What we have here is a clear lesson in don't bite the hand that feeds you. The mayor is apparently outraged that teachers would stand up for themselves. Clearly he's playing politics like some organizations in and around the city of New Bedford. Surprise, surprise! What goes around comes around.
What the public is not being told is that the School Works site study at NBHS proves that what is wrong with the high school has nothing to do with teachers and everything to do with administration, structure and allocation of funds. Firing the hard working, dedicated individuals who have jumped through the hoops set in front of them by the parade of superintendents while we watched downtown misappropriate funds without checks and balances from the school committee, and while webegged administration and the school committee for change, is the ultimate betrayal.
Yes, I take all this personally. Since the signers of the local published advertisement claim to be educated, informed community activists, I assume when they agreed to put their names out in support of Pia Durkin they knew exactly what that meant. The timing says it all. This occurred right before the restructuring plan for the high school was announced. Therefore I conclude that these individuals are in complete agreement that every employee at NBHS, most of whom received proficient evaluations based on a state developed standard, deserve to be fired without proving just cause.
Yes, I take this personally. No, I will not, I absolutely refuse, to use my paycheck or my personal time to give a vote of confidence to any local business or organization, charitable, social, cultural or religious, that doesn't care what happens to me and my family- which is exactly the message every signer of that advertisement gave when it was published. Now here is my message. I will care about you when you come out publicly in support of me. Until that occurs I will withhold my money, I will not cross your threshold and I will not listen to your pleas for support.
Finally, to my fellow educators, don't think you won't be effected next. This whole district is under performing and if your school isn't, then you may be one of the many who get bumped out of your job by displaced long term emplyees like me. Sorry, but this is NBPS's version of the Hunger Games and I am certified 5-12. My priority will not be to save your job but to save mine. I have a family to feed. To the parents of the students in NBPS: If you think this disrespect and misplaced blame does not affect you or your children, you are also wrong. For we are the people who have dedicated our lives to you and this city. Speak out now. We must all come together to express our outrage because we are all in this together.
To Bob Unger, I will not be signing my name. That is not because I am ashamed of my thoughts and feelings or afraid to express them to people I trust . It is because in the U.S. the government grants free speech to criticize the government but it does not protect you when you criticize your employer. I'm sure you know that, and that is exactly why the teachers pay our union president to speak for the collective.
32 comments:
Amen! To the poster who wrote so eloquently. I try to tell the other people in my building that it will trickle down from our middle school and even into the elementary schools. It will impact us all.
Excellent post, and to the point. I do not teach at the high school and expect to be losing my job through the bumping process.
I too will use my bumping rights, sorry to say. It will become a dog eat dog environment to the pleasure of the mayor and superintendent. All teachers need to get a grip and understand the ramifications of this blindness venture. Read the data. The problems is not all teachers centric. Not even close.
As for giving to charities, it's all personal. I made my decision year ago, and I'm comfortable with it.
Everyone Google Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley United Way CEO.
Ironic or coincidence? Can be both at the same time I guess.
I take this personally as well. People need to ask the tough questions, not just listen to the biased accounts of the local newspaper or radio. Friends and family have been alerted to those organizations who signed that misinformed petition that cost $1000 to advertise in the paper. So much for charitable donations . Since when is the Standard Times part of the needy? I believe Gatehouse Media is the next business that should be banned.
History has a way of repeating itself, and this rotten district continues to destroy lives.
To those of you who think you can bump... if your job is taken away and you are FIRED how can you bump? You have to own a job to be able to bump; so if you are getting fired in April you will not be able to bump anyone at least that is how my copy of the contract reads. I am very curious to hear how you will be bumping if you don't own a job anymore.... that way I can plan for my job.
I feel that this comment is rude and is exactly what Durkin and Mitchel want. They want us to attack each other. Yes, I work in the school department and know that we have a lot to fix. I feel that we need to "get" the others and not the teachers that we are all working hard to try and keep.
By posting comments about how we will bump others and how we only care about ourselves is playing right into Mitchell's hand and giving him the attention and ammunition he wants. We can feel this way but I think we need to not post these types of comments so that we do not give them more information that can be turned around and used against us. You are entitled to your opinion but I think we need to stay together and not talk about bumping others and how you don't care because it is for your family.
I will be calling the union for clarification on this topic just in case.
It is upsetting to see that we as teachers have so few supporters in the political and media spheres. So many people are misinformed or ignorant. We all agree that things need to change at New Bedford high school, but I can't for the life of me understand why the change has to be in staff rather than policy. We work in a school that has so few supports and yet we still show up every day for our students.
Why aren't we addressing the following issues head on:
1. Students enter NBHS with track records of failure from NB middle and elementary schools as well as schools outside of our district. Students fail for years, get passed along, and then high school teachers are expected to make miracles happen in a semester.
2. Students at NBHS only have - if they are lucky - a semester of math and English before they take MCAS. That means that they end their math or English courses in January before taking the exam in March. The other half of ten students begin taking math and English the last week of January and are expected to be up to speed by March for the MCAS exam. These same students are held yo the same standard as students who take math and English for a full year at other schools.
3. There is a total lack of support for resources at the high school. Other than paper, teachers are left to their own devices to bring in most manipulatives.
4. There is inconsistency among the remaining three houses. Students are given conflicting messages about their consequences from the three remaining housemasters who by the way are expected to do way too much for any one position.
5. There is a total disregard for student ownership of behavior and learning. No consistent consequences exist, for example, for tardiness to class, telling the teacher to FU-K off, or using their phones in class. Teachers are held responsible for Students who keep their heads down in class because the lessons aren't engaging enough - but even when the lessons are clearly engaging for most students and when teachers attempt to wake students up and enforce the no-head-down-rule, they are given no support and the students are sent back to class where they once again out their heads down and teachers are once again told to be more engaging. It's a never ending cycle of lunacy.
I just wish the public would see how hard we are working and under the kinds if conditions we are working in. I wish the school committee supported us and our efforts. I also wish that the local media did more to support us I'm our efforts. That includes financial support for our classrooms and hands in support in working with our student population on a regular basis. For people who seem to care so much they sure do take a hands off approach; it's all talk and no action. Why don't these organizations put their time and money where their mouths are?
I hope for the best in the new year and for a renewed sense of respect for out profession.
And the plot keeps thickening...
Michael K. Durkin
President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Massachusetts Bay And Merrimack Valley...
A Blast From Her Attleboro Past: Buyers Beware
Issues With School Committee
Furtado gave Durkin scores of one in two sections of the five categories that were part of the personnel saying there was not enough information provided to score Durkin on her development of personnel practices and her establishment of staff evaluations.
Furtado also gave Durkin scores of one when rating her ability to keep school committee members informed on issues and her ability to present clear information at school committee meetings.
“There have been many instances that the committee receives important information at the last minute the night before the meeting where a vote must be taken,” Furtado said.
Stors also had issues with Durkin’s communication with the school committee, giving the superintendent a score of one in her ability to present annual goals and actions to accomplish agreed-upon priorities, her ability to execute the intent of Attleboro Public Schools policies, and her ability to seek, utilize and be open to constructive feedback.
“At times it does seem that the superintendent fails to understand that she works for the collective members of the school committee,” Stors said.
Stors indicated that there was a level mistrust between the superintendent and the committee stemming from inaccurate information...
Durkin's Tenure in Attleboro was Marked by Controversy
Early on, the superintendent was perceived by some as harsh or even mercurial in relating to subordinates.
A former Middle School Principal accused Durkin of "micromanagement" - a charge she denied.
Seemingly rapid turnover among educators opened Durkin to criticism.
The aftermath of an alleged student-on-student rape in 2011 at a Middle School and an inspector general's report highlighting central office missteps in administering a school bus contract were among the more unpleasant moments during Durkin's local career.
Durkin acknowledged mistakes, particularly in the alleged rape incident, in which some parents complained of not receiving information more quickly from schools.
"I probably should have gotten ahead of the media," Durkin said.
Yet, she pulled the same stunt on NBHS parents. Her past is catching up to her.
At the meeting we attended Durkin stayed that we would have bumping rights.
Very interesting. Also interesting that local reporters didn't discover the connection. smh.
it's the cold hard truth. Durkin stated it in the informational meeting with high school teachers and it will be included in the negotiations.
These draconian measures will not help the New Bedford Schools. The King of Massachusetts Education, Chester, needs to go.
we are employed until June 30th. Therefore we can bid out
To the commenter that thought NBHS staff shod not having bumping rights, maybe YOU should have attended our union meeting on 12/13. as this was fully discussed. Their positions were eliminated and they have a right to bump. Guess you only care that you have a job. ignorance is no excuse.
Attacking each other is not going to solve the problems in our schools. We must stick together and show the mayor and Durkin that we are united. If we start attacking each other then we are all done. Please think of that before posting on this blog where it can be seen by the spies of Mitchell and Durkin.
How nice that the answer to New Bedford High's problems is bumping other teachers. We should be working together to get something done, instead we are out to get each other. Really nice, that's all as educators that we can come up with, no wonder we get no respect !!!!!!! You want respect , you have to earn respect !!!!!!!!!
Dr. Durkin's husband teaches at Durfee High School. Who is the Durkin with the United Way?
The information posted is very conflicting. If you are fired, how can you bump? What if you don't have PTS? Worse, if NBHS Teachers are the cause of underperforming students, does it make sense to place these horrible teachers in other schools? It is alarming that Durkin is crossing over into union territory and playing games with our contracts. None of this makes sense. What is the truth?
Is owning a job the same as tenure? We need a fresh pair of eyes to examine and audit the numerous discrepancies that have occurred under the myriad of corrupt swinging-door administrators of NBPS including the louse of a mayor.
Bid out? If you are on Durkin's naughty list and the principal is in her pocket, will you be accepted into a new school? We could be blackballed for embracing our union, speaking out, and rallying together. This confusion appears to be premeditated to undermine any sense of security and send shock waves throughout the district. The students we've come to know, nurture, and care about will once again lose a constant in their lives.
I heard that Durfee is not performing to expectations. Mr. Durkin, maybe a pink slip is coming your way, but I think you're covered. Not to worry.
January 17th is another important day. There are people willing to travel here to support us. Find something red, grab a sign, be informed, and meet in front of city hall around 3:30.
When I was let go by the New Bedford Public Schools I got a lot of support behind closed doors. But no one spoke up for me because they feared that anyone who sticks their neck out gets their head cut off. And probably rightly so. But people forget there is strength in numbers.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.
If the superintendent's husband does work at Durfee then it's my guess there's not a lot of communication going on in that household. Don't you get that feeling, or are these two people that still believe in Santa.
If this was happening anywhere else in this state, besides New Bedford parents would be up in arms. Doesn't it seem coincidental that nothing gets our parents involved in their children's education?
Wasn't he also involved in a scandal a few years back in Boston regarding waste disposal and money missing?
Recall 93% of the teachers at NBHS received exemplery/ proficient ratings on their evaluations. And the students come to us without the skills they need to succeed
I too take this very personally; that the city of which I recently became a resident, after many years of dedicated teaching, should choose to treat its teachers in such an inhumane way. That so many leaders and residents of this city have adopted a vigilante attitude toward NBEA and its members. Do not some of you yourselves belong to labor unions? And even, if you don't, do you not enjoy the benefits that organized labor has gained for you over the past 150 years.....or would you prefer to be working 60 - 80 hour, 6 or 7 day weeks in unsafe positions for less than a dollar an hour?
Yes, I take it personally that this city has decided to blame their problems on the very people who have worked so hard and dedicated our time, energy, and personal resources to ensure its future, our young people,
And yes, I take it personally that Unger, Mitchell, Paleologis and some less conspicuous members of the community are acting like they want to be part of a "literal" firing squad that would eliminate us all, as they have already done "figuratively",
I, too, felt it was important to live in the city because I taught in NB. I wanted my tax dollars to be spent here. I wanted to be a part of this community. I uprooted my children and it was a difficult transition for my son.
My treatment was also inhumane. I think of my past hopes and dreams and how I positively impacted my students' lives.
I don't regret the money I spent on classroom resources or the hats, gloves, and warm coats I bought for them. I do regret how trusting, naive, willing I was as I began my journey as a NBPS teacher.
I too live in New Bedford and pay much more in taxes than if Ilived in a town. There is an advantage to living in the city, I get to vote. John Saunders never thought he would be left in the cold. I think he will have company after the elections.
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