Breaking News: For Immediate Release
Charges Against David Pakter Dismissed
After A 6 Year "David Versus Goliath" Contest,
A New York State Impartial Trial Arbitrator
Has Dismissed the Absurd NY State Education Dept. Charges Made Against A Former NYC "Teacher of the Year"
A Major Victory for Every Teacher in America
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David Pakter, A NYC Whistle-blower, Decorated by Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani for "Exceptional Achievement" in Education, has fought for years to be vindicated of the Retaliatory, knowingly bogus Charges brought against him after he wrote a letter to Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, on Oct. 2, 2003, alerting him to serious Federal Civil Rights Violations in New York City Schools.
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In a crushing blow to New York City's Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, who had sought for years to have Mr. Pakter fired, the Hearing Officer dismissed such preposterous charges against the Educator of Medical Illustration as the charge he had brought a plant to school, allegedly without getting official permission and awarding fashion watches to high achieving students, something Pakter had been doing for three decades.
He was also charged with giving a gift to a school aide and showing the film, "El Mariachi" by Robert Rodriguez, an Internationally known Director, to one of his High School classes. The film has been the recipient of a multitude of Cinematic Awards around the world and launched the career of Robert Rodriguez.
The charge that Mr. Pakter stopped reporting to a small, windowless, so-called "Rubber Room" after years of being ordered reassigned to such punitive assignments, where Teachers just sit all day, was not considered in today's verdict.
Mr. Pakter was a Lead Plaintiff in a Federal Lawsuit to shut down these teacher "Gulags" which New York City has announced will cease to exist after this school year ends.
These so-called "reassignment centers" were widely seen as a means to punish Teachers as well as instill fear in those who spoke out and reported wrongdoing as well as corruption and unethical behavior within the 23 Billion dollar NYC schools system.
The charge that Mr. Pakter had allegedly tried to influence a Dept of Education employee to furnish him with a printout of his personal work history on an expedited basis was also not considered in today's decision.
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For the past several months the NYC Dept of Education had been attempting to pressure Mr. Pakter to resign by offering to drop all the absurd and contrived charges made against the Award winning Educator- all of which offers were rejected by Mr. Pakter who insisted on a verdict regarding the pending charges alleged against him.
Mr. Pakter has brought Federal Lawsuits against the New York City Dept of Education seeking tens of millions of dollars in Damages.
At one point the City attempted to remove Mr. Pakter from his position for a year claiming he was not Medically "fit for duty", by having Dept of Education doctors intentionally suppress and alter their own Test Results reflecting Mr. Pakter's stellar results of fitness.
That decision was challenged by Mr. Pakter and he eventually was awarded a year of back pay plus interest. Most of the City doctors who were responsible for knowingly Railroading Mr. Pakter have all since left the the NYC Dept of Education Medical Office including the Medical Director who personally signed the letter that falsely claimed Pakter was not "fit for Duty". One year later that same Medical Director recanted that knowingly false and erroneous conclusion in a signed statement.
On March 21, 2010 The NEW YORK POST printed a story that included the statement that Mr. Pakter had been removed from the NYC schools system for quote "sexual misconduct"- a knowingly false statement since the paper had previously written about Pakter in another article about NYC Teachers in March of 2007.
The newspaper attempted to retract the false and Libelous statement one week later on March 28, 2010 by publishing a "Correction" Notice in a later Edition that included the words that the newspaper had, quote:
"incorrectly stated the allegations against David Pakter. The Dept of Education only alleges that he was insubordinate. Pakter claims he brought in a plant and offered watches as honor-roll incentives".
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Mr. Pakter has already filed a $ 10,000,000 (Ten Million) NOTICE OF CLAIM against the NEW YORK POST newspaper as well as the NYC Dept of Education for the publication of false, libelous, defamatory, slanderous statements".
Both the NEW YORK POST newspaper as well as the NYC Dept of Education have been served with papers to appear in NY State Supreme Court on June 16, at 80 Centre Street, Manhattan, Room 328, at 9:30 A.M. before State Supreme Court Judge, the Hon. Cynthia Kern.
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The David Pakter Charges
Please note my response to each charge appears in CAPITAL LETTERS.
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OFFICIAL NYC DEPT OF EDUCATION CHARGES AGAINST DAVID PAKTER
SPECIFICATIONS
( Important Note: Virtually all of the following charges, (except the charges relating to attendance at the small windowless Rubber Room located in Harlem), were shown and proven at Trial to be either outright lies or distortions of fact to such an extreme degree as to make the charges little more than knowing falsehoods.)
NOTE ALL MY RESPONSES & COMMENTS ARE IN UPPER CASE/CAPS
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Below is a Verbatim Copy of ALL NYC DOE Charges against David Pakter
DAVID PAKTER (hereinafter referred to as "Respondent") is a tenured teacher, under File # 407530, Social Security # XXX-XX-XXXX, formerly assigned to The High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan. During the 2006-2007 school year, Respondent engaged in misconduct and was neglectful of his duties as follows:
In Particular:
SPECIFICATION 1: In or about October and/or November of 2006, Respondent promoted his and /or his family's watch business during school hours. DISMISSED
I INFORMED STUDENTS (AS I HAVE FOR 3 DECADES) THAT ANYONE WITH A 90% AVERAGE WOULD EARN A WATCH DESIGNED BY PAKTER
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SPECIFICATION 2: In or about October and/or November of 2006, Respondent gave watches as gifts to students during school hours. DISMISSED
YES, YES AND YES- LIKE JOEL KLEIN GIVING OUT CELL PHONES
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SPECIFICATION 3: In or about October and/or November of 2006, Respondent gave a watch to School Aide during school hours. DISMISSED
ABSOLUTELY YES- I GAVE A WATCH TO A SCHOOL AIDE DURING MY LUNCH BREAK
ISN'T THAT MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OR DO I NEED THE PERMISSION OF THE NYC DOE EVEN TO GIVE SOMEONE A GIFT.
The official New York City Ethics Charter states I violated no Rule or Regulation but I was charged despite that fact.
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SPECIFICATION 4: In or about October and/or November of 2006, during class time, Respondent:
(a) Talked about his and/or his family's watch business.
DISMISSED
(b) Provided the watch website address.
DISMISSED
(c) Showed students a book and/or a brochure and/or a catalog of watches.
DISMISSED
(d) Said words to the effect that he would give a watch to any student who achieved a gradepoint average of 90% or better.
DISMISSED
(e) Showed two watches to students.
DISMISSED
(f) Talked about his personal life.
DISMISSED
(g) Said words to the effect that he was fired from The High School of Art and Design for being a whistleblower.
DISMISSED
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGED STUDENTS TO STRIVE TO GET ON HONOR ROLL AND PROMISED THEM FASHION ACCESSORIES AS AN INCENTIVE AS I HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS TO THE DELIGHT AND DEEP APPRECIATION OF COUNTLESS NYC DOE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.
ALL ABOVE FALL WITHIN MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS RE FREE SPEECH.
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(h) Showed the class an "R" rated movie.
DISMISSED
FILM WAS R-RATED EXACTLY FOR THE SAME REASONS AS "SCHINDLER'S LIST", "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN", "THE PIANIST", ETC ETC ARE, R-RATED AS WELL AS THE DOZENS OF AWARD WINNING FILMS I HAVE SHOWN TO CLASSES FOR 37 YEARS WITH THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF PEERS AND COUNTLESS NYC DOE PRINCIPALS I SERVED WITH DISTINCTION WHO RESPECTED MY GOOD JUDGEMENT TO SCREEN FILMS THAT CONTAINED STRONG LIFE LESSONS.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE ABOVE ABSURD CHARGE ALSO BRINGS UP POSSIBLE CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS PERTAINING TO CENSORSHIP. ALSO TARGETTING TEACHERS BY ACCUSING THEM OF SHOWING A FILM IS AN OLD AND TIRED TACTIC OF THE NYC DOE.
THUS SUBCHARGE (h) VIOLATES AND GIVES RISE TO AT LEAST TWO CLEARLY SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS CHARGE WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE CITY
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SPECIFICATION 5: In or about November of 2006, Respondent had two trees delivered to the school despite being previously told by Assistant Principal Giovanni Raschilla to wait until he discussed the matter with Principal Hilda Nieto. DISMISSED
THE ABOVE TOTALLY AND INTENTIONALLY DISTORTS FACTS
- I HAND CARRIED TWO SMALL ARTIFICIAL PLANTS IN WICKER BASKETS TO SCHOOL ON MY LUNCH HOUR WHICH I PLACED OUTSIDE DOORS TO THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM WHERE EVERYONE AGREED THEY LOOKED TOTALLY GREAT AND VASTLY IMPROVED THE AMBIANCE OF THE SCHOOL LOBBY.
VERY INTERESTINGLY NO WHERE IN RICHARD CONDON'S SPECIALLY PREPARED SCI REPORT PREPARED FOR CHANCELLOR JOEL KLEIN IS IT MENTIONED THAT ON THE SAME DAY I PLACED THE TWO PLANTS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM I ALSO HAND DELIVERED A LARGE BEAUTIFUL SILK PLANT, ALSO IN A WICKER BASKET TO PRINCIPAL HILDA NIETO'S OFFICE AND GAVE THE PLANT TO HER SECRETARY, MS. TUCKER REQUESTING SHE GIVE THE GIFT TO THE PRINCIPAL TO DECORATE HER OFFICE.
THE PLANT GIVEN TO THE PRINCIPAL WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN THE SCI REPORT AND I WAS NEVER CHARGED WITH GIVING PRINCIPAL HILDA NIETO A SILK PLANT BUT I WAS CHARGED WITH GIVING A GIFT TO A MINIMUM WAGE SCHOOL AIDE.
NIETO NEVER THANKED ME, VERBALLY OR IN WRITING BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT IT WOULD PREVENT ANY PLANT CHARGES FROM BEING MADE AGAINST ME.
ALSO THE SCI REPORT TO KLEIN DID NOT MENTION THAT I BOUGHT AND HAND DELIVERED MYSELF, SEVERAL PLANTS IN BASKETS TO THE MAIN SCHOOL OFFICE WHERE I HAD TO SIT ALL DAY WHEN I WAS NOT COVERING CLASSES AS AN ATR SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.
ON THE DAY I WAS REMOVED, THE PLANTS I HAD PERSONALLY PURCHASED, PAID FOR AND PERSONALLY DELIVERED AND INSTALLED AT THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE SCHOOL WERE STILL THERE EXACTLY WHERE I HAD PERSONALLY PLACED THEM
NOTE THAT THE PLANT GIFTS TO THE PRINCIPAL'S PRIVATE OFFICE AND ALSO TO HER MAIN SCHOOL OFFICE ON A DIFFERENT FLOOR IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING, WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE 3020-a SPECIFICATIONS.
THINK ABOUT HOW EVIL AND MACHIAVELLIAN THAT MAKES THESE PEOPLE AND THE NYC DEPT OF EDUCATION IN GENERAL.
BUT IN ANY EVENT ISN'T IT MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BE TREATED IN THE SAME FASHION AS ANY OTHER TEACHER IN NYC WHO DECIDES TO DECORATE HIS/HER CLASSROOM AND/OR SCHOOL.
IN SHORT WE ADDRESS HERE THE CONCEPT OF EQUAL TREATMENT AND EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW AND THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
SHOULD SOME TEACHERS BE ALLOWED TO BRING A PLANT TO SCHOOL AND NOT OTHERS?
NOTE: THE WEEK I WAS REMOVED I WAS ABLE TO GET GIOVANNI RASCHILLA, MY A.P. ON TAPE ADMITTING TO UFT CHAPTER LEADER JACK SANCHEZ THAT HE, RASCHILLA, KNEW THE WHOLE PLANT BUSINESS WAS ILLEGAL AND THAT HE WOULD REMOVE THE PLANT LETTERS FROM MY FILE IMMEDIATELY AS UFT SANCHEZ DEMANDED.
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SPECIFICATION 6: Respondent's actions caused widespread negative publicity and notoriety to the High School of Fashion Industries and the New York City Department of Education in general when his unprofessional behavior was referenced in the UFT Newspaper.
THIS IS THE FAMOUS CHARGE THAT RANDI WEINGARTEN ORDERED NYSUT TO WRITE A PROTEST TO CHANCELLOR JOEL KLEIN ON OCTOBER 24, 2007 TO WHICH KLEIN NEVER RESPONDED BUT WHICH THE NYC DEPT OF EDUCATION LATER WITHDREW RATHER THAN BE FORCED TO FIGHT THE UFT IN COURT OVER A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE.
WITHDRAWN
SPECIFICATION 7: During the 2006-2007 school year, Respondent was absent ninety-eight (98) times from work. (Rubber Room)
SPECIFICATION 8: During the 2006-2007 school year, Respondent worked a partial day fifteen (15) times. (Rubber Room)
HARLEM RUBBER ROOM WAS A VERY SMALL ROOM ON 125TH STREET, WITH NO WINDOWS, NO IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE DRINKING WATER, BARE WALLS UNTIL I TRIED TO HANG A FEW PICTURES AND WAS ORDERED NOT TO DO SO AND THE MUSEUM PRINTS REMOVED.
AND WORST OF ALL THIS SMALL ROOM CONVEYED TO THE PEOPLE HOUSED THERE A SENSE OF CLAUSTROPHOBIA AND INCARCERATION
A UFT HIRED AIR SPECIALIST, HIRED BY UFT SPECIAL REP-KLAUS BORNEMANN, USING SOPHISTICATED AIR TESTING EQUIPMENT WROTE IN HIS AIR QUALITY REPORT THAT THE CEILING VENTILATORS AT TIMES WERE BLOWING AIR OF SUBSTANDARD AIR QUALITY INTO THE ROOM.
THE ABOVE AMOUNTS TO CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT UNDER THE US CONSTITUTION AND IS THE REASON I STOPPED REPORTING TO THE SMALL WINDOWLESS RUBBER ROOM IN HARLEM.
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Please Note: The fact that the DOE would certainly deny that any, or all of these charges do not violate any of my Constitutional and/or First Amendment rights, (which is to be totally expected), does not make such an assertion and/or position true. It is only by challenging established customs and perceptions of what does and does not violate the Laws of the Land, that "old" laws are struck down, and new Laws and new legal precedents- established.
David Pakter
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Posted by A Teacher In The Bronx at 5:04 PM
Reactions:
Labels: 3020a, David Pakter
1 Strong Opinions:
Anonymous said...
Rubber plants and watches? The kids that win city track meets get gold watches. Who the heck cares? Should we charge the track coaches? This is a completely bad faith operation. This is the most ridiculous 3020a I have heard of and it is so ridiculous DOE is probably afraid to drop it knowing that is tantamount to admitting they never should have charged David in the first place. Nothing about his teaching and nothing about misconduct.
Written and edited by Norm Scott: EDUCATE! ORGANIZE!! MOBILIZE!!! Three pillars of The Resistance – providing information on current ed issues, organizing activities around fighting for public education in NYC and beyond and exposing the motives behind the education deformers. We link up with bands of resisters. Nothing will change unless WE ALL GET INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE!
9 comments:
This story made my day!
Please let me know where the celebration of this historical victory will be held.
I want to thank David for his perseverance and to his stick-to-itness!
I have been following and commenting on this retaliatory and bad faith operation by DOE against David. At some point Joel Klein and the DOE needs to cut their losses and take their lumps. This is concrete evidence of DOE misconduct....good luck in the lawsuits
David, Now you can spleep in peace and laugh to these stupid people from the DOE that brought these bogus charges against you.
Mr Pakter
I wonder if those who smear the rubber room inmates will now apologize?
Your case is an example of how a vigorous defense can defeat frivolous, bad faith, and thoroughly false charges and specifications. Although it was not your intent, the outcome has once again demonstrated the bullying and retaliatory nature of those at the DOE AND their enablers (DOE lawyers and school principals). Did any DOE lawyers ever turn to their boss and say "Rubber Plants...you've got to be kidding, we can't file frivolous charges and harrass him via false legal action...I refuse to do so".? Of course not.
In reference to anonymous above it seems that the DOE will never stop doing the wrong thing so I would be surprised if they stop their bad faith action now. Just more grist for your lawsuit.
I see a book in your future and it will be a humdinger!
I hope David Pakter scores big against the DOE, Klein, Rivera, Europe, the Principals who took their cues from Superintendents and perjured themselves, the Superintendants, Directors and Chancellor who made the policy that they are above law and all whistleblowers can be turned into impoverished dead meat at their behest!!! This is an ongoing wrong that has gone on for 7 years too long, and until now even the Courts ruled they were isolated instances, but the fact that each and every charge was dismissed--but even that Hearing Officer feared being blackballed everywhere if he ruled the rubber rooms were constructive termination and anyone reassigned was entitled to pay whether they attended the rubber room or not--which would open the flood gates to claims by anyone ever in a rubber room for triple damages and pain and suffering. So that hearing Officer did not rule one way or another on whether being sent to the rubber room is as bad a being fired--and intentionally so; he'll leave it to the Courts to do that. We all owe David Pakter our gratitude for sticking it out for years of agony and nine months without pay and bringing the truth to light to make the next claimant's story more credible.
Does anyone have the name of the lawyer Mr. Pakter is using for this ?
Thanks in advance
This sounds like Mr. Pakter's brand of bluster, alright. I'm not saying he should have been charged with anything listed here, but as a former student of his I found his teaching methods classist and degrading. He is very self-promoting.
I'M very late in making a comment however Mr. Pakter was a great teacher! Unconventional to say the least. Of all my H.S teachers, he is the only one i remember well! eighteen years later and i still have my watch, my gift! And as far as being self promoting, you should see it more like influencing and encouragement! I know plenty of people whom work in the DOE with stories no different than Mr.Pakters! The power tripping, money hungry vultures whom are more unfit for duty than those they protest against! Victory makes me happy! Middle finger up to those Vultures! =}
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