Comments on: Schedule issues reign at some but not all ex-turnaround schools

By: Joanne Striharsky

Joanne Striharsky — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Mary, I couldn’t agree more. Heard a rumor that there will be a third schedule change for the students at HSGCA. Maybe the third time will be the charm, or maybe it’s three strikes and your out.

By: Joanne Striharsky

Joanne Striharsky — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:40:00 +0000

Back in July, I sent an e-mail to the Principal of Graphics questioning what Plan B entailed considering the possibility of the outcome of the Arbitrators’ ruling. Obviously, by his lack of response to a parent, our educators and administrators didn’t have a Plan B. This is clear by the ensuing chaos at our schools. Chancellor Walcott is wearing his rose-colored glasses. There are more than several students who have a programming glitch. This is the first time in four years that there have been so many “glitches”. Seems to my untrained eye that the blame should be placed upon the school administrators. At least this time, it is clear where the problem is…and that the teachers cannot be the scapegoats as they have been presented in the past.

Kinda makes it all clear now, eh?.

By: TeachmyclassMrMayor

TeachmyclassMrMayor — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:52:00 +0000

Horuseeing, believe me when I tell you, having an alum running the building is NOT always the answer.

By: TeachmyclassMrMayor

TeachmyclassMrMayor — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:51:00 +0000

GuestDewey, this is what is happening at Dewey? Not just at the disaster I work in? APs leaving all over the place. Staff and students, outside of a few, made ill at the site of the administration and its half dozen or so lackeys. Things are done without any sort of planning or input from staff. Bridges were burned because of last June and there is ZERO, absolutely ZERO leadership. I tell people that work in the system and they can not believe what is going on in my building.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 22:38:00 +0000

What John Dewey High School needs is a principal that has graduated from the school. How about that principal who works at New Dorp? She can be the replacement. After all, New Dorp High School isn’t even a good high school. Probably one of the worst in Staten Island. Why not help her own high school instead (again)?

By: Mary Conway-Spiegel

Mary Conway-Spiegel — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:23:00 +0000

When there’s no plan B in place chaos will reign. All due respect to Chancellor Walcott – massive problems prevail and it isn’t about one or two students…it’s about hundreds. Hundreds of students herded into holding areas wasting days, educational time and the time of staff who are drowning in work that should have been part of a plan B (our Mayor didn’t think this turnaround would fail).
This is top down education policy/management at its best.

By: Guestdewey

Guestdewey — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:55:00 +0000

The handbook…..Elvin is a control freak and is universally hated by the staff and the kids. She demeans teachers and administrators openly. She is gunning for unsatisfactory ratings for anyone that opposes her. She sadistically enjoys scaring people. She is also verging on other types of harassment as staff members talk among themselves about her comments regarding clothing which are accompanied many times by staring up and down the staff members involved.
And did anyone notice that the majority of her recent hires are almost all white?
There are more problems than the handbook but yes publish it!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:49:00 +0000

Hey “guest”, there is a link to the handbook in the story that will take you to a published version that we posted to scribd. Here’s the link again: http://www.scribd.com/doc/105755179/Staff-Handbook-KE-8-31-12“>a 52-page staff handbook with a host of mandates

By: a curious observer

a curious observer — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:47:00 +0000

It is curious that teachers would be alarmed by a staff handbook. Is it outrageous to expect that the teaching staff at Dewey maintain the school’s bulletin boards and notify the families of absent students?

Newsflash! High performing schools try to make sure that the adults set the culture – not the students.

By: Deafeducator47

Deafeducator47 — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:26:00 +0000

It is amazing that the “old Dewey” in the 1970′s could get a large student body’s schedules right with old computers.

By: guest

guest — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:15:00 +0000

Somebody should publish that handbook on some blog as there are many people here who will be ble to rip it apart and show where this so called Principal is violating contracts with impunity. Gotham schools, please publish the handbook.

By: The Fabians

The Fabians — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:36:00 +0000

It is revealing how principal Elvin…..”.did not immediately respond to requests for comment…” It must be nice to reside in the rarified atmosphere of unnacountability.
It reminds us of the old adage…”people with power do not like democracy because democracy challenges their power….” Good old Oscar Wilde.

By: Lescargot

Lescargot — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Most of the focus in Dewey was in regimenting the staff to a corporate top down model where no one has a voice. Dewey is a charter school in all but name, and it appears the cracks are beginning to show. Teachers are afraid to speak for fear of reprisal, but opposition is growing against the scorched earth policy currently in place. I wonder if the community were canvassed about the proposed changing of the landmark John dewey name. Whatever happened to the ISA agency that walked round the building like they owned the place. Who gives these people the right to impose themselves on communities with two and three generations of Dewey attendees. No one elects these people, and when you put the pieces together the high tech and testing agencies are part of the story. The 52 page “handbook” is receiving widespread attention. Teachers are incredulous about its contents. They find its scope and tone insulting. I’m sure its finer elements will be coming to light soon As usual, you can’t fool the kids, and unlike the teachers they are not afraid to speak out. Dewey is going to become a huge story in the New York takeover of public education.