Comments on: After precipitous retirement, Fort Hamilton HS gets a new leader

By: Bk

Bk — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:34:00 +0000

Reform now meaning to cheat so network administrators like you keep their jobs? That is all this reform is. Cheating. I doubt you have kids in the public school system.

By: Mel

Mel — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Ha ha! Good one Guest. That A.B. is a piece of work. Bill Coulter must’ve put them up to posting that comment. Could even be Bill himself. Desperately trying to stay relevant while other departments suffered under Chester. I’m backing Houlihan 100% to rid the school of kiss-ups like Coulter, Oberle and the rest.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:29:00 +0000

What a crock A.B. Who put you up to all that nonsense? Absolutely Mr. Oberle’s department receives most of the funding just ask the other departments. Heck go and ask the science department who’ve been punished for years by Chester over the Tom Greene incident. Beaten and dented instruments? Completely false. Oberle receives fantastically expensive instruments all the time. You can’t miss the deliveries that make their way all the way to his office. Fort Hamilton’s Performing Arts Department better than LaGuardia’s?? Not in your wildest dreams. The Physical Education department receives the most funding? You mean like the Football team? You’re Looney Kazooney. Chester couldn’t stand the Football team. Tried to shut it down every chance she could. Just ask retired Coach Laino. Ohhh, you don’t want to talk about that, do you? No, History, English, Science and Math are essential, should never be neglected and should always remain a priority. Like Dinesh says, 31% of students are College ready. I read that New York Post article. That is absolutely shameful. But you dont care about that. That is obvious.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Unfortunately, this has already been happening.

By: A.B

A.B — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Was Wood shop or Electric shop an entire program ? No . Of the 4 programs that make up Fort Hamilton (Honors Academy, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, and Zoned), half are of the Performing Arts Dept. Why shouldn’t this be a priority? Students audition to go to Fort Hamilton for theses specific programs and only the auspicious are chosen. They auditioned. They practice for hours everyday and travel all the way to the school to audition, hopeful to get a spot. So no, it’s not just a bonus. My friend’s son wanted to transfer from LaGuardia to Fort because the Performing Arts Department there was THAT reputable. History, English, Math and science, although they should not be neglected, do not offer creative expression. If all schools were about core subjects, they’d be all the same. There would be minimal individuality.

Are you sure they received the majority of the fund? Have you actually visited the school and the environment for the Arts & Music Department? They couldn’t even afford to buy new instruments. I’ve seen many that are faulty, beaten, and dented, that are over two decades old and are still being used. The floor was stripped of it’s carpet and lays worn and barren. As FHHS Rep says, the chorus is still using robes that are well past their replacement dates. The multi-thousand dollar trip to compete in Florida is paid almost in full by the students. Sports isn’t even a major program and is receiving the most. They definitely do not receive as much funds as you might think.

By: Former Turnaround Teacher

Former Turnaround Teacher — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:59:00 +0000

I mean South West.

By: Former Turnaround Teacher

Former Turnaround Teacher — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:58:00 +0000

Of course this is the plan. The DOE will eventually finish the jobs they started by closing FDR and John Dewey, next to fall will be Fort Hamilton and New Utrect. So much for large comprehensive high schools in South East Brooklyn.

By: FHHS rep

FHHS rep — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 22:29:00 +0000

You do realize that the arts doesn’t even have that much money in Fort Hamilton. Students have to pay $800+ for a trip. The chorus has had the same dumpy graduation robes for 12+ years and was never given new ones. If any program has more money it is the sports.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Uh oh… I hope this isn’t a move of the NYCDOE to close Fort Hamilton HS in the near future, it’s like the NYCDOE is insinuating that FHHS is their next target. Next thing you know… Fort will take in low achieving students from outside the neighborhood, it’ll be extremely overcrowded and will be on the list of “persistently lowest achieving” schools, given three C’s, and will closed. The pattern continues…

By: Former Turnaround Teacher

Former Turnaround Teacher — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Very quick to pass judgment? I suppose it is because, part of your job as a Network Admin is phasing out schools you deem “low performing” even though you were suppose to be supporting said schools. Actually, I 100% wish her all the best, and she likely could be a great leader. I do not work at Fort Hamilton, nor do I know anyone who works there. I just happen to live in Bay Ridge, and know what that school means to the community. I also have seen great neighborhood schools destroyed when someone unprepared for the task is asked to lead. I believe Ms. Chester 100% should be out for having committed an illegal act, and I hope that you have picked the right person.

By: Network Admin

Network Admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:44:00 +0000

A friendly piece of advice to those naysayers & others who are rooting for Ms. Houlihan’s failure… REFORM NOW or face the chopping block. From this point on, Fort Hamilton H.S. will be a place where kids will receive a quality education as well as the opportunity to express their hidden talents. They will be ready and well prepared to face the real world because of your experience in education. If you are there to cause trouble or are looking for the easy, corrupt way of doing things, Fort Hamilton HS will not be the place for you. Take heed.

By: Guest

Guest — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:28:00 +0000

She’ll be just fine. I know that’s something that you, as well some of the others, don’t want to hear. The winds of change are coming to Fort Hamilton. No more sneaking around. No more corruption. The kids will benefit for a change and not the AP’s. Get used to it.

By: Former Turnaround Teacher

Former Turnaround Teacher — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:16:00 +0000

While I understand this, being an AP is very different from a Principal. Also, being a specialized school, LaGuardia has almost all high performing kids and almost no Special Ed or ELL students. So it is a big difference.

By: Dinesh

Dinesh — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 05:27:00 +0000

LaGuardia wasn’t some rinky dink school with 500 student. I mean seriously.

By: Dinesh

Dinesh — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 05:22:00 +0000

Ah yes. Here they come to try and save the day. The same corrupt Arts & Music Department that received a majority of funds while other departments received next to nothing in funding. The same Department w/ the help of Chester, did away with all the shop classes. Classes that taught students a trade. Electric shop, Wood shop, etc. Not everyone has musical talent. This school no longer gives students a fair shot in life. A school that the NY Post reports that only 31% are College ready. That is a disgrace!!! And it’s no wonder. No, no. Nice try you shameful individuals. You know who you are. The Arts & Music Department deserves to be scaled back. Make it even with the other Departments. These kids need to learn History, English, Math, Science. That is what they need. Everything else is an extra bonus. Not a priority.

By: A.B

A.B — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 02:53:00 +0000

I hope this new principal doesn’t hurl the Performing Arts Department to hell . Fort Hamilton is one of the last public high schools to have an even moderately DECENT music & drama program, and has some of the best Performing Arts programs out of all public high schools in Brooklyn.

The
Performing Arts Department is as important as an arm and a leg to a human. To in anyway damage this department is like cutting off limbs. A magnificent chunk of the soul of Fort Hamilton, an essential asset of the success & reputation of this high school for over a decade, will be crushed and blown away like dust into nothing.In fact any damage done to ANY major department in this school will signify the beginning of this wonderful school’s downfall and annihilation.
So I so sincerely implore that PLEASE , please. Don’t cut off any limbs. Fort NEEDS them. I need them. The students & teachers need them. This generation, full cuts in departments, need them.

By: Former Turnaround Teacher

Former Turnaround Teacher — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:41:00 +0000

I really hope this woman is fit to run a large school. So many principals are brought in having never run a large comprehensive High School and fail.

By: Teach

Teach — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:04:00 +0000

Teachers at the school were not notified of Mrs. Chester’s retirement, nor were they ever told who her replacement would be. A note taped to the wall on Monday, September 24th announced that there would be an informational meeting in the auditorium during periods 4, 5, and 6, times during which many teachers had classes. Surprisingly, the note never mentioned what the “information” was that would be discussed. The only information teachers at the school have had has come from Gotham Schools.

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:07:00 +0000

Better watch out, better not cry. Better not pout I’m telling you why. Houlihan is coming, to town. Watch out Kaye. Those evil AP’s are looking to make sure it’s business as usual. Let the manipulation-laced rear-end kissing begin.