Submitted to NBEA by a member .... The current
climate of our schools is horrifying. Each day I am inundated with tragic
stories of our members being mistreated. The students in the end are the ones
who are suffering. The changes to our school system have occurred too rapidly.
Our members are not being given the support, supplies and training necessary to
be successful. This has fostered a climate of fear. The new evaluation system
is being implemented as a means to control, pressure, manipulate, punish,
mistreat and overwork our members. This was never the intent of the new
evaluation system. In fact if done appropriately evaluators and educations would
work COLLABORATIVELY to improve the learning of our students. In New Bedford
there is no collaboration, there is only RIGOR. This top down management system
is not what the students and families of New Bedford need.I wholeheartedly support
holding a general meeting to discuss the “state of the
union”.
Would members support having
a general meeting to discuss and take action on these issues? Please email us or post
your opinion on our blog.
29 comments:
The sooner the better. I also plan to appear on WBSM when called upon. We have been promised donuts. LOL
Dr. Pia Durkin has to go. Vote no confidence.
Where are the letters the Dying Daily wanted teachers to write in support of Durkin?
NO CONFIDENCE!
Jon Mitchell can keep sniffing the glue but that won't change the fact that he hired a loser with no people skills.
I have no confidence in Jon "the education mayor" Mitchell. In two years he's done more to harm our schools then the UIA and the coalition for social injustice combined.
No confidence for Mitchell and Durkin.
It's time to take it to the streets. Durkin has to go!
I'll be at the meeting and I will ask for a vote of no confidence to be taken.
What we should be concerned about is the priorities of the politicians and upper level administrators. Instead of acknowledging the fact that nbps teacher morale is at an all time low, on the job stress is obvious and out of control and we are losing teachers to other jobs (2 that I personally know since the start of the school year who had no intention of leaving) there seems instead to be so much energy being dispersed by those in power in covering up the truth rather than acknowledging this problem and working towards fixing it. I can guarantee, as a veteran teacher, that I have never seen the fear and anxiety in my years as a teacher in New Bedford as I have seen in the past few months. And this isn't due to teachers resisting change, it is instead due to the constant threats and reminders that nothing we do is or will ever be good enough and that we are uninterested in improving. I am also a parent of a NBHS student, and as such, I'd much rather my child's teachers expend energy on being the best teachers they can, as they have in the past, instead of constantly worrying about what new threat or negative review will be put on their plate that day. The only bright point in all this, during open house, several parents gave me unsolicited opinions about the way that teachers were being treated, and I say unsolicited because it would have been unprofessional for me to intitiate conversation about anything other than their child's improvement. Parents wanted to assure me that they had confidence in the teachers at New Bedford high school and they felt strongly that we were being mistreated by authority figures, the newspaper and that they had little confidence in the authority figures running the show. I refrained from commenting other than to thank them for their confidence and redirect the conversation back to their child, but if I was a school committee member, mayor or any other New Bedford elected official, I'd be very worried about the next election.
Durkin was shown the door in the last two places she worked and she'll be shown the door here.
New Bedford teachers have had enough. I say we vote "No Confidence" in Durkin.
Which is the biggest loser? Is it Durkin or Mitchell?
Can't wait for a meeting. When and where?
It should only be teachers and our union representatives with Louis St. John. Teachers will not speak freely if any authoritative figures show up. We are running scared for our jobs.
Teachers UNITE!!
I'll be there!!!
I was going to vote for "Goofy" as a write in candidate for mayor last night. Then I realized he's already our mayor.
It is clear that we want a meeting. Lou, please arrange it. The longer we wait the worse it will become. The principals are under pressure from her and maybe once the teachers speak up they will see that the emperor has no clothes.
no confident vote
Have you seen the Durkin letter posted on the main page? She is enjoying our fresh seafood and appreciating the hard labor of our fishing fleet...I find this line quite ironic considering our climate of fear..."...the resilience of these families whom I have met who face so many more dangers in their work than many of us could imagine."
Really? It's not my imagination. Being a teacher under her leadership seems pretty dangerous to all of us.
A meeting is needed this administration I.e. PRAB and the principals need to be exposed for what they are and have become tyrannical ........masters.
You know what's really sad...is that anyone who puts their name on anything mine as well sign a letter of resignation, and there were be no meeting - why - because everyone who shows up at the meeting will have their heads on the guillotine. So basically we are complaining even more to each other, or mine as well talk to a wall. Union...yeah let me go to them to have them report who was complaining to only let the powers that be KNOW who is against this regime. There is no win here. She's already won. The only thing we can do is sit back, enjoy the ride, or find another district to teach in. I HATE my job and the way I am treated as a human being. Do they care....no...we're peasants....she she is king and queen. That's how it goes. No complaining will get us anywhere. The ONLY think I can see that would change things around would be a mass exodus, and then having a published pow-wow about the antics going on....but where else can we all find a job at once....lose....lose...she's already won....and i truly do hate her...and all my administrators for letting kids spit on me...we are trash to her. It'l never change. Run while you can
Many of us feel like leaving(as that post above reveals)...however, if MANY of our members ACT NOW---there would be too many for the administration to attack. They would be exposed. Each of us must be able to get others to go! It should not be that hard. Most of us know this is no way to educate our students, and certainly the worst way to treat the teachers in New Bedford.
Maybe we should all call in sick one day that might get the message to them how valuable we are.".............
I agree with the above post that there is strength in numbers. Perhaps if only a few show up reprisals could be made. But - what are they going to do, fire us ALL????? We need to encourage EVERY teacher to be there.
As for a sick-out, I am not in favor of that. The kids are getting shafted already . I support a general meeting.
I do not agree with a sick out as that makes it chaotic for the kids. I do think that we all should attend the meeting so that we stand together. But we know that won't happen as some ppl think that by standing down, they will be looked upon with favor. It is how it goes.
Believe me....i hate waking up and going to abused just like the next person, but in all honesty, we'd all need to wear the same mask and gather in hundreds for anything to get done. otherwise - look for another district, this one is doomed beyond repair. because no acts or reparation were or have been made. she is garbage. any she is making good, hard working people question their sense of being....im not living under that...i would rather pick up trash than be verbally and physically abused by at 13 year old. shes lost me...and the worst part is she doesnt give a S*&* ahout the good teachers she's losing
I will pay out of my own pocket masks to wear for the teachers to wear to gather together and speak televised what REALLY is going on under her regime
Even Durkin's automated PRAP message is a crock. I've tried, along with several other colleagues and parents, to schedule an appointment with her only to be shot down. Why can't we have access to her as her message states she welcomes meeting with, answering questions, and servicing those affiliated with this district? I also vote no confidence as success is built on trust, honesty, collaboration, support, and commitment. Her lack of engagement, and support for her teachers, radiates isolation, hostility, and no investment from a professional level.
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