In too many schools the administration, lead by Principal looks the other way when students misbehave. In some of these schools the Principal will automatically take the word of the student over the teacher's and give the teacher a "letter to the file". However, since the teachers have ownership over the student's grade, the student will usually think twice about misbehaving in the school for fear of failing the class and the Principal may not be willing to take the student's word as true considering the student's discipline history.. Unfortunately, under the twelve year Bloomberg administration onslaught to demonize the teaching profession and having willing allies in the media, the students grow up with little respect for their teachers. To make matters even worse under the new "restorative discipline policy", students know there is little or no serious consequences by the school for their bad behavior.
In this environment of poor student discipline and school administrative inaction the ATR shows up for his or her weekly assignment at the school. Once the ATR shows up in the classroom the misbehaving students of these schools will revert back to their normal behavior of walking into class late, fail to do any work, refuse requests by the ATR to follow the rules and in some cases antagonize the teacher and rile up his or her followers to be disobedient. The result is usually a chaotic and noisy classroom. The ATR, in trying to either maintain or reassert control as we are trained to do ends up in a confrontation with the misbehaving student.Sometimes this leads to an incident that has negative consequences to the ATR.
Too many times I have heard of ATRs who, in trying to maintain control of a chaotic classroom, confronts the misbehaving student Guess which side the school administration takes in these altercations? The misbehaving student who has a discipline record a mile long or the ATR? You guessed it the misbehaving student. The result is that the ATR ends up being charged with either Corporal Punishment (Chancellors Regulation A-420) or Verbal Abuse (Chancellor's Regulation A-421). and gets a "letter to the file" and a "U rating".
What can an ATR to do? Its not easy, in the worst schools you can only hope the students don't destroy the classroom but try to talk to the class to do their work and "do the right thing". However, in no case should the ATR confront a student or use language of a threatening, racial, or sexual manner. Calling a student disrespectful or undisciplined is fine but don't tell them they are lazy, stupid, or ending up in prison. That will earn you "U rating" and never touch a student even if they are blocking you from closing the classroom door. Just call the dean or an administrator. Its not worth the chance that the student claimed you committed corporal punishment or worse. Just wait for help, don't be a hero, it can cost you your job!
The DOE has made the ATR job a "babysitting position" your job is to hand out the work left by the classroom teacher, walk around the room and encourage the students to do the assignment and if they don't, they don't. Be on time, and don't use your cellphone in class. Nothing more is expected of you and don't add to the stress by going the extra mile. The result could be disastrous.
Remember one of my quotes in my blog is:
The DOE motto "Students lie.....except when it's about their teacher". Especially if you're an ATR!
Rome wasn't built in a day. And even the horrible mess the Bloomberg administration made of the schools was a doing that took 12 long, hellish, and nightmarish years. It will take time to undo the damage. My advice to all pedagogues, regardless of whether they're ATR's or not, is keep neat and accurate records and anecdotals. I know it's time consuming, and tedious, but it's one of your best defenses against lying, career ender "students" who the DOE will believe any day over you. We are hopefully in the dawning of a new DOE, and with time, all of the anti-teacher data freaks, lawyers, and pencil pushers will be a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteOne particular atr supervisors is going after atrs for not babysitting up to his standards. Atrs are being threatened with letters to file if they are not properly engaging the students in their capacity as babysitters.
ReplyDeleteObviously this is happening even in situations such as Chaz described when kids do nothing and we are out of our own subjects - watch out for the walk throughs
I would love to name this person ...
And Chaz wants to force place atrs in one of these crazy career ending schools in exchange for retro pay in our new contact
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:45. Name the scumbag. Your post is anonymous.
ReplyDeleteBe wise during your babysitting duty. It is better to be threatened with a letter because the kids do nothing compared to getting a charge of verbal abuse or corporal punishment.
ReplyDeleteWe are in a tough situation but I am not going to make it worse for myself by blasting these kids who do nothing and then not getting any support from admnistrators or deans. I called the dean the other day about disruptive behavior and he said he was on his way never even responded to the classroom. No surprise they are not looking out for us
Stark? On another note, becareful of the a.p security at campus magnet. This guy is a total failure.He can't control the kids and tries to blame teachers especially atr's! This guy should be removed but who wants to be the a.p of secuirty at campus magnet.
ReplyDeleteI think part of this problem is that the administration at a lot of schools is poisoned with fake leadership academy principals. There are also APs who have no right being in education and this combination has led to the backlash of screaming on our education livlihoods. The system REALLY needs to clear out the fake administrators (well at least Farina is trying because now principals and APS must have at least 7 years in the classroom)and then and only then can schools run with students respecting ALL teachers. How sad is it that bloombergs leadership academy people have reversed authority in the classroom as students continue to disrespect educators with all the negativity they hear around them imposed by the press controlled goons who have no clue what is going on inside the schools but just go ahead and print anything.
ReplyDeleteTeachers have the right to examine their file. Where are the files for ATRs kept? If an ATR gets a letter for a supposed infraction, where is the letter kept?
ReplyDeleteEnglish at campus magnet is horrible! He blames others for his lack of ability. Also the admin at far rock and august martin they just love sending the worst kids in the city into your classroom and blame you for not controlling them. I use the word control because that's what atr's have become. We need to control the class even though we just met these students and they have a history of disrespect. Its all our fault, not the children who are victims of an unjust society. What a bunch of crap!!!!!!! 3 more years!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJeffrey Winograd Is that who you speak of?
ReplyDeletebingo 8AM the creep giving everyone u ratings and then sneaking up on them - he is a vile cockroach
ReplyDeleteAnd the UFT does nothing about Winograd?
ReplyDeleteCan we please get together and go to the union? People with a good record for over a decade should not be getting screwed by field supervisors.
ReplyDeletegood point 8;24 same disgusting field idiot giving u rating to everyone - grieve grieve grieve
ReplyDelete