7/12/2012
Welcome to the Flushing HS blog
The outcome of the recent arbitration keeps the school open, but creates an odd situation for the teachers and APs. Those that were told they cannot come back now have a right to return, but have a dilemma: they can either retire or find a new job (difficult) or return to a strange situation. Teachers have already been badmouthed enough in the media, but we'd like the teachers throughout the 24 schools to support each other and share experiences about the kind of harassment or poor treatment they've received and may receive in the upcoming year.
We hope people can talk here freely, because we know they can't necessarily even talk to their union leaders because they don't know which side the union rep is really on. We're using the blog format because it allows people to post anonymously.
If you're in touch with others from the school over the summer, please let them know about this blog.
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I guess I'll be the first to comment here being that everyone is probably terrified that they'll be found out and there will be retribution. This statement I just made is sad in itself considering we live in a "democracy" that allows us the "freedom of speech" and yet when we speak no one listens, except other teachers. The circumstance at FHS was unpleasant to say the least!!! Many great teachers (including myself) and almost every AP were let go by the new administration with no explanation as to the criteria used to make this decision. The experience was demoralizing as well as dehumanizing, I don't think they even behave that way in corporate America. All these changes are being made for the "students" yet no one in the mayors office and the DOE ever asked them and don't care to. The students were devastated and had a beautiful ceremony for us on the lawn on the last day and yet no one reported that to the public. Now in September we will all likely report back to work (being that all the openings probably no longer exist) to a new principal that let 60% or more of the staff go. How will this new leader face the staff she didn't choose and expect there to be a respectful working relationship. As always in the classroom I know we will all be the utmost professionals and do our jobs, but I know that I will find it very difficult to look this person in the eye much less respect any words that come out of their mouth. Perhaps this is part of the master plan by the mayor and the DOE to run the school into the ground, by turning what should be a cooperative effort between teachers and administration into a divide and conquer situation. This latest experience has made me really consider leaving the profession something that I truly love and is my passion, however I don't like the constant mental and emotional abuse. I can go somewhere else and get paid a lot more money to be abused in that way. The saddest thing is that at the end of all this the real victim is the student, the one who's supposed to "benefit"!!!!
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