Dear Dr. Durkin,
It is with much consideration and deep disappointment that I
have decided not to reapply for my position at the New Bedford Public Schools
for the 2014-2015 school year.
I can remember when New Bedford High School was not only the
flagship of the New Bedford Public Schools, but also a high school that other
schools looked at in wonderment and envy.
It was a model school compared to Durfee, Brockton, and other schools of
its type. Equipment was better, the
halls were clean; discipline and order ruled. Teachers and students knew what
was expected of them, and frequently went above and beyond these
requirements. This was in the late
1980’s, before block scheduling, time on learning, MCAS; when students were
allowed to have time to relax, study, and ask questions….when classes were
“levelized” but no one seemed to mind,
and the students’ self-esteem did not seem to be ruined as a result.
After 10 years of teaching at a private, post-secondary
business school, I returned to New Bedford High School in 2000. The facility had slipped a bit in terms of
cleanliness and atmosphere; block scheduling was now in place. Discipline and
respect had perceptibly slipped as well.
Over the years, things have continued to decline as computer equipment
has been allowed to deteriorate; personnel who formerly oversaw the computer
labs at the high school level have been eliminated. Everyone is so overwhelmed and overworked by his or her own
concerns, with ever-increasing demands for MORE, BETTER, FASTER. We have lost
the qualities that made New Bedford High School the place that it once was, a
place where people genuinely cared about each other and the institution, WHALER
PRIDE.
A forensic accounting team, I am sure, would reveal much
waste and overspending on the part of past administrations, all the while that
facilities, textbooks, and equipment were allowed to crumble, and our once
state-of-the art computer labs have turned into graveyards for broken
equipment. But that’s not going to bring the resources back. In 14 years, I can
remember ordering new textbooks on only one occasion; and at that point, it
took well over a year to process the order and actually distribute the books to
the students.
I am deeply disappointed that New Bedford High School has
been allowed to become what it has in the past two decades. That being said, I
do not agree with the turnaround model; I have no input in the overall
decision, but I need to express it, and hope that you will consider adopting
another model to restore our school to the position that it once enjoyed.
Whether or not I am a part of it, this community, my hard-working colleagues,
and most of all, OUR STUDENTS deserve better.
Respectfully submitted.
A New Bedford High Educator
16 comments:
Excellent points here. I'm a graduate from NBHS (attended mid 1990's) from before block scheduling. It was a great school with great teachers and great course offerings. You are right--courses had levels and we didn't mind. You were never "locked-in" anyhow and could move from, say, a level 2 course one year to level 3 the next if you performed well in that class. It allowed you to remediate early in your high school career if necessary and advance as the years progressed. I can't imagine going through block scheduling. Even well-performing/attentive students must get sick of a class after being in it for so long. And how could they get rid of study halls? What a great opportunity for individual, quiet study to break up the day, now eliminated.
Sorry to lose you. You're right about the gear at the high school.
Not to be a jerk but I have heard three different people say this who subsequently reapplied
NBHS has the power to over come the apathy, low score tests and lack of discipline from the school, because administration is no longer ALLOWED to create consequences and hold student's accountable for their behaviors. A student is required to come to class prepared with note books, pens, pencils, binders, calculators, appropriately dressed (not dressed for clubbing) and ready to learn. Many and not all student's have cell phones, ipads, game boards, and various other electronic devices in which they use on a continuous basis. I have provided my students with notebooks, pens, pencils, binders, additional handouts, along with other materials. I struggle as a teacher to find working computers with printers to process reports, enhance materials, complete school related materials, and make appropriate modifications for students. There is also differentiated instruction which requires additional materials and let's not forget the lack of curriculum based materials and books. The students of NBHS deserve better than this!!! NBHS requires updated technology along with staff required to maintain the technology. How can we possibly move forward with criticism. Teachers require loving kindness and compassion just like every human being who walks the Earth. Teachers recognize this quality in human beings more so than most, except for loving parents. God bless all Teachers "who ever you believe God to be in your lives"
Congratulations to you. I am walking away from my job in NBPS as well. Life is way too short. Maybe when so many good Teachers leave, someone will actually wake up. I am looking for a new career. One with less stress and more appreciation. Best wishes to you.
I'm leaving also I'm tired of being a used and am thinking of filing a lawsuit against my principal for harassment.
I too will be leaving N.B.P.S., this year. An early retirement from the profession I so loved,that has now become unrecognizable to me. The only things that remain clear are the children who deserve better than the "Kool-Aid" of education, the ed. reform movement has produced. And my colleagues, who remain focused on students and hopeful that they can survive the onslaught of attacks. My life is more important than this profession. I chose health over money. I no longer teach. I am a tester and a collector of data, with little time to teach. We are producing career/college ready lemmings, but isn't that part of the master ed. reform plan? Soon we will only have media available from the FQX Networks.
So, I will escape the madness and find another way to give back to the community and city I love.
Thank you so much for your kind comments; when I was in my 30s, working in the business world, I went back to college to earn my teaching credentials. I was so proud to say, "I am a teacher." Now we are the scapegoats of the community. God bless us all!
Good luck and God Bless to all walking away. If you reached any kind of retirement I salute you. I cannot make it. The post above is so true...health over money. Another post on a lawsuit against the principal for harassment...GO FOR IT! We can all do better. I sense a change in our community..people will start to listen once this reign of terror ends...we all deserve better..hang tough!
Maybe all of us that are leaving should get together and start our own school!!! In this day and age it just might work!
That's a great ideas...now I know why those girls started the innovation school.......
10 years in, 54 years old, jumped through all the hoops for my professional license, have to consider walking away as well. I really think corrections officers get more respect from the inmates than we get from above and below, administration and students. Not all students of course, or all administration. It is overwhelming by any measure.
Never! I will not walk away! I will fight with my last breath! My kids are worth everything I have and more! I promise to be the thorn in the side of anyone that attempts to tear me apart!
It has nothing to do with your students it has to do with abuse fear mistrust they could care less about you unless you kiss their a....s.
They probably will be carrying you out to the hearse good luck with that..
Great posts above for those walking away. I have recently done just that. Will miss the money, but choosing health and sanity over that. I will survive! My friend just retired as a Corrections Officer....he definitely got more respect that we have had in New Bedford. Once you leave, they don't care either. The post above was correct. Unless the powers that be have their butts kissed, you are no use to them. Here today, gone tomorrow. Best wishes to all concerned!!
Well! if more teachers feel this way Pia Durkin will have a few less positions to fill if these are fro the HS. The few also mention teaching at the innovation schools,good idea ,now they can give back without.
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