Sunday, August 17, 2008
Patience is No Longer a Virtue
The drama in this little city is astonishing. We have the torment of the Board of Education to watch helplessly. We have the Brown Administration ducking, dodging and fudging numbers everywhere while all the grandstanders, gardeners, gangsters, gamblers and glamour queens work hard to be the next headline. The McKinley Mess once again rears it's ugly head, the beast of all school stories this year refuses to go away. Neither does the arrogance of some of the powerful people in Buffalo. With no regard for the sense of community, no regard for the welfare of children who watch every move we make, no regard for the public demand for someone to pay a price for all the wheeling, dealing, swindling and lying. All the public wants is for something good to happen in Buffalo, something we can be proud of, something that makes us unify as a community. The problem is it seems most of the people involved in developing our community, that have the power to make real change and set the tone for many effortlessly disregard this responsibility. It's not just a shame, it is frightening. Time to wake up people. Time to stand together for the change we deserve and demand. Time for picketing, time for patience to be forgotten and prices to be paid. It's time.
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11 comments:
What a great way to start out the new school year. YIPPPPEEEE!!!!
About a million years ago I was a student teacher at Mack High during Ms. Barton's first year as a Principal. It was quite an experience to see how the old veteran teachers gave her grief about different things. A guy with the memorable name of Art Parks who was also a union guy went so far as to print up an entire sheet of Shakespeare quotes which he matched in context with her dubious actions as a Principal. I was amazed at the number of Acts and Scenes the guy conjured up as much as I was in awe of the seeming disrespect these guys were showing their new boss. I remember almost feeling a little sorry for her. Years later I am amazed at how things have changed.
Gotta Update Couz !!!!
I second that!
This may not be buffaloskoolmess, but it's close. With that said, is anybody bothered by Phil's comments in the News today (8/24). Perhaps less would have been more? Also, is anyone else bothered by the latest President's letter? All about politics and who we are supposed to support both at the voting booth and with our dollars. Meanwhile no new contract, no regaining of lost steps, more paperwork, less instructional time, no reinstated teachers and we seem to take a beating as far as PR goes. Can you say toothless union? Patience is thin.
Yes, I am a little bothered that Phil is singing Barton's praises when she terrorizes so many teachers at that school. Not to mention the fact that she's going after Hernandez, one of the few people that supports teachers! Why is this? Also the fact that he is supporting Daye, who I know for a fact has made innappropriate commets to female students at McKinley. Is he required to support him? I'm not real thrilled that my union dues is going to defend this scumbag. I was told by our Union Rep. that "Phil is a very moral man and if it comes out that Daye did these things, he would absolutely not support him" Yeah, right.
Also, why aren't we doing some PR work. If you read the blogs on the news websites, it's 'war on teachers' about how we make too much, we're greedy, BPS is spending 12,000 per student, so why aren't the greedy teachers paying for school supplies? Oh wait, all the money is going to the greedy teachers!" It's maddening. Along with this, the retirement system is under fire.
As far as supporting people? Why is it that a majority of the people we endorse end up screwing us as soon as they get elected? What's the point? Think: Masiello (he screwed the cops too) Brown, (he's done nothing for us) We're being portrayed as a bunch of greedy, whiny, people that can't teach, and don't 'care about the kids, just money'. Well, I just spent $100 of my own money on the Scholastic newspaper to help me teach Social Studies this year because I KNOW that I'll probably get maybe 2 or 3 kids that bring in the $4.00 for it. It's not worth it. I guess I'll have to use my $20.00 petty cash allotment!
Excuse me now, I'm on my way to Office Max to buy a box of copy paper, since we were told in June that our school supply budget was "not yet approved" Mmmm hmmm, have some more cake you bastards!
Im right with you. Phil's support of this scumbag makes us all look bad. Why isn't the board going after for not living in Buffalo. He hasn't worked here long enough to be grandfathered. Oh yeah, the union isn't interested in this either. There needs to be a real change in the BTF.
Too quiet! We need Skool! The Buffalo Schools are already ramping up the year with ANOTHER program to teach reading. Now we get to learn, besides Corrective Reading and Harcourt, Voyager Passport. Oh and there is another branch of Harcourt for the benchmark and beyond. Tell me when we are supposed to find the time for 4 reading programs. Not enough Reading Teachers and not enough time. Don't even get me started on "Reading Coaches."
The money spent on all of these programs could more than likely fund a few salaries. But then you can't get kickbacks from hiring teachers can you.
It's a ploy to get the school day to be longer. We don't have enough time to teach? Make the day longer! It's a joke. The schools that have the extended day sit in an auditorium or cafeteria for an hour before or after the school day. Then Bennet gets on the news for his comment on Buffalo being dead last in districts by saying "I have 2 words for you, charter schools!"
It's a shame this blog has died along with Skool's. If it were alive we could discuss the new attendance liaisons at each school. These new titles seem to require the titleholder to follow up on illegal absences. Maybe I am wrong, but wasn't this what the laid off attendance teachers did? If I am correct, and I honestly don't know if I am, why isn't the BTF raising holy heck?
One of the teacher's aides at our school is in charge of attendance. According to our rep. she said that the Union is aware, but slick Willie is very careful not to put directives in writing. (to the teachers that is) admin. got the directives in writing, so it's difficult to grieve. I'm with you on the blog dying. It was a great place to vent. I check back every few weeks.
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