The problems at Forest Hills High School has reached the newspapers as the New York Post and the Queens Chronicle have articles dealing with the problems at the high school.
Add this to the articles written by the local education blogs and the question is will Chancellor Richard Carranza take action? I will not be holding my breath waiting for the DOE to make positive changes since it's dominated by Bloomberg era policymakers.
One can only hope that removing Superintendent Juan Mendez and Leadership Academy Principal Ben Sherman would be a start. However, based upon previous history and the Bloomberg era ideology that permeates through Tweed, I am not optimistic for that happening unless Chancellor Richard Carranza "cleans house at Tweed". Here is what the Mayor said about the weed smoking at the school.
Read NYC Educator's blog on his view of what's going on at Forest Hills High School.
Its funny in the post article they use the terms "highly regarded" "popular" "high level programs" coincidental that the word "HIGH" is used a lot. Anyway with all those glowing characterizations why is it the school suffers from very "LOW" level student stupidity???? Only in NYSHITTY can a school be highly regarded AND a mess!
ReplyDeleteDOE tends to like principal - teacher conflicts. It is an outgrowth of their infantile 'us versus them' perspective.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, what to an outsider might seem an obvious indication of a principal's unfitness (an overwhelming 'no confidence' vote by a large staff of expert and experienced pedagogues) is viewed by the DOE as evidence of success in the 'us versus them' construct.
Teachers, this construct holds, are rather lazy and slow to change so the fact they dislike a principal is evidence he is making them change and adapt their methods.
Not only did DOE express little concern, but their rep went on the record calling the principal an "effective leader" and saying the superintendent "continues to support" the school. They claim to be ensuring "a supportive environment." Given the circumstances this sounds delusional.
ReplyDeleteBen Sherman can't take credit for Forest Hill's success. That school has always been top of the line. All he is doing is maintaining its "high" status. Did you read the line he said, Well it's going to be legal anyway so what we can do (paraphrased). Alcohol, cigarettes and vaping are legal too. Why not let them do that? Also, it is legal to say F you to people. Does he allow that too?
ReplyDeleteI think there are many teachers all over NYC looking to see what happens at FH because there are so many schools with similar issues. The time is ripe for new leadership at the UFT.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what is going on in Forest Hill's High but my P just grabbed my penis in front of my UFT rep and all he did was laugh. I was so humiliated. I am getting tired of her crazy Monday morning behavior. Plus, she really hurt me. She grabbed, pinched and squeezed. Calling UFT central later today. I do not care anymore. Not going through this again. At least this Ben Sherman guy is not squeezing penises in a public school.
ReplyDeleteJust read the article:
ReplyDeleteWithout really knowing Ben Sherman...
First, is it really Ben or the DOE, the dumb Mayor and Carmen's failed policies that now allow students to go unruly in schools? Wasn't Carmen and Bill who legalized weed in schools? At my high school we were instructed to hold weed for students. Two staff members are currently being investigated for stealing weed and not giving back the right amount.
Two, yes this Ben guy sounded like an idiot by making a mistake and opening the restrooms at all times. Clearly, he admitted he made a foolish mistake.
Third, was Ben the best choice for this school? Seems any P with common sense who'd get a decent school like this would only have to continue the success. Only an idiot would go into a successful school to make changes. What changes are you making? Are you trying to make it unsuccessful?
Fourth, the DOE and UFT do not care. What the hell is a vote of no confidence? Who is dumber the NY Post or the teachers who do a vote of no confidence? Vote of no confidence means ZERO. You want to really do a vote of no confidence then you threaten to walk out (only tenured teachers) on Friday at 12 p.m... Just a mere threat to the Chancellor and Mayor would give the teachers at the school (NOT UFT central idiots who do not care - just teachers at school) a real chance at a conversation where people might listen...
Fifth, be happy you are a decent school. Smell the weed, relax and enjoy because 75 percent of our other schools would be willing to supply students with weed to be in a decent school. I just had my principal pinch my penis. That is a real problem.
Same problem at Flushing high school. The tone is set by the mayor. The principals don't want to generate negative discipline statistics by suspending kids for marijuana. It makes the school look bad and the principals have to answer for it. However, having a building that smells like a Grateful Dead concert doesn't make the school look too good either.
ReplyDeleteMendez likes to hire incompetent Principals like Dwarka to destroy schools.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor said there will be "serious consequences" for this behavior bahahahahahahahaha this mayor is a clown the DOE is a circus the UFT the ringleaders.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great time for other teachers/students the uft (don't hold your breath) to expose the lack of discipline in ALL the schools. Discipline is a joke these kids are now handed warning cards for smoking/carrying weed. How many are vaping ??? A weapon gets a kid a 6 day suspension. Our grand Mayor also approves cellphones in our schools. Some of our schools are like malls. Kids hanging out!! picking up girls!! The discipline code is watered down every year.
Don't blame the kids. The fault is with the Mayor and the DOE they have No leadership skills
100% correct, anonymous 10:53 AM!
ReplyDeletePrincipals are called on the carpet for suspensions and the inference is they are racists for suspending anyone. This fish stinks at the head!