Back in July we here at SBSB shared how Ruben Brosbe, famed former E4E fool had gotten a gig using his Harvard Graduate School of Education skills with Citizens Schools NY as the leader of whatever at MS 331 in the Bronx.

Recently a someone who had worked closely with Ruben at MS 331 contacted The Crack Team here at SBSB and we commissioned this person to to guest blog for us. Please sit back and enjoy.

First off was his relationship with the senior member of the team who had been working at citizen schools for over 5 years and at our school specifically for over 2 years. That relationship quickly deteriorated when Ruben was unable to take her ideas and experiences from the past 2 years and incorporate them into his ideas for the program. She is now also leaving mid year to escape the misery that is working for Ruben Brosbe. That makes 3 out of 8 that have quit based on Brosbe's antics.

A lot of our work really depends on purposeful planning, team camaraderie, and organization. Ruben did not have any of these. Even on the first days of school, when a teacher had just joined the team, there was no printer in the office, except for the one that he and one other person could use because of their computers. Yet, it took 2 weeks to purchase a new one after Ruben one day said "why cant you just do it". It is sad to say that for the sake of the team, others tried very hard to work with Ruben and help him through a transition into a new job. However, his comments about staff to us in a meeting in which he suggested one member who quit in October could not handle the position and was destined for failure from the start made us start to doubt his leadership seriously. 

Our meetings were also ridiculous. Staff began losing respect for Ruben from the first days of training in August, where he referred to himself as someone who comes from a privileged background to work with the poor disadvantaged "communities of color". Just hearing this from staff made it seem to us that he viewed himself in a completely different way than he acts.

There was also a clear difference in the realities that we as a staff experienced compared to him as a leader. Not one day did he stay extra late to make sure things were alright. Instead, he was often the first one out of the office because he lives in Williamsburg and has to get back to his cushy living and because he knew how much he was despised by everyone in the office. The only day I can remember him staying later than everyone else was the last day December 21st.

He also remarked  "I'm having a tough time with this idea that I've had all these great ideas thrown at me and that they've been rebuffed..." This was the main issue with Ruben. He had his own conceived notion of how important his ideas were and clearly had a lack of trust or understanding in ours.

Then there was how the kids reacted to him. Too many times, he would just appear in the classroom and randomly call out a student for misbehaving. Often times, this led to more chaos than there was already in the classroom. His relationships with students suffered because of these actions. Students in a certain teachers room treated Ruben worse than they treated him. In fact, when he was in the classroom I experienced heightened authority because students recognized the lack of respect they had for him. Even a couple of days when a teacher took classes on field trips, a teacher instructed Ruben (that's how most things went this semester.People instructing him instead of him leading anything) to take the class. Before leaving, there was 1 student crying and two other girls  pleading  not to leave them with Mr. Brosbe. It's sad when the leader of your program is viewed by the students as someone who doesn't care. What is worst, is that  to share an office with Ruben and witnessed so many moments where he truly did not care about students or staff. He claims it's all about the students, but puts in no extra effort to make sure that the students have the best experiences possible. Many meetings held 1 hour before program time involved him explaining a random inclusion into program (student surveys, team time..etc) for the first time, leaving on us to plan and execute with ZERO support.

So in essence, Ruben is making the Ivy League wince a bit.

Yesterday I wrote about Ruben Brosbe while lamenting the fact that I might be beating a dead horse and not really wishing to for Ruben is a waste of time. I spoke, or rather wrote, too soon. Please accept my apologies.

After putting the blog post to bed, I felt pretty darn good that yet again Ruben, and all his minions, were exposed. I popped open my 10th Diet Coke of the evening and toasted to the good fortune of of being on the good side of goodness. But at this point, and sorry for reusing a previous phrase, I felt a deep disturbance in the force.

I looked at Ruben's Twitter page and noticed something that was not there before. Yes, the self serving fact that he is/was a student at Harvard Graduate School of Education, but something more sinister;

@cschoolsNY Campus Director at MS331 in the Bronx,

CSschools? What can that be, and how in God's name did Ruben become some director? What are you talking about, Willis?

According to their website, @CSchools is Citizens Schools;

Citizen Schools partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities across the country.
By drawing thousands more citizens into schools each year, we’re promoting student achievement, transforming schools, and re-imagining education in America.

Wow, so strangely self impressive for a bunch of (mostly) former TFA hacks to come into our schools with what they consider their knowledge to impart their values on our students.

And the new Citizen Schools campus leader at MS 331 in The Bronx is E4E Blog Monkey™ and Savant, Ruben Brosbe. Yes, that Ruben Brosbe. Ruben Brosbe formerly of PS 310 in District 10 in The Bronx that according to sources there shared with me how universally despised he was. The Ruben Brosbe of PS 310 in District 10 in The Bronx that was denied tenure, not once, but twice and either resigned or was terminated. The Ruben Brosbe of PS 310 in District 10 in The Bronx that ripped his fellow teachers apart in the New York Post? The Ruben Brosbe of PS 310 in District 10 in The Bronx that doesn't believe poverty affects a child's education? The Ruben Brosbe of PS 310 in District 10 in The Bronx that sticks his finger in the wind to see which way it is blowing?

So what is the failed teacher of 3rd grade students responsibilities as campus director for Citizen Schools at MS 331?

• Be instructional leader, talent developer to 5-15 staff, 80-250 students
• Partner with principal and staff to expand the learning day to improve student achievement
• Cultivate relationships with community and families to deepen the impact of program on student achievement
• Use data to make leadership decisions and leverage resources through successful human resource administration

Ruben doing this? Surely, Citizen Schools jests. 

How can a failed teacher such as Ruben Brosbe be an instructional leader? This is a man child that failed as a teacher, yet now he is a supervisor of not only adults, but of children as well? How soon will it be before some middle school student sees through Ruben's self aggrandizing bullshit?

I am reminded of a time 20 years ago when a friend and I went to IHOP for breakfast. He commented that IHOP must be scraping the bottom of the barrel for waitresses. Twenty years later, the IHOP effect is in full bloom with Citizen Schools. The bottom of the barrel has been scraped in hiring Ruben Brosbe. In fact I doubt highly that even IHOP would hire Ruben.

We here at SBSB contacted Citizen Schools NY chief of staff Alena Bloom and asked her to comment on why a failed teacher like Ruben would be put in such spot of responsibility and how does one justify putting the students needs first with Ruben as a supervisor. She refused to comment. A search of her education credentials turned up zilch, nada, bupkus. Same with Citizen Schools NY chief Nitzan Pelman. Just a lot of nothingness.

And that goes the same with Ruben Brosbe. A lot of nothingness there. A lot of no accomplishments there. We still wish to know how Ruben got into HGSE. Perhaps daddy paid off someone, or someone owed daddy a favor. But like most of the world's mysteries, we might never know. We do know that Ruben near education is a debacle awaiting whichever students are in his way.

As far as Citizen Schools, just another way for more rich, white, liberal do-gooders, who are former TFA hacks to make a buck on the back of students and at the expense of a good solid education.

No. Can't do it. Don't want to do it. Want to write about my son at baseball camp and how we should "judge" baseball instructors the same way they judge teachers. But, the force is to deep within me. The snarkiness, the sarcasm is oozing through my brain into my fingertips. My brain is telling me, "you know, admit it, you want to do this." I fight my brain. But the brain is just too controlling.

It's been 9 months since I have written about former, or current E4E Blog Monkey™ Ruben Brosbe. Yes, that ship sailed when the NYC DOE parted ways with him lat June and he somehow, someway, (perhaps he tithed his rabbi) got into the Harvard Graduate School of Education (It's one of the signs of the Apocalypse when HGSE sets the bar so, so, so low).

So with much trepidation and an eye on yet again debunking Ruben, I read his latest self serving blog post, "Asking Why Me?" 

It was too convoluted to get through without nausea induced attacks. I went back and forth, forth and back and decided that pointing out how child like Ruben's thinking is and yet again how self important Ruben is was not worth the trouble. That is until I read the comments section.

My pal, Rich, The Frustrated Teacher left a comment which I was surprised Ruben allowed to be posted. TFT wrote six simple words that so simply, yet so forcefully is the underlying issue with education. One that is lacking when we are compared to other countries;

Poverty is the problem. Not our schools.

Well said. Well thought out. But it is a fact. Sad, but a fact. Even after reading that comment I did not wish to write about Ruben. But he tasks me, he tasks me. I shall write about Ruben. I shall write about him around the schools of Nibia and 'round the Antares Maelstrom and 'round Perdition's flames before I stop writing about him.


Ruben, in his response to Rich blabbered; On a related note, this poverty v. schools debate is so tired, and is practically a crutch.

So tired? How is it so tired? I have never once in my 17 years of teaching once heard a teacher say that their students can't learn because of poverty. NEVER! I have heard teachers say that poverty makes their job more difficult. But never once have I heard it used as an excuse or a crutch.

Ruben drones on; HOWEVER, are we really going to pretend that our schools are serving all students, especially our poorest students and students of color, to the level they deserve?

No one is pretending. No one is is disagreeing. Oh, one thing before I continue the rant. Ruben, what about those students who are not of color and living in Appalachia? Where is your concern with these students? What about students on the Reservations? Yeah, I know, not glamorous enough going there.


But we talk about the level they deserve? Then why is it when they deserve such a high level of education your favorite mayor, the mayor who has broken bread with your hero Little Evan Stone, Uncle Mike does he can to cut the budgets of schools, cut the experienced teachers out of the  loop, and thinks that is best practice to hire a 28 year old principal that has never been in education before? Where is your outrage in this Ruben? 

Ruben offers up a life lesson; A final point, what exactly are we talking about when we say that poverty is to blame?

How would Ruben know about poverty? Ruben is a rich, white Jewish, boy from Northern California that grew up in opulence. On a starting teacher's salary is was able to live in a doorman building on the Upper East Side. If Ruben truly wished to get down, to see what the real world is like he could have lived on Melrose Ave and 153rd St. He chose not to. Ruben has never known want in his life. 


Ruben tries to show how smart he thinks he is; Poverty being a general term can be used to describe (or disguise) many other factors. Unless we are explicit in what we mean by poverty - lack of access to quality healthcare? parent's educational attainment? lack of employment opportunities? - I worry we may be missing the point.

Yes, I worry that not are you missing the point, you will never get it. Yes Ruben it is all those things and more. How about children having children? Being underemployed? Having to work 2 jobs just to keep a family's head above water? Damn, it is so many things. Just because you can't see it or touch it does not mean it does not have an affect on lives. 

Ruben shows his ignorance; But I won't agree that "poverty" is equivalent to a cap on a child's potential or some sort of death sentence meted out at birth. 

Dolt. Ruben, who says it is a death sentence? Where? Whom? Show us who says this. No it is not a death sentence, but it is like Governor Christie racing 100 meters against Usain Bolt. But the only way to fix poverty is to fix society, to give people jobs, for the oligarchy that this country is becoming to spread the wealth, for others to help others. To invest in our neighborhoods. To invest in ball fields. To invest in health care, dental care. I can go on and on.


Yeah, I can go on and on. But Ruben, is a dolt. Ruben needs to learn how the world operates and for once think for himself. Ruben is pathetic, a follower, and man-child with the inability to think for himself.

How Ruben got into HGSE is beyond me. How Ruben came about unable to get tenure at PS 310 in the Bronx and according to multiple sources at 310 was universally despised is understandable. Ruben has a desperate need to please those in authority to him. Sad and pathetic.

He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Yes, everyone's favorite lackey, savant, sycophant, and most importantly, Blog Monkey™has just posted on Gotham Schools after an all too short 2 month hiatus. Ruben's latest blabbering is entitled "Blurred Vision," which is an excerpted or heavily edited version of his "Midterm Reflection" on his very own award winning blog (Somewhere on Ruben's blog he announced that his had been awarded some award).

Ruben seems to have had a change of heart, or did he, in this latest musings from his brain. But he starts off by saying; The question of what makes a good leader intrigues me, because I think there’s such a dire need for leadership in education right now. I certainly didn’t witness much of it at any level during my time in the classroom.

Yes, what is leadership? Certainly what we know of Ruben he has never shown leadership. A true leader leads, doesn't follow. Being E4E's official Blog Monkey™ shows that one would rather be led about on a leash rather than show independent thought.


But what about that last sentence. Ruben apparently didn't witness any true leadership whilst he was at PS 310 in the Bronx? But Ruben, have you not forgotten what you had written on January 12, 2011?

Throughout the experience, my principal was visibly involved with the process of making the day run smoothly, even helping out with lunch duty......I felt incredibly grateful to have a principal who didn't pass the buck today.

 Seems like leadership to me.

May 17, 2010.....

and I sat quietly and dutifully and listened to my principal's feedback. Once again, there seemed to be a disconnect between my impression of the lesson and my principal's.

 Seems like leadership


Ruben, you need to make up your mind which side of the fence you are on.

Ruben goes on with his inanity and whimsical bouts of inward thinking until he shocks one and all with seeming to gnawing on the hand that not only has fed him, but that has enabled him and his ilk all this many years by revealing; Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein spoke constantly about the need to close the achievement gap, lower drop-out rates, and raise graduation rates. Their approach was clearly focused on data-driven results and greater accountability for schools and teachers (not so much for themselves). But this speaks to their strategies. It did not lay out a vision, or at least not one that a communities, students, teachers, and school leaders could passionately rally behind.

Excuse me whilst the throats are cleared not only of myself and the crack team's, but all true educators in NYC. No s**t Sherlock. Is the boy savant going against those have enabled him to pad his resume for journalism school, law school, or worse, a educational leadership position? I wonder what Ruben has said about Uncle Mike and Uncle Joel in the past?


On March 2, 2011 Ruben showed his chivalrous side in defending Uncle Mike's stance in regards to LIFO;

These same advocates are criticizing Bloomberg and detractors of LIFO of trying to pit teachers against each other, young versus old.

On November 15, 2010 Ruben did all he could not to fall over himself in defending Uncle Mike's hiring of Cathie Black;

When you consider Bloomberg's underlying philosophy toward the school system and city governance in general, Cathie Black seems like a natural fit. 

The rest of the piece of Gotham is Ruben's typical self-loathing, fake self-reflection which even commenting on it is a complete waste of time.

But what I do wish to comment on is a not a theory, but rather what I feel is a fact.

Those that commented on Ruben's GS piece opined that perhaps Ruben has seen the light, that he has left the dark side and is ready to join the good. I disagree.

Rather I think that Ruben will say whatever, whenever, to whomever that will enable to Ruben to fit in to the moment, the culture, the time, the situation, the group that he wishes to have befriend him. Ruben has no real core beliefs, his only beliefs are those that he thinks others want him to have. He is a fraud, a phony, a chameleon that hides in plain sight and becomes what he thinks the background is.

 People of the Harvard Graduate School of Education beware of Ruben, or you know what? Don't beware of him, be his pal, see how low he will sink to placate you all up there in Cambridge with how fast he will agree with you and kiss your ass.

The summer I was 12 years old, back in 1976, I got incredibly into comic books at sleep away camp. When I returned from camp, my passion continued. The new comic books, which back then were only a quarter, came out every Saturday and Tuesday. I looked forward to these two days and the mile long walk I had to the local Big Top to pick up my comic books. In fact my passion for comic books exceeded, though temporarily, the one I had for New York Yankees. I vividly recall walking to Big Top during game 1 of the 1976 World Series vs the Reds. Look it up, game 1 was a Saturday. Unfortunately, when the comic books went up to 30 cents, my interest waned. No longer would I be able to buy 4 for a dollar.

I thought I would never again in my life will I anticipate any type of media ever again. For years I looked for something to fill that void. But I am happy to report that finally, after years of waiting, something has filled the void. No, it is not Whitney Tilson's email tirades, for those come out too inconsistently. Rather, it is the weekly, always on Wednesday emails from my friends at Educators4Excellence. What a joy it is to read the latest in their self importance and grandiosity every Wednesday.

This past Wednesday, we were blessed learn of the latest E4E newbie, Jarell Lee. Jarell was one of the lucky ones who got up to speak at the Education Nation Propaganda and Hate Rally(about 2 minutes in) last week. Jarell was shown speaking for only about 5 seconds, but E4E in it's continuing effort to shine the attention light on itself played it off differently, and dare I say quite confusingly;

E4E teacher Jarell Lee was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, explaining that our society needs to stop using poverty as an excuse for not providing a high quality education to all students.

Five seconds does not make one featured. Five seconds makes one lucky enough to make it past the editors of the video. We here find E4E's fudging of the English language to be in poor taste and quite regrettable. But that is not what is troubling.

If you read the above quote from E4E one will see, and assume that Jarell has been quoted as saying;

"...that our society needs to stop using poverty as an excuse for not providing a high quality education to all students."

But in his actual 5 seconds of fame he said;

"It's our job as teachers to expose them to a new world, of new opportunities and give them the confidence and the skills that they need to be successful in life."

Funny, nowhere did I hear from Jarell Lee that that our society needs to stop using poverty as an excuse. The only person I heard say that was NBC talking head Rehema Ellis on the voiceover just before Jarell Lee spoke. So what gives?

Why would E4E if not out and out tell a lie but at the very least embellish what one of it's members said? Yes, I know, Jarell Lee is green and eager, and has only been teaching a year, but is he being used already? If I were Jarell Lee, I would be appalled that I was quoted saying something I never said by the very people I have out my faith and trust in.

My inside source at E4E shared with me on deep background the antipathy that Little Evan and Princess Sydney have towards E4E Blog Monkey™ Ruben Brosbe. He was seen as a trained seal, that will espouse the party line and take the heat away for them from his convoluted writings.

Jarell Lee seems much smarter and intelligent than Ruben. Jarell, I am putting it here on the table for you. Take a good look around you. See the people you are getting caught up with. It is not too late to come in from the cold. E4E, Little Evan Stone, Princess Sydney Morris, and their backers DO NOT have the best interests of the girls and boys of New York City, girls and boys of color at heart. They care about one thing and one thing only. Well, actually two things. Themselves and whatever instructions they are given by Bill Gates. I see it, the readers of this blog see it. It is time you see it. That is that, that is all it will ever be.

Jarell, please, it is not too late to make a fresh start. Be your own person, don't let anyone ever control you.

With the horror of E4E Blog Monkey™ being admitted to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, speculation has arisen as to just how he was admitted into such a prestigious program and institution.

Speculation turns to Elizabeth Green of Gotham Schools, Ruben's champion over there. Apparently, Elizabeth is a 2006 graduate of Harvard. Could this be how Ruben entered Harvard? Yes, that can be one reason.

The other reason, and it has been speculated upon here on these pages, is that there is some type of weird, demented relationship between Ruben and Elizabeth Green. How else can one not only explain Ruben's entry into HGSE and his continued writing on Gotham Schools. Heck, even GS sugar daddy Ken Hirsch has brought into question the abilities of Ruben's writing (4th comment from the bottom).

But seriously, the crack team assembled this morning to see if we could find more qualified candidates for the HGSE. The plan was to get these names and their qualifications and submit our work to the admissions office at HGSE and hope and pray that these obviously qualified candidates receive the same consideration and courtesy, along with being admitted, that Ruben got.

Here now is an abridged list of every candidate more qualified than Ruben that we submitted to HGSE:

Every Gorilla in the Congo exhibit at the Bronx Zoo.


Charlie the Wino from White Plains NY.


Clooney the Wino also from White Plains NY.


Pearl the Bag Lady also from White Plains NY.


Anton a Pre-K student in my son's school.


Anton's baby brother who was just born two weeks ago.


The bagger at Stop and Shop in White Plains NY, lane 12.


The guy who collects the shopping carts at Stew Leonard's in Yonkers, NY.


The guy who cleans out the barns at Yonkers Raceway.


The horses in the barns at Yonkers Raceway.


Mr Ed.


Wilbur.


Warren, from the movie, "There's Something About Mary."


Lenny, from "Of Mice and Men."


The puppy from "Of Mice and Men."


Yogi Berra.


Ralph Kiner.


Willie Mays.


John Sterling.


Suzyn Waldman.


Reggie Jackson.


William Shatner.


Rin Tin Tin.


Lassie.


The day laborers standing outside of any Home Depot.


The wives and children of these aforementioned day laborers.

So there is a partial list that the crack team assembled. Hopefully, Harvard will heed to our list ans we will soon see the above prospering at Harvard.

It was announced to no one's surprise last week that E4E Blog Monkey™ Ruben Brosbe is leaving the NYC DOE effective immediately. What came to everyone's surprise and mostly chagrin is that somehow Ruben has been accepted to the Harvard Graduate School of Education in which Zippy will pursue a degree in education policy and management. I guess Harvard is truly lowering its standards if Ruben is being admitted.

I can go in and point out the fallacies, lies, and deceit that Ruben propagated in his Gotham piece, but I shant for now. Perhaps later on in the week I shall. But there are several things that are on my mind.

Last week on Twitter I tweeted how wonderful it must be to have mummsy and dada pay the $61K tuition for Harvard. Soon after that I notice that Ruben is soon following me on Twitter. I also was curious as to why Ruben blocks his tweets, account info, and why he must approve all followers.

I am intrigued, perplexed, yet mildly curious. Why would this creature, this abomination of education wish to follow moi? My left eyebrow was raised just like Mr Spock.

I soon found out on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 11:11AM EDT. Checking my email I saw to my great surprise an email from none other that the Blog Monkey™. It thus read;

from    Ruben Brosbe [email protected]
to    South Bronx School
date    Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM
mailed-by    gmail.com
signed-by    gmail.com
    Important mainly because of the people in the conversation.
hide details Aug 11 (5 days ago)
Tried to DM you this, but I couldn't:
I followed you just so I could tweet you the info about the Urban
Scholars scholarship that's allowing me go to Harvard, rather than the
exorbitant wealth of my parents that you imagine. I keep my tweets
protected because I use twitter mainly as an extension of my social
network (ie friends) rather than for my blogging, so I don't want
parents/kids following me, although I may go public soon. Haven't
decided. Anyway, best of luck to you! Enjoy the rest of your summer.

--
Ruben Brosbe
http://www.donorschoose.org/mr.brosbe
[email protected]
(917) 123-4567

 Apparently, I was incorrect. Mummsy and dada did not pay for his Harvard education, but rather Ruben was awarded a Urban Scholar's Scholarship. I say bravo!! And I also say, "What you talkin' about Willis?" An Urban Scholar's Scholarship? How do I get one of those? And just hat are the qualifications? I have already read the qualifications and application for HGSE, and I must opine that for Ruben to have been admitted, someone was paid off. Much the way C. Montgomery Burns paid off Yale for his son, Larry to attend.

So what are the qualifications for an Urban Scholar's Scholarship, other than Ruben's father donating a new airport for Harvard?

Urban Scholars enroll in one of the 13 Ed.M. concentrations at HGSE. They receive an award package covering full HGSE tuition and health insurance fees during the fellowship year. In addition to completing the standard master's curriculum, Urban Scholars also participate in a dynamic interdisciplinary program designed to facilitate the development of a life-long network of professional colleagues who share a common passion for improving urban schools. Candidates are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and a demonstrated commitment to a career working in urban school systems. In particular, they are chosen from the top 10% of the applicant pool and they will have three years or more of direct work experience in urban schools (or significant volunteer work in a comparable setting). The application deadline is January 3, 2011 and is part of the 2011-2012 HGSE Admissions Application.

Amazing. Simply amazing and appalling.

I mean something is wrong with this picture. Here we have a failed teacher who was denied tenure twice! A person, that has had life handed to him on a silver platter. A person that went to an elite college, led an elite life, went into an elite program to teach, thought that he was the great white savior for boys and girls of color. Couldn't for the life of him understand the culture, of both his community her taught in and of education and according to him planned to teach for only two years. And he gets rewarded?

Meanwhile, a teacher of brown skin works attends a CUNY school, works full time on the side, gets married, has several children, gets a job as a teacher because that teacher loves education and children, gets not one, but two masters at CUNY, whilst working and raising kids, and is a master teacher in their school. This teacher is looked upon by families, students, faculty as someone they wish to emulate and does this teacher get a Urban Scholarship to Harvard? NO!!!!!!!!!!!

Something is terribly wrong in a system in which Ruben Brosbe can thrive from failure and teachers can't thrive because they are successful.

Remember the old saying? Those who can teach, and those who can't teach PE? They new saying is, "those who can teach, those who can't set policy."

It was the depths of the Great Recession. Teachers everywhere were losing their jobs, being denied tenure. Two men, Evan Stone and Ruben Brosbe were chased out of a school by an angry mob when Ruben nearly bored a classroom of 3rd graders to death. They were both on the run again, looking for a school that would take them in.

Evan was the smart one, the one with the plans. His companion Ruben was slow witted, easily manipulated, and extremely self absorbed. But Evan promised those at TFA that he would look out for Ruben, that he will always be by his side.

They finally boarded a bus, the M55, that would take them to the Bronx. Evan knew there were jobs to be had. They got off the bus on 181st and the Grand Concourse and camped out for the night in a vacant lock. The next morning they would head to PS 47 on 167th St where they heard there were jobs to be had.

As they were eating beans, Ruben, with his big eyes looked at Evan and asked, "Tell me about the tenure Evan, tell me about the tenure."

Evan was looking for one more job, one more gig in which he would finally have enough money to open a school of his own and run things the way he wished to, to give out tenure to those who were deserved of it.

"Oh the tenure will be great," Evan started to explain to Ruben. "We will not give it out with out properly evaluating whether or not each teacher deserves it. Each decision on tenure will be merit based. We will implement the E4E manifesto regarding tenure immediately. We will be loved and adored."

"And I'll get tenure too, right Evan?" Rubeb said excitedly. "You betcha!" said Evan.

But before they laid down to sleep, Evan exhorted wise words upon Ruben.

"Ruben, listen carefully. Look at this spot where we are, look around, remember it. If you fuck up again, I mean any kind of fuck up at the new school, just run to this spot. Run here and wait for me. Got it?"

"Sure Evan, I understand," said Ruben

The next day Evan and Ruben entered the school and met with the principal. Both were both given jobs. Evan as a teacher, and Ruben as his para. And old teacher, Candy showed them to the classroom and both were to spend the day setting up.

But just before they set up, they met Curley, the principals son and AP. Curley looked at Ruben and took an instant dislike to him. It seemed that Curley hated whiny, Blog Monkeys™. But there was another problem, Curley's wife. Curley's wife liked Blog Monkeys™.

After an uneventful first day of teaching, Evan and Ruben met up with Slim, a veteran TFA teacher. Slim was overworked. He for some reason had more than one class. Ruben saw an opportunity.

"Evan, can I have the class? Please? I promise to love the students and take care of them everyday."

Evan gave Ruben the OK to be a classroom teacher. Ruben was happy.

But the joy of having a new class was not to last. Ruben was trying to hard with his class. He was overbearing and boring. He made no sense. He didn't know how deficient he was. Soon enough, and sadly, the class died of boredom.

Soon after this happened, Ruben was alone in the classroom when Curley's wife walked in. Curley's wife asked  Ruben to tell her about his blog, about E4e, about everything he knows about teaching. Ruben was more than happy to oblige.

This went on for hours. Ruben talked and talked and talked. He didn't even let Curley's wife get in a word. For a while, Curley's wife was being polite, She nodded her head as if truly interested, but even after she started to yawn incessantly, Ruben could not take the hint. Suddenly, after about the fourth hour of Ruben's soliloquy, Curley's wife's eyes rolled back into her head, she gasped for air, and fell to the floor.

Ruben had fucked up again. This time there would be hell to pay. He couldn't get out of this one like he had at the previous school. He had to run, and run he did to that spot where Evan told him to meet if he ever fucked up again.

Evan had been out on the town with Slim when he got back to the school. He saw a commotion and saw Curley and the other teachers standing around Curley's wife's body. They all knew who was responsible, they all knew that Ruben had just bored her to death.

Evan knew where to find Ruben. He dared not let the others know, but he knew and knew what he had to do. He couldn't let the others, now a mob of teachers, get to Ruben first. He had to be the one who did it. To do it quick and to save Ruben from any pain.

Evan got to the meeting spot. "Ruben, you have now done did it and I don't think I can help you this time."

"I'm sorry Evan, I am sorry," cried Ruben.

"Come here big fella," Evan said to Ruben as they both sat down and Evan put his arm around Ruben.

"Tell me about the tenure again. I like the way you tell it."

"Sure Ruben, sure," said Evan as he said in his most reassuring voice. ""Oh the tenure will be great. "We will not give it out with out properly evaluating whether or not each teacher deserves it. Each decision on tenure will be merit based. We will implement the E4E manifesto regarding tenure immediately. We will be loved and adored."

And as Evan was saying this, he started to look at the back of Ruben head. The deed needed to be done. He was happy that he was not looking in Ruben's eyes.

Suddenly, Evan did what needed to be done, that should have been done to Ruben so long ago.

"Ruben," said Evan, "you are a putz, a schmuck, and schlimazel. Please, leave teaching now. I can no longer help you, nor do I want to. Please don;t come to any more E4E meetings, lose my number, lose my email address. Please, go away."

Finally, what needed to be done was done. Evan looked at Ruben with a face of relief. Evan was rid of the albatross. In fact better, education was rid of the Ruben.

The crack team went out last night and partied hard at IHOP has we celebrated the prophetic abilities of the team in regards to yesterday's non-bombshell that Ruben was yet again denied tenure. Yes, on July 9, 2011 we here at SBSB predicted that Ruben would be denied tenure. Yes, those celebratory pancakes at IHOP were sure delicious and mocked Ruben's opus as well.

Ruben decided to call his opus, "Occam’s Razor And My Tenure." Between gulps of our pancakes we called it other things, but we all agreed that Ruben came across as a whiny botard. Let's have a look.

Ruben started off whining right away; It always seemed strange to me that one could be granted tenure after only three years of teaching.

Oh boo-hoo. It seems strange to me that you and your minions became teachers after only 5 weeks and 50 hours of training. In fact Ruben, did you know that NYPD police officers are off probation after only 18 months? And these people carry guns, can make arrests, carry tasers. Think about it.

....most teachers are still in the process of learning and establishing themselves as professionals in the midst of their third year. So, to give someone tenure before this third year has even finished always seemed odd.

But don't you find it sad that in your fifth year of teaching you have yet to learn and establish yourself as a professional? Besides you have fact incorrect. You get tenure after 3 years and 1 day. But you are way past that 3 years and one day, actually you are at 3 years and 366 (instructional) days. A good friend of mine that is not a rat like you received tenure after three years. What is wrong with this picture?

Nonetheless, in a system that does little to recognize performance otherwise, tenure represented a rare milestone of merit, and I wanted it when I was eligible.

Recognize performance? Do elaborate? You want validation? Attention? Are you making up for something that you did not receive as a child? But of course, you wanted it when you were eligible? So you have a sense of entitlement? 

I was disappointed then when my principal informed me last year that my probation would be extended.

How come you never shared this with the 6 people who read your blog as serious education reporting? Or the people who read and then mock your writings at Gotham Schools? But didn't you take a hint then?

I accepted this, and when I later heard that, per our superintendent’s directions, tenure was especially difficult to earn for teachers who were new to a school.


This seems what I once told an old girlfriend at the White Plains Diner, "It's not you, it's me." And just like you, the old girlfriend didn't get the hint. But, and this is a big but, what truly happened to you at PS 33? You claim you were excessed. I think you lie.

...at a panel on value-added data run by Educators 4 Excellence in November, Sandra Tacina, Director of Talent Analytics for the DOE, informed the audience that in the previous year, teachers who scored lower than 50 percent on their Teacher Data Reports were red-flagged in tenure decisions. I wonder if she realized that this applied to at least one member of the audience.

Less than 50? Notice how you were screwed? Uncle Joel and Uncle Mike swore up and down that TDR's would never be used in tenure based decisions. But like the little mindless whore and shill that you are, you advocated just this in October. Oh, and I am sure that Ms Tacina knew about you, and the others like Little Evan and Princess Sydney who failed to meet their TDR.

I could sense from the tone of observations and informal conversations with my administrators that my confidence was misplaced.


The skids were being greased. Did you seek out advice from your chapter chair, or have you ruined that relationship? Did you start seeing help from the UFT on how to better present yourself and your portfolio so you can receive tenure? I do recall hearing how the UFT was offering such workshops. However, it would have been to fraught with irony for you to seek help from the very union you are seeking to circumvent.

In addition to student growth data, I submitted evidence of collaboration with my co-workers, parent communication, artifacts from my work on the school’s data inquiry team, and print-outs of the six DonorsChoose projects I’d had funded in the past year.

Which co-workers? You little friends, or the veteran teachers that you should have sought out from day 1? 


I was frustrated then when my principal and assistant principal informed me about a month later that once again I would have my probation extended. However, I wasn’t surprised.

You shouldn't be surprised. You are a botard through and through. But, have you ever given consideration that your blog and your contributions to Gotham Schools screwed you?  I mean if I were your principal and read how stupid, indecisive, and whiny you are I would have second thoughts about you.


Had I poisoned my relationship with my principal? Was something written on my blog misconstrued as critical or unprofessional? Was I still red-flagged by the DOE?

Yes, yes, and yes!

I thought and I thought, until I came to an important realization: I wasn’t ready for tenure.

Wow, what an honest guy. You move me Ruben, you truly do.

My principal told me she saw a “disconnect” between what I understood and how I put it into practice in the classroom.

Ruben, have an out of body experience one day and read your dribble. 

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in the past four years. I know I’ve improved a lot as a teacher and that I’ve learned to create a classroom community where my students feel safe and excited about learning.

I am sure you have, and that is what good teaching should be all about. But you couldn't leave it at that......

I also know that in one key area — the progress of my students — I must improve.

This is something you have no control over. Students go home at night, their reality, their world takes over. Yes, we can do all we can at school, but once they are out of our reaches the harsh, cold reality of each student's home life take over. Ruben, I coached baseball. I had a kid on my team that could not throw the ball. I practiced with him personally at each practice. I had him work on throwing drills at practice and told him, and his dad what to do at home. Not once did he do these drills outside of practice. Was I a bad baseball coach?

I started my son with professional baseball training when he was in Kindergarten. He has been playing ball since T-ball. I practiced with him outside of his training, I picked up what he was taught, he also had the athletic ability. Guess what? But I can't, nobody can, teach him to pitch like Koufax, to hit like Ted Williams, or to field like Ozzie Smith. Some kids are just average. Stop whining!


In practically every profession, people are subject to the judgments of their supervisors before they are considered for advancement. Sometimes they disagree with these assessments. Why should tenure be different?

All tenure does is give you the right to due process. That is all. That is all it will ever be.


Had I stayed at my previous school, I have little doubt I would have received tenure, because many principals are willing to rubber stamp their teachers for time served.

See, this is why you are thought of as you are. Give me, give the world, examples of where you know for a fact that principals rubber stamp tenure. And again, what happened at your previous school. Try the truth for once.

But, my principal gave tenure to some teachers this year, and extended probation for others.

But you didn't get it. Are you 100% sure the reasons your principal did not give you tenure are what she said, or is she being arbitrary and capricious? 

But now the question Ruben is are you returning in September? Yes or no? Were you discontinued?

In a way Ruben, I hope you stick around. The fodder and amusement you give will not be easily replaced. But you need to cut this Nancy act out. Stop being a little whiner, start being a man and stop thinking and start doing.

Ruben, it is so ironic that you are whining just the opposite of what you and your ilk have been advocating. Karma is a bitch. Right, Ruben?

The official Blog Monkey™ of Educators4Excellence, and also Gotham Schools, Ruben Brosbe, has written a convoluted, look at me article, which some have interpreted, as to be his goodbye. Yes, we don't have confirmation, yet there are several signs that are pointing to this conclusion. Let's have a looksee.

Yesterday, one of my blogging brethren, Accountable Talk, wrote yet another asshat article on his blog. A commenter, who billed themself as AsshatForTenureDenial left this comment; "For those who really want to know about Ruben Brosbe, his tenure was also denied. This I can assure you." That is clue #1

The second clue actually is a series of me having asked Ruben in Gotham and by leaving, or attempting to leave, comments on his blog whether or not he has ever been denied or extended tenure. These questions have been met with either silence or blogger moderation.

The third clue is again leaving him a comment on his blog on his most recent piece as to whether or not he has been denied tenure and/or been discontinued. Again, silence. Yes, I know I am a major nudge, but I have allowed comments that have been clear cuts attacks here on SBSB. Why won't Ruben allow dissenting views on his blog?

But the fourth clue is what makes one raise an eyebrow much as Mr Spock once did. If you read Ruben's piece there is the typical kvecthing and whining, but nowhere does he write about looking forward to next year, how he might incorporate what he has learned this year into next, how he might better himself next year, etc... The crack team looked at this quizzically and again over Chinese take out from Tung Sing on Central Ave decided to have a look at Ruben's previous end of the year posts.
 
At the end of Ruben's first year of teaching in 2008 he wrote this. The clue, 

"and after looking forward to next year as a chance to do the grade right, it's looking like I won't get that chance." 

In June 2009, he blabbered;  

"...that I'm actually finishing my second year of teaching (the end of my commitment to Teaching Fellows) or that I'm actually going to fight to teach for a third year" 

In June 2010 he spewed,  

"What's surprised me most lately is how ready I am to go back in the fall."  

But here we are, July of 2011 and not once has Ruben mentioned next year. Not once in any single posting in June 2011, and not once in what appears to be his farewell. How quaintly curious.

If this is true, why was he denied or extended tenure now a possible second year in a row? His it his blog? Doubt it. It is not controversial, but he does come across like a sniveling, whiny, Nancy all the time.  His teaching? I can't comment on this truly without seeing the scores of his students, seeing him teach. I don't think he is as good as he fancies himself, but I don't think he is that bad a teacher. In fact, if he was caught up in this whole denying imbroglio that is infecting the DOE I have no choice but to support him.

So what is it? I'll tell you what it is. It's karma, baby. Just like the schmuck last week who was killed whilst riding his motorcycle without a helmet in protest of helmet laws, Ruben ran face first into karma. To paraphrase Dick Martin, Ruben is this years winner of the Fickle Finger of Fate award.

How ironic it is that Ruben is doing everything he can to fu** over veteran teachers that had gone out of their way to mentor him, to assist him, to guide him. How ironic it is that Ruben advocates fu**ing over teachers with mortgages, children, car payments, lives so he can be part of group, to feel accepted, to get some type of validation as a human being that he never received as a child.

Ruben Brosbe is one of the worst type, and I use this term loosely, human beings. He is lower than a used car salesman. Ruben will do whatever he can do fu** someone over, especially a veteran teacher. And worse! Worse is that Ruben sees teaching as all about him. All about how he can look good, how he can use educator on his resume to advance his career. How the students should show him constant adulation and reverence because the rich white boy his there to save all the little boys and girls of color.

If Ruben was denied tenure will he go crying to the UFT for help? I doubt it. He will do what rich little white boys of privilege do. Have daddy pay to retain an attorney. Will he go running to his little friends, or rather associates at E4E? No, and besides they probably are looking for a chance to drop him like a hot potato. Opportunists, like those at E4E, despise opportunists and joiners like Ruben.

As an old teaching colleague once told me, "don't ever come between me and my direct deposit," Ruben did all he can to come between the direct deposit of 78,000 NYC  teachers.

Of course if Ruben wishes to grow a set and refute any of what I have written he is more than welcome to leave comments. His comments will not be moderated nor edited. But he shant. He is a balless wonder.

Over at Gotham Schools, Educators4Excellence Blog Monkey™ Ruben Brosbe is at it again. This time he is whining and kvetching about his evaluations or observations, or other piddling stuff. But, he said two things that did grab my attention.

He shares with us his work as a policy wonk and explaining that traitorous views are all as an advocate to for the greater good;

The work I did as a member of Educators 4 Excellence’s teacher evaluation policy team was an effort to advocate for such a system.

And next, he shares his pride, his joy, his crowning achievement in life;

The student surveys, which will only work if they are creating in a way that is meaningful and authentic for children of all ages from kindergarten to 12th grade, are my favorite suggestion, however.

Yes, Ruben having Kindergarten students evaluate their teachers is such a no brainer. The problem behind this, and all student evaluation is that in the E4E manifesto, there is no there there. How will the students, and in particular the wee ones, actually evaluate their teachers?

The crack team here at SBSB took the first step to attempting to have a student evaluate their teacher when we chose Ruben to be a subject of such an evaluation and a student to share their thoughts on Ruben. But what to do about Kindergarten? This is the one grade at which we here at SBSB have the most consternation with in evaluating their own teachers.

Should K students draw a picture, which can be open to interpretation? Should K students write a sentence? Fill out a form? None of these options seemed feasible to the crack team.

After many a night wracking out brains we came up with a solution. A sort of "exit interview" with K students put forth by a disinterested outside party. But something like this should be tested before it becomes official? What to do?

We decided to yet again use Ruben Brosbe as our guinea pig. Yes, you are correct. Ruben is a 3rd grade teacher. We found a way around that. The crack team decided to interview Ruben as a Kindergarten student. For this we needed a way to go back in time to 1990. But first we needed a way to go back.

The crack team decided to use the slingshot theory most memorably seen in "Star Trek IV The Voyage Home." Crack team member Hank volunteered to go since he was the only one that had no family nor ties to 2011. We also debated whether or not Hank, after finishing the interview with 6 year old Ruben Brosbe, should kidnap Ruben and send him back to 17th century America. But, unfortunately one can;t change time. Mr Spock said that once and I believe him.

It seemed to have taken all of 5 minutes for Hank to go to 1990, interview Ruben and report back here. Here now is the transcript of the Kindergarten exit interview that Hank did with Ruben.

Do you like your teacher?

Yes.

Why?

Yes.

No, why do like your teacher?

She is my teacher.

Did you learn anything special from her?

I poop my pants.

You poop your pants?

No.

OK Ruben, please concentrate. What did you learn from your teacher.

Read.

OK, what did you read?

Books.

What kind of books did you like?

Books. I poop my pants.

Did you learn letters?

Yes.

Which letters?

My ABC song

What else did you like in Kindergarten?

Snack time, nap time, I pooped my pants.

Is there anything about your teacher you did not like?

One time...once...I...I....my teacher did....she had Corey........be line leader and I wanted......she didn't let me be line leader.

Thank you Ruben.

Bye. I pooped my pants.

And there you have it. Hank came back safe and sound and with a $5,000 check for the interview. He told the principal at Ruben's elementary school he was an outside consultant hired in a no bid process to conduct this exit interview. Hank is sharp!

Yesterday, Educators4Excellencehad its debutante ball. This was Evan Stone's big coming out party, and from what was reported it didn't turn out to well. E4E apparently wrote a paper on how teachers should be evaluated. I guess after their loss at trying to end seniority rights they needed something to keep themselves occupied.

The crack team perused the paper with a fine tooth comb saw that E4E blog monkey™, Ruben Brosbe,a was on the policy team that authored the paper. We had to send one member of the crack staff to the ER for his spleen had burst  from laughing so hard. We hear at SBSB send along our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery to Bob.

One thing did catch the crack team's eye. It is Bright Idea #7; "Student Survey Data." Basically, the crew at E4E is proposing that;

The presence of effective teachers and supportive classroom environments can be determined, in part, by the perceptions of the students that interact with them, and student survey data should be included in evaluations.

We here at SBSB could not agree more. What better way, even if it is 10% of the evaluation, to have the students that we deal with everyday to grade us. But, there must be some kind of experiment, some teacher to be the guinea pig to see if this can truly work.

We decided that guinea pig was to be none other than Ruben Brosbe, Who better? It was time for us to put his money where his mouth is. The crack team put word out through intermediaries to the families and students. What kind of evaluation would they give Ruben? We immediately got a 100% response. But one student's evaluation of Ruben really got us, really was thought provoking about Ruben. Here now, exclusive to SBSB is a student's evaluation of Ruben Brosbe.



Mr Brosbe is OK, but. He always seems to talk about himself. He always tells us how rich he is, how is mommy and daddy give him lots of money all the time. 


Mr Brosbe has no classroom management. We are always the worst class walking through the halls. the worst class in the cafeteria.


We really haven't learned much. We have learned what it is like to be a rich, spoiled white liberal.


Sometimes we talk about Mr Brosbe in Spanish. We make fun of him. Behind his back. Good thing he doesn't speak Spanish!


We want to learn, but Mr Brosbe keeps us from learning. All it is in the class is about the test. He tells us if we fail it would make him look bad. We don't like that.


Mr Brosbe talks to us like we are idots. He is very condescending and patronizing. he thinks because we are poor and Hispanic that he thinks we are better than us. Mommy says that Mr Brosbe is a culo.

Hopefully next year in 4th grade we will learn. Hopefully next year in 4th grade we will have a teacher that cares about us, and not a teacher that is self centered and self absorbed.


Well, there you have it. Deduct 10% from Ruben's evaluation.

I am enraged. I have had it, and I am going to not censor myself in this blog post. I don't care if I offend anyone, I don't care if someone refuses to read my writings anymore, and I don't care. The matter is personal and I am mad as hell.

I have had it with that little shit from Educators4Excellence, Ruben Brosbe. Her is nothing but a self serving, mindless drone of a follower. We all knew a Ruben in high school. When we were seniors and we would give the incoming freshman the business, wedgies, pranks, etc... Well you know those freshman would say, "Just wait until we're seniors." Well, the opposite was true for Ruben. When Ruben finally became a senior, it was the freshman that gave him the business, wedgies, pranks. Ruben went through high school as George McFly.

But what is it that has this child of privilege, this child that mommy and daddy have assured lives in a doorman building in one of Manhattan's poshest neighborhoods has me all rankled up? Have my knickers in a tizzy?

It is of course his latest meandering, self serving, look at me I am desperate for attention ramblings on Gotham Schools. The little shit that Ruben is more concerned about himself, his needs during the exams than he is of his students. Ruben whines that the night before the first day of the ELA test he is unable to sleep. Of course he is. If Ruben, the idiot that he is, had kept to his normal sleep routine; photos of Uncle Mike, Joel Klein, Arne Duncan, Evan Stone, a box of Kleenex, Astro-Glide, and a carrot he would not have had a problem sleeping that night.

But now Ruben, you have crossed the line. You and all your little shit friends at your Jugendbund der NSDAP organization. I, not you, not your idol, that other little shit, Little Evan Stone had to contend with a child, a boy, my SON, and his pre-test anxiety. A 4th grader should not have to worry about how he performs on some test just so you, Little Evan Stone, or some scumbag politician can make up for some Freudian physical shortcoming.

And guess what? I am not worried for one minute how my son will do on his ELA or Math exams. Last year he got (and I am not bragging here) a 3 on his ELA, and aced, yes every question correct, on his Math exam. He is capable.

But as I was putting him to bed Monday night, as we talked, the anxiety in his voice was palpable. He was concerned about the writing portion of the exam? Why? Because on his most recent report card, and we have noticed this as well, his teacher wrote that he does not include all the details in his writing. Yes, he does. Yes, we have worked on it with him. Yes, it is our, mine and my wife's responsibility to get him through this. But, he tends to rush his work, look for the easy way out, gets a bit too lazy. But, this is par for the course. He has is mind on other things a normal 9 year old would have his mind on. Like baseball, Derek Jeter, NBA playoffs, WWE, John Cena, etc... Not like you had at that age Ruben when you were playing with you dolls, playing house, and in all probability was still in Scooby Doo labeled Pull-Ups.

His anxiety also probably was exacerbated by my wife, his mother being 8,000 miles away on a business trip in China. See, Asshole Ruben? My wife being away and how he reacts to it is completely out of a teacher's control. Much like the lack of true parenting you received was out of your teacher's control. No, your parents didn't truly parent you. I am sure they gave you that brand new car when you turned 16, that they gave you that quarter of a million dollar bar mitzvah, they turned their noses at buying your Garanimals at Target and took you to Nordstrom's instead. They paid cash for your education at Penn. You grew up living within a gilded cage, seeing the world at the end of your nose, being fed with a diamond encrusted silver spoon. You grew up with a grand sense of entitlement, but a low sense of yourself.

So, did I give my son crackers? Did I have him practice yoga? Did I have him write who his favorite superhero was? No. Did I have him focus on me as you surely do have your students focus and make everything about you? No. What a truly wanted to do was suggest the Bartleby Project to him. But I would have incurred the wrath of the wife and his grandma.

I told him that as long as he puts in his best effort, takes his time, and re-reads he will be fine. I told him that he is very smart, did very good last year, and everything will work out just fine. No tricks, no muss, no mess. Simple as that. His did not become about me.

Many years ago when I was shopping for my first new car my cousin told me that car salesman are the lowest forms of life on earth. He never knew of you Ruben Brosbe. Ruben, you are the lowest life form on this planet. Yes, lower than you idol Little Evan Stone. Why? Because you are nothing but a fanbloi, nothing but a follower. At least your hero, Little Evan had an original idea. You, are nothing but a joiner, a follower, an attention whore looking for acceptance. Be it from a hero, a grown up, or pathetically, one of your third grade students.

I'm ashamed to be in the same profession as you, the same union, the same religion, the same planet. Your comeuppance will be so sweet.

One wonders how a talentless, idiot savant such as Ruben Brosbe can write for Gotham Schools. Yes, even whilst looking down the end of her nose at others, super aggregator of GS, Elizabeth Green, must see Ruben for the dolt that he is.

The crack team got together recently and poured over Ruben's writings. The computer here at the SBSB offices have shown that his writings, his thoughts are not on par with the thinkings of a 2nd grader. In fact, the computers have suggested some sort of brain damage, or brain misfunction on Ruben's part.

Which is all the more strange in how does he have this pull, this cred over at GS? We fed facts to the computer about Elizabeth Green. We told the computer that she is not a journalist, that rather, she is an aggregator. That she has a thing for sycophantic idiot savants. That she thinks she is better than everyone. At this point while the computer was trying to analyze Elizabeth Green, it suddenly became sentient and activated its self destruct sequence.

So it was left to the humans. The humans came up with why it is Ruben is allowed to write for GS. There must be, and one can only assume, that there is some sort of weird, gross relationship between between Ruben and Elizabeth.

In fact when questioned about this Elizabeth Green would neither confirm nor deny that such a relationship exists. One can only draw their own conclusions.

What can I say? I owe Ruben Brosbe a debt. Without him, according to numbers run by the crack SBSB team, this blog would lose over 50% of its content. We here at SBSB can not think of better fodder, a better source material than Ruben. In fact the only other person that was as good as Ruben was Numb Nuts. I think Ruben is the new Numb Nuts. We here at SBSB doff out hats to you Ruben.

The latest convoluted ramblings from Ruben appeared over at Gotham Schools yesterday. Entitled, "It’s Not a Great Friday for Me," Ruben tells the tale of how on a Friday, April 7, 2011, a student of his was not having a great day because just outside her apartment door a double murder had occurred. In fact, one of the victims included the son of one of girl's mother's friends.

Why is Ruben's story being questioned? Simple. Ruben has a history of lying, hiding the truth, and not answering questions in which his the facade he has created of himself will be crushed.
Ruben has lied about his role with Educators4Excellence. He has hidden the truth about his true role with E4E. He has refused to share any scores. He has refused to answer why he is not at his original school. He has even refused to conform whether or not he is tenured. And most telling about Ruben, is that he is all about Ruben. He will say or do anything as long as he is in the limelight, the center of attention.

Now, Ruben claims that the girl had a double murder right outside her all. As Mr A Talk, blogger extraordinaire of the Accountable Talk blog points out that upon research in the New York Post and the Daily News there is no occurrence of a double murder taking place in the Bronx of the days the murders supposedly took place. Yes, it would be more of a headline if the victims were white, but still, double murders to tend to make it into the papers.

Also, upon checking, the students of Ruben School, PS 310 would reside in either the 50th or 47th precincts. Sources have shared with the crack team at SBSB that there had been no double murders and that once the Compstat statistics come out this Monday for those precincts, it will be definitive that this was a fantasy on Ruben's part.

We here at SBSB find it curious that the young lady also appeared in school the next day. If there was a true murder, or murders, wouldn't there have been a massive police presence at the scene, keeping the tenants on the floor up through at least part of the night? There would be press, paramedics, crime scene, etc...

Why would the mother, knowing that her daughter was so traumatized send the daughter to school? A third grader, a 9 year old, in a situation like that would not want to be in school, she would want to be with her family. At that young an age, a child after witnessing such trauma would believe that her family would be in danger as well.

No Ruben, this is a made up fantasy of yours so you could write such lines as; "I couldn’t stop tears from coming to my eyes too." This line was written for you, to be about you, so you can get yet more of you in the spotlight.

You truly are pathetic to make something up like this. It shows how desperate you are for some type of accolades, for some form of justification of your existence. You truly are a boy in need of help. Please seek it immediately.

We here at SBSB applaud and condone those that practice safe adult realtions. Slipping a glove onto your Jimmy, or helping slipping a glove onto your partner's Jimmy, is a practical preventative course to take in this age of STD's and unwanted pregnancies.

Now mind you, we here at SBSB don't condemn someone with a unique, or in fact, an unusual, method of showing affection with other adults. As Dear Abby once said, "Anything between consenting adults is acceptable." We here at SBSB are down with those consenting adults.

What we don't condone, and will continue to do so is the posting of personal information on the Internet by teachers that is easily accessible by their students. Not just personal information, but even information that you don't want mom and dad to see. Evan Stone of Educators4Excellence found this out the hard way.

So it has caused the crack team here at SBSB some consternation to learn that E4E blog monkey (with all due apologies to Mustafa who coined the phrase) Ruben Brosbe made the same mistake as his mentor.

It seems that Ruben has quite a proclivity for plaid condoms and he is not shy about sharing this. The crack team is cool with this, and salutes Ruben for advocating safe adult relations. In Ruben's case of course the question is with whom, or what. Let's have a looksee at what Ruben is advocating. (Click to enlarge. Whoops, pun intended!)



Again, we don't have an issue with Ruben and his choice of Jimmy protection. We have an issue that Ruben would have this on a public space on Google, under his Google profile. With the words, "....and we're also all for getting laid," prominent, what were to happen if one of Ruben's third grade students were to do a search on Google and see this?

Or let's be realistic. Remember, Ruben is the teacher, so I guess they will not be able to read it. What would happen if a student in a veteran teacher's class at Ruben's school were to get hold of this? Would this not cause a stir?

Ruben has already shown a lack of judgment in the people he chooses to socialize with, and he has shown just as poor judgment in what he shares online. Is it not time that Ruben looks inward to his soul and questions why he makes such poor judgments in life?

The idiot savant and Educators4Excellence lackey Ruben Brosbe is back in the news today, or at least yesterday. Ruben somehow managed to write a piece in Gotham Schools yesterday laughingly and shamelessly entitled, "Why Teachers Like Me Support Unions: An E4E Take on Edusolidarity."

OK, done laughing. Let's continue. Let's once again show just how clueless, two-faced, and botarded Ruben is.

Ruben blabs; There are plenty of times when I disagree with Michael Mulgrew and the UFT. There have been more than a few occasions in conversations about teaching when I’ve had to admit my own confusion or frustration with the union.

Actually I agree with Ruben here. There are many things I disagree with the UFT, Mulgrew, and the AFT. In fact I know many people like this. The difference between me and like minded people, and Ruben and his shills over at E4E is, we will not, would not, and can not turn on our own. The rank and file we believe is the heart of the union, the heart of teaching, and at no time do we turn our anger, and disappointment with the UFT on each other. Ruben, and the rest of the unwissend Jugend at E4E are doing what they are doing not only for themselves, but at the behest of outside forces.

But these instances will never change the fact that I am a proud supporter of the teachers union.

You're joking. I must give full disclosure here. I laughed so hard at this comment I inhaled a Dorito I had been munching on.

In a bizarre era where policy experts are calling attention to the need to attract better teachers while policy makers simultaneously decry our “lavish” benefits, the need for a strong union becomes increasingly acute.

This above is why you are a little two faced sanctimonious s**t. You turn into a whore for Michelle Rhee and put yourself in a video, you are involved in an organization that prostitutes itself for monies from Bill Gates, and you wonder why teachers are being shat on? You Ruben are part of the solution, or part of us being shat upon, you ARE THE PROBLEM!

The blatant attacks on collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin and elsewhere do nothing to improve education.

Of course, but see the above which I had just written for why it is happening. Oh, and let's not forget the Koch brothers. In fact, I'll do you one better. Your organizations best friend, Joel Klein at one time wanted the teacher's contract to be just six pages long. Just think about this the net time you look at photos of Joel Klein whilst getting the Kleenex and Astro-glide ready.

I am grateful for the hard-fought union battles of the past that protect me from discrimination, support my instruction and planning, and encourage my professional development.

Explain to me how a white, Jew is going to face discrimination. Especially a rich, white Jew, with a daddy with deep, deep pockets. What discrimination have you ever once in your life faced? You have grown up with a silver spoon in your mouth, you have never had to want a thing. Anything you wanted, you got.

When I think of one of the most vital roles of the union however, I think of the protections that allow me to advocate for my students.

Tenure, you twit. Got it? Or have you been tenured? Did Little Evan Stone and Princess Sydney Morris receive tenure? But allow me to point out how special and above the fray you are by pointing out that you advocate for your students. You alone are special in doing so. You alone are the only one that does advocate. I want to be you, in fact I think every teacher in NYC wishes that as well. You are special. You are unique, just like mommy and daddy always said to you.

At a school with more than 33 percent of students requiring special education services and an even larger number who are considered English language learners, I understand how crucial it is that I can speak up for these students if they aren’t getting legally mandated services.

And how have you done this? Are you willing to put your face on TV, or the Daily News and speak out for these children? Have you risked being insubordinate in advocating for these students? Have you used the resources and connections availed to you by E4E to advocate for these children?

I don’t agree with LIFO. I think in the past tenure has been granted too swiftly and easily.

Yeah, we know you don't agree with LIFO. Only because, God forbid, you might be affected by it. But what happens if you do get laid off? You have mommy and daddy to come to the rescue. You have no children, and certainly no significant other. All you have is yourself. A friend of mine has three children under 10, a mortgage, a wife, and unlike you, a life. Chances are he is in the cross hairs of being laid off. Guess what? He is not a sniveling, backstabbing weasel like you and all your friends at Omega House, oops, I meant E4E.

Stop blaming teachers for being granted tenure. Look at the administrators that do. In fact, again, do you have tenure? Have you had your probation extended? I would like you to confirm what a bird at PS 310 shared with me.

Ruben, you are nothing but the lowest form of life on this planet. A car salesman has more values, virtues, and ethics than you. The fall that is coming your way will be an epic one. And not one person will be there, other than mommy and daddy to help you up. Go back under that rock you slimed out from under.

My wife is beginning to think I am more into Ruben Brosbe instead of her. The problem is, how did she find out?

I think Ruben is loving the attention he has been getting the past week. In fact basking in it. I don't think he has gotten this much attention since his senior year in high school when the freshman gave him wedgies, and like George McFly, they taped a big "kick me" sign taped to his back.

Yes, I am guilty of giving him the attention he so desperately craves, but why not out him? He backs it just so gosh darn easy.

Yesterday, in his blog he lamented about "What If I Get It Wrong?" Yeah, what if?

Ruben blabbered; My students were taking their midline math assessments when I noticed that The Scowler, a struggling special needs student of mine, had answers remarkably similar to his neighbor.

Special needs? In what way? Does the Scowler have an IEP? If not, then why are you calling him "special needs?" This seems rather condescending and insulting to the young man. In fact I wish I had a dime for every time I have read about the deformers calling out teachers for how we talk about children. What would your buddies at E4E and MichelleRheefirst.org say about this?

Now if the Scowler does have an IEP, why is he in your class during an exam and not getting testing accommodations? Shouldn't you be on top of that?

I've been known to lose my temper over copying,

Lose your temper? How so. Do describe. Yelling? Screaming? Perhaps Ruben, you should familiarize yourself with Chancellor's Regulation A-421, verbal abuse. This can be quite serious and the crack team here at SBSB neither condones nor encourages verbal abuse of students. You might just be in need of some type of anger management program.

I knelt down, and in a whisper I asked, "Are those your answers, or are those your neighbor's?" "Oh!" He looked surprised. In his disarmingly sweet way, he replied, "Their his." "Well, I need to see your answers, so I know what you need help with."

So the Scowler has cheated. Nowhere has the crack team read that the NYC DOE Discipline Code was enacted. It seems the Scowler violated,

A20 Engaging in scholastic dishonesty whichincludes but is not limited to:
a. Cheating (e.g., copying from another’s test paper; using material during a test which is not authorized by the person giving the test; collaborating with another student during the test without authorization; knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in whole or part, the contents of an unadministered test; substituting for another student or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self to take a test; bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered; or securing copies of the test or answers to the test in advance of the test)

Was the assistant principal notified? Was an incident report filed? Was there any followup? You, Ruben are responsible for the security of the tests whilst in your room. You have an ethical, moral, and professional duty to report this. As far as the crack team has ascertained you have yet to. You now are just as culpable as the Scowler.

But Ruben with what yo have written next, in some Freudian way, you are seeing the wrongs perpetuated on the students by your little friends at E4E and the big shots in the deform movement.

"But, what if I get it wrong?"

It was one of those so simple it's heartbreaking type questions that come so naturally to nine-year-olds. His voice was overwhelming with self-doubt and anxiety. But while my first impulse was sadness, I also admired The Scowler's straightforwardness.

Yes, Ruben. You are getting it. Yet you are afraid to grasp it, afraid to believe it, but you get it. This kid is being tested to death. He is representative of what all children at the age of 9 are being forced to do. This is a 9 year old boy!!! Look at the pressures being exerted on this this boy, this child. And who is doing it? The people you admire. The people you look up to. The people that for some reason you want to emulate. Is this the social justice you are seeking in what is being done to this boy and all children?

Later, I looked over his midline. Half the answers were blank, and my first reaction was utter frustration. But, I reminded myself, this was a true representation of what he understood. It wasn't pretty, but it was honest, and that was encouraging.

See what I wrote above. But I can get cynical as well. Can it just be that you are just not an effective teacher? If he doesn't understand what is on the test then by your rational, your theories, you are ineffective. Is that fair to you. No it is not. You don't know what goes through a child's mind when it comes to these high stakes tests and you have no idea how they will react to testing. It might be different one day from the other. There is nothing, nada you can do about it.

Come on leave the dark side. Come to the side of goodness and niceness. We are a heck of a lot more fun and throw better parties than E4E can ever.