It's heartening to see the courageous actions of those willing to stand up for what's right.
We can all do our part to make sure everyone does right by our students - that has been the point made by the 19credits team since the beginning. We are in this for them.
If you see injustice happening, do something about it. If you have been asked to do something immoral, say something.
Our work is just beginning - don't let it end with the actions of others. Let's get behind this ball and keep it rolling so that our students get what they deserve.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
If You Are Just Joining Us....
...you may have missed the fact that our team has repeatedly made a specific and earnest request from the administration. Specifically, we have asked for clarity of purpose and the beginnings of honest communication between the administration and the staff of our school.
The brain power is out there to come up with the solutions we need to help students reach our goals. Once we have honest communication and a trust that the changes we make to the systems within our walls are for the students' benefit, and not merely for numbers, there are many people (including within the 19credits team) that are ready to put systems in place to support students in the right way. Without that trust, teachers can at best nurture their students only within their classrooms, because the system is broken. The goal is not just to graduate students, it is to impart to them the skills necessary to succeed in the outside world.
Let us be clear: We are not saying creativity is not an option. We are saying we need to be creative without sacrificing the ideals we believe are necessary for our students' success.
Identifying problems and proposing solutions is not what is missing in this dialogue. What is missing is honest dialogue. There are many passionate people in our building. They will continue to help students as best they know how. 350 staff members that are in the halls and in the classrooms witnessing the issues facing our school are better equipped to guide policy than a person who keeps her door closed and issues edicts to her underlings under the title of 'Executive Order'.
We are, and have always been, many steps ahead of you. We are stronger (and more numerous) than you think. Furthermore, we are ready to propose ideas once you are ready to truly listen.
What don't we have? A door to close and stop the dialogue when we see it as convenient to do so.
Your call.
The brain power is out there to come up with the solutions we need to help students reach our goals. Once we have honest communication and a trust that the changes we make to the systems within our walls are for the students' benefit, and not merely for numbers, there are many people (including within the 19credits team) that are ready to put systems in place to support students in the right way. Without that trust, teachers can at best nurture their students only within their classrooms, because the system is broken. The goal is not just to graduate students, it is to impart to them the skills necessary to succeed in the outside world.
Let us be clear: We are not saying creativity is not an option. We are saying we need to be creative without sacrificing the ideals we believe are necessary for our students' success.
Identifying problems and proposing solutions is not what is missing in this dialogue. What is missing is honest dialogue. There are many passionate people in our building. They will continue to help students as best they know how. 350 staff members that are in the halls and in the classrooms witnessing the issues facing our school are better equipped to guide policy than a person who keeps her door closed and issues edicts to her underlings under the title of 'Executive Order'.
We are, and have always been, many steps ahead of you. We are stronger (and more numerous) than you think. Furthermore, we are ready to propose ideas once you are ready to truly listen.
What don't we have? A door to close and stop the dialogue when we see it as convenient to do so.
Your call.
Monday, October 5, 2009
"Higher Standerds" - Part Deux
As much as we wanted to make this a creative post, it's time to be clear and discuss the current situation. Today was a wonderful opportunity for us to meet with our departments and discuss the progress everyone has made for raising our students to a "higher standerd". (Isn't it great that we have that comment in print?) The 19credits team had an amazing day - we want to know what went on at YOUR department meeting, so discuss away in the comments.
On a personal note, I was elated to receive the memo citing our progress in just one month at Lehman. For starters, I love when the first sentence of any paragraph of great literature is written in passive voice (not that we should expect better from a Ph.D of letters.) I also love that we have left our low credit accumulation rate in the "passed" according to the progress report. These represent fruit hanging a bit low for this critic's taste - I leave that to you, dear reader, to pick apart in the comments.
We have been tested on many levels. (Though it should be clear that tests are not the best way to assess what we have learned over the past few weeks. Projects and credit recovery are.) Primarily, we have been tested by the fact that there is a serious lack of logical and sensible leadership. Students who have discovered their counselors are all changed are not comforted by the fact that we are experiencing "growing pains". Listening to APs shrug their shoulders and ask us to do the best we can, in spite of circumstances, is immensely frustrating because the APs themselves put us in this situation by giving in and placing keeping their jobs above the welfare of the students.
If we are to the point that we have to congratulate ourselves on an improvement of the food in the cafeteria and claim that fire drills that lead to looting at the BP are among our best, then we have hit rock bottom. These are not growing pains. These are screams of the banshee, who is weeping while she washes transcripts in the Bronx river and writes in 'CR' in place of failing grades.
I am looking forward to working collaboratively with YOU throughout the year. Good luck, JBS.
Post away, neighborinos.
On a personal note, I was elated to receive the memo citing our progress in just one month at Lehman. For starters, I love when the first sentence of any paragraph of great literature is written in passive voice (not that we should expect better from a Ph.D of letters.) I also love that we have left our low credit accumulation rate in the "passed" according to the progress report. These represent fruit hanging a bit low for this critic's taste - I leave that to you, dear reader, to pick apart in the comments.
We have been tested on many levels. (Though it should be clear that tests are not the best way to assess what we have learned over the past few weeks. Projects and credit recovery are.) Primarily, we have been tested by the fact that there is a serious lack of logical and sensible leadership. Students who have discovered their counselors are all changed are not comforted by the fact that we are experiencing "growing pains". Listening to APs shrug their shoulders and ask us to do the best we can, in spite of circumstances, is immensely frustrating because the APs themselves put us in this situation by giving in and placing keeping their jobs above the welfare of the students.
If we are to the point that we have to congratulate ourselves on an improvement of the food in the cafeteria and claim that fire drills that lead to looting at the BP are among our best, then we have hit rock bottom. These are not growing pains. These are screams of the banshee, who is weeping while she washes transcripts in the Bronx river and writes in 'CR' in place of failing grades.
I am looking forward to working collaboratively with YOU throughout the year. Good luck, JBS.
Post away, neighborinos.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Trilmut Ajax and the Department of Motorized Bureaucracy
[TRILMUT, MARCUS, ALBERT, HERMIONE, WILHEMINA, VINCENT and MASTER GONZO sit around a large wooden conference table. A cup sits in the center of the table, packed so tightly with pens that if one were to be removed, the entire cup would lift from the table. A stack of papers sits next to TRILMUT, and ALBERT is immediately next to TRILMUT. The rest have empty space on the table in front of them. MASTER GONZO sits the furthest away from TRILMUT and ALBERT.]
TRILMUT: I trust we're all ready to begin - it's so wonderful to see you back! Can you see my tan? For the most part, I believe our preparations have been adequate - there are still some cockroaches and mouse droppings on the first floor, but we can always ask the janitorial staff to take care of it. We have a number of other important issues to address!
MARCUS: I have some issues.
TRILMUT: Understatement!
MARCUS: [a pause] Can we be civil? We aren't ready. We have to do something about this.
TRILMUT: We will need to be flexible, but we are ready enough.
MARCUS: We have no paper.
ALBERT: I can speak to that.
TRILMUT: I wish you wouldn't.
ALBERT:[a shrug] I didn't have time - given the situation, and the nature of what transpired within our offices, there were a number of issues that came up, and given the professionalism that every member of our staff exhibits on a daily basis, I want to thank you all for everything you did, for we shall overcome if, given the unfortunate circumstances...
MARCUS: We have no fucking paper Albert.
WILHEMINA: I think I can see his point - My teachers are double booked three periods in a row to simultaneously walk the halls and teach the 9th graders. The purple paint is already peeling - we just need--
TRILMUT: [gesturing offstage] Is that door closed? Can you close it? No, we're in a meeting, it can wait. I understand that this is not ideal. The programmer left. His brother did a reasonable job of getting us to this point -- we will be fine!
MARCUS: We have no fucking paper Albert, and it's your fault.
ALBERT: We have plenty of pens! [ALBERT reaches into the cup with one hand to pick up a single pen, lifting and shaking the cup with an occasional bang on the table. This continues for a while.]
WILHEMINA: There's another problem - we still haven't decided if we're letting the different community teachers mix in department offices.
TRILMUT: There's no reason for them to be together - the SLC offices have everything they need.
HERMIONE: A computer was stolen during the summer...I have a suspicion there are others we don't know about. The security cameras failed again.
TRILMUT: If everyone would turn to page 4 of your agenda...
HERMIONE: We don't have agendas.
TRILMUT: How could I have forgotten! I spent all night laying this all out - it took all morning to print, I made sure they were all bound and clipped with those nice binder clips. I remembered at that precise moment how nice it was that the naysayers had left. They had no vision! They didn't know how to move the children through the system and get them credits! Boy, when that report card comes out! Can you see it? Can you taste it? I'll go get them, sit tight.
[TRILMUT walks offstage, leaving the remaining six staring at each other.]
VINCENT: [a beat after the pause gets uncomfortable.] It's better this way. We've reached a higher standerd.
WILHEMINA: Can we agree to bring up all of our issues and get them all out there? I can't imagine a group of intelligent people like ours can't figure this out. I know more than most doctors I know - It has to be possible. Anyone know any private donors?
HERMIONE: It's not going to matter if we get more money - it's all getting funneled into the wrong places. He has no idea what he's doing, but we can figure this out.
MARCUS: Not without paper.
ALBERT: Will you let it go?
MARCUS: Who the hell is that guy? [throws a nod towards MASTER GONZO.]
ALBERT: Interim-Acting.
MARCUS: Why was he hired?
ALBERT: We needed to have an expert in content.
MARCUS: Did that come out of our supplies budget? [Turns towards MASTER GONZO] Hey, yeah you, who are you?
MASTER GONZO: Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Master Gonzo.
MARCUS: Which SLC committee are you from?
MASTER GONZO: It's very nice to meet you - I'm new around here, but would love to help however I can.
MARCUS: Why isn't your hallway painted?
MASTER GONZO: I'd love to discuss this more with you during our mutual free time.
[The sound of squeaky wheels comes from offstage as TRILMUT wheels a large rolling cart towards the conference table. Inch-thick stacks of paper, bound with large binder clips, are piled on top of each other. The cart moves slowly, burdened by the weight.]
TRILMUT: My apologies everyone - take one and pass.
[MARCUS stares at the cart, turns away, and stares straight at ALBERT as he lifts the pen-cup up from the table and throws it down on the floor, shattering it into pieces.
MARCUS: Fuck you, Albert.
[MARCUS walks off stage-left.]
ALBERT: Are we still doing this?
[END OF SCENE]
TRILMUT: I trust we're all ready to begin - it's so wonderful to see you back! Can you see my tan? For the most part, I believe our preparations have been adequate - there are still some cockroaches and mouse droppings on the first floor, but we can always ask the janitorial staff to take care of it. We have a number of other important issues to address!
MARCUS: I have some issues.
TRILMUT: Understatement!
MARCUS: [a pause] Can we be civil? We aren't ready. We have to do something about this.
TRILMUT: We will need to be flexible, but we are ready enough.
MARCUS: We have no paper.
ALBERT: I can speak to that.
TRILMUT: I wish you wouldn't.
ALBERT:[a shrug] I didn't have time - given the situation, and the nature of what transpired within our offices, there were a number of issues that came up, and given the professionalism that every member of our staff exhibits on a daily basis, I want to thank you all for everything you did, for we shall overcome if, given the unfortunate circumstances...
MARCUS: We have no fucking paper Albert.
WILHEMINA: I think I can see his point - My teachers are double booked three periods in a row to simultaneously walk the halls and teach the 9th graders. The purple paint is already peeling - we just need--
TRILMUT: [gesturing offstage] Is that door closed? Can you close it? No, we're in a meeting, it can wait. I understand that this is not ideal. The programmer left. His brother did a reasonable job of getting us to this point -- we will be fine!
MARCUS: We have no fucking paper Albert, and it's your fault.
ALBERT: We have plenty of pens! [ALBERT reaches into the cup with one hand to pick up a single pen, lifting and shaking the cup with an occasional bang on the table. This continues for a while.]
WILHEMINA: There's another problem - we still haven't decided if we're letting the different community teachers mix in department offices.
TRILMUT: There's no reason for them to be together - the SLC offices have everything they need.
HERMIONE: A computer was stolen during the summer...I have a suspicion there are others we don't know about. The security cameras failed again.
TRILMUT: If everyone would turn to page 4 of your agenda...
HERMIONE: We don't have agendas.
TRILMUT: How could I have forgotten! I spent all night laying this all out - it took all morning to print, I made sure they were all bound and clipped with those nice binder clips. I remembered at that precise moment how nice it was that the naysayers had left. They had no vision! They didn't know how to move the children through the system and get them credits! Boy, when that report card comes out! Can you see it? Can you taste it? I'll go get them, sit tight.
[TRILMUT walks offstage, leaving the remaining six staring at each other.]
VINCENT: [a beat after the pause gets uncomfortable.] It's better this way. We've reached a higher standerd.
WILHEMINA: Can we agree to bring up all of our issues and get them all out there? I can't imagine a group of intelligent people like ours can't figure this out. I know more than most doctors I know - It has to be possible. Anyone know any private donors?
HERMIONE: It's not going to matter if we get more money - it's all getting funneled into the wrong places. He has no idea what he's doing, but we can figure this out.
MARCUS: Not without paper.
ALBERT: Will you let it go?
MARCUS: Who the hell is that guy? [throws a nod towards MASTER GONZO.]
ALBERT: Interim-Acting.
MARCUS: Why was he hired?
ALBERT: We needed to have an expert in content.
MARCUS: Did that come out of our supplies budget? [Turns towards MASTER GONZO] Hey, yeah you, who are you?
MASTER GONZO: Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Master Gonzo.
MARCUS: Which SLC committee are you from?
MASTER GONZO: It's very nice to meet you - I'm new around here, but would love to help however I can.
MARCUS: Why isn't your hallway painted?
MASTER GONZO: I'd love to discuss this more with you during our mutual free time.
[The sound of squeaky wheels comes from offstage as TRILMUT wheels a large rolling cart towards the conference table. Inch-thick stacks of paper, bound with large binder clips, are piled on top of each other. The cart moves slowly, burdened by the weight.]
TRILMUT: My apologies everyone - take one and pass.
[MARCUS stares at the cart, turns away, and stares straight at ALBERT as he lifts the pen-cup up from the table and throws it down on the floor, shattering it into pieces.
MARCUS: Fuck you, Albert.
[MARCUS walks off stage-left.]
ALBERT: Are we still doing this?
[END OF SCENE]
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
So...Um...Can I Do Anything For You?
How y'all doin? You OK?
Let's get everything out there - post away in the comments.
Here's looking to make this as best a year for the students as possible.
Remember your rights.
Let's get everything out there - post away in the comments.
Here's looking to make this as best a year for the students as possible.
Remember your rights.
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Lehman Reality
The time has come, my friends.
The mice are a-scurrying. The children are all busy updating their Facebook statuses with summer's end posts. The Reality is that we will all soon get a taste of the challenges ahead of us as we pick up the pieces and make things work for Lehman students. It will not be ideal. Unless our principal has done some credit recovery at Fordham, it's unlikely there will be any new thinking coming from behind closed doors.
We believe we've subverted most catch phrases used by the administration (anyone heard the terms "moral obligation", or "grade for success" lately?) While we may hear new ones next week, the Reality is that we are teachers because we believe in making opportunities for kids to have real success and a worthwhile education. We do not believe in holding back kids to be vindictive. We believe students need to make informed decisions regarding themselves and that there are no shortcuts to success.
We are committed, regardless of what organizational changes are to be in place this year, to do what is right for kids and not what is right for the school report card. While some may argue that maintaining a good report card is the one thing stopping us from being closed down, the Reality is that the powers that be are watching and are considerably more uncomfortable with fudging numbers than they are excited to celebrate Lehman turning itself around.
We have learned the following Realities, and feel it is necessary to share.
We are asking you to help us shine a spotlight on everything that goes on during the next few days of the school's opening. Feel free to post a comment on this post of what you know or have found out, or send an email to morallyobligated@hushmail.com (a new email) with any details. Invite your friends to read the posts and familiarize themselves with the whole story of "Herman High". Keep your SLC leaders honest with you by telling them your concerns, and expecting them to listen to your ideas. Last, but not least, remember that you have rights as members of the union. Bullying by any administrator is unacceptable and unprofessional.
Teachers make a school what it is. Let's fulfill our obligation to hold a "higher standered" for our students by fighting for them.
The mice are a-scurrying. The children are all busy updating their Facebook statuses with summer's end posts. The Reality is that we will all soon get a taste of the challenges ahead of us as we pick up the pieces and make things work for Lehman students. It will not be ideal. Unless our principal has done some credit recovery at Fordham, it's unlikely there will be any new thinking coming from behind closed doors.
We believe we've subverted most catch phrases used by the administration (anyone heard the terms "moral obligation", or "grade for success" lately?) While we may hear new ones next week, the Reality is that we are teachers because we believe in making opportunities for kids to have real success and a worthwhile education. We do not believe in holding back kids to be vindictive. We believe students need to make informed decisions regarding themselves and that there are no shortcuts to success.
We are committed, regardless of what organizational changes are to be in place this year, to do what is right for kids and not what is right for the school report card. While some may argue that maintaining a good report card is the one thing stopping us from being closed down, the Reality is that the powers that be are watching and are considerably more uncomfortable with fudging numbers than they are excited to celebrate Lehman turning itself around.
We have learned the following Realities, and feel it is necessary to share.
- Many students were invited, often with individual phone calls, to earn credits through credit recovery and summer school.
- Many grades have been changed while we were all on vacation.
- Programs, for teachers and students, are apparently still up in the air as of this moment.
We are asking you to help us shine a spotlight on everything that goes on during the next few days of the school's opening. Feel free to post a comment on this post of what you know or have found out, or send an email to morallyobligated@hushmail.com (a new email) with any details. Invite your friends to read the posts and familiarize themselves with the whole story of "Herman High". Keep your SLC leaders honest with you by telling them your concerns, and expecting them to listen to your ideas. Last, but not least, remember that you have rights as members of the union. Bullying by any administrator is unacceptable and unprofessional.
Teachers make a school what it is. Let's fulfill our obligation to hold a "higher standered" for our students by fighting for them.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Year 2 - Dr. Canarose and the Circle of Muggles
From the back cover of the newly published bestseller:
"With almost all the teachers at home for the summer, it became so much easier to plan the war against the Dark Lord. All Dr. Canarose wanted was to get back to the Herman School for Witchcraft and Credit Wizardry. Just as he was packing change of grade forms in his bag, the doctor receives a warning from a furry creature who says that when teachers return to Herman, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Dr. Canarose's second year at Herman, fresh torments and horrors arise as the Ministry of Credit Accumulation tightens its legislative hold on the faculty and the newly formed small-wizarding-communities. But then the real trouble is discovered - someone has been bewitching Herman students and their transcripts to make credits appear over the summer.
Much to the confusion of Herman students and Dr. Canarose, Professor Deprestino, the former teacher of Defense Against the Dark-Arts, is nowhere to be seen. On top of this, Professor Van der Wein has been seen milling around in the catacombs of the Ministry of Credit Accumulation, leaving his office at Herman empty. Rumors of a new organization - the circle of Muggles - spread and make everyone wonder who could be behind these changes.
Could it be Professor Wilhemina Amato, and her mysterious collection of cursed brooches that causes students to mill about in the hallways during class time? Could it possibly be Vincent deBuddha, whose mysterious past and link to Dr. Canarose is finally told? Or, could it be the one everyone at Herman most suspects...Dr. Canarose himself!"
The Moral Obligation team gives its most sincere thanks to the likes of JK Rowling for inspiring us on this muggy afternoon. We hope you are all well, and look forward to seeing you in a bit more than two weeks.
"With almost all the teachers at home for the summer, it became so much easier to plan the war against the Dark Lord. All Dr. Canarose wanted was to get back to the Herman School for Witchcraft and Credit Wizardry. Just as he was packing change of grade forms in his bag, the doctor receives a warning from a furry creature who says that when teachers return to Herman, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Dr. Canarose's second year at Herman, fresh torments and horrors arise as the Ministry of Credit Accumulation tightens its legislative hold on the faculty and the newly formed small-wizarding-communities. But then the real trouble is discovered - someone has been bewitching Herman students and their transcripts to make credits appear over the summer.
Much to the confusion of Herman students and Dr. Canarose, Professor Deprestino, the former teacher of Defense Against the Dark-Arts, is nowhere to be seen. On top of this, Professor Van der Wein has been seen milling around in the catacombs of the Ministry of Credit Accumulation, leaving his office at Herman empty. Rumors of a new organization - the circle of Muggles - spread and make everyone wonder who could be behind these changes.
Could it be Professor Wilhemina Amato, and her mysterious collection of cursed brooches that causes students to mill about in the hallways during class time? Could it possibly be Vincent deBuddha, whose mysterious past and link to Dr. Canarose is finally told? Or, could it be the one everyone at Herman most suspects...Dr. Canarose himself!"
The Moral Obligation team gives its most sincere thanks to the likes of JK Rowling for inspiring us on this muggy afternoon. We hope you are all well, and look forward to seeing you in a bit more than two weeks.
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