For the last month or so Showtime has been showing Godfather Parts I and II as well as the reformatted version of Godfather III. Coppola moved some scenes around and added some scenes to Three which made the story easier to follow. However, I still cringe every time Sofia Coppola is on screen.

But I love the opening scene of The Godfather. The scene is so well written and performed it got me to thinking. What if Bonasera was not an undertaker? What if Bonasera's daughter were to be a teacher? What if it weren't 1945 but rather, 2021? What happens when you mix chocolate and peanut butter? What happens when you mix the UFT and the Godfather? You get a sync of some sorts. 

I can't believe I have to put the following disclaimer, but I know if I don't there will be a few that do not understand parody and satire. So here goes:

In no way, shape, or form are myself nor The Crack Team denigrating Italian-Americans. The Crack Team and myself are also not advocating any violence whatsoever. In the same vein if we here at SBSB did a mash up of the UFT and the Wrath of Khan it would not be as if we advocating space travel, the stealing of the Genesis device, hijacking a Federation ship, or leaving UFT officers marooned on Ceti Alpha 5.

Thank you for your understanding. Have a good giggle.

Bonasera: I believe in teaching and teacher unions. Teaching and teacher unions have given me a comfortable lifestyle. And I raised my daughter to be a proud teacher and a proud UFT member. I gave her freedom but I taught her never to dishonor the profession or the UFT. She found a "principal," not an educator, but TFA at a good elementary school. She worked hard for him and the students. She came early and stayed late. I didn't protest. Two months ago it started, the observations, the letters to file, with with the help of another administrator. They gave her U ratings and lied in their evaluations of her. Lied in the discipline letters. She fought back. She kept her honor. So they denied her tenure. Like an animal. When I went to the her apartment her soul was broken. Her eyes were filled with tears.. She couldn't even eat because of  how sad she was. But I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life. A great teacher. Now she will never be able to teach again. 

I went to the UFT, like a good teacher. These two administrators were reported by my daughter. The UFT did nothing! Gave her bad advice. Nothing! I stood at 52 Broadway like a fool, and those two bastards, continued harassing other teachers. Then I said to my wife, "For justice, we must go to the  Don Corleone UFT Caucus." 

Don Corleone UFT Caucus: Why did you go to the UFT? Why didn't you come to us first? 

So this dipshit President Assclown, and his lackeys at the NRA, are suggesting that teachers should be armed as well as locked and loaded in case of some crazed demented male with a tiny tallywhacker decides to shoot up a school.

This is not a good idea. Please read Arthur Goldstein's take on why it is stupid. Think about it. We as teachers keep on hearing how we are no good. But, we are to be trusted with handguns and other weapons in case an active shooter comes into our school to destroy the lives of the children we keep on being told we are destroying anyway.

Law enforcement are the only ones with the training and capabilities to protect the children and take down an active shooter. Yeah, dumbass Trump says to train teachers. But law enforcement does not get trained just once, they keep on getting trained and re-trained.

My son's school district has a Harrison police officer at each school. That is who I trust. I also, God forbid, believe that if there is an active shooter in his school that his teachers will shield the students to the best of their abilities. But not all school districts and police departments can afford or have the manpower to have an office in each school.

This is not perfect, but this is what we have until more is done to limit the sales of guns and military style weapons. But in the meantime something needs to be done. The Crack Team got together and came up with some ideas that are better than arming teachers and hopefully will appeal to the Cheeto Face president and his sycophants.

Lightsabers

Yes, lightsabers. Arm all teachers with lightsabers. As Obi Wan told Luke in Star Wars Episode IV...

Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.

Yes, each teacher will be assigned a light saber (color of their choice). As Rey has shown in Episodes VII and VIII one does not need to be trained in the ways of the Force to use one. And let's not forget that Finn was proficient with a lightsaber.

Vulcan Nerve Pinch

Each district will send several teachers from each school to the Vulcan Science Academy for intensive instruction on the practice of using the VNP. What's that you say? Only Vulcans have the ability to perform the VNP? I don't think so.

In Star Trek: TOS episode "Omega Glory" after Spock uses the VNP...

Kirk tells Spock "Pity you can't teach me that" (i.e. the Vulcan Nerve Pinch), and Spock replies "I have tried, Captain."

And lest we forget, Mr Data, Odo, Jean-Luc Picard (because he is way more cool than Kirk), Jonathan Archer, and the useless holographic Doctor have all used the VNP. It can be done.

General Order 24

Yes, we more Star Trek: TOS! In "A Taste of Armageddon" Captain Kirk while he and the landing party were being held hostage ordered Mr Scott to implement General Order 24, An order to destroy all life on an entire planet. But Scott was trained well. He did not want to follow in the footsteps as Captain Garth did on Antos IV. Scott had the Enterprise wipe out all power and weapons systems on EminiarVII.

Trump can commission, or use his billions, to build a star ship orbiting the earth. When an active shooter situation happens in a school the local principal can give General Order 24.

Batman Style

No, come on. Let's be real. There is no such thing as Batman. But, we can train teachers, one teacher per school, in the style of Batman.

Each summer every school district selects one teacher (of course by seniority) to travel to Bhutan and be trained by The League of Shadows and Ra's al Ghul. After an intensive 8 week session the teachers travels back to their schools and are in essence each school's Dark Knight. When an active shooter (hopefully never) situation arises that teacher can take care of the shooter Batman style.

The Crack Team worked hard at coming up with these inane ideas. Much harder than Trump and the NRA did coming up with their dumbassity. It's time to be realistic. Want to end the Active Shooter curse. Don't give them something to shoot with.

Oh, and get rid of Trump and all the blooducking NRA Republicans.

Thirty-three. It is an interesting number. So many associations. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rolling Rock beer, Jose Canseco, Patrick Ewing, Kris Draper, Eddie Murray along with so many others who wore that number with pride.

But today we shall talk about the indignity, or rather, the albatross of the number 33 and what it really means.

It means that one is a false prophet, a charlatan, a fraud, a huckster.

For months we have been hearing of the solid power emanating from a little itsy bity man, Landru. 

Landru preys on people's fears. Makes false promises. Promised his cult that he would lead them to the promised land. That all would be fine. 

But when push came to shove, when crunch time came, Landru failed and failed big.

The worse part is Landru could not accept it. Landru couldn't handle that the rules applied to him.

"WAH-WAH-WAH," cried Landru and like that dork we always see with that lateral lisp screamed out, "I'LL SUE YOU!!! I'LL SEE YOU IN COURT!!!"

Why couldn't Landru have more than 33 Lawgivers to serve him? Too many know the real truth of Landru, they are no longer "of the body." They see through the charade.

Landru was too focused on himself say some. Some say that many didn't want to be seen with or supporting Landru. But most say that the numbers that Landru spoke of were an illusion, and fraud, and roomful of mirrors.

But what Landru is is nothing but a paper tiger.  A scared paper tiger that is acts tough but in reality scurries away, not like a cockroach but a rat, when the chips are down and refuses to look in the mirror at Landru's inabilities.

Look behind the wall and see what Landru really is. Festival is no more.

In the past I have started off a blog post using a quote from Rush, or made use of a Star Trek quote somewhere in a post. For those who still have one foot in living in their parents basement as do I, this is your lucky day. I am using quotes from both a Rush (War Paint from 1989's Presto CD) song and from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Please bear with me, the point will soon be evident. 

"All puffed up with vanity/We see hear what we want to see hear"

"....but like a poor marksman, you keep missing the target"

Both lines fit Portelos better than his trousers do!

 As many know, Jia Lee, MORE/New Action candidate for UFT president appeared with me on my quite rudimentary Internet radio show this past Thursday. In the issue of being fair I extended an invitation to UFT Solidarity Leader Francesco Portelos to appear as well. His reaction is here;

First, thanks to Portelos for choosing me to help him pass the time on his drive to Albany. I usually choose music, or Howard Stern, but I am honored that he chose me. But to address his well thought out, lucid points.

One, can we stop living almost three years in the past? I was not close to MORE nor Jia at the time, and I don't know if Jia knew much about me. But who cares? Obviously Portelos. It's 2016 gosh darn it!

But then Portelos blabbers asking me how it felt when Jia said;

"...back when rubber rooms existed."

Yeah, Jia said that, and if you listen at about the 6:26 mark, I corrected her.

But unlike Portelos, I (And the vast, vast majority of grown ups), not only have the cognitive ability to know when people actually make a mistake as to misspeaking, but I (as well as the vast, vast majority of grown ups), before I post something on social media always seek to verify what I am about to post lest I get caught holding my you-know-what in my hands like Portelos has for the gazillionth time.

If Portelos only had A) a better sound system in his car, B) Was able to clearly hear Jia's voice past all the voices in his head telling him how great he believes he is, or C) Taken the Taconic to Albany instead of the Thruway (less road noise) he would have heard Jia correcting herself just (LISTEN HERE!!) before I did.

To Jia, please accept my apologies for not originally hearing what you had said. For this transgression, and the shame it has brought upon my family, I offer you a pair of Neil Peart autographed drumsticks in return. Use them in good health (its a Jewish thing. You get new underwear, that is what is said)!

But why you might ask, is this pertinent to you, John and Jane Q. Schoolteacher? Because Portelos is screaming for attention help. He wants to debate Jia. He his desperate.

But there are some many Portelos' comedic acts to share on these pages, we have to wait for another day to discuss the debate.

But one last thing.

Why hasn't Portelos sent the same request for a debate to Unity? Why just MORE? As it is written on the UFT Solidarity website, Unity is invited to debate as well. Yet strangely, no invitation to Unity has been forthcoming as of press time.

The Crack Team, along with our Crack Team Consigliere, Tom Hagen, discussed whether or not MORE should entertain such a request. One thing popped into everyone's minds.

Let's see Portelos and his minions get 900 REAL (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Clark Kent are not, nor have ever been, UFT members!) signatures on the petition first. Yes, a daunting task, but perhaps Portelos can get some signatures in exchange for some entertainment? What is it he does well??

Hmmm...dropping his pants, again and again, and again.

Earlier this morning, the SBSB news team received an email with something quite interesting regarding UFT Solidarity. The email was turned over to The Crack Team for analysis and confirmation.

This blog post would have been posted much earlier in the day if two things did not happen. One, several members of The Crack Team laughed so hard that they became completely incontinent and had to be rushed to the Westchester Medical Center ER. They are back to work now after being thoroughly cleaned up, checked for injuries, and their clothes sent to the dry cleaners.

Second, when fed the information in the email, the SBSB computers completely went on the fritz and since our IT person was at the ER as well (For attempting to gouge his eyes out) we had to turn to our IT intern, Zippy the Brain Damaged Chimp, to get the computers up and running again.

Before we share with the SBSB readership, our legal intern, Zippy the Brain Damaged Chimp (Zippy wears many hats), has suggested that we blur out any images in which our readers might find offensive and to warn those with weak constitutions, heart conditions, small children, the elderly, to avert their eyes or wear the protective visor that Spock wore when greeting the Medusan ambassador Kollos.

Are you ready? Last chance. OK, here we go.

There you have it. And just in case anyone thinks The Crack Team created this, you are wrong so go here.

As usual the autocratic nature of UFT Solidarity allows room for only one voice, one face, one opinion, one idea.

A caucus or even a union us more than just one person, it is many people contributing many ideas, opinions, voices, faces, that when meshed together join and make one larger and more importantly, stronger voice that everyone will not only listen to but hear as well.

When you run a caucus in the UFT election you are part of a team, a slate. Why anyone would want to focus all the attention on just themselves is beyond reproach.

The community, the students, the education process needs to be emphasized in any campaign poster. As written about here, just focusing on teachers is counter productive to the cause.

Besides, is this not putting the cart before the horse? Would one not have to be on the ballot first?

From an aesthetic point of view this is a mess. My dad was in advertising, my wife an artist and graphic designer. The background color is a mess, along with the matted colors of the fonts. The fonts are a mess, all out of place, some bigger than others. There is nothing to catch your eye and there are just way too many words and promises that there is nothing that stands out and there is no substance. Too many promises that are just generic or no way to keep.

But this is reminiscent of a child that decides in November he is going to be Batman for Halloween the following year. By November 2, the child already is pestering mommy and daddy if he can be Batman, watching Batman to learn how to move and speak like him.

Again, a caucus is for the people, by the people, and of the people of the caucus. Of course this is discounting Unity. Egos and personal vendettas must be checked at the door and the common good is what must be the goal. Being president of the UFT is a democratic process not a coronation.

Where is Snowball when we need him?

Lately on these pages we have been sharing the comedy stylings of Sam Pirozzolo, president of CEC 31 and optical store owner in Queens.

Yesterday we shared how Sam claimed that 80% of students are unable to read or write in NYC. We asked for proof, and Sam shared it with a report by the Annenberg Institute.

Today, Sam Tweeted out (In regards to the Annenberg report);

Read it and weep - really you will cry PG 6 says it all.  http://t.co/hKbyyHBvmI
— Sam Pirozzolo (@SPirozzolo) July 17, 2014

@SoBronxSchool @MrPortelos Can you photo shop yourself some brains you are gonna need them. Cause the study is from 2007 pre common core
— Sam Pirozzolo (@SPirozzolo) July 17, 2014

We are still a bit confused. According to Sam, 80% of the students of NYC are illustrate. However, the report he cites is specifically geared to middle schools.

On the second tweet from Sam, that our criticism of the ELA and math exams in 2013 based on Common Core is unfounded because the Annenberg Report was written in 2007. Oops! We got caught with our knickers down.

The Crack Team did not read the report properly and did not see that on page 2 that it was written in 2007. We should have known and apologize to Sam.

But 7 years is a long time. How long is 7 years? Well Pon Farr is how long a Vulcan goes without mating (Dear God, not another Star Trek reference!). Just see what it did to Spock.

I have some eggs and milk in the fridge that have been sitting there for 7 years, perhaps Sam will like to have these?

But using Sam's logic (Star Trek reference?) anything that occurred in 2007 is relevant today, in fact, should take precedence on anything happening in 2014.

Alex Rodriguez led the AL in home runs with 54 in 2007. Is he still the AL leader, should he still win the HR title this year?

Chien-Ming Wang won 19 games for the Yankees that year. This year he is in Triple A Louisville hoping to catch on with the Reds. Should his pay not be based on what he did in 2007?

Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, ended in 2007. With Sam's logic, the show is still appearing on PBS,

In 2007, the Mets had a pretty decent team, just finishing a game behind the 1st place Phillies in the East. Should the 2014 Mets rest on the laurels of the 2007 Mets?

Sam is living in the past and still can't cite any current studies for his 80% claim. 

The Crack Team calls on Sam Pirozzolo to show actual facts to back up his claim. These facts must be from independent sources and be easily verified.

Why is Sam Pirozzolo so afraid to use relevant up to date facts and why is he afraid to share these facts? What will the judge say when Sam has nothing to show but empty air instead of facts?

When I was in elementary school our principal Mr Murray explained to us that since principal ends in
"PAL," that means the principal is always your "pal."

Try telling that to Jeff Storobinksy and his colleague Sandra Amede.

Sandra is at the same middle school in Brooklyn from which Jeff retired from. Sandra decided to share with The Crack Team her plight at the hands of THAT principal.

Again, not only was The Crack Team appalled and in tears after reading of the abuse Sandra had to endure, but several members were seen in the corner wretching up their lunch and and one member had the same reaction that Mr Spock had when he accidentally gazed upon the Medusan ambassador, Kollos.  We can only hope and pray that Dr Miranda Jones is available to heal him.

FYI, what is in bold, is emphasized by Sandra.


-->

The Crack Team is down in the dumps. Sadly, the contract that the UFT negotiated for the teachers of New York was passed by a 3-1 margin. Instead of cursing the result The Crack Team decided to do something about it.

We thought that rather than once again writing about why this contract was not good yet again,  it would be better to show how actual teachers would be affected by it. It was decided that a contingent of The Crack Team would travel into the future to see just how this contract has either helped or hurt teachers. We did not have any plutonium for our Flux Capacitor so we decided on another method of time travel as seen in the Star Trek episode, "City on the Edge of Forever." Luckily for us, Steve of The Crack Team has been to a Star Trek convention had purchased the schematics for the Guardian of Forever for $10,000. We thought he was foolish, but imagine our surprise when we found out it worked. Don't believe we built one? Here's the finished product awaiting the two members of The Crack Team to enter.

At about 7:30 PM EDT Crack Team members Jim and Spock entered the Guardian for Forever and returned just a few minutes later at 7:34 PM EDT.

Their report; 

UFT Headquarters, Executive Offices June 4, 2014:
We witnessed Mike Mulgrew and LeRoy Barr are sitting around a conference table with their feet up with Carmen Farina. All are smoking cigars which they had lit with $100 bills laughing and saying, "Gee, they'll vote for anything."

Outside a School in District 11, May 24, 2017:
Met with ATR Kevin Smith. Kevin informed us that he is now on his second 50 day assignment. He was at another school in District 11 when on day 51 he was asked to leave for problematic behavior. Apparently, he had left the toilet seat up in the staff bathroom for the 2nd time. He had already received a counseling memo for leaving it up once before. He is concerned. He told us he is not taking anymore chances. He now pees sitting down.

At 51 Chambers St, 3020-a hearing, February 5, 2017:
We chatted with Steve Smith, a 24 year teacher before his hearing. He is an ATR and is facing the 1 day, expedited, not full due process, 3020-a hearing. Steve got removed from his first assignment because the principal found a 22 year old newbie to fill his position. The principal waited until day 51 to find him problematic, claiming that he had been late, even though the lateness was due to his crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge and there was a jumper and traffic was stopped for 3 hours. Steve even sent video from mid-span and of the jumper falling to the Hudson just to cover his butt.

The second time, he was replaced because the principal wanted to give his position to her old college pal and Steve just happened to be in the way. The principal claimed that Steve was yelling at the students even though he was in a cafeteria of full of 300 students and he was just talking loud. 

PS 451 Bronx, May 4, 2016:
We sat down with Dawn Smith, a 4th grade teacher. Dawn, a 20 year veteran, shared with us that for years she was used as the model teacher when visitors, Quality Reviews, etc... went on in the school. She applied to for the model teacher position hoping that the extra cash could help her son get into a decent college. She was disappointed when she found out that the principal chose to send the name of the school's art teacher in for the position. Apparently the art teacher had been living in the principal's colon for some time and the principal wished to show her thanks. 

MS 777 Brooklyn, May 22, 2016
Teachers are discussing the results of the UFT election. They can't believe it. Mulgrew is reelected and receives 99.99% of the vote.

UFT Headquarters, February 22, 2017
Teachers are still inundated with paper work. The union, which in 2014 agreed to find ways to reduce paperwork, has been fact finding since September 30, 2014. A finding has been imminent now for over 2 years.

UFT Headquarters, June 1, 2018
With the historic 8 year contract coming to an end, new mayor Eva Moskowitz tells the UFT that the city can't afford to pay the last two installments of retro and will like to stretch the payments out to 2035. Mulgrew quickly responds with, "Sure, whatever you want! We just want a seat at the table"

A PROSE school, Upper East Side May 11, 2018:
Without union protection, this PROSE school, "The Excellent Academy for Scholarly Scholars," the teachers must report to work at 6 AM and leave at 9 PM. Teacher's that speak up against administration have no union protection and are taken out back and summarily executed with their lifeless heads chopped off and put on a spike in front of the school as a message to other teachers as to what can happen to them.

Shiva Call, Monsey NY, Home of Ida Rabinowitz, February 7, 2017:
Mrs Rabinowitz' husband, Morris, who jumped off the Tappan Zee Bridge the other day, just buried her husband the day before. He was distraught for several reasons. One, his paycheck was now being deducted 10% for health care and he was getting less bang for his health care buck. His old psychiatrist was no longer on the plan and he had to go see a psych at the closest joint UFT/NYC funded health center in Middletown NY.  His new psychiatrist was a 26 year old affiliated with "Psychiatrists For America" and had only 5 weeks training. Worse yet, the anti-depressants he was on were no longer covered and he had to settle for generic anti-depressants that were manufactured and mailed from Kazakhstan. 

President Mulgrew was gracious enough to pay a shiva call. When Mrs Rabinowitz asked Mulgrew if as a widow, will she be getting the remaining payments of her husband's retro Mulgrew responded, "Ain't happening!" He soon turned and left for the buffet table, helped himself to some bagels, smoked salmon, creamed herring, and whitefish salad and headed out the door.

So there you have it. The intrepid time time travel of The Crack Team showing the rank and file what the future holds.

The future can be changed. But it is up to US, not UNITY, of anyone else to change it. So let's do it.

Little Evan Stone from Educators 4 Excellence has a new mouth piece. He is Josh Goodman of the SKDKnickerbocker. Josh wrote a press release with the usual E4E propaganda deriding the New York State legislature from putting the brakes on the Common Core©.
communications firm,



So much wrong with this statement The Crack Team was roiling on the floor laughing that EMS came and carted them away.

The Assembly bill introduced late last night would unnecessarily delay the complete implementation of the Common Core©, undermining the teaching standards supported by the vast majority of teachers. 

Who are these vast majority of teachers out there? To paraphrase General Zod from Superman II; 

"Who are these teachers? Where are they?" 

Teachers also support a multi-measure evaluation system, but this bill would effectively eliminate the ‘multi-measure’ component of such a system.

Again, where and who are these teachers?  But elimination is a must.

Educators would be subject to evaluation and termination almost entirely on the basis of their principals’ evaluation.

So teachers want the junk science that according to Newsday is FUBAR? Teachers, art teachers, gym teachers, etc... wish to be evaluated based on test scores of students they taught and in subjects in which they do not teach? Well I'll be darned!

Students, teachers, and principals have enough on their plates this year.

Funny, E4E never ever mentions the other stake holders in education, the parents. How about talking to Yvonne Gasperino of Westchester County? Good luck!

When E4E convened a group of teachers lackeys, sycophants, the ignorant to discuss this issue

Fixed. 

This Teacher Action Team will release a set of recommendations shortly that will detail how to support the implementation of the Common Core© without gutting it.

The team is awaiting to hear from it's lord and savior Bill Gates. Wants Bill speaks from the burning bush to direct his minions then the team shall release his words-on two tablets.

We are hopeful that the legislature and the Governor will continue to move forward on these needed changes

Nah. The assembly and senate are scared right now. They are looking to save their political butts. Governor Andy's approval rating is down to 42% and in all probability will get destroyed in Western New York, Upstate, and Long Island...where it just so happens the fight against the Common Core© is fiercest. Westchester might just go for Rob Astorino. What does Governor Andy have left? New York City. Why do you think he put on that shameless display Tuesday? 

Come to Westchester County. Travel to Buffalo. To Patchouge. To Saratoga. The parents do not want anything to do with the Common Core©! It is time to wake up and see and smell reality.

E4E, Little Evan Stone and his babe Princess Sydney Morris are addicts. They can't see what this addiction to Common Core© and the junk evaluation system is doing to them. As everything implodes around them all they can do is think that just one more hit, one more score, one more explanation will fix everything and all will be better. Bill Gates is their dealer and Governor Andy is their co-dependent.

It's time those that care for them have an intervention and send Little Evan and his babe Princess Sydney spend time at Dr Drew's for a very long time.

As Dr McCoy would say about the state of the Common Core©, "It's dead, Jim!"

I got my first bachelor pad in my hometown way back in July of 1990. It was awesome. A studio apartment directly behind an IHOP, at a main intersection, shops within walking distance, and best of all a Metro-North station a quarter of a mile walk.

Being a groovy single guy the other married men with families on my floor lived somewhat vicariously through me. They thought I was cool. I didn't think they were. Not 100% true, there was one dad who almost turned me off to getting married and having children.

Jughead and Big Ethel lived diagonally across the hall from me. They had a 2 bedroom. Both were portly and ugly as sin. However, the had a gorgeous toe-headed little boy named Reggie. Back in 1990 Reggie was about 4 years old.

Anyway, and I got this second hand, when Reggie was born, Big Ethel suffered from sever post-partum depression to the point where she was hospitalized. Which is an explanation, I think, of what I am about to share.

Being that Reggie was an only child, Reggie bore the brunt of everything, good and bad, in their home. Sadly, from what I heard and saw, in person, in the hallway, and in my apartment with my door closed sitting outside on the balcony while blasting Rush, was not right.

Reggie was a handful and cried and had tantrums quite a bit. Every time he cried and/or threw a tantrum I would hear from either Jughead or Big Ethel, or both, yelling at Reggie, "IF YOU DON'T STOP CRYING WE ARE GOING TO CALL THE POLICE!" And soon the wailing, the tantrums would get worse.

'IF YOU DON'T STOP CRYING THE POLICE WILL COME AND TAKE YOU AWAY!" Or, "WE HATE YOU, YOU ARE NO GOOD!!!"

Once when my dad came to pick something up in my mailbox Big Ethel was in the lobby ripping apart a crying Reggie. Big Ethel pointed at my dad and screamed at Reggie, "SEE, THE POLICE ARE HERE TO TAKE YOU AWAY!" My dad being the man that he was said, "Hey lady, don't get me involved with your crap."

In retrospect I wished I had called Child Protective Services, or better yet, told Jughead to cut it out. But being a renter in a co-op building and with Jughead on the board, I never did.

They sold the apartment and moved away in the mid 90's. Reggie would be about 28 years old now. I always wonder what became of him. If he was able to turn out well adjusted and able to bury the scars that his parents imprinted on him.

But can you imagine the hell this boy must have gone through? Being told almost day in and day out that he is no good, that his parents wished him gone? What kind of self esteem did he lack? His parents, obviously were not only abusive, but stupid. Stupid, for the way they treated this boy, but stupid because in an apartment building everyone can hear everything.

But back to Reggie. How much damage has he suffered? Was he able to overcome it? Has he turned to substance abuse to ease the pain or has he turned to counseling? Is the pain or anger living inside of him fighting to stay in but every now and then it bubbles up to the surface and consumes him, stops him from living?

I share this (And I know there are some begging me to get to the point!) because we all can empathize with the abuse this boy was raised in. We all know what effects the abuse can have on a child verbally abused throughout his most formative years.

But what about the abuse teachers receive? Not from colleagues, not from parents or students, but the very people that we look to for leadership as Reggie did, our principals? How much can one take of constant day in and day out abuse?

Teachers hear, "Deal with it," or "You're an adult." To both, The Crack Team says hogwash!

Part of the reason I believe teachers get into teaching is that we are sensitive and feel others pain easily. Like in the Star Trek TOS episode "The Empath," we really do feel others pain.

So because our senses, our antenna is so attuned to what others feel, when we are berated, when we are abused, when we are demeaned it hits us harder than it does other adults in other professions.

Verbal abuse not only hurts but it is damaging as well. It is damaging when we are screamed at, when we are told, or it's implied that we are no good. We are torn up inside when we feel we are being singled out, being treated in a disparage way.

And unlike Reggie, who can withdraw into himself, we can't. We have to be on. We have to "turn that frown upside down." Where do we get the relief? Who can we take it out on? Too often and sadly it is taken out on our loved ones. Our loved ones are made to suffer, our loved ones then become damaged.

But the world loves and wants to help a little boy. The world has learned to hate and ignore a teacher. But abuse is abuse. Teachers do not deserve to be abused.

Things are getting better in my captivity at 4360 Broadway, other wise known as the rubber room. It is now 89 days since I had been cast adrift from the wonderful world of PS 154 in the Bronx and the memories of that place are becoming more and more distant.

After a rough start to my captivity, (and here) I have become more accepting of my captors as they seem to have become more accepting of me. Yes, I did have some issues at first, but when one is forced into a captive role one reverts back to mankind's earliest stages when it is traditional to mark one's territory.

Anyway I now seem to have an understanding of their society and have come to accept their ways. Fortunately, have been invited from time to time to take part in their rituals and must say that I have enjoyed myself.

The leader of the captives rules by respect and benevolence. I have let down my guard and no longer expect the chair of punishment for my misdeeds. This ritual of respect and benevolence at first was foreign to me, but the leader seems to treat all the other natives under his rule in this manner and there is no less dedication to the task at hand amongst the natives.

Though some might say that I am suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, I am allowed to come and go as I please and have no problem staying with these people. In fact I feel more like an observer or a guest, like Jane Goodall. I live amongst these people at 4360 Broadway.

On the other hand there is another band of natives on the 4th floor, they call themselves District 79. They are quite territorial, controlling, and worst, malevolent in their dealings with outsiders.

Yesterday was just such an occasion.

The floor of my captivity was having many people and guests. The room where I have formed my base camp and marked my territory was being used, the room adjacent to it was being used, as well the big conference room. There was no place left for me to sit and put my stuff. I asked for permission to make contact with the District 79 natives and seek permission to set up camp for a brief while in their gilded break room where the vending machines are.

I decided to bring gifts of welcome to the District 79 band. I made first contact with their director of security, (For the purposes of this story a pseudonym will be used befitting what the director of security thinks of it's position) Tasha Yar. I explained the situation to Tasha that I had no place to sit and a place for my stuff and asked if I can just sit in the gilded break room for an hour or so.

She said no. She said I belong to the natives upstairs and they must watch me at all times. I asked if an exception can be made since their is no place to sit. Again she said no and that I need to be watched. I asked, "What am I, 12 years old?" At this point she suggested that I speak to the other Director of Security, Odo, who had shifted into some really odd shape.

Again I asked why can't I just sit in the gilded break room for an hour or so. Odo informed me that to keep a happy 4th floor I can't sit there and it is only to be used for lunch as there might be meetings happening throughout the day. I mentioned that there are very few meetings there to begin with and if there is a meeting today that I will clear out.

Odo again told me that I can't sit there and it is only to be used for lunch as there might be meetings happening throughout the day. I asked if there are any meeting there for today and Odo told me I can't sit there and it is only to be used for lunch as there might be meetings happening throughout the day.

I tried a different tactic. I explained to Odo that my captors have said it is OK for me to use the gilded break room. Odo replied that upstairs is for them and the 4th floor is for us and never the twain shall meet. I then said, "Isn't sharing caring?" That remark made Odo shift into many shapes, not all of them pleasant.

Sensing from Odo that there is a fear of me radicalizing and sharing truths with the 4th floor captives I inquired why am I feared. Odo responded that that I can't sit there and it is only to be used for lunch as there might be meetings happening throughout the day. I asked if I can sit near school safety, Odo responded that the agents are extremely busy (????) throughout the day and must concentrate on all aspects of their jobs.

I then inquired if I see one of the 4th floor captives in the hallway can I say, "Hi, how are you?" Odo refused to answer. I asked Odo again, no answer. I asked a third time, Odo said, "Yes you may say hello, but no conversation as it may be taking away from tasks that they perform for us."

Reminder, none of this is being made up. It is real!

Exasperated, I had to end this idiocy. This was turning into a Abbott and Costello routine and I wasn't the straight man, or was I?

I really don't understand why certain people feel the need to have to humiliate and demean people and colleagues. One day Tasha Yar or Odo might be in the same predicament as me and I can promise you they would want to be treated with respect.

But sometimes one is too involved in one's self importance to see the forest through the 4th floor of District 79.

Twenty days (Instructional days) so far. One hundred and sixty days to go. At least for this year.

They really spread out the teachers who are in the Rubber Room. No more mass warehousing them,
like 100 to a room. Why let anyone talk to one another and give each other ideas.

That's why I am all alone at 4360 Broadway between 186th St and 187 St in Manhattan. I am the only one there. I could have been sent to Zerega Ave, but no, they claim there is no room there. I call bullocks.

I am all alone. No one to commiserate with, no one to eat lunch with. I do have the Daily News and the Post and becoming quite adept at Wonderword. Thankfully, I have a great book, "Team of Rivals" to read.

My belt and my shoe laces have yet to be confiscated. I feel as if I am a political prisoner. A prisoner in solitary confinement. A prisoner of conscience.

Death is all around me today. As I left PS 48 for lunch a sparrow had flown headfirst into a window. The poor little bugger didn't stand a chance. His neck snapped and he plummeted to the Earth. There he was, on his back, feet up, dead. Does this fate await me by the NYCDOE? Must I have my wife start the car up in the morning?

Today I decided to create my own friends. I looked around and found two dolls, a toy table and toy tea cups and a pot and set up a tea party with my new friends who are pictured above.

On the left is Mrs Nussbaum, and on the right is Mrs McGillicudy. They are my new friends.

Today we had several discussion between sips of tea.

Our first discussion was who did we think was the better captain. Kirk or Picard? I argued for Kirk. He was tougher, more of a man's man, and really knew how to land a punch. Mrs McGillicuddy agreed with me, but she said that, "Kirk is sweeter on the eyes than Picard."

Mrs Nussbaum was upset with me that I did not include Captain Janeway, "Why couldn;t a woman have been included?" she asked. She was right, a woman should have been included. Even though I never cared for Janeway.

We also discussed how it took three characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation to replace Mr Spock. Seriously, think about it. Commander Riker, Lt Data, and Troi (I never cared for Troi. I always found her annoying and pretentious). I don't want to get too deep into this subject, but looking forward to comments about why it took three characters to replace Spock. Mrs Nussbaum and Mrs McGillicuddy are looking forward to the comments as well. Though Mrs Nussbaum added that Worf was an extension of Spock as well for he was an alien. I countered that Troi was an alien too. Half Betazoid and half Human.

One thing the three of us agreed on is our hatred of Wesley Crusher. We all felt that he was a loathsome, whiny, ass kissing little ****. He served no purpose on the Enterprise and Captain Picard should have left him to rot on Farpoint when he had the chance. Mrs Nussbaum had both Mrs McGillicuddy and myself in stitches when she shared this YouTube video she created of Wesley's "unfortunate" death.


One can only wish.

It's late now and it is time to go to bed. I hope that Mrs Nussbaum and Mrs McGillicuddy aren't staying up too late. I am excited to see them in the morning. Tomorrow's discussion topic will be, how come Gilligan never met with an unfortunate accident?

The clarion call came from far and wide. A meeting there was to be. For some, it was a rally, for others it was a march of doom. But this entity that controls PS 154, Landru (OK, I know, another Star Trek reference, but it is so appropriate. For those that don't sleep in their parents basement, click here to learn more), was determined to be heard and and be heard it must.

All those who gathered for the meeting sat down amongst the self perceived greatness and perfection of Landru as it served ice cold, chilly coolattas to those awaiting its knowledge. A hush fell upon those assembled as Landru began to speak.

"There is not a discipline problem at PS 154," Landru bellowed to the mass of the beaten, the downtrodden, the blissfully ignorant. Besides, Landru shared with everyone, "We have a plan in place as we speak." The downtrodden, the beaten, those who are "not of the body" snickered and laugh.The general feeling is that these types must be "absorbed."

A plan? There is a plan at PS 154 for discipline? The Crack Team here at SBSB went into investigative mode and indeed there is a plan, the contents of which will be published now;







Psych! Really, The Crack Team does suggest a plan used several years ago and published on these pages. They come highly recommended. Though the Crack Team would like to add an idea that was omitted several years ago; close eyes really, really hard, and hope that when the eyes are opened the problem will have gone away.

After that Landru offered another edict concerning the following year, "Those that think that they can arrive at 8:15 AM and leave at 2:35 PM, those days are over!" The exclamation is added to simulate the tenseness in the jaw as these words were spoken.

But those not of the body were reassured, there was something they could do to continue "those days" that were supposedly over, "You can use the Open Market and leave," they were told with the same tenseness in the jaw.

On a happier note, those not of the body were reminded that there will be only happy, condescending, patronizing talk in the future with all students no matter if they tell you go fuck yourself or if they throw a chair at you. Happiness is what it is all about.

Pennywise is alive and still at work in the South Bronx. Only this time, Pennywise is not only destroying the lives of children, but of teachers as well.

Pennywise in and of itself has a benign appearance to children and adults, but the true form of
Pennywise, the IT entity, resides in PS 154 in the Bronx. With Open Market season soon upon us, this is an open warning to all teachers interested in a transfer to PS 154. Stay away.

PS 154 should be seen by anyone seeking to use the Open Market to transfer (That is if transfers are not hidden again like they were last year) to 154 as the Starfleet's General Order 7 used to for Talos in the year 2264.

As the Talosians destroyed and toyed with the lives of the crew of the USS Enterprise, so does the IT entity destroy and toy with the lives of the staff of PS 154.

IT demands only perfection from staff, those that are imperfect are dealt with in much the same way that Nomad dealt with imperfection.

IT can only criticize and condemn those that are not perfect nor drink the Kool-Aid it offers to those that wish to be one with IT. If you're looking for praise, a pat on the back, a "way to go," then 154 is the wrong place for that.

IT believes that the lack of discipline at PS 154 is due to the non-liberal, non-coddling, non-happy views of the staff. Only if the staff rewarded bad behavior would there be a sense of discipline at PS 154.

IT believes that every act, every thought, everything a staff member does, should be controlled and mapped out. The staff handbook is not a handbook, but rather a manifesto. From the proper method of washing your hands, to how many steps you must take from your classroom to the bathroom, it is all there for you to read and pull your hair out.

IT believes in only praising those that drink the Kool-Aid with IT. All others, no matter what praise worthy activities they do, well tough you know what, you ain't getting praised.

IT wants you not to have a life for IT has no life and IT only can see ITself and you through that prism.

IT only believes in GroupThink. No independent thought allowed. Only drones are wanted at 154.

IT has driven away many good staff members and will continue to do so.

IT is living in denial, seeing that with the transformation of District 7 to no more zoned schools and a charter moving in, IT believes that 154 will still attract the top of the line students.

IT teases you with professional development.

IT is a cultist of Lucy Calkins and Teacher's College Readers and Writer's Workshops. Though this is a failed method and the NYC DOE is no longer supporting it, 154 is going full throttle into next year with continuing failure. By the way, isn't a sign of insanity doing the same failing thing time after time, thinking there will be a different outcome? Just saying.

IT is unable to use introspection.

There is zero discipline at PS 154 thanks to IT.

IT tries to be your pal, tries to show IT cares, but it is all a facade, a scam, moral is at an all time low.

IT can't and won't admit any failings. IT is perfect.

IT lies, omits facts, twists truths.

IT won't listen.

IT is a bully.

If you see PS 154 on the Open Market, run far away, do not apply. You will be so much better off elsewhere, like a prison in Mexico. Your well being is much more important. 

Isn't it amazing how art sometimes imitates life?

I swear, I have watched Star Trek: First Contact a thousand times. Never before have I been able to put two and two together and see the striking similarities between the movie and the DOE. Most striking though is the scene in which Commander Data first encounters the Borg Queen.

In the scene Data is in the engineering section when the Borg Queen comes upon him. Like the Blue Angel promises to make Pinocchio a real boy, the Borg Queen promises to make Data a real human.

She turns on his emotion chip, she gives him real skin with feel feeling and sensation. But for Data resistance is not futile. Even though he is an android he resists, he fights back against the Borg Queen, he is a real man, a real human being. He won't back down from the wily intrigues offered by that Borg Queen. Yes, he is tempted for about .00005567 of a second, but in the end, he does the right thing, he is on the side of right, the side of goodness. He will not be assimilated and become some inane Borg drone just wondering mindless through the Collective.

On the opposite side of the story we have the Borg Queen who probably represents most principals in the NYC DOE. The principal that reminds us of the Borg Queen is nothing more than some amalgamation of used mechanical and biological parts barely held together by a thin teetering thread. This type of principal and the Borg Queen share attributes as in wishing to assimilate the weak and mindless, the unknown and faceless. And while the Borg Queen believes that its thoughts are independent as does a principal, both have brains and thoughts that are totally inane, bereft or originality, weak.

Like a Borg Queen it is possible that there is a principal out there, probably many, that are soulless both inside and out. Skanky and waif like, pasty white like the Borg Queen due to not having lack of nourishment of the soul, this type always fizzles out, over reaching thinking that no matter what their way, their method will prevail. It never does.

For in the long run, we, the Commander Datas of the NYC DOE will bend, twist, and turn, but will never break and never give in. We all will misfire on the Enterprise (dear God I hope someone gets this reference!) when it matters.

'Nough said.

Juan Gonzalez wrote a great piece in yesterday's Daily News on how the Young Leaders Elementary School, a school opened up by Uncle Mike in 2008, is now on the list of possible closures. 

Funny thing is, Young Leaders Elementary School replaced another closed school, PS 220 back in 2008. PS 220 was run by one of the classiest principals ever to work for the DOE, Michelle Kahn. I know Michelle is up above having the last laugh. She should.

Again, students and their families education is going to again be uprooted and thrown into disarray. Will another school be a community school, or will be a magnet school attracting students from all over the neighborhood. Teachers that have built up some modicum of trust within the community will be thrown away like bathwater. Then again, since this school opened up in 2008, I am sure there are plenty of new, malleable teachers to keep around.

But why is this happening, and what does it portend for PS 154, which is on the closure list as well? In the Young Leaders Elementary School most recent (2011-2012) quality review, this stood out;

Due to the high number of inexperienced teachers, school leaders are cognizant of the importance of ensuring that the decisions around professional development support the individual needs of teachers

Yes, a high number of inexperienced teachers. Inexperienced teachers, which if 154 closes, will be tasked with righting the ship. But yet, when the most recent accountability and review report was released (2010-2011) the turnover rate of teachers with less than 5 years experience was 39%. In fact the school started out with 64% of teachers with less than 3 years experience. Heck, just look at the rate of ELL's in this school.

But this is Uncle Mike's way. Instead of improving, let's destroy. As Mr Spock said in Wrath of Khan when Dr McCoy question what would happen if Genesis was let loose on an inhabited planet;

"It is easier to destroy, than to create."

But why must the students, the families, the community and the staff of the Young Leaders Elementary School, PS 154, and MS 203, another school in District 7 that is on the closure list and led by a class act in Bill Hewitt, suffer?

Who should be held responsible for this mess? We should begin with Yolanda Torres, Superintendent of District 7. If the Yankees don't perform, Joe Girardi is the one responsible, as is Brian Cashman. Right now The Crack Team is researching other schools in District 7 that have closed and/or failing under the watch of Yolanda Torres. We here at SBSB call for the immediate removal of Yolanda Torres as District 7 superintendent.

Also, the network leaders of these schools. Yes, we have pilloried Varleton McDonald, but what about Dan Feigelson, network leader of CFN 203 for the Young Leaders Elementary School and his undying devotion to Teacher's College? And let's not forget Robert Cohen, network leader of MS 203 CFN 104. What would the folks think at NYU for his abject failure?

No one cares. Everyone, except the teachers, are out for themselves. I brought up a very good point to a person of power in my district last week;

"Why wait for them to close us down? We all know that whatever side of the bed Uncle Mike wakes up on that's what the decision is based on. We need to not be reactive, but proactive. We need to fight back. We need to muster the parents, the community, and more importantly, the politicians together and fight, fight, fight for this school, the students, and the community."

My plan was met with derision.

"They don't want us to do that or anything. Just sit back and wait."

Those 14 words sum up so clearly at what is coming down the pike. In my opinion, the decision has been made. Time to pack up and start saying your goodbyes.

But it does not have to be that way. The parents of these schools need to rise up, need to speak as one voice, to go to Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo's office, to go to Councilwoman Arroyo's office and get them involved. Get the other parents involved. NOW!

This is not just about your child's education, but your respect as a community. Do not think for one minute that those white males in the blue suits at City Hall and Tweed give one iota about you or your children. It is all about power, all about taking care of their own, and all about paying monies to their friends for incompetent and failing curriculum.

There needs to be a true grass roots advocacy coming from the the bottom up, the parents and the communities. You are the most important people there are to affect change within the NYC DOE.

'The situation is grave, Admiral. We won't have main power for six "days". Auxiliary power has temporarily failed. Restoration may be possible, in two "days". By the book, Admiral.'- Mr Spock, communication with Admiral Kirk in "Wrath of Khan".

"Captain Spock, if you don't hear from us within one hour, your orders are to restore what power you can, take the Enterprise to the nearest star base, and alert Starfleet Command as soon as you're out of jamming range."-Admiral Kirk in response to Mr Spock

I love that above exchange. Sends chills up my spine. That cocky half-Vulcan, half-Romulan Saavik  was to stupid to get it. Never did like Saavik, especially the way she talked to Uhura while down on Regula 1. But, and I have digressed, are the above quote code or allegory or both? I believe both, but for arguments sake let's use those quotes as a starting point into today's bedtime allegory.

Imagine if you will that the Captain of the Titanic and his first officer, Lt. William McMaster Murdoch are running the Titanic together. Now Lt. Murdoch has been thrust upon Captain Smith by the cold, cruel White Star Lines. Lt Murdoch previously was a lowly seaman and never did anything to distinguish himself in that position. In fact, Lt Murdoch sucked as a seaman. But because Lt Murdoch had friends in high places, he became a first officer.

Now Captain Smith is stuck with this incompetent first officer. Capt. Smith delegates easy tasks to Lt Murdoch soon after discovering how stupid, incompetent, and nasty Lt Murdoch is. In fact, Lt Murdoch is up for a permanent position as first officer after FIVE DAYS (ALLEGORY ALERT!) as first officer, but is too much of a fucktard to get it. So Capt Smith gives the first officer meaningless jobs to do around the ship, jobs that can be outsourced to the sea otters at the Bronx Zoo and which will be able to free up money on the Titanic.

The first officer, Lt Murdoch, because of this position of "authority," never realizes that authority is to be earned and not thrust upon others because of some title. Lt Murdoch has no clue to anything pertaining to the sea. No clue to anything about how to run a ship. No clue to how to treat the seamen, and definitely no clue to how to treat the guests (ALLEGORY ALERT!). 

Every seaman on the Titanic thinks that the first officer, Lt Murdoch is a circus act. Never before in the history of the White Star line is a first officer so universally disliked by seamen. The seamen on the ship even ask Lt Murdoch while pointing from the railing to the sea below and ask what that surface is below and Lt Murdoch is just too stupid to answer correctly.

The First Officer, Lt Murdoch attempts to get others to do his job. Why? Actually two reasons. One is so that Lt Murdoch doesn't have to and can just be lazy as all heck. The other, well First Officer Lt Murdoch is afraid to be held responsible by his actions. It is better to pas the buck to someone and of they fuck up, it will not be First Officer Lt. Murdoch's fuck up.

First Officer Lt Murdoch also lies like there is no tomorrow. Murdoch likes to lie about what other seaman say to one another, this way, the seamen are always divided and point there anger towards each other rather than to where the anger must be targeted.

First Officer Lt Murdoch was on duty the night the Titanic hit the iceberg. A guest on the Titanic could have steered the ship clear of the Titanic, but thanks to First Officer Lt Murdoch's incompetency the Titanic sank. Lt Murdoch couldn't even do right by the guests as the ship was sinking. Lt Murdoch is now every known as Lt Dunsel (A STAR TREK ALLEGORY!).

Captain Smith sees the light, Captain Smith must stand up against those at the White Star line and make a stand. Now, before it is too late.

I was sitting in the parking lot outside of Modells today keeping up on the blogs. I came across a post by Queens Teacher which I found really profound, which can be read here. QT is lamenting the end of teaching as we know it, but something else, at least it is my interpretation. That the deformers are looking for the easy way to solve problems.

In fact these two words of wisdom from QT resonated with me;

"Why do we need to wait 10 or 20 years to finally figure out this will not work"

" I personally am telling any young person I meet to not even THINK about being a teacher. I mean, why spend all that time, money and energy in a degree that is considered useless"

Which got me to thinking about "Wrath of Khan." No, not Khan himself, but Dr Carol Marcus and the Genesis project.


But what the video doesn't show is this exchange with Dr McCoy and Spock immediately after watching the video.

McCoy: Dear Lord. You think we're intelligent enough to... suppose... what if this thing were used where life already exists?
Spock: It would destroy such life in favor of its new matrix.
McCoy: Its "new matrix"? Do you have any idea what you're saying?
Spock: I was not attempting to evaluate its moral implications, Doctor. As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create.
McCoy: Not anymore; now we can do both at the same time! According to myth, the Earth was created in six days. Now, watch out! Here comes Genesis! We'll do it for you in six minutes!

See? The teachers and education, "life," are being destroyed by Genesis, the new matrix. And what Spock is saying is true. It is always easier to destroy than create. And that is what is being done with education by the deformers. Destruction, because it is so much easier. Why bother to create and have to deal with hard work?

What happened to Genesis? Khan let the device explode and it created a new planet. Spock's body was left on the new planet and as we saw in Star Trek III "The Search For Spock" he was rejuvenated, and the Genesis planet destroyed itself due to its instability and in my opinion, artificialness.

What the deformers are attempting to do is create something easily which is impossible. They all need a few viewings of Wrath of Khan.

Oh oh! I am doing it again. Going to throw in another Star Trek reference. But this time, in line with the pattern of recent Nazi references, there will be comparisons to the Third Reich.

In TOS episode "Pattern of Force" (by the way, this is Numb Nuts favorite Star Trek episode!) in which the planet Ekos is transformed into a Nazi state by Federation cultural observer John Gil (he did violate the prime directive!) Dr McCoy commented at the end, "absolute power corrupts absolutely" it seems this lesson is still lost in the NYC DOE. Did anyone catch this little article tucked away from view in the Daily News on Tuesday?

Schools official says Bloomberg gave too much power to principals

BY ELIZABETH LAZAROWITZ DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The Bloomberg administration overstepped its bounds in giving principals the final say in setting educational objectives, state education officials said.

Education Commissioner Richard Mills also slammed city Schools Chancellor Joel Klein for not consulting superintendents, teachers and parents when he rolled out amended rules in 2007.

The ruling restored some power to the parent-teacher teams which help create the annual blueprint for a school's operation known as a Comprehensive Education Plan.

Mills agreed with a new rule letting principals have the final say on school budgets, since the amendment also requires them to get input from the teams.

The city will clarify the regulation's language, a Department of Education spokeswoman said.

Parents have long complained that the administration has turned a deaf ear to their concerns and opinions.

Fascism alive and well in the NYC DOE!