Monday, December 22, 2014

Share your thoughts

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

In August I gave up a morning of vacation time and went to a meeting to introduce the new
reading series that I would be teaching from in September. I signed in and was promised I'd
receive a gift for attending. That was the first promise broken. Later in August I attended the
beginning of school meeting I listened to how we were would be approaching this school year
with a sense of urgency. How the new series purchased came with every bell and whistle and
how we would receive professional development and training throughout the year there was no
need for anxiety. Two more broken promises.
I gave up another vacation day in August to open cases and inventory the new Reading
Series so I would be able to 'teach with urgency' on September 2nd. I worked diligently from
6:30 am to 5:00 pm for the first month of school. I worked side-by-side with colleagues, and
hours alone at home afterwards. I was determined to have a grasp of the new series prior to our
next scheduled Professional Development so my questions and concerns would be direct and I
would get the best answers possible .
On October 23rd I entered Pulaski School eager to get advise and insight into some of the
gray areas and more difficult parts of working with Reading Street. I, like my Colleagues, was
greeted by an array of Principals telling us how they saw Reading Street working or not in
classrooms. Promise # 4 broken. Educated as they may be, not a single one of the Principals
presenting had ever truly taught Reading Street! This was in no way, shape, or form
Professional Development. We were encouraged to talk amongst grade level colleagues and
find ideas and hopeful solutions.
We did have one session in which a former Teacher, and Reading Street Representative gave
us pointers and hints. This was extremely valuable but at the same time too rushed and short.
Questions were briefly discussed and quick answers given. In another session we were led to
write all our questions and told they would be reviewed by our superiors and we would be sent
written answers to them via e-mail. Broken promise #5.
We also were told that Reading Street had a fantastic online component and that New
Bedford students would be getting user names and passwords in order to access it. This
component of Reading Street would allow us to assign work to students needing practice and
reinforcement. Broken Promise # 6.
At the present time, we are bidding good-bye to 2014 and we have yet to see any of the
promises made come true . The fact that the administration has not lived up to their promises
has not stopped the powerful Dr Durkin from marching in and out of classrooms citywide
criticizing the lack of accomplishment her teaching staff has made. Teachers have been
observed by Jason DeFalco, Sonia Walmsley, and Principals on a weekly and at times daily
basis. Performances have been criticized and dictated to. We have been sent videos to watch
by Jason DeFalco to instruct us how to better teach.
I ask where are the support systems teachers were promised? Once again Dr Durkin has
performed her magic through smoke screens and big promises she was granted funding for a
new series (one any educator would agree was needed) but she has not kept the promises
made to her teachers! Where is her accountability? The school committee needs to start to ask
Dr Durkin hard questions before she completely destroys the already weakening school system.
Great educators are leaving classrooms in tears on a daily basis. New Bedford's students
deserve better.

Anonymous said...

Teachers, paras, support staff and principals are exhausted from the deceit that is prevalent at every level of the NBPS. There is no respect for central administration who continue to be indifferent to the needs of special education students and English Language Learners. The fear of educators under Dr. Durkin's regime is dissipating as teachers unite with parents to do the right thing. The climate of fear has ended ... It is being replaced by people doing the right thing ....speaking up for students. The school committee and the city council are listening ... the only thing that is inevitable now is change ... Bring it on!!!

Anonymous said...

Let us keep speaking to those that can stop the harm. If you work with students-you witness the complete atmosphere of toxic testing and the distortion it brings to the learning environment. Our leadership has headed down the wrong road-and they announced it from Day 1. Why weren't we listening? "When people show you who they are, believe them."

Anonymous said...


I can believe that the sub standard times named Dirty Durkin woman of the year! Durkin, along with her minions have destroyed this district. Moral is null, trust is gone and the crooked prevail.

Anonymous said...

Will anyone get to the bottom of the high school sh*tshow? Where is the headmaster chosen by Dr. Durkin? Were there some firings over the holiday break? Who knows the real story?

Anonymous said...

The rumor mill is rampant about absence of the headmaster at the high school. Is she no longer in a leadership position? Teacher can't remember the last time they saw her. Any facts?

Anonymous said...

Heard her office has been cleaned out. Parents have the right to know what's going on. Who is at the helm? Standard Times where are you?

Anonymous said...

or WBSM? Any real reporters on the beat?