process, will you apologize and remove your negative blogs?

Anonymous said...

In a way you’re right. Instead of being guilty until proven innocent - like every teacher, everyone should be innocent until proven guilty - like every principal. Thing is even when the principal confesses he or she isn’t removed. Eterno didn’t vilify Sherman, Sherman did it himself.
- Jim M

Anonymous said...

Why should principals get due process? They are the boss. Screw them.

Anonymous said...

All I know is, we spent the better part of PTCs the other night telling parents not to send their kids to FH HS if they got in. One of mine put it down on her application three different times. What a sin.

Anonymous said...

One year ago today I had what I thought was my dream job. I was at an all expenses paid teacher conference in another state and really felt I hit the jackpot with this job. Little did I know that in a matter of weeks my career would be ruined by a vindictive principal, vicious colleagues and an equally awful and unresponsive UFT rep...

Today I am slaving away at a district outside the DOE where I am paid as a sub at less than $150 a day but used for my license area and for classroom teacher duties, along with a two hour commute. Idk how much longer I can handle this tbh. I don’t even know if I should bother teaching next year.. or where I would even apply to considering I have a problem code in the entire city...

Anonymous said...

If there is reincarnation I want to come back as Ben Sherman. A complete incompetent
who somehow remains principal of a school. What more is there to say.

Anonymous said...

The problem is 3:33 is that principals act with impunity like olde tyme Tammany political bosses. I already know, first hand, that Sherman is guilty many times over. He doesn't even deny it, he just apologizes and says he isn't perfect. Let's see if there is any process that works, let alone due process.

James Eterno said...

Just read the latest edition of Unity's Gene Mann's The Organizer. Gene is a retired Queens High School Chapter Leader who writes an online publication for UFT members. There is not one word about Forest Hills High School in this week's Organizer. After one UFT official online article on Forest Hills was published and there was a rally inside the school (not outside where it would have been a bigger deal), the UFT now seems to have gone back to their old behind the scenes ways.

What did the DOE cry that we were not being nice?

Anonymous said...

A student told me he was going to punch me in the face last week, so far, no punishment.

Anonymous said...

My Educational law professor said to be that a precedent could be set here with Ben Sherman, because if a union principal can be removed solely due to a no confidence vote, then the same can be done to a UFT teacher if admin or parents vote accordingly.

Then, James, will you be blogging about union rights then? You cant have it both ways. I try to be wary of supporting decisions that may benefit short term but cause far greater damage later on.

James Eterno said...

All it takes to remove a teacher is a phone call to OSI or SCI from a principal. I saw teachers who students really liked pulled over an allegation. Removing is not firing.

A 90% no confidence vote means the principal cannot effectively run a school. There is virtually no staff support. However, principals are protected to a much greater degree than teachers. It is the DOE double standard.

A phone call gets a teacher removed. A number of press stories, a rally, a 90% no confidence vote based on safety incidents, alleged lewd acts and more and the principal comes right back to school. That is unequal justice.

Anonymous said...

Q: Why is Ben Sherman still at Forest Hills?

A: That's an excellent question! I'm wondering whether anyone filed a Part 83 complaint against him with the NYS Education Department. See below for information:

www.highered.nysed.gov/tsei/discipline.html

www.highered.nysed.gov/tsei/teacherdiscipline.html

https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Browse/Home/NewYork/NewYorkCodesRulesandRegulations?guid=If811fe70ab3811dd9e3f9b6a3be71c54&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)

www.highered.nysed.gov/tsei/documents/complaintform.pdf

It wouldn't hurt to send copies of Part 83 complaints to Alison B. Bianchi, Esq.

She's the Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs at the NYS Education Department, Office of Counsel.

Alison.Bianchi@nysed.gov

James Eterno said...

Do I have to remind people to stay on topic now that comments are moderated? The blog hijacker is still sending stuff that is way off topic. I guess you want me to see these things because I am not posting them. You can email me. It might be easier on both of us.

Anonymous said...

James--

How about a class action civil suit based on the 14th Amendment concept;

Equal protection under the law. This is in response to your 1:32 comment, Mar 17

Anonymous said...

Whoever you are 2:36, March 17. That is a fabulous idea. I forwarded it to our union reps at FHHS. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

1:16 I;m sure you are already aware that teachers can be removed instantly, immediately to the rubber room or ATR pool without ANY NO CONFIDENCE VOTE by any one. There is already an established removal process for teachers you cavone.

James Eterno said...

The DOE answer will be that teachers still have jobs when they are removed. A lawsuit might be worth it but mobilizing teachers to fight the DOE double standard is a better way to go in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Principal Ben Sherman is still working in the same school.

Pirro, tv judge, is one of Fox network's highest-rated weekend hosts, well known for her vehement defenses of President Donald Trump and attacks against his perceived enemies. We all admire Pirro.

Anonymous said...

What is the status of the lawsuit involving ATRs?

Anonymous said...

mobilizing teachers? right out of the MORE playbook. tell us how. all of you have failed.