Two hundred thirty thousand dollars. Say that ten times fast. Nice chunk of change to have. Would anyone object to winning that in New York's Mega Millions? Imagine what you can do with that kind of money. I wonder what my school can do with that, but I know it is just a dream. Unfortunately we at my school will never know. That's because that is the amount I have conservatively estimated is spent on the two extra AP's and what would be a secretary's salary if we did not have the "administrative teacher".

How many extra teachers would we have? Heck, we would have more room because the useless three are taking up space. The 12:1:1 classes would be able to move into smaller quarters and there will be classroom space opened up. Perhaps we would be able to hire more reading specialists, or actually have math and reading coaches.

Hey I bet the school can get about two hundred and seventy five computers for that money. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit. I mean you have to buy the service and the software, but at least the lower grades will no longer go without computers in their classroom. Better yet, instead of desktop or laptop computers, each student in the school can have their own hand held computer. In fact hand helds are the way to go nowadays. But we will never know at my school because the money is being pissed away.

But noooooooooooo!!!! The children's needs do not come first. The adults, the incompetent, useless adults come first. Taking care of those who do thy bidding John Deacon, is that all that matters to you? Wake up and smell the coffee already! There is no curriculum, there are no supplies, the students are not being prepared for the 21st century. But you see fit to shell out $230,000? Bravo John Deacon. Do you manage your household expenses in such a laissez faire manner? I doubt it.

This past Friday, Numb Nuts gave PD on Lee Canter method of Assertive Discipline. Ironic that he is the one giving the PD. Oh, for you civilians, PD is professional development. The reason it is so ironic is that when he does lunch duty what he teaches and preaches he doesn't put into practice. You can actually see the veins in his forehead start to bulge and pulsate. Like those dudes on Star Trek. Also out in the yard as well he gets insane. The students have told me that all he does is yell, and never means what he says.

The Dude is a mess. Keeps running out of class, is in the halls, causing problems in his new class. No one cares except the teacher he is with right now. Assertive discipline you say? His teacher Candy, she rocks! She is so organized, so knowledgeable, so loved by her students that she is in fact too good to be a teacher in our school. But she has twenty other students in her class. She can't spend all her time assertively disciplining The Dude, especially when she gets zero support from administration. The law is being not just being broken, but being ignored to suit the powers that be agendas. Call me old fashioned, but when a law is broken the cops should be called and the lawbreakers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Oh the contract was not only violated today. Big time. Just pissed on.

The teacher in the 12:1:1 class I feel so sorry for. Most of the students in that class are just not properly placed. Numb Nuts is not doing anything about it. Just like he didn't do anything about four students that were completely out of control in a teacher's class today. He just stuck his head in, said something stupid and meaningless and left. But back to that teacher who I shall call Saint. The school does not understand what a good teacher she is and how she is not getting any support whatsoever. She doesn't deserve what is not being done. She didn't deserve what happened today. Not by a long shot.

Oh one more thing.

Has anyone seen J D Salinger?

Yeah I know, I am being cryptic. All in good time.

Numb Nuts is working hard, in fact super duper hard in his office. He is sitting at his desk doing something on the computer while one student from that 12:1:1 class is lying on the floor doing something. As I walk by his door I see another boy from the 12:1:1 class running around the hallway. This is a student that should not be out in the hall by himself under any circumstances. Yet there he is. Alone. And Numb Nuts is oblivious to it all.

The King, as this student shall henceforth be known, runs right to me when I call him over and I bring him to Numb Nuts office. I ask Numb Nuts if he is looking for The King and at that moment Numb Nuts stands up with a "of course" look on his face and walks to the door to retrieve the young man. Problem not solved.

A few moments later whilst in another room, and a teacher doing running records with a student, The King comes running in. I look behind him expecting to see Numb Nuts, but alas I do not. The King is running around the room, going under the tables, trying to play hide and seek. I keep my eye on him, staying close, making sure he is not going to get hurt. What The King wants his a healthy dose of attention, and the moment I give it to him he is liable to bolt. I do attempt to redirect him, get him to focus on something else but to no avail. I wonder to myself why isn't Numb Nuts even mildly curious as to where The King is. Is he not responsible for this young man?

Almost ten minutes passes before Numb Nuts, walking to his office from the opposite direction. I ask Numb Nuts if he is looking for The King. Of course, he tells me. He comes in and there is The King under the table. The King starts to curse Numb Nuts out and Numb Nuts looks on with a blank look on his face.

He is what is most on my mind. Why isn't Numb Nuts doing the job of what an assistant principal supposed to be doing. More importantly what about the safety of The King? If I wasn't around, twice, where could The King have wound up? I guess when the only qualification you have for being an assistant principal is cherubs on your checks, you need not worry yourself over such trivial matters as the safety of a student.

Children First! Yipee!

Oh Numb Nuts what can I say? You are a source of infinite material. You make Principal Skinner look like Joe Clark. Your tenure as an assistant principal would make a great sitcom or better yet a Shakespearean tragedy. This should be no surprise. I think the last eight years of having W as president has shown that competency is not a requirement for a leadership position.

I get a call from Numb Nuts today that the 12:1:1 class I written about yesterday was out of control. "It's an emergency, get down here ASAP!", his shrill voice beckons me over the phone. I could picture in mind him hiding under a desk as a full blown revolt is taking place.

So I meander my way to the class and lo and behold the students are running wild. I realize why I was sent down. The teacher had to go on her prep. Hey, I don't begrudge her that. But Numb Nuts could have told me that instead of being shrill with me. But I wondered what he told the other teachers who were there as well. Because I wasn't the only one there.

The other teacher sent there for the "red alert" took several students to her office. I along with the para quickly restored order. Yes we had some problems. One student thought it would be fun to keep running out of the room. I solved this problem by using common sense. I parked myself in front of the door. No way this student was going to move me. He did get out once I admit because there was a flare up in the class that needed my attention.

Most times when a student runs out of a room they want attention. They want to see you chase them and then see how you will get them back to class. I am not going to run through the school unless there is a danger of the student running outside. Short of that, notify security, and just walk briskly. But that is easy. The hard part is to get the student back to the classroom. Each kid is different. Sometimes you have to talk to them, talk tough, walk with them, block their way, but never drag them through the hall. Never.

This is what Numb Nuts did today. The student who ran out of the classroom ran around the corner and basically ran into Numb Nuts numb nuts. Numb Nuts to the student by the hand and started walking with him when the student just flopped on the floor. Must have gotten that tactic out of some 1960's protest march. So what does Numb Nuts do? Starts dragging him down the hall. If memory serves this violates Chancellor's Regulation A-420. The student wasn't a danger to himself or others, he was just being a pain in the ass. There is not, as of yet, any regulation about pains in the asses.

All these students needed was to be redirected, and have someone take control of the situation. I do not blame the teacher at all! She is a new teacher thrown into a mess that IEP's were not adhered to and worse she still has not seen the IEP's! . She asked how she can properly teach these children without knowing anything about them. How can she know what strategies she can use in changing the students negative behavior.

This all falls on Numb Nuts. Like President Truman the buck stops with him in these matters. This is his grade, his responsibility. You can't shirk your responsibility off on others and then run away. And if things get out of hand, improvise, adapt, and overcome!

On September 10th I had mentioned an AP that I know of in a different school that is your usual useless AP. (click here, third paragraph down) I just heard from a colleague of mine that works with him that the grave he has been digging for himself has gotten deeper.

Apparently Dionysus called a teacher a demeaning slur and there is corroborating evidence. This doesn't surprise me. His temper tantrums are famous thought the Bronx. His arguments with his principal, not in private, but in public are legendary. In fact he has had a problem with every female supervisor he has had. Can someone say misogynistic? Last year he called in sick the Tuesday and Wednesday of the week supervisors report in. Guess where he was? Doing his favorite thing. Don't have proof, but his favorite thing was happening at the same time.

So what are his duties as an AP in his school? No one knows. Basically it is to give friends F Status positions, or to come in and do PD, check the stock and real estate markets (I am sure he let one go in his pants the last week), and to berate the principal. Oh, she regrets hiring him. But she is scared of him. Or leave early. Or hide all day.

Just thinking out loud here. How is this allowed to happen? Is this the type of administrator that Jack Welch had in mind? Is this a Children First situation? Who is his patrón?

Now on to my school. Major issues. Screw the contract which is being completely violated, but the students know now there are no repercussions to be had for any and all misbehavior. Not even October and there is chaos.

It is amazing watching Numb Nuts in action. For those of you that are first time readers to the blog Numb Nuts is my pet name for our incompetent beyond belief assistant principal. Saw him doing lunch duty today. Absolutely zero control in there. Not one student takes him seriously at lunch duty and not one student older than 1st grade take him seriously in the school.

"'Splain Lucy." "Ok Ricky."

First he is too easily excitable. He screams all the time. I don't mean talking loud which you tend to need to do during lunch. I mean vein popping screaming all the time. Everything no matter how minor or major has the same decibel level from him. You think the kids take him seriously? No. Do they have respect for him? No! How could they if everything turns him into a shrill nut job?

A few years ago he decided to entice the student's behavior at lunch with positive reinforcement by promising an ice cream party to the classes that behaved the best. Points were to be given and recorded on a poster board for all to see. Sounds good right? Wrong! There was no consistency in the awarding of points. The poster board turned out to be construction paper with a grid made with a Sharpie. When ice cream was finally awarded kids who were not picked complained and whined and whatnot and Numb Nuts folded like a cheap suit and everyone had ice cream.

Second he talks to all students like they are four years old. Hey talk to a four year old that way fine. Talk that way to anyone over seven, well guess what those students think. I mean it is amazing to watch him converse with The Dude. The Dude and his sister are the adults at home and how does Numb Nuts talk to him? Like freakin' Mr Rogers!

Does he not realize where he is, how this students are so adept at picking out a phony. Several years ago there were students hanging out at the Pathmark on 207th St panhandling. Just an aside, the administration knew about this and did nothing. Let's get back on track. These students not only respect and want consistency and discipline, but they can spot a phony a mile away. Numb Nuts is so out of place. He needs to be in Forest Hills, or Riverdale in a school that is just K-1. He has no street cred!

Thirdly the reason this is still going on, the incompetency of Numb Nuts, is that he thinks he knows it all. That he is "BIG MAN AP" and is done evolving as an educator. He is treats every situation the same. Like out of the AP handbook. But you got to think like a Marine. Adapt, improvise and overcome.

Which brings me to my final thought. Again, what qualifies him to be an AP other than that he went to AP school, wrote a check. and had five years in the system? He brings nothing to the table!!

As previously mentioned safety is being compromised in my school. Chancellor's regulations, the holiest of holies, and New York State education law are being violated. I blame the AP's in my school, especially one who is so clueless, so inept, so in over his head for this blatant violation. In fact I can't even think of a pet name for this numb nut so I am open to suggestions. Wait I got it. He will be known as Numb Nuts from know on. I remember last year during the two day circle jerk Numb Nuts was giving PD on Assertive Discipline. I almost peed in my pants I was laughing so hard. In fact the last time I had laughed that heard was during the wrestling scene in Borat. The thought of Numb Nuts explaining how to assertively discipline students was a complete joke and waste of time. This coming from a man who who could not, and still can't control little itty bitty children in a lunch room. My sarcasm almost overcame me in wanting to ask him a question I knew he would get tongue tied over. He wants to be Batman, but he doesn't even have the skills to be Alfred The Butler! He needs to realize that if you wait until there is a fire you are screwed. That the problems need to be taken care of when they are smoldering.

Why is incompetency rewarded?????

Numb Nuts is a product of checkbook Administration Licenses!

Remember "The Terminator"? I have been thinking about a line from that movie all day since seeing Frank in action today. There is a scene in which Reese, aptly played by Michael Biehn is explaining what is after Sarah Connor. "It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop," Reese tells Sarah as they are hiding from Arnold. That is how I feel about Frank most of the time. I don't know whether or not to wash my hands of him, or pity him and do everything I can to help.

Frank first came to our school several years ago. From the get go he was a handful. Not only was he intimidating and bullying students in his class and grade but was attempting to do it with staff as well. I remember one instance in which he looked menacingly at a cluster teacher while pounding his fist into his hand.

The behavior in the classroom was no better. Not following directions, intimidating smaller students, not doing any classwork or homework. Anecdotes were written copiously and nothing was done except to change his class and meet several time with the mother whose favorite line was "I don't know what to do with him, " and just state blankly. I mean I know and I empathize that mom works all day and the dad is not home, but there has to be some parental responsibility taken. She gave the standard "I have a mental health appointment for Frank" line but it is now and as it was then it was an empty promise. Even when threatened to have ACS called on her.

Frank's behavior last year was 180 degrees better. Except with the clusters and at lunch. I think he ate by himself in the cafeteria and did not go outside for about 5 months if memory serves. But at least in his class Frank did what he was supposed to do. The reason for this is simple. He had a strong homeroom teacher that did not accept nor tolerate his anti social behavior. I guess you could say Frank heard the voice of God.

Now here we are nine days into the school year and the proverbial shit is about to hit the proverbial fan. Mrs AK can't control him. I find it ironic that she has him in her class. All that ass kissing for naught. I guess one reaps what they sow. It doesn't help that her room always looks like a tornado hit it, and she is so frazzled all the time it would make me go nuts. But fortunately for her Frank is about to be moved to another class. There is some shuffling going on in the grade and Mrs AK again escapes responsibility.

What makes it so sad is that Frank is super smart. And that also is the problem. He knows how to manipulate, how to push the right buttons. He is a schmoozer when he needs to be. But don't, especially if you are a student, ever get on his bad side. The thing is I discovered how to best settle him down. Oh yes I did share it with one of the assistant principals. But thus far nothing. No implementation, no purchasing of the material needed. All that is need is abut two dollars. But the school can't do it alone. Mom needs to get her act together and start becoming a partner in her child's education. She has never even come to back to school night.

Worst of all this is not fair to the other students in Frank's class or any of the kids who come into contact with him throughout the school day. These kids have a right to a full day of education and lose out when all the focus is on Frank. Worst of all, and I hope I am wrong but won't be surprised if it happens is that one day Frank will seriously injure a student.

I don't know who to turn to with this burden I have. A priest perhaps. But would he understand? I don't know my Hail Marys very well and not in the mood to do any pennence. I think that is how it is spelled. If I have to do some confessing I can be in the booth for hours and hours. Even days. But I guess I won't go to a priest.

Maybe the local barkeep would suffice. Bartenders are good people to talk to when you wish to unburden yourself. They sit there behind the bar with the apron up to their armpits and spit polish shot glasses while they listen. Sheldon Leonard was helpful to Jimmy Stewart. But I would have to keep buying drinks as I unburden myself and I don't think the local barkeep is into buybacks. Besides I see how Moe treats Barney and Homer.

I guess I should unburden myself in, in the nether reaches of cyber world. I hope whomever is reading this will not judge me to harshly. Please don't. It was just a mistake and I promise I will never ever do it again. I promise! Pinky swear too! You ready?

I put the students interests ahead of my own today. I know it was wrong. What is worse is that I had a conversation with an AP that the students were not being properly serviced, and it was not beneficial to the education process. I mentioned what was being done was in violation of state education law and the chancellor's regulations. The AP got mad at me. He huffed and he puffed and told me to mind my business and not to ever quote state education law and chancellor's regulations ever again.

I won't.








Psych!

When I first started teaching the school's AP was a woman who had been in education her entire life. She was an expert in the field of education as were most every AP's I had come into contact with. Mrs F knew the curriculum like the back of her hand. When somebody needed a question answered about best practices in the classroom there was no better person than to mine her knowledge. She had a knack for handling the students and the staff and never once thought of herself. It was the school and the community that came first. Same with a very close family member of mine. This family member not only taught reading at local colleges, but lectured at conferences not only in the United States but abroad as well. They were leaders in their fields. Like a good sergeant these old school AP's knew how to lead. But what are the qualifications for being an AP now? Money and a piece of paper. That is it.

The AP's I have come across lately, not only in my school, but others lack any knowledge of curriculum, are not experts in their fields, and have no idea how to lead staff or students. I mean gee, the way it is done now all it takes is signing up for classes for your admin license, writing a check, getting a favorable principal where you can do your internship, and presto! You are now an AP. Oops forgot one more qualification. And it is a biggie A minimum five years in the system. WHOA!

An AP I know quite well, in a school other than mine, can't for the life of him write or speak English ( and no, his first language is not Spanish), is an alcoholic, and spends his days on his computer checking out stock tips, soccer scores, and God knows what else. One rumor I heard and though I can't prove it, but it is pretty credible is that someone other than him did his course work for him at Fordham. Oh just an aside here to my loyal followers. I only speak in fact. Everything I report is true. That is except the names have been changed. Oh and one more thing. If I report a rumor, something that I am unable to verify chances are there is some truth to it. My sources are always very credible, and besides I will always qualify it as rumor. However I have digressed.

The AP's in my school, I do not know what to say. One AP has never succeeded in any position in the school previously. The other well, how do I say this. The other AP is just clueless. No knowledge of the curriculum, no knowledge in discipline, no knowledge in leadership, no knowledge period. In fact this basically describes both of them. They both do not want to get their hands dirty, they both want to pawn of responsibility they should have on others, and both have no self respect. In fact the teachers do not take them seriously at all as educators. One of the AP's could not run something as simple as a third grade lunch duty. I mean how difficult can that be? One has to wonder if this AP is being effective when the 3rd grade boys are saying that the AP is too soft and too nice, and that nothing he says they take seriously. There is a serious problem there if this is what 9 year olds perceive!!!

Where are the standards? What are the standards? Why aren't there standards. Too many Tom Harry and DICKS are getting to be AP.