6

Before Going to the Territory

The news of this new schools chancellor who was doing a fabulous job in DeCatur kept haunting me even though had one or two other important things to occupy my brain on this !ebruary day" # week earlier$ had spent my last day in the %ubber %oom as mandated for teachers who had a pending case with the school system or their school administrator" landed in the %ubber %oom early one &anuary morning$ shortly after we got back from the Christmas break" 'rior to my daily visits to what would become my everyday destination for a month$ had been teaching at a B()&*( in the Bron+" Truth be told$ this was a difficult school by all accounts, students roamed the hallways$ dragged their feet when it was time to go to class$ cursed teachers out at will$ and littered classroom and hallways with impunity" -hen it came to class activities$ getting the students to settle down to begin the work was a challenge" n fact$ many of them were more concerned with the previous night.s baseball$ basketball$ or football game" %emind a &ohn that you had given instructions and that you e+pected him to be actively completing his task instead of talking and you were sure to get a f))) you or /ou f))) ing racist in return0 1n many occasions$ had to call the administration for students who refused to comply with the class or school rules" 2ow$ let.s be honest$ you have three or four students who refuse to cooperate and the whole class suffers" 3nfortunately$ this seemed to be the norm at B()&*(" #s it was to be e+pected under the circumstances$ very few of the students passed the first marking period" Before the grade were entered into the system$ 4r" 5ittle %iver$

> the assistant principal on my floor$ called me to his office" #fter we sat down he pulled out the grade sheets had submitted, 4ore than 789 of your students failed your class" /ou will have to revise the grades" But if you want$ can look at them for you$ he said" will look at the grades and let you know if want to change any of them$ was my reply" 3pon this$ got up and went back to my classroom$ where sat down to ponder over the grades$ going over the work each student had completed to try to accommodate those whose grades deserved some form of adjustment" But all along$ couldn.t s:uee;e 4r" 5ittle %iver<s re:uest out of my mind however much tried" *ere was$ thinking that was a model teacher and that would assign grades to my students only on their merit" 4r" 5ittle %iver<s suggestion that tweak the grades took me completely off guard0 #s a teacher$ didn.t think it was fair for me to award unsubstantiated grades= might as well have distributed them without asking students to complete any tasks$ which many didn.t to complete anyway" But to suggest that would doctor my students. grades to make them look good$ felt$ represented a head)on attack against my integrity" The ne+t day showed up at 4r" 5ittle %iver<s office door at the end of the day when the students had been dismissed" *e was engaged in conversation with another colleague$ so waited at the door until he had finished his conversation" #s the colleague was leaving$ 4r" 5ittle %iver nodded for me to proceed into his office" went in and$ without beating around the bush$ announced with my most serious face that had resolved to leave the grades as they were" told him it was my intention to speak with the parents of the students who had failed the class" This was just the first marking period

@ and my thinking was that there would be time to help all the failing students after had met with their respective parents during the parent)teacher conference that was scheduled later that week" 4r" 5ittle %iver didn.t say anything$ probably acknowledging that when it came to grades$ $ the classroom teacher$ had the last say" During parent)teacher conference later that 2ovember week$ was fortunate to meet the majority of the parents wanted to see" took the time to e+plain my grading policy to them$ review their child.s work and finally$ their grades" #ll the parents seemed to understand the rationale for their child.s grades and none of them complained" 1n the contrary$ many of them appeared ready to work with me to find a solution that would benefit their child" 4any left their telephone contact$ including cellular phone and strongly encouraged me to call them any time" 1n my end$ had resolved to keep the communication line open and to make sure that my students came to class prepared" *aving spoken with the parents and earned their support$ braced myself for what anticipated would be a busy second marking period" # week after parent)teacher conference got another surprise" -hen thought the first marking period was behind me and was gearing up to deliver on the promises made to the parents who came to meet me the previous week$ there was 4s" Thornbush$ the principal" -ithout protocol$ she pulled me out to the hallway" (he had a sheet of paper in her hand$ so though it was a memo that had failed to pick up in the morning before going up to my classroom" But when my eyes met the principal.s knew it was something more serious than a simple memo" (he thrust the paper in my hand and took a look? it was a letter about the grades0 The letter said something to the effect that had been given a chance to change my students. grades and that had refused" t went on to

C say that any further incident could lead to disciplinary sanction$ including an Aunsatisfactory. rating and even termination" was stunned$ but had no time to think" !ollowing her instructions$ signed the letter and she turned to leave$ informing me that she would place a copy in my mailbo+" #mong other things$ the letter stated that at the midpoint during the marking period$ would have to devise an action plan to accommodate my students" -ell$ had already thought about what course of action would take to help my students get better grades" now had most parents. contact$ which didn.t have earlier$ so the first thing decided to do was to keep the communication line with my parents very busy" also began to use an online grade book that made communication with parents and students easier" #ll they needed was a ' 2 that gave them access to their personali;ed account" even drafted a letter addressed to parents about the new online grade book" But when asked to 4s" Thornbush to help me find somebody to translate the letter into (panish$ which is the language spoken by many of the parents$ she literally refused to help" !rom then on the impromptu visits to my classroom began and even though felt like 4r" 5ittle %iver and 4s" Thornbush were out to get me$ it was practically impossible to tell by simply looking in my face" kept doing my job to the best of my ability$ calling and asking parents to conferences when necessary" even had one parent come to my classroom to be with her daughter who was particularly agitated in class" By my reckoning$ things were going rather better than during the first marking period until 4s" !innegan came into the picture" 4s" !innegan was supposed to be the Bnglish lead teacher" *er responsibility was to help teachers design better lesson plans and to improve their instructional skills" #ll

7 the teachers in my academy met with 4s" !innegan at least twice a week to coordinate things and to address any concern that any of the teachers may have with their class" n general$ during those meeting$ my contribution was well appreciated because many of the materials 4s" !innegan used came from a binder she received when she attended the Columbia 3niversity %eading and -riting -orkshop" had the same binder because had attended the same workshop$ so made sure to review the material and to make pointed contributions$ which she always agreed with" #s the date of the first standardi;ed test was approaching$ 4s" !innegan decided to visit my class to demonstrate how to prepare our students for the test" was truly looking forward to the opportunity to observe and learn from a person considered a master teacher" (he had been to several other classrooms but had failed to come to mine several times for some reason" But on this late 2ovember day$ it seemed as if she would finally be able to make it" 4y (mart board was on and most students were working on an activity" $ for my part$ was walking around$ addressing off)task students but mainly e+pecting 4s" !innegan to walk in anytime" !ifteen minutes into the class$ heard a knock on the door" swiftly walked over and opened up" t was 4s" !innegan" 3ntil then$ most students had been engaged in the activity we were doing in class with several of them teasing one another" The instant they saw 4s" !innegan$ the room went from the sparse talking to a pre)game chatter" The more we tried to calm the students down$ the louder their chatter grew" #s spoke to a group of students at one end of the classroom in an attempt to :uiet them down and have them refocus on the activity$ 4s" !innegan got busy with a group of girls on the other end of the classroom" (oon$ she began to raise her voice$ threatening students with phone

F calls to their parents" heard several students respond that they didn<t care" (oon$ the situation began to deteriorate" -ith student taunting 4s" !innegan and she refusing to de) escalate$ we went from loud talking to total chaos" (ome students were now walking around$ apparently aggravated by the master teacher<s no)nonsense attitude" tried to get the students< attention with Dif you hear me clapED that stuff was useless" tried raising my voice over the din$ to no avail" #t one point$ Darius$ a boy in the classroom$ threatened 4s" !innegan physically$ and had not jumped in the middle$ certainly would have attacked her" n the hallway$ e+plained to Darius that he was putting his academic career on the line$ that if he indeed attacked 4s" !innegan$ could be e+pelled from the school and even go to jail if she decided to press charges" *is response was$ DBut she<s not our teacher0 2obody likes her" (he needs to get out0D #nd he tried to push his way back into the classroom$ but grabbed him and started toward 4r" 5ittle %iver<s office" -e stopped a few feet from the classroom and eventually$ was able to calm him down" n the meantime$ the noise grew louder and louder in the classroom$ so decided to call 4r" 5ittle %iver for help" By that time$ my class period was over and it was time for music with 4r" *erovo" #s was the rule at the school$ waited for 4r" *erovo to come in" 4s" !innegan was still inside and the turmoil her arrival had triggered was far from over" 2ow with three adults in the classroom$ you would think things would get better" 2othing changed" Bventually$ 4s" !innegan and had to leave so 4r" *erovo could start his class" #s we walked out$ we could hear the noise picking up several notches" said to myself$ DGood luck 4r" *erovo? hope they don<t eat you alive today0D

G The short of this incident is that the teaching demonstration never happened for lack of student cooperation" #pparently$ some students had a problem with 4s" !innegan" 4any students said they didn<t like the way she addressed them and that she talked to them as if she were their mother" #s their teacher$ tried to e+plain to my students that if 4s" !innegan was tough on them$ it was for their own good? that she wanted them to succeed$ to do well in class" told them how much was disappointed in them for their pour behavior and urged them to be on their best behavior the ne+t time 4s" !innegan came to our classroom" couldn<t imagine what was in store for me" Two days after the incident$ was teaching a Gth grade social studies class when was asked to the principal<s office" wasn<t sure what was going on" know there had been the noisy and uncooperative episode two days earlier$ but that was nothing uncommon in the school" (o as rushed down the stairs leading to the first floor where the principal<s office was located$ kept wondering why she would call me to her office knowing that was in the middle of a class" 1nce in the office$ told the secretary that had been summoned to the principal<s office" (he knocked on the principal<s door$ had a few word with someone inside and gestured for me to come in" -alking around the counter felt like climbing 4ount Bverest0 Gathering all my courage$ pushed the door and went in" (eated to the right of the long mahogany table was 4s" B"&" one of the assistant principals" The principal was seated across the table opposite the door" mumbled a greeting and stood there out of respect until was told to sit down" #fter had sat down$ was asked to e+plain what happened in my classroom two days before" -ithout thinking

I twice about it$ proceeded to e+plain the incident to the best of my recollection$ and after answering a few clarification :uestions$ was allowed to return to my classroom" #bout ten minutes after returning to my classroom$ another messenger showed up at my door$ telling me that the principal needed me in her office again" 2ow really began to worry" had just recounted the incident that happened two days prior$ what more could 4s" Thornbush want from meH turned around to apologi;e to my students and tell them would be back shortly" -ith the messenger keeping an eye on the class$ stepped out pensively and slowly but steadily walked down the same stairs that had walked up just ten short minutes earlier" The union representative was standing in front of the office when got to the first floor" said high and we e+changed a few words=whatever we said to each other can<t recall=and we proceeded into the principal<s office, DThis is going to be a difficult conversationED (he began" D-e<ve been watching your work and making suggestions$ and trying to give you the best support we can"D (he went on with the students< first marking period grades and the opportunity was given to DreviseD the grades$ the seating arrangement in my classroom$ which according to her posed a safety issue" n short$ she went over a litany of the things she had observed directly or through one of her assistants and finally she said, D am giving you thirty days to find another job"D %ight on the spot$ could barely utter a word" (he handed me some papers to sign$ but looked at the union rep and she told me not to sign anything" Then we got up and left the office" n the hallway the union rep asked me what wanted to do and did want to grieve the principal<s decision" thought the whole situation was unfair$ so told her

K wanted to grieve the principal<s decision" (he briefly e+plained what she was going to do and went up to my classroom" t was !riday$ 2ovember >I >88I" -hen got to the classroom$ some of the students already knew0 DThey fired you$ 4r" JHD (omebody said" D2oo$ <m still here$D replied$ trying to conceal the fact$ but deep inside wished could tell them what had really happened" The rest of the day went uneventfully and when the bell rang$ :uietly packed up$ took out the few belongings had in the classroom and resolved not to return to B()&*(" 1n 4onday$ decided to go to the hospital for a physical$ which had been postponed for some time and also because my insurance would be cancelled soon" The principal had told me to find another job and was not going to go back to work and pretend nothing happened? am not very good at that game" was in the hospital$ waiting for my turn in the doctor<s office when my phone rang" recogni;ed 4s" Thornbush<s number$ so picked up" told her was at a clinic and that would call her back after had seen the doctor" #fter seeing the doctor$ left the clinic$ which is located on the Grand Concourse$ and walked down 6I8th (treet toward %iver #venue" %ight before reaching the intersection of these streets$ saw a little Dominican restaurant on the left" crossed the street and went in" #fter ordering my food$ found 4s" Thornbush<s number on my phone and called her" D(o you weren<t going to come and you weren<t going to callHD -ere her first words"

68 D-hat do you want me to go there forH can<t go to work and pretend nothing happened$D replied defensively" D(o you<re going to resign then$D she said" D2o$ am not going to resign? am not going to :uit on the kids$D answered" D-ell$ if you<re not going to resign will have to terminate you0D (he roared into the phone" DGood$D said$ knowing that things couldn<t be any worse than they already were" D/ou go ahead and do what you have to do0D replied using the same tone of voice" #fter this conversation$ didn<t go to work until the union representative called me on December 6>" D/ou need to come back to work$D she said" D thought had been fired" 4s" Thornbush told me had to find another job and can<t pretend nothing happened for @8 days$ knowing full well that would be allowed to continue at the school beyond those days$D replied :ui;;ically$ not knowing why the union rep was asking me to go back to work" had been staying home for almost two weeks by then" D5isten$ if you don<t report for work in the ne+t few days$ you might be accused of dereliction of duty"D This was all needed to hear" didn<t want to get the blame for the situation" Besides$ wasn<t sure why was being terminated and 4s" Thornbush might change her mind after all" The following week$ e+actly two weeks after the incident that sent me to the principal<s office$ returned to work as had when things were still normal" #s got

66 ready to go up to my classroom on the second floor$ 4s" !lores$ the lead secretary$ informed me that had to wait for the principal" (hortly thereafter$ 4s" Thornbush showed up at the school office door and greeted me with a Dhow are youHD as if there was nothing the matter" (he informed me she would be with me in a few minutes and walked behind the counter and into her office" -hen she came back a few minutes later$ she had my job cut out for me" was to do some clerical work instead of going back to my classroom to teach" -hile was gone$ she had brought in a substitute teacher$ which e+pected" But now$ at least it seemed to me$ that she had decided to keep him permanently$ which didn<t :uite e+pect" Bvery morning$ would report for work and$ instead of going to my classroom$ would sit in the office and rummage through students< files to see which students were missing this or that document" Then$ would make a not on the files indicating which documents were missing" must have spent about a week in this new appointment$ which some colleagues found :uite amusing to the point of cracking jokes about me being the best paid school clerk$ when a note came from the D1B Central 1ffice" was to report to the D1B office at !ordham 'la;a for reassignment" showed up in the said office on a raining morning and took my position in the long line=made even longer because of the umbrellas=of people waiting to enter the building" #fter checking my D$ the security guard on duty directed me to the appropriate floor" boarded the elevator and soon found myself in font of a door" can<t recall what was written on it$ but do remember seeing at least two ladies inside" sad on the only empty chair at a desk where the office employee hadn<t arrived yet"

6> -hen it was my turn$ moved over to one of the office ladies" (he asked for my D and pulled up my file on her computer" (he printed a copy for me$ along with a message and went over the instructions with me, was to report for work every morning at 786 Courtlandt #venue until my case had been resolved" thanked the office lady$ walked out of the office$ into the elevator$ out of the elevator into the lobby and to the bus stop where caught the bus to Courtlandt as the rain drops drummed on top of the vehicle and the windows fogged up$ cutting me off from the world outside" 5ocked in the confines of my bus$ began thinking about what the reassignment center would be like$ what would be doing for the day and who else would be there" To this last :uestion$ didn<t have to wait too long to find the answer"