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Pete's
Pitch
By Peter A. Tirri,
President
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District Accountability Statement
As a part of the school
community, I accept responsibility to ensure that every
child is well served and is performing
well.
I found this on the District's website, and found it to
be extremely interesting. Interesting because it follows
the "Children First" mantra of the Glascoe/Rush
administration. What I was particularly interested in is
the call for staff members (I assume) to "…accept
responsibility to ensure that every child is
well-served…"
Believe it or not, I urge every member of the P.E.A. to
answer the call!
"Huh? "You might be thinking. "Has Tirri gone nuts?"
Well, that's a matter that is open to debate, but getting
past that, no, I'm very serious about it.
To serve children well means, from my perspective, more
than just trying your best to teach the children well. It
means standing up for them, and yourself, when faced with
oppressive behavior and actions. It means taking on the
Glascoe/Rush administration when they make a mockery of
their own slogans.
Children are not well served when Mickey, Minnie and the
entire mouse family take up residence in your classroom or
school. I urge you to follow the clarion call and file
working conditions complaints to make your room safe for
children.
Children are not well served when field trips that will
enhance their learning and understanding of the State's
mandatory core curriculum content standards are rejected.
They are not well served when the paper-pushing minutiae of
the administration delays approval for such a long time that
the request becomes outdated. I urge you to hear the call
and let us know the "Outrage" that you are feeling so we can
share it with others.
Children are not well served when they are denied
textbooks necessary for learning. Let me suggest the
following for use when textbook requests are returned
seeking a rationale for the request:
"I NEED THE BOOKS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO TEACH MY
CHILDREN. THE BOOKS ARE THE DISTRICT'S SELECTION. YOU
CHOSE THEM BECAUSE THEY ASSUMEDLY MET YOUR RATIONALE FOR
MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN. I NEED THE BOOKS FOR MY
KIDS!"
Children are not well served when teachers are
transferred without reason; without rationale; and with
mean-spirited intent to force early retirement on our most
dedicated senior staff members. I urge you to stand up to
the pressure and fight back by letting those in authority
know how upset and disgusted you feel. I urge you to let
them know how their actions make a mockery of their
slogans.
Children are not well served when basic tools of
education … pencils, paper, glue, etc. are withheld.
Article 16:1-12 states "Individual books for each student,
paper, pencils, chalk, erasers and other material required
in daily teaching responsibility shall be available." I
urge you to stand up for your students and file grievances
to obtain that which this administration denies.
Children are not well served when the very people working
with them are mistreated. When staff morale is destroyed,
the enthusiasm for teaching dwindles. I urge you to stand
up for yourself and your students by demanding to be treated
like professionals.
Children are not well served when their teachers and
assistants are so busy cluttering the walls with word walls,
and artifacts of learning that they don't have time to
prepare for daily lessons. Teaching your children is your
first priority.
Children are not well served when the administration
plays politics with their safety, your safety and everyone's
lives. Blaming the Mayor because the Glascoe/Rush
administration failed to follow the orders of the Fire
Department is an unconscionable act of irresponsibility.
Complaining about "politics" while standing in front of
eight politicians is an act of absurdity. Calling for an
injunction against the closing of schools in light of the
Fire Department's report is a desperate act that could have
put every single person in the schools at risk.
Children are well served when they are in your care; and
despite being a part of the "ugly culture of Paterson", you
should be congratulated for that. Stand up for yourselves.
Stand up for your students.
PERSEVERANCE!!!
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