The mainstream media painted a rosy picture about the opening of DC Public Schools . Many DC teachers say it ain't so. Here's another email from a teacher colleague about one of our educational centers.
Candi - I have learned the following about an educational center from a DC colleague . They are missing eight teachers. Even the principal holds down classes. They are missing ESL teachers. Of the teachers holding classes, one is a special ed teacher, which means she cannot provide services and the rest are either ESL teachers or specialists. They are also missing books. Back to school night was a joke, a long night with minimal numbers attending. Muriel Bowser was forty-five minutes late...meaning they lost many parents who could not wait. The security company wants to add another security guard, but DCPS disputes the size of the building so they will not add another guard. It costs too much money. It's not as bad as some schools, but it is a nightmare. Anonymous DCPS teacher -Posted by Candi.
6 comments:
This sounds like Brightwood, Powell or Tubman. The practice of special ed, ESL or other service providers holding down classes as short term or long term subs means those students with IEPs or English language learners aren't receiving the support they are legally entitled to. That's because their teachers are tied up covering classes. At least the principal is pitching in; I've heard of school secretaries also holding classes. Are every one of the teachers from closed or restructured schools who were to be reassigned according to the Memo of Understanding placed? If not, there seems to be several openings in this above-mentioned school.
Are you complaining about the mainstream media painting a rosy picture of schools' opening day? If they wrote about how bad things are, people would be bi$%îng and moaning that all the Post wants to do is tear down DCPS and never has a good word to say. And I don't dispute for a minute the charges above, which, BTW, become more pronounced as the days go on and the vacanacies don't get filled.
There is an ESL teacher at my school who was placed there because of the MOU, but we already had an ESL teacher, so now we have two!. The new teacher is not happy here. Can you tell me which school has the opening, and I will tell her.
I am convinced from conversations I've had with key people that the school described is Brightwood or Tubman. If this is an ESL teacher, she knows she should contact the Bilingual Office or OBE, as they aid in the most effective placement of ESL teachers along with DCPS HR.
There are similar problems in many schools citywide. Unfortunately, DC Human Resources is placing many teachers outside of their certification which is inappropriate/illegal. Teachers while they should contact the DC- HR office- they should also contact the WTU to report their particular situation. Most importantly they should contact their Field Representative for their school to seek assistance for their particular issue. I would suggest documenting issues via email in addition to any calls you make. Always copy the following in your email trails: gparker@wtulocal6.org, gbordena@aft.org and nsaunders@wtulocal6.org I hope this helps.
Amy Totenberg Esq=404-622-6970????
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