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"I know I am changing the subject, but did anyone see the teacher resignations in Harrisburg? I am thinking Pittsburgh will soon have teachers walking out. These buildings are crazy!!"
I am glad this was brought up. I am a second year teacher at a " high needs" school. I am thinking of resigning because of the chaos in the building. A student threatened to throw me down the steps if I ever called the home again. This isn't the first time I have been threatened this year. No discipline in our building.
4:18, document it all. Tell all your colleagues as each incident occurs where you feel threatened. Keep a journal. The words "safe and welcoming" used to be the phrase used just before the word school. Students bullying teachers, is there a campaign against that from anywhere? If administrations allow this type of behavior to go unaddressed or to apply only restorative practices to eliminate it, any public support for public education will erode quickly. While many have been opposed from the beginning to vouchers and charters, not taking the bull by the horns on the topic of safety will just add to the support of those opposed to public education.
PPS administrators will do nothing when a teacher is assaulted, or threatened with assault. And the union will do nothing. They are both more concerned about the PPS's public image than they are about teacher safety.
So what can a teacher do? 7:02 made a very good point. Document everything, in detail. Then if stress does force you to resign, sue the district for failure to provide a safe work space. Sue them not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of those teachers still on the job. Lawsuits will get their attention.
There is a second option. Call the Pittsburgh police when a crime has occurred. And yes, being threatened with assault is a serious crime. The school police will sweep most reports under the rug. But the city police will not.
Unfortunately, this second option is a VERY dangerous one. PPS employees are not supposed to call the city police. It can get you into real trouble. PPS employees are told to call the school police only, for obvious reasons. When the school police take a report, it won't make the evening news.
A strong, teacher-centered union would insist that its members sue when necessary, and call the city police when necessary. But the current union is more like an arm of administration. And because of the way the union structures its voting process, that's not likely to change.
So I truly see little hope for the future of the PPS. There will be bright spots when it comes to a few programs in a few schools. But overall, the unreported violence will increase. And 7:02 is right when he/she says public support for public education will erode.
I'll close by saying one more thing. One of the most depressing things about this whole situation is when unaware members of the public say things like "if you teachers would only be more caring, the violence would stop." That's not advice. It's actually kicking someone when he's down. Most teachers I know are already doing all they can. They are well-trained, and they ARE caring. But they are not super-human.
WELL stated 10:51-- No caring teacher can stop a violent, dangerous individual with mental issues. These teachers are giving with their heart every day- but being in danger hurts them, and their families. This "doing nothing" over violent incidents will make sane parents pull their kids out-- even if charters etc are worse schools-- their children arent in constant danger. Some students are very upset when their teacher is injured. This lack of caring of the union is hurting students mental health throughout the city.
Please do not expect any help from the Union. As stated, they want to go along with PPS that all is well. They have sold their sold to the devil when Mark Roosevelt arrived on the scene and they have NEVER reclaimed it since. Sorry teachers-you are on your own.
I hear Uprep has been rocking lately. Two large fights the last few days. Students getting their houses shot at over the break. Police walking around the building with bullet proof vests on. How does anyone send their kids to that school? How can teachers work there? I have an idea, let's sit in circles! It's the teachers fault! Enough already
Read this article and consider the effect of a traumatized environment on students’ ability to concentrate, learn or even attend school. And whether even the most caring, engaging teacher is equipped to heal these children, while incidentally teaching algebra or history.
'I just want to be 18. All we want is to make it to 18': The wrenching lives of young survivors of violence
By: By Shelly Bradbury / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Description: During the last decade, three times as many people have survived being shot in Pittsburgh than have been shot and killed.
(Sent from PG Reader)
Link to this article: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/11/30/trauma-young-survivors-violence-pittsburgh-victims-firearms-shields-embry/stories/201711300186
GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN. THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT. HENCE, THESE ARE NOT SCHOOLS AND THESE ARE NOT STUDENTS. LEAVE NOW WHY YOU ARE STILL HUMAN. GO TO THE SUBURBS OR TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. PARENTS ACTUALLY EXIST IN THOSE REAL SCHOOLS, AND THEY PUT THEIR CHILDREN FIRST, BUT BY PUTTING THEM FIRST, PARENTS REQUIRE THEIR CHILDREN TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL. IF THEIR CHILDREN FAIL, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR CHILDREN, NOT EXCUSES, THIS VIOLENT BEHAVIOR YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS NOT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR TO THESE SO-CALLED STUDENTS AND THEIR SO-CALLED PARENTS, AND MARK MY WORD, CAPA WILL BE NEXT ON THE LIST O SEE THE NEW NORM. RUMOR HAS IT THAT RATS ARE BEING SEEN FLEEING PPS BUILDINGS. DON'T WAIT FOR A LIFEBOAT, JUMP!
Yes, call the cops. This rabble would not get away with it in a corner store, so why should they get away with it in multi-million dollar facility, a multi-million dollar staff, and a multi-million dollar budget?
I agree with 5:50 BUT know that this will bring trouble down on you-- powers above dont like dirty laundry out to public-- note that the MLK situation never would have come out if it had happened in school-- no choice out on the road! That said, sometimes situations are so bad and unsafe-- you decide your safety and that of the students is worth calling the police--and maybe if enough people "don't care about the PR" the system can get shaken. And I know the union is in bed with admin-- BUT honestly, we just blow them off as doing nothing-- not when you think about all the money that has gone before us- you pay big dues and they should be held accountable. Even if they just joined in the taking note of incidents-- it would be no skin off them to put someone in charge of "school incidents" and just keep the damn record. Yes it would be facing up to it-- we arent asking to publicize but just listening to injured people would validate the situations. Even, ask union reps to keep notes--it would at least give staff the feeling that someone is hearing them--- or maybe-- Union should sit in a circle and talk it out ;)
Interesting metaphor 9:18. Teachers need to do what needs to be done for teaching and learning to occur. If that means calling cops , shredding the 'script'. or taking johnny by the ears - then do it. Break out of this 'jail' you find yourself in and take back your freedom. For God's sake.
As I noted in an earlier post, violence against teachers would certainly decrease if the Pittsburgh Police got involved. It would shine light on what central administration wants to keep hidden.
But when it comes to teachers calling the Pittsburgh Police, it's not a matter of caring about what other people think. We are told not to call the Pittsburgh Police. Period. So if a teacher should do it anyway, one (or both) of these things would happen:
1. The teacher would be charged with insubordination, a willful failure to follow orders. If that teacher is not tenured, he'd probably be fired. And if he is tenured, he'd get time off without pay.
2. The teacher would be targeted. All sorts of observers would start showing up in his classroom. And they'd be looking for teacher errors. Not enough student work posted on the wall. Teacher not giving enough instruction before allowing students to practice. Teacher giving too much instruction before allowing students to practice. Etc. Etc.
And each "error" will be written up. Get enough write-ups, and you're fired, even if you're tenured.
I've seen both things (1 and 2) happen many times after a teacher has spoken up. And the union will do nothing. After all, the teacher was "insubordinate". The union does not like people who rock the boat.
I have also been told that the city police will sometimes just kick a complaint back to the school police. So it's an exercise in futility. I'm not saying here that an assaulted teacher should not call the city police. What I am saying is that it is a risky act.
The union and the district work together and have a lot of safeguards in place to make sure all of the unsafe conditions are hidden from the public. I’ve heard if we call 911 from a PPS school the dispatcher will automatically send the call to PPS police, making it nearly impossible to get city police involved. I suppose you would have go to the station and file charges in person after school etc. I fully believe you would be targeted until a reason could be found to dismiss you from your job if you went this route. The union is complicit in all of this. I was at king for 4 years almost 10 years ago and teachers were constantly assaulted, students smoked weed in the stairwells, security guards were injured, younger students were molested by older students in bathroom, and there was a student who reported being raped by another student in the basement. Following the rape, there was an emergency meeting not to address the incident, but to remind us it will violate the terms of our employment to speak to the press.
Another time, a few of our 8th grade students led city police on a chase when a pedestrian reported what he/she believed were grown men assaulting each other on our (public) playground, Another emergency meeting occurred to let us know that we “may have heard there was an incident involving our students, but be assured there WAS NO INCIDENT”. The phrase “there was no incident” was repeated over and over just to make it clear that it was not be brought up again.
We were calling the union 24-7 about the unsafe conditions for students and teachers. This was more than 10 years ago and last month Nina, the PFT, the board etc. acted so shocked that something like the recent recent assault could have ever happened at king. The union could file a suit on behalf of students and teachers for failing to provide a safe environment. The teacher who calls city police would have to be okay with losing his or her job.
Take a moment to watch this video from a previous post
You have to see this interview. Our superintendent when asked if these assaults are rare says on camera "that depends on your definition of rare, let's not get into definitions" WTH? Is there a new way to define rare? Or what is considered rare at PPS is different than rare at other distructs? Crazy.
The superintendent basically lies and where was the union to question these claims? Where are the REAL reporters? This information is obviously tracked somewhere, but I’m sure it’s buried so deep it will never see the light of day.
" The teacher who calls city police would have to be okay with losing his or her job." This really says it all- It has to be so bad and so dangerous-that you arent really functioning anyway but constantly stressing about your safety-- then sadly you have to let it go-- but this has gone on for years cause teachers are also parents and honestly have to speak "paycheck English" And yes they will get you on something-- no one is so perfect that their days dont have a "gotcha moment" and to add to injury-- the students are very aware when herds of admin are in and observing-- trust me they dont act better-- and-- teacher is blamed-- it isnt like admin will look at the behavior and blame the student!
I truly hope you are not a teacher or a parent. These types of comments are not productive. The teachers at PPS are obviously walking a very fine line to advocate for children and change while not making themselves a target for an administration that wants to maintain the status quo. It is easy to write comments like yours, but teachers cannot simply go rogue and act as “shepherds” or “forces of changes” in a way that results in them losing their jobs. They do have to balance playing by the rules and risking what they can to benefit their students. To imply that they should resign if they are not willing to risk being fired is insulting to the PPS teachers who are risking their mental and physical health to do this work. The district would love nothing more than to have mass resignations and/or firings because as a whole, the current teachers are highly experienced, educated, and strong. They would have them replaced with inexperienced, controllable, untenured drones in a heartbeat. If you are a parent, or even a city resident, try thanking a teacher for what they do for children and what they must endure from the adults who are in charge.
With all do respect,this country was not founded on walking fine lines. The sons and daughters of liberty ( in keeping with the metaphor ) risked their lives for those principles that they held dear. If indeed the current teachers are highly experienced, educated, and strong, their success or lack of, is mirrored in 70 to 80 to 90% non proficiency in basic competency skills that they are required to teach.
Just a note: those school districts that score above us, have of course lots of differences we can point to in students. However one difference- that isnt blaming families etc is that those mostly suburban districts cherish the seasoned professionals! Parents want their kids in these teachers classes-- if you are all honest-- you remember that teacher that was oh soooo tough, but yeah taught you oh sooo much. THAT difference is a key -- Teach for America is just waiting in the wings to move easily influenced non- career teachers who plan to move in and out of schools into urban jobs.
Hypothetically and perhaps with an uncluttered focus - as a Superintendent of an inexperienced young group of fearless, passionate, teaching professionals, my directive would simply entail: Be the school that people choose.
24 comments:
This article describes the issue:
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2017/11/22/Harrisburg-teachers-union-resign-student-violence-classroom-school-district-discipline/stories/201711220161
I am glad this was brought up. I am a second year teacher at a " high needs" school. I am thinking of resigning because of the chaos in the building. A student threatened to throw me down the steps if I ever called the home again. This isn't the first time I have been threatened this year. No discipline in our building.
4:18, document it all. Tell all your colleagues as each incident occurs where you feel threatened. Keep a journal. The words "safe and welcoming" used to be the phrase used just before the word school. Students bullying teachers, is there a campaign against that from anywhere? If administrations allow this type of behavior to go unaddressed or to apply only restorative practices to eliminate it, any public support for public education will erode quickly. While many have been opposed from the beginning to vouchers and charters, not taking the bull by the horns on the topic of safety will just add to the support of those opposed to public education.
PPS administrators will do nothing when a teacher is assaulted, or threatened with assault. And the union will do nothing. They are both more concerned about the PPS's public image than they are about teacher safety.
So what can a teacher do? 7:02 made a very good point. Document everything, in detail. Then if stress does force you to resign, sue the district for failure to provide a safe work space. Sue them not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of those teachers still on the job. Lawsuits will get their attention.
There is a second option. Call the Pittsburgh police when a crime has occurred. And yes, being threatened with assault is a serious crime. The school police will sweep most reports under the rug. But the city police will not.
Unfortunately, this second option is a VERY dangerous one. PPS employees are not supposed to call the city police. It can get you into real trouble. PPS employees are told to call the school police only, for obvious reasons. When the school police take a report, it won't make the evening news.
A strong, teacher-centered union would insist that its members sue when necessary, and call the city police when necessary. But the current union is more like an arm of administration. And because of the way the union structures its voting process, that's not likely to change.
So I truly see little hope for the future of the PPS. There will be bright spots when it comes to a few programs in a few schools. But overall, the unreported violence will increase. And 7:02 is right when he/she says public support for public education will erode.
I'll close by saying one more thing. One of the most depressing things about this whole situation is when unaware members of the public say things like "if you teachers would only be more caring, the violence would stop." That's not advice. It's actually kicking someone when he's down. Most teachers I know are already doing all they can. They are well-trained, and they ARE caring. But they are not super-human.
WELL stated 10:51--
No caring teacher can stop a violent, dangerous individual with mental issues. These teachers are giving with their heart every day- but being in danger hurts them, and their families. This "doing nothing" over violent incidents will make sane parents pull their kids out-- even if charters etc are worse schools-- their children arent in constant danger. Some students are very upset when their teacher is injured. This lack of caring of the union is hurting students mental health throughout the city.
Please do not expect any help from the Union. As stated, they want to go along with PPS that all is well. They have sold their sold to the devil when Mark Roosevelt arrived on the scene and they have NEVER reclaimed it since. Sorry teachers-you are on your own.
I hear Uprep has been rocking lately. Two large fights the last few days. Students getting their houses shot at over the break. Police walking around the building with bullet proof vests on. How does anyone send their kids to that school? How can teachers work there? I have an idea, let's sit in circles! It's the teachers fault! Enough already
Read this article and consider the effect of a traumatized environment on students’ ability to concentrate, learn or even attend school. And whether even the most caring, engaging teacher is equipped to heal these children, while incidentally teaching algebra or history.
'I just want to be 18. All we want is to make it to 18': The wrenching lives of young survivors of violence
By: By Shelly Bradbury / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Description: During the last decade, three times as many people have survived being shot in Pittsburgh than have been shot and killed.
(Sent from PG Reader)
Link to this article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/11/30/trauma-young-survivors-violence-pittsburgh-victims-firearms-shields-embry/stories/201711300186
Call the Pittsburgh Police for God's sakes. Your a tax payer; are you not? The crime is the real trouble 10:51 AM.
GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN. THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT. HENCE, THESE ARE NOT SCHOOLS AND THESE ARE NOT STUDENTS. LEAVE NOW WHY YOU ARE STILL HUMAN. GO TO THE SUBURBS OR TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. PARENTS ACTUALLY EXIST IN THOSE REAL SCHOOLS, AND THEY PUT THEIR CHILDREN FIRST, BUT BY PUTTING THEM FIRST, PARENTS REQUIRE THEIR CHILDREN TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL. IF THEIR CHILDREN FAIL, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR CHILDREN, NOT EXCUSES, THIS VIOLENT BEHAVIOR YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS NOT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR TO THESE SO-CALLED STUDENTS AND THEIR SO-CALLED PARENTS, AND MARK MY WORD, CAPA WILL BE NEXT ON THE LIST O SEE THE NEW NORM. RUMOR HAS IT THAT RATS ARE BEING SEEN FLEEING PPS BUILDINGS. DON'T WAIT FOR A LIFEBOAT, JUMP!
Yes, call the cops. This rabble would not get away with it in a corner store, so why should they get away with it in multi-million dollar facility, a multi-million dollar staff, and a multi-million dollar budget?
I agree with 5:50 BUT know that this will bring trouble down on you-- powers above dont like dirty laundry out to public-- note that the MLK situation never would have come out if it had happened in school-- no choice out on the road! That said, sometimes situations are so bad and unsafe-- you decide your safety and that of the students is worth calling the police--and maybe if enough people "don't care about the PR" the system can get shaken.
And I know the union is in bed with admin-- BUT honestly, we just blow them off as doing nothing-- not when you think about all the money that has gone before us- you pay big dues and they should be held accountable. Even if they just joined in the taking note of incidents-- it would be no skin off them to put someone in charge of "school incidents" and just keep the damn record. Yes it would be facing up to it-- we arent asking to publicize but just listening to injured people would validate the situations. Even, ask union reps to keep notes--it would at least give staff the feeling that someone is hearing them---
or maybe-- Union should sit in a circle and talk it out ;)
Call the cops. Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.
Interesting metaphor 9:18. Teachers need to do what needs to be done for teaching and learning to occur. If that means calling cops , shredding the 'script'. or taking johnny by the ears - then do it. Break out of this 'jail' you find yourself in and take back your freedom.
For God's sake.
9:18,
As I noted in an earlier post, violence against teachers would certainly decrease if the Pittsburgh Police got involved. It would shine light on what central administration wants to keep hidden.
But when it comes to teachers calling the Pittsburgh Police, it's not a matter of caring about what other people think. We are told not to call the Pittsburgh Police. Period. So if a teacher should do it anyway, one (or both) of these things would happen:
1. The teacher would be charged with insubordination, a willful failure to follow orders. If that teacher is not tenured, he'd probably be fired. And if he is tenured, he'd get time off without pay.
2. The teacher would be targeted. All sorts of observers would start showing up in his classroom. And they'd be looking for teacher errors. Not enough student work posted on the wall. Teacher not giving enough instruction before allowing students to practice. Teacher giving too much instruction before allowing students to practice. Etc. Etc.
And each "error" will be written up. Get enough write-ups, and you're fired, even if you're tenured.
I've seen both things (1 and 2) happen many times after a teacher has spoken up. And the union will do nothing. After all, the teacher was "insubordinate". The union does not like people who rock the boat.
I have also been told that the city police will sometimes just kick a complaint back to the school police. So it's an exercise in futility. I'm not saying here that an assaulted teacher should not call the city police. What I am saying is that it is a risky act.
Another PPS teacher here...
The union and the district work together and have a lot of safeguards in place to make sure all of the unsafe conditions are hidden from the public. I’ve heard if we call 911 from a PPS school the dispatcher will automatically send the call to PPS police, making it nearly impossible to get city police involved. I suppose you would have go to the station and file charges in person after school etc. I fully believe you would be targeted until a reason could be found to dismiss you from your job if you went this route. The union is complicit in all of this. I was at king for 4 years almost 10 years ago and teachers were constantly assaulted, students smoked weed in the stairwells, security guards were injured, younger students were molested by older students in bathroom, and there was a student who reported being raped by another student in the basement. Following the rape, there was an emergency meeting not to address the incident, but to remind us it will violate the terms of our employment to speak to the press.
Another time, a few of our 8th grade students led city police on a chase when a pedestrian reported what he/she believed were grown men assaulting each other on our (public) playground, Another emergency meeting occurred to let us know that we “may have heard there was an incident involving our students, but be assured there WAS NO INCIDENT”. The phrase “there was no incident” was repeated over and over just to make it clear that it was not be brought up again.
We were calling the union 24-7 about the unsafe conditions for students and teachers. This was more than 10 years ago and last month Nina, the PFT, the board etc. acted so shocked that something like the recent recent assault could have ever happened at king. The union could file a suit on behalf of students and teachers for failing to provide a safe environment. The teacher who calls city police would have to be okay with losing his or her job.
Take a moment to watch this video from a previous post
You have to see this interview. Our superintendent when asked if these assaults are rare says on camera "that depends on your definition of rare, let's not get into definitions" WTH? Is there a new way to define rare? Or what is considered rare at PPS is different than rare at other distructs? Crazy.
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video/category/spoken-word-kdkatv/3751838-pittsburgh-public-school-superintendent-weighs-in-on-recent-violence/
The superintendent basically lies and where was the union to question these claims? Where are the REAL reporters? This information is obviously tracked somewhere, but I’m sure it’s buried so deep it will never see the light of day.
" The teacher who calls city police would have to be okay with losing his or her job." This really says it all- It has to be so bad and so dangerous-that you arent really functioning anyway but constantly stressing about your safety-- then sadly you have to let it go-- but this has gone on for years cause teachers are also parents and honestly have to speak "paycheck English"
And yes they will get you on something-- no one is so perfect that their days dont have a "gotcha moment"
and to add to injury-- the students are very aware when herds of admin are in and observing-- trust me they dont act better-- and-- teacher is blamed-- it isnt like admin will look at the behavior and blame the student!
Teachers are meant to be shepherds but instead allow themselves to be herded like sheep.
Resign or be a force for change.
7:51
I truly hope you are not a teacher or a parent. These types of comments are not productive. The teachers at PPS are obviously walking a very fine line to advocate for children and change while not making themselves a target for an administration that wants to maintain the status quo. It is easy to write comments like yours, but teachers cannot simply go rogue and act as “shepherds” or “forces of changes” in a way that results in them losing their jobs. They do have to balance playing by the rules and risking what they can to benefit their students. To imply that they should resign if they are not willing to risk being fired is insulting to the PPS teachers who are risking their mental and physical health to do this work. The district would love nothing more than to have mass resignations and/or firings because as a whole, the current teachers are highly experienced, educated, and strong. They would have them replaced with inexperienced, controllable, untenured drones in a heartbeat. If you are a parent, or even a city resident, try thanking a teacher for what they do for children and what they must endure from the adults who are in charge.
With all do respect,this country was not founded on walking fine lines. The sons and daughters of liberty ( in keeping with the metaphor ) risked their lives for those principles that they held dear. If indeed the current teachers are highly experienced, educated, and strong, their success or lack of, is mirrored in 70 to 80 to 90% non proficiency in basic competency skills that they are required to teach.
Who knows what mass resignations would ignite in a generally disengaged public?
"Real" reporters?
Inexperienced but fearless young professionals?
Mass fleeing of families from the city?
Transformation?
Who knows?
What we do know is that the status quo, fine lines and balancing acts are not working. Full stop.
Just a note: those school districts that score above us, have of course lots of differences we can point to in students. However one difference- that isnt blaming families etc is that those mostly suburban districts cherish the seasoned professionals! Parents want their kids in these teachers classes-- if you are all honest-- you remember that teacher that was oh soooo tough, but yeah taught you oh sooo much. THAT difference is a key -- Teach for America is just waiting in the wings to move easily influenced non- career teachers who plan to move in and out of schools into urban jobs.
Hypothetically and perhaps with an uncluttered focus - as a Superintendent of an inexperienced young group of fearless, passionate, teaching professionals, my directive would simply entail: Be the school that people choose.
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