Saturday, August 22, 2009
Week 2
Another week has gone by in IPS Schools, anyone have anything noteworthy to report? Are any of you still missing paychecks? Any questions for the new uniserve director? What do you think about Andy Gammill's article on Lawrence Schools? Are your students showing up? Got any questions of your own you want to ask?
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Who is the new UniServ director? Where did Casey Patterson go?
ReplyDeleteI would like to ask the new Univserve director why the IEA has not gotten involved in the missing inaccurate paychecks from Aug. 14? August 28 is another payday and since the errors from the last payday have not been corrected, we are probably in for another round of missing or inaccurate paychecks.
ReplyDelete1. I agree with the previous poster. My check was inaccuarate(less) where some of my colleagues checks were more. I have called to ask why and was told they didn't have time to research it because they were too busy working on upcoming payroll. This is totally unacceptable! Someone in that office needs to be fired asap! I know mistakes happen--to err is human--but every single year there are screwups in payroll. Clearly someone does not know what they are doing.
ReplyDelete2. The majority of my students are showing up but, I do have about 7 that have not appeared yet.
3. I was told one day this week that Ann Wilkins had plans to talk to IPS Payroll about the checks. I really have not heard if it actually happened or the outcome. As far as the Uniserve Director, the only thing I heard is that it is some guy who use to be in Washington Township that stood up to Dr. White.
4. Andy Gamill's article was very interesting. I'll have to change his F to a C. IPS gets a lot of bad press and all of us know that the same things are going on in other townships and in private schools.
Does anyone else remember three years ago when the teacher's dress code was discussed at the Back to School meeting? There were comparisions between the student dress code and staff dress code. Students are not allowed to wear denim or open toed shoes. However, Dr. White said that teachers were allowed to wear Birkenstocks because there was an outcry from teachers that they need comfortable shoes that support the feet. Birkenstocks are open toed and heeled. Dr. White also stated that teachers could wear denim as long as it was pressed and not in poor condition. A principal told me that Dr. White announced to the administrators that he may not be able to tell the teachers that they cannot wear open toed shoes, but he could tell administrators what to wear because he was their "union". Given that history, why are principals telling staff that open toed shoes are banned? Why hasn't the union been public about the paycheck issues - the public would certainly support the teachers, but how are they to know about the mess?
ReplyDeleteThere is no dress code for teachers. I think it was degrading that Eugene White even felt it necessary to say that our clothes should be clean as if we wear our dirty clothes to school. I wish he would have said something about men wearing little red slippers to school.
ReplyDeleteTo the above poster: Have you not seen how some teachers dress? It's embarrassing. Teachers always whine about not being treated like professionals, then they want to dress in jeans, T-shirts, and grungy shoes. The very bare minimum should be the student uniform, but sometimes you can't tell the teachers from the custodians.
ReplyDeleteAnon, do you have some elitist opinion of janitors? Are they less valuable than teachers? To veteran teachers, we know that the secretaries and janitors are some of the most important people in the school. There is no reason to degrade them here or anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI choose my wardrobe to enable me to best meet my students' needs, as well as the scheduled activities for the day.
ReplyDeleteI, for one, would support staff uniform, but IPS could never pass the mandate, which would make monies spent on required wardrobe reimbursable, as are those of nurses, law enforcement staff, etc.
If IPS won't let us use $25 of our reimbursement for Teachers' Treasures, do you think the Board would endorse outfitting 3,500 educators?
Perhaps we can all get cute little red slippers to wear. Those should quickly delineate our professionalism and devotion to providing quality education for our students.
After all we were brought up to "Follow the Leader". Like lemmings.
I am sorry but, I have to agree with the posters who say that some teachers are embarassing in their dress. At my various schools, I have seen wrinked jeans, thongs on rusty feet and skirts way too short. Most teachers dress professionally but there are more than a handful that need to be taken to task on this issue.
ReplyDeleteI am far from elitist, but I guarantee if you go any place where there are professionals (law offices, banks, places of business), the professionals will not be confused with the staff.
ReplyDeleteIf holding myself, as a certified educator with Masters +, to a higher standard than non-certified staff seems "elitist" to you, then I guess we have different definitions of professional.
Then we are in agreement that you are an elitist snob who looks down your nose at non-certified staff.
ReplyDelete"Then we are in agreement that you are an elitist snob who looks down your nose at non-certified staff." And anyone with less than a Masters+.
ReplyDeleteYes, some educators dress inappropriately, but that should be between the individual and his/her evaluator, not a topic of conversation in the lounge or on a blog.
If the evaluators overlook unprofessional attire once, some see that as blanket approval, just like the student who says, "But I didn't have a belt on yesterday, and you didn't say anything!"
Regarding non-certified staff: One Methods professor at IUPUI told our class to always stay on the good side of the secretaries and custodians, as they truly run the building.
In aviation, the soul who fills the airplane's tires is just as important as the pilot.
172 days until summer break!
ReplyDeleteThe most useful piece of advice a college professor ever gave me was to always treat the secretaries and custodians with respect, because they were the ones who really ran the school. This advice has yet to fail me.
ReplyDeleteHow are the class sizes in your building? My elementary has several classrooms with 30+ students. If students were truly the number one priority, the administrators downtown should reassign some of the professional development cadre (waste of money!!!) teachers to open up new classrooms. All the coaching "experts" and "data managers" will not make a difference-smaller class sizes will!!
ReplyDeleteI treat custodians and secretaries with the upmost respect. But I also know that I am the professional in the building. I guess I know that if I want to be considered a professional, I need to present myself as one.
ReplyDeleteLet's discuss what a "professional" looks like to everyone. Do men and women need to wear a suit? Does a suit enable you to communicate your content better to the students? Does a person need to wear high heels to get the lesson taught? In my humble opinion, if the students are looking at my shoes, they are not actively engaged in the lesson. I agree that the certified staff needs to present themselves in a professional manner however, this could "look " differently in many different situations. One last comment, I dress as comfortable as possible because I am standing all day, walking around the room, instructing with technology, speaking with students, and otherwise teaching my class. I just wish others would get there act together or get out!
ReplyDeleteI think we need to look presentable. On the other hand, expensive Armani suits or $600 dresses with $300 shoes and loads of gold jewelry just add another barrier to our students who primarily do not come from families that buy clothes of that price range. I have heard the comments from students about "who does she think she is" etc.......plus we are working hard, sometimes moving furniture, breaking up fights, playground duty, and working with all kinds of different materials. We need to be clean and appropriate. Tight fitting clothes and little red slippers are not appropriate.
ReplyDeleteThe oft-repeated "little red slippers" comments are seriously bordering hyperbole.
ReplyDeleteDont blame me. I didn't wear little red slippers on the first day of school and make myself look like a fool.
ReplyDeleteLike to see us guys in shirts and ties.
ReplyDeleteHyperbole is a form of extreme exaggeration.
ReplyDeleteLittle red slippers refer to a wardrobe choice by our leader, whom we should emulate. Hyperbole is not applicable in this thread, as Dr. White actually displayed his choice. His biggest error was moving from the safety of the podium,
Perhaps him mansevant (Mr. French?)forgot to turn on the closet lights.
However, this year's clothing source was preferable to the Thomas Wolf clone.
Hyperbole is the constant reference, the extreme exaggeration from the oft-repeated reference.
ReplyDeleteYou long ago, made your point. I guess the English teachers are absent from this blog.
Thank you for your unneeded vocabulary lesson. Some of us also went to school for a day or two in our lives and have vocabularies that is expected of a professional. We dont really need your pedantic display of your vocabulary. I hope this attitude doesn't carry over to your students if you are really a teacher and not a troll from the Ed. Center.
ReplyDelete"Some of us also went to school for a day or two in our lives and have vocabularies that is expected of a professional."
ReplyDeleteYou must have missed the day when they taught agreement, or you would have realized the proper verb would have been "are" instead of "is".
Lady, you don't need the Ed. Center (or the media or parents or voters) to make teachers look bad. This blog is better proof that teachers are the root problem in IPS than all other sources combined. Honestly, where else could you find multiple teachers admitting they don't believe in dressing professionally, being accountable for their professional objectives, cooperating with corporate politics and changes, or being a positive representative for their profession and their employer. And you think the reason you don't get more sympathy and understanding is because people haven't been in your shoes. It's the other way around. We don't give you sympathy because you haven't been in the shoes of other professionals. And not only are you not behaving as professionals, but you are mirroring your lazy, excuse-filled, insubordinate, disrsespectful attitude for the children who could most use role models who are capable of maturity and professionalism. And as if that's not enough, now you want to publicize exactly how ghetto you all are for the whole damn world to see. Nothing White or Gammill or Tully could ever say or write could be as damaging to teachers as this blog. And the fact that so many of you don't see that is proof that you are not qualified to prepare children for the real world because you don't even comprehend the real world yourself.
ReplyDeleteAnother Ed Center troll trying to defend her/his job. The rudeness exhibited by starting out the post by addressing someone by .."Lady" shows the content of the character of the person posting.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. I did not do what I tell my students to do and that is to proofread what they write. I should have used 'are' not 'is' and realized it after I posted. Thank you for your kind correction.
ReplyDelete4 sentences in one post that begin with "And". The poster must work for a newspaper.
ReplyDeleteThere you go. If someone points out the obvious, they must be from Ed Center. How about the other way around. There are, what, a dozen of you henpecking fools egging each other on? And you think YOU are the ones who have some valuable perspective and EVERYBODY ELSE is crazy or stupid or mean or condescending or badly dressed or unfair or ignorant or ass-kissing or who knows what else kind of nonsense you want to slur people's names with. I mean REALLY. What an absolute embarassment to yourselves and your "profession." (And for the record, I'm not from the Ed center. I'm not even from Indianapolis. And I don't pretend to understand what it's like working in IPS. But I know what it's like to be a mature adult. And that is not what is displayed by most posters on this blog.
ReplyDelete"How about the other way around."
ReplyDeleteMissing question mark.
"And you think YOU are the ones .....
And for the record, I'm not from .....
And I don't pretend to understand .....
And I don't pretend to understand ....."
Four more sentences starting with And.
"If someone points out the obvious, they must..."
Dependent clause should match independent clause, ie: someone - he or she, not they.
(And for the record, I'm not from the Ed center. I'm not even from Indianapolis. And I don't pretend to understand what it's like working in IPS. But I know what it's like to be a mature adult. And that is not what is displayed by most posters on this blog.
Missing end parenthesis.
"But I know what it's like to be a mature adult."
How? On television? Videos? A mature adult wouldn't take posts on a blog such as this as a reflection on an entire group of individuals, be they educators, plumbers, or trash collectors.
I am relieved that you are not from Indianapolis. Your writing reveals a great deal about your education, or lack thereof. Words (and punctuation) are like bullets. You can't take them back. Your posts are now forever online.
Why do you assume all posters are female? (Lady, henpecking)
Personally, I find this blog to be a refreshing site that permits us to express our frustrations, concerns, and observations without fear of reprisal. One will find inept examples in every occupation, with your post displaying one such example from your chosen field, whatever it may be (hopefully, not teaching writing).
Please stay off our blog.
"Please stay off our blog." Translation: We are here to whine, complain and criticize others. We cannot possibly be expected to accept criticism of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that this blog is not already overrun with students and upset citizens. However, do not dismay. It will not be long before this happens.
If you want others to stay off your blog, you should require a verified log in and password. We all know this will never happen because it would mean the potential loss of your anonymity. Others WILL be posting on this blog as long as it exists. Deal with it.
ReplyDeleteIts hilarious to see teachers criticizing grammar and punctuation because they are incapable of debating the issue.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to privately gossip and complain and blame others for your lack of success, then by all means do so. If you want to put it out for everyone to see, don't be surprised when you're the one being judged.
ReplyDeleteGet a grip, guys! There is a suspicious divide & conquer element here to make us turn against this blog and each other--RECOGNIZE!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's all part of a huge conspiracy! (dws)
ReplyDeleteOr, maybe it's a bunch of people reading this place and figuring that it is representative of IPS teachers.
Well, let me say this. The excuse making whiners who populate this board do not, in any way, represent me or most of the teachers I work with and know (and that's a pretty large group after over 15 years in the district). Most of the teachers I know who are aware of this blog, alternate between laughing at the B.S. (appropriate name, btw), and cringing at how teachers are being portrayed.
This blog is for the small minority of teachers who have neither the passion for teaching, nor the guts to stand up to anyone.
If the powers that be of this blog do not recognize how bad it makes teachers look, then they are for more out of touch than any Ed. Center person they criticize. This place makes teachers look worse than any article in the paper, or any back to school assembly ever could.
I noticed the blog master removed the time stamp from all posts except the beginning one in each thread. I'm sure that wasn't done to hide the fact that posts were being made during school hours. Nope, nothing to see here.
ReplyDeleteThe stamp is missing. It was on western states time zone though. Making it appear that people were getting on while at school.
ReplyDeleteI tried on lunch when I had about 10 minutes one day last week. The IPS website blocks this. So, only those at home or away from their buildings. Nice try on trying to point out people doing this on the job.
I think this blog is wonderful. We have an out of control superintendent and a school board who is afraid of him. This is an outlet to vent and to let others know that they are not alone. Don't let the fact that a few uptight Ed. Center people are pretending to be teachers and complaining about the blog. Let's have more!! Get the truth out to the public!!
ReplyDeleteIf you think this blog is such a wonderful thing, you must be a really pathetic moron! I've put several comments on this blog and never once pretended to be a teacher. You're getting the truth out alright, but the truth you are promoting is about the pathetic nature of most teachers posting here. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteLet's just ignore all those posts trying to point out how evil and incompetent we are. It is an attempt to destroy this blog. No one works as hard as I do before and after school. I have spent my own money buying students clothes, shoes and materials. I have spent my vacations taking students to the doctor, helping families pack to move, buying medicine, eyeglasses, tutoring for free. Some nights I am still up at 1am and I get up at 5:15 to go to work but, you know what? I love my job. I love being a teacher in IPS, so much so that at the end of the year I don't rush to write off my expenses on my taxes. I knew when I signed up for this job I wouldn't get rich. My job is to educate children and fortunately or unfortunately, sometimes that includes meeting other needs in children's lives. To the poster who said I was failing to educate your child? For one thing, you probably don't even have children in IPS. For another, try to do my job for one day.......come on, I double-dog dare you!
ReplyDeleteThe very fact that you brought it up means you know we can't be ignored. I know there ARE many great teachers in IPS. You may be one of them. I don't know. I must say though that your tone appears to condone the actions of others who obviously are not. I can't speak for everyone, but I don't want to see this blog destroyed. It's too entertaining. As for the "try my job for a day" routine, it's an old tired argument that holds no water. I don't have to be an expert marksman to tell when someone doesn't hit the target.
ReplyDeleteYou are a principal and I think I know who you are!
ReplyDeleteYou think you do huh? Is that supposed to concern me in some way? Think what you like. It won't change anything. Nice try though.
ReplyDeleteUnlike the other poster, no I don't know or care who you are. I do know one thing however, you don't have a life or a job. Do you know how many times you have posted on this blog today?
ReplyDeleteYou know nothing. I could have posted all of these comments or none of them. You have no clue.
ReplyDeleteThe IEA is getting involved in trying to help correct the payroll mess. I received an email on Friday that said if you haven't been paid yet or were paid late to let Ann Wilkins know at presiea@yahoo.com I think she is working with the ISTA attorneys on this already.
ReplyDeleteI received an additional check this year because the IEA went to bat for me when IPS didn't pay my Jump Start pay on time. I only received that check because of the IEA's efforts. I suggest you contact Ann if you have payroll problems and if you teach in IPS long enough....you will.
The IEA rocks!!!
Quote: "The IEA rocks!!!"
ReplyDeleteYou will know you've reached maturity when you can handle your own work situations without having to resort to an outside entity, such as a union, doing the work you should be capable of doing for yourself.
I did not receive a payroll check like many others; however, I personally appeared at the payroll office to present my own case. I did not rely on Ann or anyone else to do my work. I received a check the day following my appearance at payroll.
I also received a check for attending two days of SpringBoard training for which someone had failed to enroll me. I made a 'quiet fuss' to Donna Walker who saw me at the two days of training. I received my check the same day that those who were properly registered on time received their checks.
Don't become dependent on another person or group to handle your financial affairs. Sooner or later, they will let you down. Learn to take care of your own business. No one cares about your business as much as you. Remember that.
To the smug person above, [if you are really a teacher] one day you will need an organization to rrepresent you. I hope IEA tells you that you have reached maturity and can handle your own work situations. I am sure you will return your raise, your spring bonus, your retro pay, your increased IPS payment for your health insurance and the insurance rebate that you will receive. These are all a result of IEA negotiating with IPS and I am sure you would not want any of those benefits since you are so mature and can handle your own situations. LOL What a schlub!!
ReplyDeleteThere are at LEAST two people posting the comments about how bad this blog makes teachers look, because I have posted a few (on this page, the ones that started out "Lady" and "There you go" but not the others.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that, "you'll need the union" nonsense is nothing but political brainwashing. Union members are pawns used for political lobbying, nothing more. They don't love education or teachers. I agree with the above poster that there is nothing a union can provide that I cannot provide for myself. I also believe I could certainly negotiate a better raise for myself than the union can negotiate for every teacher in the district on a seniority-based schedule. So in that regard, the union holds many teachers back rather than providing them with some undeserved rewards for which we should feel indebted.
ReplyDeleteYou need to study your school law. It is not legal for a school system to bargain with an individual teacher for salary or benefits. Now you are advocating violating state law. What a role model.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely legal for a school system to bargan with an individual teacher if the school isn't unionized. Ask anyone who works for a charter school.
ReplyDeleteSo sweetpea, why aren't you working for a charter school? Could it be they pay far less?
ReplyDeleteCould it be your license and education don't matter one iota to them? Could it be they will work you for far longer hours, ask you to do all sorts of things you may not be comfortable doing?
I have a friend who left IPS and went to a charter, after a year she left the charter and came back to IPS. She made $5,000 a year less, and worked from 7:00 am to 6:30pm with a thirty minute break once a day. The thing that upset her most was they bribed the kids with candy for doing things they should have been doing anyway. She was sure they were raising a whole generation of students who would never know the natural joy of learning because of excessive bribery. The school Christel House Academy. It's been about 5 years so things might of changed but who knows.
I served on the interview committee for new teachers in my building for 3 or 4 years. It is amazing how many charter school teachers wanted to teach in IPS. It was appalling when they would mention how little they earned, the attitude that the charters owned their teachers 24/7, the lack of materials and how little time they had for their own families. One actually burst into tears telling about it. I would encourage you to teach in a charter school. You deserve it!!
ReplyDeleteI read where there's a charter school in New York paying teachers 100,000 yr. If that works for them, that kind of thing could catch on.
ReplyDeletecan't we all just get along?!?
ReplyDeleteThis is actually week 3, but BRHS had it's first knock down fight, thought that wasn't suppose to happen with the superior magnet program. Get out you pepper spray school police.
ReplyDeleteThe fight was so bad with the magnet students that Linda Davis lost a roller off her chair rolling over to the micowave to try to build up a wall of "hot pockets" to keep herself safe. What is the deal with the superior teachers and unlicensed staff,what a fight in a magnet school? Linda Davis needs to get out of her office and roll around in the hallways with her chair to talk and interact with staff and students. I heard many classes have less than ten students, just wait until ADM? Linda will have to ship off her "buddies" to John Marshall, where they can really teach. Keep on rolling Linda
ReplyDelete