I am sorry for the lack of posts. It is hard to write about something that it is way too painful to even think about. I started this blog as an outlet for my idle frustration and sometimes the frustration comes from the subject itself.
The thought of the Rubber Room makes me sick. I am unable to sleep on Sunday nights. The situation here is truly abominable. The reassignment process is acutely paralyzing to one's career and thought process. Everyday as I sit in my chair, I watch some defenseless, overly educated soul as they open up their their packet of charges sent from their Bully of a principal. More often than not, the charges usually arrive just days after the six month deadline, just around the time when the teacher thinks that there may be some hope that they are of the dark.(Just another abuse of power that the principals use.) It is possible for a principal to have a change of heart and eventually drop the allegations. Somewhere between the date of the actual reassignment to the time they receive formal charges, most teachers have lost all of their drive to fight. Once the charges arrive, their 'umph' is pretty much gone.
The newly reassigned teacher can often be identified by their level of 'spunk'. Some spend their time writing. Writing to the Mayor, the Chancellor, Randi Weingarten and anyone else whom they think will listen. The newly reassigned teacher is sure that he will be able to 'shake things up'. Lawyers are called and thoughts of suing the DOE, the UFT and the principal are entertained. WAKING UP the sleeping public actually seems do-able at this point. There seems to be no retreat in sight for this newly reassigned teacher. He is on a mission. Weeks pass in the Rubber Room and responses are few and far between. He refuses to accept that the public is asleep. Months pass and still... the public is snoring. Lacking acknowledgment, the newly reassigned teacher comes to realize the disturbing imminent truth.
NOBODY CARES. NOT THE MAYOR, NOT THE UFT, NOT THE PUBLIC. NOBODY.
.
Blogger Chaz said...
Fidgity:
You must fight on! This is what Tweed wants for you to give up. Yes, they think of us as bugs. I think of myself as a wasp who will sting anybody who goes after me. Once stung, twice shy about squishing me.
We can only win by staying together and continue to expose the abuse that the dOE does to us.
May 5, 2009 12:59 PM
Blogger Mamacita (Mamacita) said...
It's awful, isn't it. But, you know, people who have been there care. There's nothing we can do, but we can care.
Caring is something, I guess.
It's something we refuse to think about because it could never happen to us, and then it does, and we're in a state of disbelieving shock. Finding out that nobody except those who KNOW, really care, is part of the shock.
Just to let you know: I care.
May 5, 2009 1:21 PM
Blogger Fidgety said...
No guys, I have not given up and as of now I don't plan to. It is just disheartening to watch the spirit of a person die while sitting and waiting to be further condemned.
I and all of the others appreciate your encouraging words.
Yes, caring is something. Thank you.
May 5, 2009 2:11 PM
Blogger A Teacher In The Bronx said...
Don't give up. The squeaky wheel gets oiled every single time. Get on a mountain top and don't stop until you get what you want!!
Email me please.
May 5, 2009 8:03 PM
Fidgity:
ReplyDeleteYou must fight on! This is what Tweed wants for you to give up. Yes, they think of us as bugs. I think of myself as a wasp who will sting anybody who goes after me. Once stung, twice shy about squishing me.
We can only win by staying together and continue to expose the abuse that the dOE does to us.
It's awful, isn't it. But, you know, people who have been there care. There's nothing we can do, but we can care.
ReplyDeleteCaring is something, I guess.
It's something we refuse to think about because it could never happen to us, and then it does, and we're in a state of disbelieving shock. Finding out that nobody except those who KNOW, really care, is part of the shock.
Just to let you know: I care.
No guys, I have not given up yet. It is just disheartening to watch the spirit of a person die while sitting and waiting to be further condemned.
ReplyDeleteI and all of the others appreciate your encouraging words. Yes, caring is something. Thank you.
Don't give up. The squeaky wheel gets oiled every single time. Get on a mountain top and don't stop until you get what you want!!
ReplyDeleteEmail me please.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI’ve just completed my third full week in the rubber room, and I have found, as you say that this experience is “paralyzing to one’s career and thought process”. I had the advantage (?) of going through the first stage that you describe, moral outrage and righteous indignation, when a colleague was falsely charged. I was sure that all she had to do was get a good private lawyer and not only would the charges be dropped, but our horrible principal would get fired. That is NOT what happened. The whole process is corrupt and fixed against the teacher.
ReplyDeleteI encourage you to write, write, write. You don’t have to publish right now, but no one outside the rubber room is in the position we are in: to give a detailed account of how Bloomberg’s little experiment affects human beings. If it is written down, it becomes a part of history. In my opinion, that is the most dangerous thing we can do against the DOE and the UFT. They thrive on secrecy. At some point they will be faced with what they did, if enough of us keep a faithful record.
One more thing. I expect to be pressured to delete my blog at some point. But once we post on the blogosphere that means we have “published”. We can delete it, but we can’t unpublish. Get friends and family to keep copies of what you write in case you find it necessary to delete.
Good luck--you are in my thoughts and prayers. I just met another lawyer, a former rubber room teacher and a former arbitrator. Let me know if you need his address.
ReplyDeleteEvery day you get through is another victory.
ReplyDelete