As the 2009 - 2010 school year gets underway, public officials are in the media getting the word out to parents about the importance of getting their child vaccinated against the H1N1 flu strain. While this is extremely important there are many others who are nervously anticipating the possible horrors that may await their child in the form of bullying.
Unfortunately, there are teachers and staff members who are preparing for the same horrors of bullying as students. They too, KNOW bullying will meet them square in the face at the front entrance of their school building on September 8, 2009. While it is unfortunate that some students are faced daily with the inevitable ritual of being bullied, it is most unfortunate that teachers are faced with the same type of behavior from their peers - the administrators.
Students are bullied by the administrators as well. On any given day you can find students being bullied with statements like these: "Sit your a$$ down", "I don't give a $hit", "Tell your mother/father, I don't give a da#n". Some teachers cringe when they witness this type of exchange, while others simply take it in stride because it has become the norm. I encourage a thorough, independent, investigation of these so-called leaders and challenge them to find these allegations to be false. These administrators have been allowed to get away with these outrageous behaviors because teachers, staff, and students have become numb to the continuous harrassment, and unprofessional manner in which this school has been allowed to be run.
Without saying much more, I will say that I have been encouraged to speak out on this terrible situation that has been going on for many years and will continue should I remain silent. Unlike others, I can speak out without fear of retribution because I am no longer employed by the NYC Department of Education.
Students are bullied by the administrators as well. On any given day you can find students being bullied with statements like these: "Sit your a$$ down", "I don't give a $hit", "Tell your mother/father, I don't give a da#n". Some teachers cringe when they witness this type of exchange, while others simply take it in stride because it has become the norm. I encourage a thorough, independent, investigation of these so-called leaders and challenge them to find these allegations to be false. These administrators have been allowed to get away with these outrageous behaviors because teachers, staff, and students have become numb to the continuous harrassment, and unprofessional manner in which this school has been allowed to be run.
Without saying much more, I will say that I have been encouraged to speak out on this terrible situation that has been going on for many years and will continue should I remain silent. Unlike others, I can speak out without fear of retribution because I am no longer employed by the NYC Department of Education.
Personal terror I experienced during the last school year - 2008 thru 2009:
1. Forced to teach a subject I'm unfamiliar with.
2. After reminding administrators I was not trained to teach a particular subject, then being told, “You will teach it anyway”!
3. Went to school on my off day - Saturday, to get instructional materials and/or assistance from immediate supervisor/administrator only to be told, "everybody knows, on Saturdays I DO ME”! In other words get lost and figure it out on your own.
4. Three Administrators hurled insults at me in front of students within a fifteen minute time span - Jan. 13, 2009.
5. Administrator took technology cart (laptops) away from me by insisting other teachers need to use it when I’m the only name on the sign out sheet for the week.
6. When greeted in the hallway one particular administrator refuses to speak or look my way.
7. Receiving an Unsatisfactory (U) rating for the school year when I hadn't received ONE observation, formal or informal!
8. You get my point.....
We've all heard about the difficulties of teaching in the inner-city. Believe it or not, students are only half the battle. But what's encouraging about the students is that eventually, you will win them over and build a level of trust and respect for one another. Now as for the administrators, that’s quite a different story. There is no way of getting on their good side nor is there a possibility of receiving favor or compliments for being an excellent teacher and role model to students. The administrator's goal is to have teachers and staff live in constant fear of losing their career and livelihood when their terroristic demands for submission are not met.
Experienced teachers and staff members had previously warned that “If you don’t walk the path “they” want you to walk, your life in this building will become the living hell nightmare you thought was only reserved for the movies." Being the independent, self-confident person God made me to be, I refused to disrespect fellow teachers or succumb to the intimidation tactics being administered in order to spare myself the indignity of being mistreated daily and eventually fired, in order to get into their good graces. I absolutely refused.
So, here I am....on this blog. Long story short, my teaching certificate was revoked effective July 2009 by NYC schools. The baseless, unsubstantiated, reasons for my firing were supplied by “Administrators in the Bully Pulpit” at MS246 Brooklyn, NY who by the way, always have the last word. Right or wrong. Needless to say, student education is not the number one priority at MS246 in Brooklyn, NY.
How unfortunate.....it is what it is.
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