Buffalo Schools critic expresses himself

dan wrote:

This was a discussion about charter schools and success rates. Charter schools, like Pinnacle can dump their problem kids on the public school. That is a discussion about how the union supports teachers who must deal with the toughest kids, the public school can't ship them over to pinnacle, tapestry or enterprise...Dedicated teachers help each other. Paladino picking on Rumore and Don Esmonde hailing Pinnacle Charter is what the discussion is commenting on.

Sorry, will work on the editing but the message seems to come through. Seems to be health care....
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
"And In This Corner...."
Carl Paladino's second radio message where he goes into the all out rage against the machine, raises him to Shortest-Lived Hero status. For one whole day we thought we had a voice, we thought we had a chance, we thought wrong. The disappointment of hearing his deafening inexperience hurt our ears. He caters now to the working guy who's getting laid off at GM. He's catering to the angry middle class who will not rally together unless they have facts, they have options and have no choice. Getting this population angry at teachers is just plain old dumb. I didn't think Paladino was that dumb, but this latest radio address proves his lack of tact which provokes the vulnerable with his cheap shots. The drop in the bucket he is talking about regarding the single carrier health care issue is hardly the problem for Buffalo City Schools when you look at the $864 M budget. The Williams' piddly snit fit with the BTF is focusing everyone's anger on teachers. Do we need a cosmetic surgery rider? No. Do we use it? Hardly. Are we willing to negotiate? Absolutely! Are we going to roll over for King James? Absolutely not. We owe Phil Rumore a big thanks for his dedication and commitment to protecting teachers. That is what the public isn't getting. If the union rolls, we are done as a community. It is one of the last bastions of American pride, American labor, American quality. Teaching as we know it will change forever. Maybe one year contracts are the answer if you want turnover, malcontents and inexperienced kids dealing with the meanest, toughest "youngsters" in our city schools. Remember, if we get rid of the union influence, then we can't just kick out the disruptive delinquents. You can't just ship them out to a public school to be dumped on the professional teachers who know how to handle them. Let's not allow the public to forget this vital part of public education. Try a first year teacher with a 7th or 8th grade on the West Side and see how long they last without the support of a union or from veteran mentors. See how long they last when they can't get rid of the chronic behavior problem in their class. Our schools are brimming with problem kids. If we could ship our problems elsewhere our graduation rates would skyrocket, surpassing any charter school. Williams has pinned his political lifeline on this single-carrier issue, and what the public doesn't know is that the union will negotiate and that most teachers don't have a problem with it. He is the one who threatened to "beat his **** " when negotiating with Mr. Rumore. Why this was allowed to transpire without any repercussion still astonishes all professionals in the field. Maybe Paladino and Williams should unite and we could have our own version of the WWF, where they could just beat each other up, beat up Rumore, beat up teachers then make a millions laughing all the way to the bank while the kids cheer. Then at least this would be somewhat entertaining instead of so insulting."

dan wrote:

by the way, when your cut & paste editing needs work.

Full text in above message. No cut,paste or editing needed. Thanks to anonymous for providing this web site. So nice to see how teachers really feel about their students.

It has nothing to do with health care, you are missing the bigger picture of what we are going to do with these problem kids, nevermind the stupid health care issue, it's a symbolic line in the sand that Williams knows will cause friction and is politically a hot issue because it makes people angry. The real problem is what to do with these "bad" kids, if you ababdon the union, then where do we teach these troubled kids? In front of a computer? Send them to inexperienced kids out of college? What do you suggest? Seems that site has it on the ball and is based in reality.

PS have you been in a public school lately?

Another quote from that site you must've missed:
But there's got to be something else there we haven't seen, that's gone unnoticed as to why this singular man would take this company of incompetents on with such vigor. Let's all hope that we have turned the corner for personal agendas and private profit from public subsidies. Let's hope the future will be better for the kids of Buffalo and that this leadership will be held to task, will answer finally the outraged public and the wall of silence and protection they have built for each other will be broken. Let's hope that one man can change things and that in that change we can grow as a community taking pride in the business of educating our lost children. Let's hope someone does take it personally.

Dan is absolutely right!!! This is the REALITY of BPS today. We ARE dedicated to teaching every student that walks through the doors...Privates and Charters cannot say the same....Spend some time in one of those tough classrooms mentioned...walk a mile in our shoes.

FYI not all of us have health care w/plastic surgery rider. Only one plan has that and as previously stated that was negotiated years ago and APPROVED by the Board of Ed. As previously stated Teachers are more than willing to get to the negotiations table to adjust the Health Care Plan...the district drags it's feet.

Thought that intelligent folks out there would appreciate another view point...from those in the trenches. I guess I was mistaken...

Remember we all want the same thing...

"Approved by the BOE". Now there is a ringing endorsement! Everything the Board of IDIOTS touches turns to CRAP.

dan wrote:

PS have you been in a public school lately?

Yep..my kids go to Discovery. Oh wait...that's where the principal didn't call a child's parents when he may or may not have been abused. That's also where teachers show how mature they are by taking out their hostilities on children when the parents disagree with their opinion. Yep...I have been in one. Oh wait..also went though South Park when the saying was "How do you survive South Park? Lay low and hug the wall." Maybe with reconstruction a new attitude will prevail there. When was the last time YOU were in a BPS??? Oh YOU'RE A TEACHER!!! Bet you don't send YOUR kids to a BPS.

anonymous wrote:

Dan is absolutely right!!! This is the REALITY of BPS today. We ARE dedicated to teaching every student that walks through the doors...Privates and Charters cannot say the same....Spend some time in one of those tough classrooms mentioned...walk a mile in our shoes.
FYI not all of us have health care w/plastic surgery rider. Only one plan has that and as previously stated that was negotiated years ago and APPROVED by the Board of Ed. As previously stated Teachers are more than willing to get to the negotiations table to adjust the Health Care Plan...the district drags it's feet.
Thought that intelligent folks out there would appreciate another view point...from those in the trenches. I guess I was mistaken...
Remember we all want the same thing...

Get over yourselves and the health care issue and start standing up for the kids in public. Again...not one teacher has answered the questions....If your child was involved in an incident would you want to know? Would YOU be upset if the PRINCIPAL didn't call you? Get over your own persecution complex and put yourselves in the position of PARENTS of kids who would like to be reassured that their KIDS are safe!!

dan wrote:

Another quote from that site you must've missed:
But there's got to be something else there we haven't seen, that's gone unnoticed as to why this singular man would take this company of incompetents on with such vigor. Let's all hope that we have turned the corner for personal agendas and private profit from public subsidies. Let's hope the future will be better for the kids of Buffalo and that this leadership will be held to task, will answer finally the outraged public and the wall of silence and protection they have built for each other will be broken. Let's hope that one man can change things and that in that change we can grow as a community taking pride in the business of educating our lost children. Let's hope someone does take it personally.

Sorry...where was that in the original editorial? Was that one of the replies?? Funny, since the ENTIRE editorial is there I don't believe I missed it despite my copy, cut, paste, editorial skills which you say are lacking.

Angrier wrote:

<quoted text>
Get over yourselves and the health care issue and start standing up for the kids in public. Again...not one teacher has answered the questions....If your child was involved in an incident would you want to know? Would YOU be upset if the PRINCIPAL didn't call you? Get over your own persecution complex and put yourselves in the position of PARENTS of kids who would like to be reassured that their KIDS are safe!!

Hey ...get some sleep....you are bringing up discussion from a different page (re: Discovery School). I will however respond.

YES YES YES, I completely agree with you that I would have wanted to be notified immediatly by the teacher and/or principal if it was my child.

I can't explain why that was not done...I wasn't there (as none of you were either). I don't know who told who and what they were instructed or advised to do. It's clear that lots of mistakes were made but the ultimate shame is the lack of response from the Superintendent himself who should ultimately take reponsibility for these isssues

Hey I agree the parents SHOULD be mad about the Discovery School giant mistake. I agree with you, I think teachers are mortified, I think they are embarassed to work for this district and where they are blamed for all wrongs. YES, we agree with you, however, teachers work their butts off, schools are full of teachers that really do a great job, and do care very much. Hailing charter schools like Esmonde did is an insult because you can pick the kids you want to teach by getting rid of the real behavior problems. The BPS teacher doesn't have that luxury....that's all. You go all charter, you go all amateur. It's a gamble. By the way, why aren't you mad about the certified letter being passed off by the Superintendent who makes $225,000 a year?

By the way, is it also the teacher's fault for all your anger?????

Until Williams and the Sisters and the present BOE are gone, nothing will change. Stop the finger pointing and get on with the salient issues. BPS needs a whole new administration which has no ties or obligations to the old. The present administration has it made, with no incentive to change anything.

AGREED

You want to get mad parents? Read the report on ResulTech from the State on Buffalo.com , Pete Simon's brief doesn't do it justice. Remember we are paying this out of state company $7.1 million in 3yrs. WOW

I guess after 35 years in this city (a city that for the most part IS the City of Good Neighbors)and being part of the Buffalo School System - a fact that I am now ashamed to admit - we have reached a point where right and wrong do not matter to the Administrators and Public Officials no longer matters. Common sense has disappeared. My kids go to DISCOVERY and the teachers there are not mortified. they are backing the lack of common sense that ran through that building from the principal and decide that it is right to place the blame on the administrators. Where is the accountability for personal actions that as parents we try to instill in our children? If my principal and co-workers knew that a student may or may not have been abused and that the parents were not notified - I would call the parents. Consequences be damned...
The BOE, BTF and BPS have decided that children have been reduced to $$$. The School #44 debacle is just the most recent demonstration. Who puts a web based program in place - without the PROPER classroom instruction to back it up in a school meant to educate our least motivated student? Oh wait...The BPS and BOE. If I were assigned to ANY school and NOT teaching my area of certification I would be in the BTF offices. That is something that THEY should be representing me and my students. I am angry at teachers who do not demand that the BTF stand up for the students. I am angry at teachers who have a "countdown clock" to retirement and moving out of the area date.
I am angry that my dues are used to fight court cases over how many coverages I can chose from rather than conceeding that a single payer is a good idea and it won't kill me or my family. I'm really angry that the BOE regularly approve an agenda presented by the Superintendent simply because members DON'T have the knowledge of the programs that they are approving. I am a thorn in the side of Dr. Williams and the BTF. We need more ADULTS in the system to stand up and say "enough". Paladino can keep these issues in the public eye but we need to work from the inside. The school mess blog doesn't help. Yes, there were inequities over the years with contracts. But in a time when the economy has gone into the tank and money is so limited, we have to pick our battles.
I'm a parent and an employee and totally fed up with the system forgetting why they are getting paychecks...the students.

Angrier....

Sounds like you are suffering from a SEVERE case of Burnout and Low Morale. Let me guess...are you working Summer school? That has to be the ultimate in aggravation!
Try to get some perspective...you are way to close to this Discovery Issue...you have a right to be angry, frustrated, and disillusioned (We are too). But use that anger well...lashing out at your colleagues will not help. I know you think you are the only voice of reason in this mess but...lots of teachers are just plain SCARED. Maybe Discovery teachers stick up for CB because they are afraid of who the next principal will be...fear of the unknown in this district is high. People are AFRAID to speak up...there are too many out there that have become "drunk with power" (Barton at McKinley, Keresztes at City Honors, Dr. Williams et al) Look what they have done to the reputations of others...not to mention what they have done to the students/families and this community....
Listen we've all been there...you know the reality. You said yourself you've been around 35 years...didn't say how long with the BPS.It is a HUGE MESS!! Dr Williams was brought on board in part to create this....to break the unions. If we start caving in now we will be DONE. That's what they are counting on..
Can't believe people still don't get it....it's not about accepting a Single Health Carrier. It's that they VIOLATED A CONTRACT!!!! The majority of teachers are willing to go to Single Health Carrier...just NOT the way the BOE handled it. If we don't stand our ground with this issue, WHAT'S NEXT??? You can't have it both ways.

Agreed. Downtown we go to BOE meetings so they can ignore us, laugh at us and roll their eyes.

Yes, a contract was broken and Williams is indeed a Union Buster but strength does not come from sinking to the levels of the Administration. The system sucks and the BOE and State continue to close their collective ignorant eyes.
I have seen/heard "teachers" act and say things in front of and to students that should never be allowed. Just try to reprimand them. HA!!
Some of the adults in the system behave just as badly as the "trouble makers" and "delinquents" we are supposedly educating. Principals are allowed to run their little kingdoms with no oversight.
The apathy that the teachers/parents/public is in the posting right above from "nobody". Carl Paladino is not perfect but at least he is taking a stand. I'd rather see the BTF on TV supporting his demands for reform rather than criticizing. At least he's trying. Sometimes you just have to know which battles to fight and which side to fight for....our kids.