I love the quote from the Fall River STUDENT teacher who feels like new blood is necessary. Yes, you are new now but as soon as you spend a year in NB, you will be old. She will then replace YOU! What an ignorant fool to think that you are the key to NB success. I hope you are hired at my school so I can watch with amazement.
This woman is out for herself and if the School Committee and the Mayor do not see the audacity of this woman to insist that there were no layoffs, they are bigger fools than I thought. She has hired young principals who do nothing all day but hide in their offices. They do not handle any discipline and the schools are running into chaotic situations due to their lack of experience. Why did she hire them? They are too scared to stand up to her. She has them right where she wants them. They think they have power and they believe her when she tells them she supports them. These principals lack experience and the students know it.
I just wonder what will make people realize how very bad the situation in NB has gotten since she has taken over. Have any parents had any dealings with the Wizard?
Please share you thoughts.
54 comments:
Glenn Rosa said it best.
"I'm worried about job security but I just can't see how they can blame teachers for all the problems that we're having in the schools. I think we need to look more to the parents and the family situation."
Yes Captain Pia Ahab...while you're busy harpooning teachers, a.k.a. not laying off the white whale, those who cause most of the school's problems are swimming the waters of New Bedford free from any sense of responsibility.
P.S.
Is there an open position for a part time Sarcasm Teacher?
now that NBPS is on the diversity kick. I wonder how many "teachers of color" they gave pink slips too last month. was that even considered during the diligent process they put all re-applicants through.
What people see are constant childish insults from NBEA members (i.e., calling someone an "ignorant fool") and openly hoping Superintendent Durkin fails in her efforts to improve education in New Bedford.
I know this won't be posted. But, as blog editor, at least you'll have read the following sentence: The NBEA's relevance decreases by the day because of behaviors exhibited on this blog. You need to consider pursuing a different course of action if you want to have an impact on the future of education in New Bedford.
word on the street is Pia is taking a course at Brown on how to reduce the workforce. Union busting 101, and the MTA sits back and watches as their legacy will be the downfall of teachers unions in Massachusetts.
Since this is an open blog I would assume that many of the bloggers are not Nbea members. I am a parent who has posted many times and each time my comments appear soon after I press send.
Well it is semantics.... the layoffs and resignations or retirements technically don't take affect until June 30. The latest ploy is to try and get people fired before that so they don't have to pay out sick time, longevity and unemployment. Very slick Herr Durkin
Democracy is not always wrapped in a pretty package. Blog on.
The NBEA is the ONLY thing preventing a total wipe-out of our long time teachers. The ATP(Accelerated Turnaround Plan) is really the ATR(Accelerated Teacher Retirement). Parents will realize too late that the most treasured people in this district are gone. Few will speak the names of those in administration after they depart. Fewer will speak the name of Pia Durkin with fond memories. Many will cherish the names and memories of their New Bedford teachers.
Dear Blogger,
For your information, our comments are far from childish. They are comments based on truth albeit experiences and observations. We supported and believed in this superintendent despite her past and she failed us across the board. Pia Durkin has lost our trust and respect through her own actions. We, as teachers, along with our union president have exhausted all avenues trying to rationalize with her. We are a wealth of knowledge and insight to tap into towards improvement. She wants us gone regardless of our efforts to collaborate with her. Durkin is in this business for the wrong reasons. To her, it's just another district; a job.
I know several people, including myself, who are taking early retirement when we had a few years left to get to maximum pension (for us). I had planned to seek other employment anyway, but now things are too unbearable for me to even consider staying. I did not reapply for my position; it would be like signing up for another round in purgatory. I'm just trying to hang in there until June without getting myself fired or having a stroke from the high blood pressure NBHS has given me.
Really? Why was your precious superintendent dismissed from Attleboro? PIA is an infamous and deceitful liar. If it was your kid that was part of a rape cover up, you'd be singing a different tune! What is your game, anyway?
To answer the question about parents having dealings with her, I think there were a few who had confrontations with her the day of the "coffee latte" bomb scare in October when she told parents they could not take their children home!
Childish insults? That's all you've got?
Evidently you are not one of the people whose entire lives have been given to education and/or New Bedford Public Schools. Teachers with 20+ years who "chose to resign or retire", who have not been "laid off", just told that they are not going to be employed by NBPS next year. Yeah, I guess you can spin that whichever way you want.
Pretty easy for some to sit in their ivory towers, away from the grit and angst of slogging in everyday and trying to do their (current) job with grace and care for the students they serve. You, evidently have a job that you expect to continue.
Yes, I agree, perhaps there are some postings that would be better off not published here. But in an open forum people will post things they may not say openly. So far we still have that right.
And, yes, we are rooting for Pia Durkin to fail, to fall flat on her face as quick as possible, and be sent packing. Her way will not improve our schools. The quicker, the better.
How about this? The woman who stands in front of a microphone and states that "there have been no lay-offs" is a soulless, pathological liar. "Nochildishinsults"
Durkin downplayed events when concerned parents approached her. She was anxious and aloof. Her immediate reaction was to brush them off and scurry away.
A Pia leopard doesn't change its spots.
If you are a teacher in this city and you approve at the disgraceful way Mitchell and Durkin have treated our educators, you are part of the problem! She is making a mockery of the teaching profession out of greed. Our son of an educator mayor has forgotten about the remainder of the city who aren't employed by the school department. While he praises beautiful, cobblestone downtown and continues chasing windmills, he stands by silently letting an outsider ruin the reputation of our city. Pia is not and will never be a member of OUR community!
let's see, after 29 years I have been informed that I do not have a job after June 30th. My evaluations for the past twenty nine years has been proficient and exemplary. I love my students I Love New Bedford High School yet I'm still on the outside looking in with a pension that believe me destitute because I will be forced to retire. How can she say no one lost their jobs?
I have not written to the blog in some time because "our" opinions really don't matter, and frankly its draining. The people who need to listen are not and will not. They have driven the stake in the dirt, and so be it. Every lesson we try to teach our children on listening and acting out of logic, and being able to be an agent for change is dismissed with a back-of-the-hand motion.The teachers are treated as if we have no value, and unable to add any value. What an outrage. Is there no one in supervision position that can act with even a fraction of common-civility? Again, an outrage.
The article in the paper was an insult. I never realized how worthless I've become regardless of the hours I prepare. Our teachers are being replaced by teachers currently teaching at a Level 4 and 5. Are level 1 teachers applying for positions, and if they are, maybe their not level 1 caliber? Again, an outrage.
Didn't someone once say "all men are created equal?" I just didn't get that feeling after reading Sunday's article.
I am proud to be an American, but not proud to be from New Bedford, and I have always been proud to say first that I'm from New Bedford. Sad.
The young teacher from Fall River, come on down ! You have one hell of a nerve!
Funny how Walmsley is taking credit for the story about "Look at me..." how the teacher was forcing the student to look her in the eye. I remember hearing that story when I was a senior at NBHS in my sociology class in 1983. Also "funny" how I can't relate to my students, when I grew up in that community, graduated from the high school and have only worked for that school system. I can promise you that I have spent more time in the homes of my students than Pia has or ever will...this is so infuriating!
So my friends at NBHS who have been asked not to return were not "pink slipped" or laid off...what is the correct term for what happened to them other than they are then collateral damage of Pia's hostile take-over?
I went to both the parent info sessions that Durkin had at NBHS, my mom attended the second one and called her out on the "top heavy" to quote my mom turn-around plan that she has put forth stating that teachers need more help in the classroom with more teachers rather than more supervisors and advisors that keep telling us what to do...Pia almost lost it and yelled at my mom that we need to give her plan a chance and that it is going to work, rather than rebut, my mom chose the higher ground.
The Unger times again lies about the number of people at pia fest. I was there and the place was mostly empty.
"Our teachers are being replaced by teachers currently teaching at a Level 4 and 5. Are level 1 teachers applying for positions, and if they are, maybe their not level 1 caliber? Again, an outrage."
I hope I am reading this wrong and the intent of this comment wasn't to disparage teachers who work at level 4 and 5 schools. Just because they work at, and have devoted themselves to, these schools does not make them level 4 and 5 teachers. You would be hard pressed to find a finer group of educators than the teachers at these schools.
This comment just sounded like the same old, tired, judgmental, rhetoric that lays the problems of these schools at the teacher's doorstep. Work in one for a few years before casting about what appear to be highly disparaging remarks.
If Jack Livremento prefaces one more of his rambling speeches with, "In terms of..." I am going to smash my TV.
If you have a chance to watch a SC Meeting on local cable, you should be prepared for mind boggling comments.
Let's get it straight. Pia is here to dismantle the NBPS system. The state and our city administrators knew that a long time ago. They are letting her do the dirty work because they told her she could. Yes, this is the beginning of the demise of teacher unions across the state. She's here to save money, however, when her 3-year tenure is done and we are destroyed, she'll be on a jet plane out of here and we won't know how "WELL" the city children have done on whatever test comes around , while she's vacationing in some foreign country.
The Elephant invites all readers to scroll back to the job fair post and enjoy a picture of Captain Pia Ahab harpooning the teachers.
Was that "childish" enough?
Warn everybody. You do not want to work for.New Bedford Public Schools. You will not be appreciated or respected while Pia Durkin or John Mitchell remain in power. Ruin as fast as you can to another district.
I found Walmsley's comments to be condescending and down-right ignorant. Like we don't know this? We are educated in our craft and have a great understanding of the cultural diversity in this city. It is not the teachers, but rather the clueless admin who have failed our students. Her comments solidify my statement. And, 17 attempts at the MTEL. Wow! Pia dragged in another winner! Once again, this community of immigrants do not trust her. They see, they hear, they repeat...
There is more to this than meets the eye. Durkin is now using race to discriminate against white teachers. She is a sick woman.
Ran into an individual who works for system and is one of the individuals that will be without a job at the high school. The individual is torn apart, loves teaching and has developed severe anxiety and depression due to this sudden hardship. This unexpected shift in an adult life is devastating. My heart and blessings go out to teachers who are losing jobs and solely have degrees in only education. It is so sad for our community since so many teachers have dedicated years of their time for the teens. I also don't understand the ST write up about minorities. I didn't know you had to have a prerequisite of particular race, ethnicity, etc. in order to teach individuals and relate to humans. I would think hiring individuals based on these characteristics would be discrimination.
I am from Columbia and I can relate to Hispanic students. I grew up in the hood, so I am the perfect role-model. I do not have the proper teaching credentials, but I have so much to offer. I have a fire in my belly. I am new blood shed from the old. Please hire me and support affirmative action. I want to be used and abused by NBPS.
FYI: the union was prepared to do a demonstration yesterday but the teachers at Parker and NBHS didn't want to participate because so many of them didn't know if they would have jobs next year.
This is discrimination, any law suits yet?
This Welmsley character is referring to the Asian culture of which there is a low incidence in this district. We learned this years ago about the Cambodian population, so this old news. If this is the best she can come up with to justify the pure stupidity of her comments, this district is doomed! Thank you, durkin, on behalf of all English learning students.
Any law suits for teachers who were told "not to come back to HS but can apply elsewhere in the district IF you have ANOTHER CERTIFICATION?" In others words, sorry, you've lost your job! Any lawyer out there want to take us on and gain National recognition? Get this situation in the spotlight?
I'm a teacher and I'm also identified as white. More than half of my class is non-white, but my students are some of the most engaged students I have ever met! I work in an elementary school and if you ask my students what they want to be when they grow up, again, more than half of them say they want to be a teacher! How about just encouraging our students to identify with strong individuals who are positive role models regardless of his or her race?! Getting them to believe in themselves and strive to be the best they can be regardless of their race?! Jobs should be based on qualifications and who can teach our students the best.
Oh, C'mon! This isn't discrimination or orientation, it's intimidation!!; you stupid people!!! Are you out of your minds to come to NBPS under this current administration?? You must be really hard up for a buck!
Wait…. who the heck are YOU?? Good Luck doing whatever it is you are doing. Are you the teacher the Sub-Standard just put in the paper from Parker who thinks she'e from Harry Potter's generation?? If so, then you need to teacher all the other teachers in NB just how great your ways are. If not, you are part of the division of teachers that just will not share. YOU are part of the problem………………..
To the person commenting on the above post. Ask yourself this question. Why would a teacher from a level 4 or 5 district want to go to another level 4 or 5 district? Basically the same question for the teacher at a level 1 school. Why go to a level 4 or 5 district? Given the reputation of the people running the show here, are you kidding! You need to ask yourself that question before you go on your rant. You should have stopped at "I hoped I was reading this wrong..."
So according to the ST article today, I can not relate to my students because I identify myself as white? Yes, I am white. This article is very misleading, it did not include how many "white" were also bi or even tri-lingual. So now my job is in jeopardy because I teach in a more urban school within the district and I do not look like the students? Isn't that discrimination to make those comments about me? What background is PIA? Is she not white? Why do we not have a Hispanic superintendent? Maybe there is the problem. Let's get rid of Pia and bring someone of a more diverse background to NB. I am sure they would be better than her.
Did Walmsley actually say that we needed to hire more teachers like the students and "parents" that we teach? If that is the case...well I'll just stop here. Mother told me if I had nothing positive to say then say nothing at all. I feel for the students and parents who try to do the right thing day in and out. You are the ones holding the short end of the stick.
You can apply for other positions in this district if you have the certification is a subliminal message that your services are no longer required. To cover her tracks, durkin leads one to believe they "can" apply, but where will that application go(especially if one is white)? Sneaky and conniving is the name of her game.
Imagine being judged by the color of your skin vs. the quality of your teaching and how you relate to your students? Even the students would be disgusted and outraged!
Just another dirty tactic from durkin. This is not about students or teachers. This diversity kick is for acclaimed fame(infamy)and glory. Give them enough rope and they will continue to hang themselves...which they do every time they open their mouths.
We will one day have our chance to say good riddance to bad garbage!
If you've been hoodwinked by Mitchell and Durkin, you are ignorant.
Does a more diverse pool of applicants equate to more $$$?
To say New Bedford doesn't discriminate, and then say we want to hire people because of their ethnicity is absolute discrimination. Never stop fighting Mitchel, Durkin, and the SC. Join any law suit that is presented; let the truth be told.
D-Day on the horizon!!!!
Dumb and Dumber is actually coming out with a sequel. I think we have them both right here in New Bedford!!
It's unbelievable the nonsense that comes out of PRAB now a days........
Look into why Mitchell left the prosecutor's office in Taunton. You will find as much scandal as Pia's cover up of a middle school rape
Tell us what did he do?
If there were no layoffs the NBPS does not have to pay unemployment benefits. And, white is not "right", except for the mayor and superintendent positions. Un-f-ing believable!!
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