Sign of the Apocalypse; How Bad Is This School?
1) From this week's Sports Illustrated -- Sign of the Apocalypse: "A Florida middle school gym teacher faces bribery charges for allegedly letting students skip class if they paid him $1 per day."
2) Joe Williams's latest post on his blog at NYCSA
Harlem's Intermediate School 172 is so out-of-control that the missionary do-gooders at Teach For America will no longer allow their people in the building. It is believed to be the first time TFA has ever blacklisted a school anywhere.
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Monday, March 06, 2006
How Bad Is This School?
Harlem's Intermediate School 172 is so out-of-control that the missionary do-gooders at Teach For America will no longer allow their people in the building. It is believed to be the first time TFA has ever blacklisted a school anywhere.
Department of Education officials said they were fine with TFA's decision, noting that they believe the school needs more stability than the short-timing TFA'ers can provide. To help achieve that stability, the Department has assigned three principals to the school in four years?!?!
Not to beat a dead horse with this gimmick, but while you sit back and wonder why in God's name this district school has been allowed to remain open for so long, you may want to keep in mind that this school is only 4,963.2 feet (about 2,205 paces) from the former charter school known as Reisenbach. Reisenbach, a public charter school that was arguably much better than IS 172, was closed by the state in 2004 due to poor performance. Meanwhile this hellhole - shamefully named after Adam Clayton Powell - keeps humming along, year after year. Is this what Amy Stuart Wells meant by accountability in traditional school districts?
When will the state step in to shut this district school down? One word: NEVER. (This is the "public education system" that we're all so proud to say we support. Absolutely shameful.)
So the next time a NYSUT hack tells you he doesn't oppose charter schools, just bad charter schools, remember that he's just yanking your chain.
Couple of things rom this morning's Daily News story stand out:
Teacher George Ticoras, who has had a chair hurled at him and suffered multiple assaults at the school: "I'm not shocked that I am at a school that is violent and where kids are underperforming. I'm shocked that the Education Department has no plan to improve things."
"I have told teachers to lock their doors for their personal safety," said Sandy Haiman, who is paid to mentor five rookie teachers at the school.
IS 172 is plagued by four times the number of major crime incidents tallied at the average city middle school, and a stunning 90% of its students fail to meet math and reading standards.
Department of Education officials said they were fine with TFA's decision, noting that they believe the school needs more stability than the short-timing TFA'ers can provide. To help achieve that stability, the Department has assigned three principals to the school in four years?!?!
Not to beat a dead horse with this gimmick, but while you sit back and wonder why in God's name this district school has been allowed to remain open for so long, you may want to keep in mind that this school is only 4,963.2 feet (about 2,205 paces) from the former charter school known as Reisenbach. Reisenbach, a public charter school that was arguably much better than IS 172, was closed by the state in 2004 due to poor performance. Meanwhile this hellhole - shamefully named after Adam Clayton Powell - keeps humming along, year after year. Is this what Amy Stuart Wells meant by accountability in traditional school districts?
When will the state step in to shut this district school down? One word: NEVER. (This is the "public education system" that we're all so proud to say we support. Absolutely shameful.)
So the next time a NYSUT hack tells you he doesn't oppose charter schools, just bad charter schools, remember that he's just yanking your chain.
Couple of things rom this morning's Daily News story stand out:
Teacher George Ticoras, who has had a chair hurled at him and suffered multiple assaults at the school: "I'm not shocked that I am at a school that is violent and where kids are underperforming. I'm shocked that the Education Department has no plan to improve things."
"I have told teachers to lock their doors for their personal safety," said Sandy Haiman, who is paid to mentor five rookie teachers at the school.
IS 172 is plagued by four times the number of major crime incidents tallied at the average city middle school, and a stunning 90% of its students fail to meet math and reading standards.
posted by Whitney Tilson at 6:12 PM
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