The plot thickens

I don't know anything about this Darren Muhammed and he doesn't sound completely credible due to his rant about his "civil" and "human" rights being violated, but he does bring up the rumour about Alonso being involved in some sort of domestic violence situation in December!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J1qhv07X_c

Is the end in sight?

The streets and sidewalks are still a mess. Buses are running limited routes. More precipitation (rain/snow/sleet) is in the forecast. Will city schools be open tomorrow? I believe that they will open them because they feel a certain amount of pressure. However, I'm don't know that it's the best decision. I have been out and about on foot a lot during the past several days and have found far too many sidewalks that haven't been shoveled and crosswalks that are blocked by piles of plowed snow and ice. I can't imagine that students will be able to safely navigate their routes to and from school.

So, what's up with Dr. Alonso? Any news? Rumours?

Rumour Control

It's been a long time! Teaching has really been overwhelming this year. LOVE the students, HATE what teaching has become. The paperwork required, in the name of "accountability" is ridiculous. I'm all for accountability, but doing paperwork that is unnecessary and which gets in the way of being a more creative, effective teacher makes no sense at all. This is what will finally push me out the door.

I'm actually coming back here, not to complain about my job, but to pose a question. I've been hearing a lot of similar rumours going around about a certain school CEO. I've heard them enough times, from enough credible sources, that I'm truly wondering if they could be more than just rumours. I'm not trying to spread any untruths, just putting the question out there - Is there any truth to...?

Okay, perhaps I should be a bit more specific in my query. Rumour has it that this certain school CEO has had some brushes with the law related to his temper. Domestic-related temper issues that have resulted in police involvement. I went to the trusty Maryland Case Search website, but have found nothing there. I've been told that this could be because our former mayor was trying to keep it on the DL. This made sense, but in Baltimore, also known as Smalltimore, things are not so easily kept quiet. Nowhere on the internet have I found anything about these alleged brushes with the law. Nowhere. I did hear that the question was posed at a recent School Board mtg., but I don't know if this is true. I would wonder why the Baltimore Sun didn't pick up on it, but I believe that they have been complicit in covering up city school stories in the past, so I wouldn't expect them to write about this. So, rumours, rumours and more rumours. Does anyone know the truth. Surely, to take a quote from "The X Files", "The truth is out there." Enlighten me.

UM

Why I (sometimes) hate my neighborhood.

I don't care for air conditioning. It's fine when I'm at work, or dressed up, but I only use it in my house when the heat and humidity get unbearable. Fortunately, the weather has been such that I've not used it yet this year. Instead, open windows and doors and a fan have kept me quite comfortable. It also makes me feel like I have more space. My house is quite small, so having the the breeze and the sounds coming through the screens makes me feel less cramped. It's one of the things I enjoy most about warmer weather. The downside is that people see my front door open (I have a screen with 2 locks) and they seem to think it's an invitation. Sometimes it's just my neighbor who feels the need to shoot the breeze - something I'm not usually not interested in doing. Sometimes, like today, it's someone asking for money or food. That bothers me the most. I feel very conflicted about it. If they are seriously in need, I'd like to help them, but I'm concerned for my safety. They could be checking my place out with the idea of burglarizing it. They could think I'm a soft touch and come back again and again. I just don't know. I donate $ and items to local food banks/shelters and I've volunteered at a few (when my life was less hectic). I'm happy to help, but coming to my house and knocking on my door is not okay. It's just not. I'd never seen the guy that knocked today. He looked quite disheveled and said that he was looking for the man and woman, cops, who used to live up the street. Well, no such people ever lived up the street. He said that he was looking for some canned goods for his kids. I told him that I was unable to help him out but suggested that he go to Paul's Place. He said he'd been there, but they couldn't help him. WHAT?! Both statements raised red flags, so I hope I did the right thing. I feel bad. Really bad. I feel bad for turning him away and I feel bad for being annoyed that he knocked on my door.

Trying again!

I guess I have a hard time believing that anyone really wants to read masturbary musings by some anonymous blogger. I have to remind myself that I read others' blogs, so perhaps there is an audience out there. Regardless, I suppose I can just treat this as a catharsis, something akin to my diaries of yore.


This fall I began my 15th year as a BCPSS teacher. In the fall of 1994 I was one of a group of teachers, mostly career changers, who saw ourselves as catalysts for change. We were not young idealists, but older, experienced adults who felt that we had something to offer the students of Baltimore. Of the 50+ individuals I started out with, 3 or 4 of us are left. I am on my way out as soon as I can secure other employment. It makes me sad. Very sad.

I cannot say that it's the students who are causing me to leave. Their behavior and the challenges they bring to school have certainly gotten worse, but that's not it. It is the fact that I've been through about 6 CEOs who have done nothing but thrust their unrealistic, poorly thought-out (especially the current CEO) plans. No one has brought any solutions that have been implemented for a long enough period that we could even see if they might work. We're constantly taking one step forward and two steps back. That's not progress, to be sure!

Then there is the BTU. OUR proud union! Our champion! HAH! The Union's sole purpose is to perpetuate itself. It's so caught up in the good ol' girl network that there is never the opportunity to get new blood infused into it. They are so caught up in Christmas parties, cruises and retreats that the needs of the teachers are barely addressed. Try reaching a field representative! Try searching for information on that joke of a website. The BTU is a joke. Alonso knows it and so he violates the contract (like he did earlier this month when he dismissed students due to heat, but made teachers sta) on a regular basis.

Now I can't blame the BTU without also blaming teachers. We get the union we deserve. Unless we become active, unless we hold the union accountable, unless we run for office, unless we vote in elections we will never have the representation that we need.