"Rubber Room" Teachers Earn Salary, Do Nothing

Imagine you're a teacher in New York City. Now imagine that you run afoul of your supervisor for some reason. Perhaps you tattled on some irregularities in the state testing or maybe you are always late for duty. And let's say that your supervisor is fed up enough that he/she tries to get you removed from the classroom. Then you better prepare yourself: get out your board games and water colors.

Here's what will happen -- your principal will request a disciplinary hearing. (The unions are fighting for you -- you can't be fired without due process.) So pending the hearing, you are reassigned. To what are nicknamed "Rubber Rooms." You will remain here for months or even years awaiting your hearing. Why so long? Because the arbitrators only work FIVE DAYS EACH MONTH.

The union contract says that you cannot be given new assigned duties while you await your hearing, but the district wants you out of the classroom. So you are assigned to a "temporary reassignment center" where you do... NOTHING. According to the FoxNews story, rubber room teachers pass the time by reading, writing, painting, doing yoga, sneaking over to the bar across the street, or playing board games.

There are about 700 teachers assigned to these rubber rooms, and each draws a salary of about $700K. Now, before you think that this may be a cushy assignment, keep in mind that most of the teachers assigned to rubber rooms really do not belong in the classroom. So some of these folks are tough to get along with. There are reports of many near fights ("Hey, that's my chair!").

You know what else I learned from this article? There is a National Association for Prevention of Teacher Abuse.

Can you see me now?

A principal at an Orange County (FL) school is pleased that the school has improved its "rating" from an F to an A in one year. She credits the school's improvement to across-the-board eye exams. The school discovered that nearly 50 of the 530 students needed glasses.

Uh. That's less than 10% of the kiddos. The campuses where I've worked, we do test 100% of the kiddos for vision, and teachers can (and DO) refer students to the nurse for vision or hearing screenings anytime. Stories like this really make me wonder about Florida.

District Collect Lunch Debt

Marshalltown Community School District in Iowa has almost $26,000 in school lunch debt on the books. So they've hired a collection agency to try to recoup some of the money owed to the district.

I admire the district's decision that kiddos should not be turned away from the lunch line (though there are some ways to mitigate these growing charges, like alternate lunches for delinquent kiddos, e.g. PB & J), but why not prevent students from registering or collecting report cards/transcripts until their account is paid. Seems like the collection agency is going to cost money and goodwill.

Florida ends "Zero-Tolerance" Policies

New legislation signed by Florida Gov. Crist "Provides that zero-tolerance policies do not require the reporting of petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors to a law enforcement agency. Encourages school districts to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies, etc."

The idea is that kiddos shouldn't be expelled for using a plastic knife to cut up their lunches, nor should a high school senior lose his appointment to Annapolis because he went fishing over the weekend and left a fillet knife in his truck.

If a US District Judge, convicted of felony, can continue to hold his office, then why should 2nd graders be automatically expelled for drawing pictures?

Fifty-Seven Percent Failure Rating

There's a school in Chicago where almost 60% of the 8th-grade class has failed the school year. If you don't believe me, there's a story about it from the area's news station.

Let me get this out of the way: This incident occurred in the Chicago Public School, where the US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, served most recently as the CEO. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

The Myra Bradwell Academy (this is where a skeptic would insert air-quoties) is a Pre-K through 8 campus (wow!!). The 8th-grade class had 77 students, and 44 of those did not pass, for a 57% failure rate. Most of those students are now enrolled at summer school, and I don't know how Chicago handles retentions... it may be that those kids will all be filed on to the high school anyway. But there were a few things in the article worth discussing:

• 8th-Grade Graduation: The linked story says, "Tatianna Dennis' son, Tarrell, took his eighth grade photo complete with cap and gown, but the day before his grammar school's graduation, Tarrell learned he would not be marching down the aisle." My last district was ADAMANT that there were no "commencement" nor "graduation" ceremonies until a student had finished high school. In that impoverished area, administrators did not want parents feeling that students were finished with school until the student had a diploma. So we had 8th-grade award ceremonies, but no 8th-grade graduation. Those of you who are parents: how do you feel about this?
• This is a Pre-K through 8 Campus: Now I would guess there is not much stability on this campus. I wonder how many of the non-passing students had been at this campus for more than 4 years. But if you've got your own program here on campus for Pre-K through 8th grade, who do you have to blame when the kiddos don't pass at the end? Did they go to summer school after 5th grade? 6th Grade? 7th grade? I also wonder how challenging it is for teachers on this campus. There are 3 8th-grade teachers and one teacher who teaches both 7th-and 8th-grade. So, evidently, these middle grade teachers are responsible for multiple subjects. That's a challenge. On my campus, we have a staff of 3 teachers dedicated only to 8th-grade math. We share ideas and the work load to prep for one subject, one grade level. I think that contributes to our success.
  
• The role of schools is changing: Schools cannot operate they way they did 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. For example, sure you did homework when you were in school, but at a campus like Bradwell where some kiddos have parents working night jobs, some kiddos have to cook for baby brothers and sisters, and some kiddos don't always have utilities, homework isn't going to be an effective teaching tool. I'm sure this school is facing some tough challenges. No one wants ANY of their students to fail, much less 57% of them!!
• Some parents were unaware: even though their kiddo had failed English twice before... another parent claims, "she has all the cell phone numbers of her kids' teachers and she calls them all the time, and her kids are doing well in school." Uh... neither of these is a good sign.
• Extra credit?: "The Board of Education insists the Bradwell school did everything possible to keep the students' grades up, offering extra credit and school on Saturday. And the Board says written notices did go out." I know intellectually that extra credit is not a great idea. I've offered a kiddo extra credit when he or she is a few points away from passing (or from that "85" that mom says they have to have). But if 57% of your campus is relying on extra credit to pass, we are definitely treating a symptom and not the problem.
  

Seattle school district... spending money to save money

Typing up a letter to send to the members of the teachers' union: negligible.

Sending that letter via certified mail: $5.00

Sending that letter via certified mail to all 3,300 teachers in the union: $18,000

That letter says the district is out of money and those teachers need to take a pay cut: PRICELESS!

This Seattle-Times column is a little sensationalist, but raises a good point.

The district lost some state funding (as budgets are downsizing). So the district is proposing that teachers get one more day of vacation next year (without pay, of course). So, instead of going through the union (as the columnist says is proper in Washington State), district officials mailed letters informing "members of the teachers union that if they didn't agree to losing one day of work next year to help the district compensate for lost state funding, they wouldn't have a job in September."

Well, I'd be shocked if the letter said that... I would expect it said that some of the union members would have to be laid off, and this solution was allow the district to avoid cutting any current positions. But that's beside the point.

The letters were sent via certified mail (law says hand delivery is acceptable... procedure says this needs to go through the union). The price tag was over $18,000. Now, to be fair, the district is probably cutting close to half a million dollars with their proposed amendment to teachers' contracts. The $18,000 is a drop in the bucket, but still... shouldn't we all be pinching pennies here?

No Graduation Ceremony for You

According to a story re-reported on FoxNews, an Ohio school district (with a graduating class of 60) uncovered an extensive cheating scheme. A student found tests on teachers' computers, copied them and distributed them to other students. The district superintendent said the cheating was so widespread and so many students were involved or aware that they canceled graduation.

Best quote:

Some students admit they cheated; others said they knew of the cheating but didn't participate; and others said they had the tests but didn't use them, Holden said.

One student who used the test still failed.

High-Five Attempt = Bad Touch!

So Mary Helen Lechuga used to be a district-level administrator at El Paso ISD. She was reassigned to a role as an elementary school principal. (Some articles refer to this as a "demotion," but those of us who teach know otherwise... there's a nice Harry Turtledove story, Gladly Wolde He Lerne, about that exact topic.)

So the superintendent is celebrating TAKS scores, and he high-fives all the principals. He gets to Mary Helen Lechuga, and she does not raise her hand for the high five. So the super pats her on the head instead. Lechuga "filed a police complaint saying she felt pain and feared what he might do next."

Hmmm... What do YOU think he's do next? The fist bump? Story Link in case you don't believe me.

What Are You Doing?!?

So I can't find the story about this picture from the San Antonio Express News website. It accompanies a story about the Comal school district closing due to flu fears. So the kiddos (even the boys that are chasing each other) are wearing shirts that say, "We Support Our Principal -- Better Safe Than Sick."

Now, here's where I'm making some guesses. Is this group of 12 students gathered close together saying that it is wise to close the school to prevent the spread of Swine Flu? Uh... if they gather together in front of the school, how is that different from sitting together in a classroom. Isn't the point of closing the school to keep kiddos away from each other so contagions won't have a ready supply of hosts? There are 12 kids in the photo, possibly more outside of the frame. Now quit chasing each other into the street and either go to your own home or get to class.

Do you think her high-school teachers remember her?

So this lady is 30 YEARS OLD! She decided it would be "fun" to drive home with her 9-year-old son on the hood of her car. The arrest documents quote her saying:

What's wrong with that, everybody does it and no one says anything

Imagine what she would be doing if there was no compulsory education.

Thirty years old. Read the Article. Watch the surveillance Video

Swine Flu Fears Continue

Slippery Rock University, a small Pennsylvania school, is quarantining it's graduation ceremony. Twenty-two of their education majors just got back from Mexico City (chief export: Swine Flu). So those 22 kids are not allowed into the big graduation ceremony for all the healthy kids. Instead, they will have a separate ceremony.

In case you've missed it, many schools are worried about the spread of the 2009 Swine Flu. Many schools and a few school districts throughout Texas (and a couple of other states) have been shut down to prevent the spread of the disease. Especially strange since it's TAKS week for middle schools and high schools. The Texas Education Agency also maintains a list of schools that are closed.

And here we are trying to convince kiddos that if they trade masks with each other, the mask suddenly becomes ineffective.

State Senate Wants to End Minimum Grades

The Texas State Senate is proposing a bill that will prohibit districts from implementing a "minimum grade" policy. The policies that bar teachers from giving kiddos any grade below a 50, for example.

My wife points out the problem with this bill... if there is no minimum grade, some of her freshmen will earn a -350. I can see some teacher re-enacting the Breakfast Club scene:

"Every day late is minus ten points."
"I already have a 2."
"Now it's a negative 8... you wanna go for negative 18?"

Press release link.

Prepare to begin lockdown... wait for it...

So, this unarmed escapee was arrested without incident in the high school cafeteria at 9:15.

"The school went into partial lockdown and was in the process of a full lockdown when the intruder was apprehended by deputies in the school's cafeteria," Brownsville Independent School District spokeswoman Drue Brown Brown said.

So, what is a partial lockdown? All even-numbered rooms, lock your doors? And why were they only "in the process of a full lockdown" when the fellow was apprehended? How long does it take to turn on the intercom and say, "lockdown"? (Yes, that's the codeword at one local campus. I think it's awesome! You don't have to worry about "is a drill 'code marroon' or 'code gold'?" It's hard to mistake, "lockdown.")

Get that school off my lawn!

Local school has field day. Local neighbor believes the noise is too loud. He calls the school office. No answer. Tries several times. No answer. Finally calls the police and complains about the noise. Principal served with noise citation. Hearing next week.

Here's the long, detailed, newsy version

Computer System Checks School Guests Against "No-Fly" List

A Rio Grande Valley school district is among the latest to implement a program that allows them to immediately check visitors against databases of unwanted guests. In addition to sex offender registries, the schools can create custom lists of guests who are under restraining orders, etc.

According to the article, the system is costly at $32,000, but the software has stopped over 1,100 sex offenders at various locations just last year.

Nation's Second Largest School District Cuts Jobs

The Los Angeles Unified School District is slashing 5,400 jobs (about 1,900 of them teachers) to help cope with a $596,000,000 budget shortage. (The shortage was closer to $718 million before stimulus money started rolling in.) You can see details here.

Teacher Sells Ad Space on Exams!

This is creative! A Pocatello, Idaho, high school cut back on paper supplies for teachers. So an economics teacher approached a local pizzeria with a proposal: Buy me paper, and I'll put advertisements for your establishment on the handouts, worksheets, and tests that I print on your paper. See more details here.

I think I could work out something about product placement in word problems. Kinda like, "Would Becky save more money at Wal-Mart or HEB?"

UPDATE: Seems it's been done before.

Economy Attacks Chicago Private School

Wow... I've served on the school board of a private school, and I can't imagine how to handle this situation. Marian Catholic High School in Chicago had 300 students who were behind in tuition payments. (Student population: 1,500+; Delinquency: $750-$5,000; Annual tuition: $8,000) The school-wide delinquency was $450,000. So after sending out notices last week, the school pulled 300 kiddos out of class Monday (the start of the new quarter), told them to call their parents to settle the bill, or to get picked up. By lunchtime, 100 students were sent home.

Here's the full story.

Robo-Teacher in Japan

As you may know, Japan was been leading the way in developing robots to address their labor shortage. (Your higher-order thinking question of the day... how do other industrialized countries address their labor shortages?) A recent AP article describes the demonstration of Teacher-Bot. They say it's not intended to replace the classroom teacher (so... what is it intended to do?), and "it still can't do much more than call out names and shout orders like 'Be quiet.'" (Hmm... I had a substitute teacher like that once.)

The robot teacher, called Saya, can express six basic emotions — surprise, fear, disgust, anger, happiness, sadness.

Yeah, I guess that about covers it... shout, "Be quiet," and express disgust. It's ready for middle schoolers in the neighboring district -- the one with a teaching shortage.

(Yes, the photo is actual Saya in actual [demo] classroom.) Her PDAS was "proficient."

Engaging Students, Strengthening Cores

New idea sweeping classrooms in the north -- replacing desk chairs with yoga stability balls.

The idea is that students are more alert and focused when sitting on these inflatable balls used for exercises and posture.

Here's a longer story.

State Rep. Calls for More School Counselors

A new bill in the Texas legislature calls for more public school counselors. This one is sponsored by State Representative Eddie Lucio III (not to be confused with State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr who forgets that the "State" in his title is not optional).

Lucio wants one counselor per 300 students... the current required ratio is 1:500. His proposal also provides the funding required to make the switch.

In a separate bill, Lucio wants counselors to spend less than 10% of their time dealing with issues not related to guidance and counseling. (For those of you looking for a clock, that comes out to less than 35 minutes a day for doing cafeteria duty, using the restroom, unjamming the printer, waiting for the elevator... and I'm not sure if student scheduling is counseling or guidance.)

Says, the Rep:

"Even children at the elementary level have issues that come up on a daily basis, things that are bothering them that they want to talk to someone about," Lucio said. "That's what attracts people to the counseling profession in the first place. This is not something I dreamed up out of thin air. Experts in the field say 300 to 350 students per counselor is what the best practices models recommend."

To the link!

Teacher Arrested During Traffic Stop Near School

In Keller, Texas, a second-grade teacher threw a "tantrum" during a traffic stop (for speeding) near her school. She started her discussion with the officer saying, "I'm a freaking teacher, and usually, usually you guys have some idea about that."

How do we know what she said? It was all recorded on audio. You can hear snippets along with the article online.

The teacher throws her license and insurance paperwork at the officer, then tries to drive off while he's printing the ticket. The officer tells her to park back where she was. Then the swearing and cussing begins. She peels back into her parking spot (squealing tires can be heard in the audio), and almost hits the officer. At this point, he decides to arrest the teacher.

Then comes the best part:

"You're not going to make an example out of me in front of every [expletive] parent in school!"

She's right... she's not much of an example now.

Now, I've gotten a ticket in front of the school before (and it was for speeding). Sure, everyone sees you, but it's not the end of the world. Being a teacher (or a tardy teacher) is no excuse for speeding through a school zone. I drive here everyday, I know what the limit is. I know there's a school right here! My ticket was entirely my fault. I do appreciate it when the officer is sensitive to the fact I have 30 rambunctious middle schoolers waiting for me and he is quick and efficient, but other than that...

Texting in Class Leads to Arrest

Some students have not yet learned that cooperation can usually make your life happier. Is this really the war you want to wage? Have you realized that if you carry a folder to class or pretend to do your work, you get in less trouble and get to do more of the things you want to do?

The Smoking Gun has an example of poor choices leading a student to unanticipated consequences.

1. Student is texting in class. Teacher tells her to stop. She refuses.
2. Teacher asks student to give up the phone. She refuses.
3. Teacher calls campus police officer, student lies to officer, claiming she had no phone in class... her phone's not as school... she doesn't own a phone. Student's friends confirm she had phone in class, texting.
   
4. Officer tries to phone dad, student gives false phone numbers... multiple times.
5. Officer places student under arrest for disorderly conduct ($298 bail). Search discovers phone. Officer verifies phone was used to text dad during class.
6. Student admits it's her phone & she was texting in class, but says the phone doesn't work, so she doesn't care if she gets it back.

Boulder's "Student Worker Club" Wants to Rename High School

This is kinda weird... the juxtaposition is... odd.

Boulder High School's Student Worker Party Club has a new initiative. Recently, the club staged a protest against the Pledge of Allegiance. Their new mission - renaming the high school. To Barack Obama High.

Hmmm... With friends like these...

I'm not an Obama fan, but I've got no problem renaming the school after him. Schools are going to be named after him. I can't imagine how much he would have to screw up in order for schools to NOT be named after him. So why not start now? But the Student Worker Club? The crew that hates the Pledge? What's up with that?

Linkety-link-link.

Schools Without Grade LEVELS!

A Colorado school district is implementing major reforms, including doing away with grade levels. Instead, students will work on key skills until they demonstrate mastery (at a 'B' level), then they will progress to new material at their own pace (which may be different in different subjects).

You can see more details in an online article, but there are some interesting aspects to this approach. I'm very curious what it will do to the notion of social promotion. Will there be students who remain stuck multiplying fractions and decimals on a 6th-grade level for 6 years? Because we've got that now.