Tuesday, February 14, 2017

New Bedford to pursue middle school changes without 'innovation zone'

New Bedford to pursue middle school changes without 'innovation zone'

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is kind of off topic, but I think it's important. Are teachers at other schools being told to sub all the time? Why can't the districts get subs? It also must be costing a fortune because teachers get paid to cover those other classes and teachers make a lot more than subs. I wonder if anyone has figured out how much this all costs. Maybe a reporter could find out. I'm just curious. Seems like a huge waste of money.

Anonymous said...

What do subs get paid? What are teachers paid to cover? How would we know if one is cheaper than the other without knowing the rates?

Anonymous said...

The real question is why the district cannot find subs for its schools. The reasons should not be a surprise, it is the behaviors of students and administration's lack of teacher support. It is a farce for anyone to think it is anything different. Listen to the teachers. The schools are a mess.

Anonymous said...

I think subs get $85-$95 per day. Teachers get $25/hour for every class they cover. Say an absent teacher needs 6 periods covered. That's $150. call it $50 more than what a sub makes. Now who knows how many teachers are absent in the district each day. Say 40 out of 1000. But who knows? So the district pays $2000 more per day than if there was a sub. Over a school year that's $360,000. I know the numbers could be off, but I'd be surpised if the district isn't paying hundreds of thousands each year because it can't get subs. That is a story.

Anonymous said...

I have substitute teachers that tell they refuse to sub at certain schools because of the behavior of the students. This is at the elementary level! The disrespectful behavior is allowed and is out of control. Here's a thought, hold the parents and their children accountable for horrid behavior that destroys the learning environment for the students who actually want to succeed! Teachers are leaving in drones to districts that support their teachers. I am one of them. I have had enough of Durkin's policies that don't work. God only knows why the SC gave her another contract.

Anonymous said...

Wow!! If those numbers are even close to true it's an embarrassment. I agree it's about behavior. When did administrators lose their spines? They turn their backs on teachers every day.Imagine the abuse that subs get. Our so-called leaders talk about data and test scores. It starts with a safe and nurturing environment. We won't get anywhere until the disruptive and abusive behavior is dealt with seriously!!!

Anonymous said...

Behavior, behavior, behavior. It keeps subs away, costing us a fortune. It drives teachers away, diminishing our schools. Meanwhile PRAB talks only about rigor. Ridiculous!!! Please God, put administrators back in the classroom so they can remember what its really like.

Anonymous said...

I agree with the comments about behavior. But does anytone think the SC is listening, or the media, or the Mayor?

Anonymous said...

Subs get absolutely destroyed each and everyday, and anyone thinking it is not the case has no clue what is going on. Subs try hard to deliver the lesson according to lesson plan but most of their time is in writing office referrals and tossing kids out of class.The only person on the SC that even has an understanding of the situation is Mr. Cotter, and he has been relegated next to nothing by the others. It's all about not rocking the Durkin boat. We have another two years before what's his name takes over, only to be thrown under the bus and resigning the position. If you are not on board you need to go to another district where your talents are welcome and cherished.

Anonymous said...

So how about it Standard Times? Are you interested in writing the real story about our schools?

Anonymous said...

It would be hilarious to see Durkin sub for a day!!!

Anonymous said...

I wonder how much attention the middle school redesign teams are giving to behavior/discipline. Does anyone know?. Our school hasn't been giving out too many details.

Anonymous said...

I'm reminded of an incident when a principal brought back a student to my class after that student was sent to the office for reoccurring bad behavior. The principal decided to take over the class in attempt to strut her stuff proving that she possessed superior teaching skills. The results were at least four students laying their head down, and other students begging me never to let that happen again, after she left the classroom.

Anonymous said...

Many of my colleagues have just given up writing office referrals!!! Doesn't Brockton, which has done pretty well on all the tests, have far more seats for disruptive kids in alternative schools? I think our scores, which downtown seems to care about above everything else, would improve a lot if we could find more alternative settings for kids who are getting in the way of the education of the vast majority of students. Does anyone agree with this?

Anonymous said...

Johnathan C left his job. Wonder if there is a story behind the move to the city. My guess he couldn't take it anymore, and had to be bailed out. He is a good man. I wish him luck. Aren't kids disruptive because teachers aren't engaging? If a teacher is writing too many office referrals, doesn't that mean he or his has no idea how to teach. Surely that's the reason why kids misbehave. No?

Anonymous said...

Youre right. Kids screaming, cursing and basically running the school are all due to lack of (wait for it)...RIGOR!!!

Anonymous said...

You sound like Durkin! There are so many disruptive kids because of their home environment. The parents of these children don't know how to parent and we get the end result! Are you a teacher? Huge class sizes , lack of support and resources don't help the already tough situation we face everyday!

Anonymous said...

I believe the post above about engaging activities preventing disruptive behavior was intended to be sarcastic. Having an alternative school with an enrollment above .001% of the student population would be a nice start to improving performance. The very small percentage of out of control students ruin the entire school. We allow a group of 2 - 3% of poorly behaved students to ruin the educational experience for 100% of the students and teachers. Fix behavior and you will see test score improvement immediately because teachers will actually be able to teach and not try to get an out of control student to behave.

Anonymous said...

I would say that I teach probably about 40 % of the time . 60% of the time is spent on disciplining disruptive students. Durkin needs to get her head out of the sand and realize the NOT enforcing consequences is the down fall of our schools. How many more years of her crap?

Anonymous said...

Agree completely. Discipline is the number 1 issue! Alternative schools for kids who ruin the education of others. I don't get why the Standard Times doesn't write about this. All they write about is School Committee meetings and press releases from PRAB. That is not covering local education!!! I've been teaching for 20 years and this is the worst I've ever seen. My school is being run by the disruptive students.

Anonymous said...

I agree! Alternative schools should start at elementary level! The number of disruptive students are growing at an alarming rate since P- ditty rolled into the city. The kids run the schools! What a joke NB has become under her watch! The sub standard times is similar to the SC, they both afraid of this woman. She is the downfall of NB, just like Boston and Attleboro. We need a new SC and mayor!

Anonymous said...

Here's an idea, hold the parents accountable for their child's behavior. After all, they bring them up to be disruptive. So sick of these parents that bring their children up with no respect, work ethic or just plain decency.







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Anonymous said...

Here's a novel idea, hold the parents accountable for their child's behavior!