Written motion asking NBPS superintendent of schools Dr.Pia Durkin to
report the number of teacher assaults in the last three months, and
the policy changes being discussed to reduce the number of fights in
our schools and what efforts are being made to make students and
teachers feel more secure in what needs to be a safe environment for
learning to occur. (Refer to NBPS, Chief Provencher and Public Safety
Committee)
the policy changes being discussed to reduce the number of fights in
our schools and what efforts are being made to make students and
teachers feel more secure in what needs to be a safe environment for
learning to occur. (Refer to NBPS, Chief Provencher and Public Safety
Committee)
Henry Bousquet CEC
Ward 3 City Councilor
Ward 3 City Councilor
22 comments:
Good for you. One of the problems is going to be underreporting, like other kinds of violence. Some principals see violence and classroom disruption as proof of teacher weaknesses, and some teachers fear speaking out. I sincerely hope this changes.
Trust me, we will be losing many outstanding Teachers very shortly if things do not change.
I agree with the first comment. Until teachers stop fearing retribution from administration, the numbers will be hard to evaluate. Someone made a comment elsewhere that I like. Imagine Dr. Durkin as an anonymous sub at NBHS or a middle school and facing a problem in her class. What if she called for help...and no one came!
We have in our contract the capabiity to leave school, file charges at the court house and be reimbursed the filing fee. Do IT!
I'm a teacher at New Bedford High School. My name is Christine Adams and I teach Special Education in a substantially separate class and co-teach in three other classes. The classes are going well with the usual ups and downs of working in an urban high school. I've worked hard over the past 10 years and have always loved working at the school (we all have good and bad days and difficult classes). I'm not a perfect human being and I don't pretend to be. My gifts come from my students when they offer a hug, tell me about a new job, get their own apartment, a young girl asks for help when the father walks away. I'm proud of the job I do!! I don't regret a single day of my experience, including being written up for a student's behavior which I believe I was not responsible for. I have no problem speaking up for my rights as a human being, single parent, educator, and most importantly for loving kindness, acceptance, tolerance and PEACE for our students and the teachers who have dedicated their lives to our future-our students!!!! It's not about the numbers it's about the children/young adults/and parents we work with on a daily basis.
Nice job Councilor! Finally someone in power is willing to ask a tough question.
An engaging lesson does not prevent violence. Teachers need to stop accepting the blame. Safety comes when the consequences are clear for disturbing the educational environment. No excuses/no "cultural awareness"/No assaults accepted!
I blame Marlene and Pia 100% The headmaster and co...were handcuffed by their demand for lower discipline numbers.
Finally
Henry is a great man.
The idea that a rigorous lesson prevents violence and disruption is downright scary. Almost as scary as the fact that the mayor and school committee are buying Durkin's snake oil.
When is the mayor and the school committee going to wake up ????
I say let's have Pia spend a week or two at New Bedford High and teach some of those kids that are misbehaving and let's see how far her Rigor gets her . I would pay big bucks to see that. It's so easy for people who are on the out to say do this do that but until you walk in those teacher's shoes then you know what you have nothing to say !!!!!!!!! I say we send her an invite to teach at NBHS :)
Henry gets it as he is an educator. Without discipline learning will not occur.
Henry, don't you or your fellow Councilors be buffaloed by Pia if she says that the schools are safe. Her statement claiming that if a teacher gets injured breaking up a fight between students an assault hasn't happened. Make sure you and your colleagues read the educators' blog
Who will want to come and teacher here? The New Bedford Public Schools will get a bad reputation, if they already don't have it.
Our teachers need total support from the Council and law and order must return to our schools.
Thank you for your support
Thank you to Henry Bousquet! You have listened to the concerns of the teachers and students.
Thank you. Someone who gets it.
The assaults are not just at the High School, but are happening in our lower grades as well. Unfortunately, when a teacher finally has had enough and wants to file a report on a first grader who is constantly hurting others and now the teacher, she is "belittled" by her principal who has been unable (or unwilling) to get the discipline in her school under control. We must support our teachers in their everyday work. Tolerating any of this is ridiculous. Thank you, Henry. Your willingness to tackle a very real issue in the schools is to be commended.
Thank you Henry. I'm sure if these assaults had happened in neighborhoods the new would be all over the radio and TV and the offenders brought to justice.
Although I left teaching at NBHS after seeing some of these problems for years, I just wanted to offer a bit of support. I have taken students to court for assault. I have found the courts to be very supportive of teachers. I was told that they are surprised that more teachers do not pursue the cases. The first time was years ago and I did pay $25. The other time, I did not pay. Both times were in the best interest of the school and the students. We all deserve a safe work environment. I stand behind you all 100%. I can say that now, working in a safe environment, I cannot imagine how I ever tolerated less.
What is this newly hired high school School Improvement Manager, at the tune of $1,000 per day, doing to address and STOP the violence occurring there? Guess we are not getting a whole lot for our buck!
The answer is a no brainer--clam down on the discipline, back the teachers, hold the students accountable for their actions, and accept no excuses. You will never have progress with chaos.
Dear Mr. St. John,
As a mental health practitioner, I am deeply concerned about the eroding wellbeing of the teachers in our community. This subject has many implications and understanding the risks in relation to stress is an increasingly important responsibility. Since the district is failing to protect teachers, it is crucial to establish trends of negligence starting with top-level leadership. The mayor and school committee are equally liable for the consequences of their conduct.
Meeting with teachers collectively will prove to be a valuable resource. There is a sense of safety in numbers and many are facing the same pervasive issues. There are laws that prohibit retaliation when it comes to any aspect of employment. Tort liability, a staple of education law, offers remedies to individuals harmed by unreasonable actions of others. It involves persons who suffer physical or emotional injury as a result of intentional conduct of another person not excluding bullying, sabotage, undermining, or dismantling teachers’ efforts. Within a dysfunctional system, you will also discover MITE (micromanaging, intimidating, threatening, and evaluating) as part of a larger removal agenda on behalf of administration. There are also what we refer to as the bystander effect, in which parties are aware of the offenses committed by individuals, or those who intend to do harm to another person and understands those actions may cause harm, and neglect to intervene.
To prove this, you must ask teachers about their experiences, and whether they are concerned for themselves or others. Obtain information from any umbrella sources such as relevant publications, newspapers, logs, evaluations. Assess trends and use documents to determine specific violations. Go back as far as you can, and reach out to any and all individuals who were affected past and present, under the mayor’s leadership. These former members will provide some of the most compelling evidence while providing strength and courage for current members. I wish you all the very best of luck.
The surmounting evidence against Mitchell, Durkin,and weak-minded administrators will be hard to dispute. It is long overdue.
Time to take our schools back and start with 50% reduction in the administration on County St., the school committee and the Mayor. Now that would be an improvement and then take the money saved to hire more teachers, who are struggling with over crowed classrooms and no supplies or technology. Another thing why has no one yet been held accountable for the $4,000,000+ that is still unaccountable for in the school system? Does this look familiar like Wall St. and the too big to fail banks in this country?
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