Monday, April 14, 2014

Only Dr. Durkin, Mayor Mitchell, and the New Bedford School Committee

Only in the fair city of New Bedford could there be a controversy over a clear incident of assaultive behavior against a teacher. Perhaps it is because it happened at New Bedford High School, an institution at the center of a whirlwind about what constitutes real education reform.

Perhaps it is because there is such polarization around whether or not the New Bedford Educators Association deserves to have a say in what strategies are to be implemented in the district-imposed turnaround plan.

Perhaps there is no tangible means of changing the toxic nature of politics in a struggling city like New Bedford.

Maybe there is such a lack of vision and effective leadership emanating from the school superintendent's office and the New Bedford School Committee that finding scapegoats is the only true strategy that can be implemented.

Whatever the systemic malfunction in the New Bedford School District — whatever is wrong with school culture therein — contemplating disciplinary action against teacher Joanne Maura after she was the victim of an assault has to reach the level of subterranean thinking — even for this school administration.

As a teacher of behavior-disordered teenagers circa 1989, I know the drill. On his journey to a placement on the notorious Penikese Island School back in the day, a student assaulted me with a desk, and when the incident report went to administration, he doubled back to my classroom and left an ominous message in the guise of a matchbook cover with the words Sullivan Funeral Home printed on it.

This student went before 4th District Court Magistrate Paul Walsh, the same Mr. Walsh who was synonymous with the New Bedford School Committee where he served for decades and the same Walsh whose name appears in tribute on the high school's baseball diamond.

Mr. Walsh quietly stated that assaults on teachers were occurring far too frequently and meted out the consequences to this young man for his abhorrent treatment of a classroom teacher. At no time did my school principal question my conduct in this matter of being victimized. On the contrary, there was concern about my well-being after the trauma of being assaulted and threatened.

Where is the concern for the victim, Joanne Maura, a 16-year teacher at New Bedford High School, who was nearly struck with a guided missile in her classroom. And she can prove the severity of her assault via video. Where is the outrage against persistent assaultive behaviors toward other teachers at the high school, a place where students frequently lure staff into breaking up a fight then lay in a few punches on the teacher, too, once the staff person is entangled in the melee — knowing they will get away with it.

We know that an investigation will be made on the actions of Ms. Maura, and the inquiry will center on whether she followed protocols in how she handled the aftermath of the chair-throwing incident.

If a timely incident report was not immediately forthcoming in writing, then it was administration that should have initiated such a report. The housemaster, after all, was not the victim. Maybe Ms. Maura was too upset, too fearful of what had just transpired to pen an incident report by the end of that school day. She should not be held to the standard of having to face double jeopardy. She was nearly de-commissioned by a flying object. Does she, also, have to face the threat of job loss, too?

Apparently, Brian K. Gomes of the City Council nixes the idea of double jeopardy for Joanne Maura in this matter and has released a position statement on just that topic. So that sets up the heavyweight bout New Bedfordites have all been awaiting if the majority of the City Council sides with Mr. Gomes: The City Council v. the School Committee and Superintendent Pia Durkin in the Case of the Embattled Teacher, Joanne Maura. Only in New Bedford could the drama reach such a fever pitch.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you can stand to watch the "Ready to Learn" show with that dynamic host-Dr. FInnerty...you will witness Pia claiming that the data looks great this year compared to last year. I can't trust this woman. There has been nothing done by her to improve ANYTHING. These pathetic tests should never be how we judge her reign. I don't care if we have the best MCAS scores in the state---she is an educational terrorist and she has ruined the purpose of a public education.

Anonymous said...

Bruce, once again, thank you for your very eloquent letter. I hope someone will pay attention and wake up from the semi-comatose state that so many NB educational administrators seem to be under. Almost like they've had a spell cast on them...I'll say no more...

Anonymous said...

I can't stand to watch either one. And, everything that comes out of pia's mouth is a lie. Students are having a hard time focusing on learning with all the fighting and firing going on. This is pia's inflated and delusional ego giving false statistics.

Anonymous said...

Heard through the grapevine that durkin's husband is fed up with her antics. She is an embarrassment. It is all about the fame and fortune courtesy of NB.

Anonymous said...

This year has been one big mess! The kids can't focus with the lack of discipline/ consequences and the firings of their teachers! If this is her plan-let me quote the kids here," This sucks"!

Anonymous said...

Larry Finnerty is either delusional or his ego is so inflated he dares to deny his past. His part in the "Good Old Boy" club of the Longo days is part of the reason NBPS is in the dire straits we are in. At least his counterparts were smart enough to vanish quietly into their private lives.
Hence either delusional or egotistical. I am not sure which is more dangerous. But either one is pathetic.

Anonymous said...

Weren't these clowns ^ responsible for building Keith Middle School on contaminated land?

Anonymous said...

Larry Finnerty is a joke with a holier than thou attitude...please someone, make him retire!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Finnerty is so full of himself. It is a waste of a School Committee seat.

Anonymous said...

Pronounce Larry's last name wrong and he'll get all fired up!

Anonymous said...

Looks like PTS should take on a whole new meaning in this district. Instead of Professional Teacher Status, it now can mean Post-Traumatic Stress!

Anonymous said...

Incidences like this have been happening almost daily at Roosevelt. In the last two weeks, there have been desks forcibly knocked over by students in more than one classroom, students throwing chairs at each other, students assaulting other students, students cutting class regularly, a fire alarm was set off by a student, and one student held up a brick in class yesterday as a threat to a substitute teacher. Earlier this year, a student chased another student through the halls attempting to stab the one being chased, and a group of students threw a desk down a stairwell. There is more drug use than ever at the school right now. The behaviors in the school have escalated tremendously.

Anonymous said...

what is Dr doolittle durkin showing our youth of this city ,that know matter how hard you work and how dedicated you are , sometimes it is just not enough !

Anonymous said...

Someone should check to see how many overtime hours Larry got before he retired............