“I’m not going to remove him [Principal John Chase], but he knows he cannot have any similar type of comments. He is on a very strict line as far as his behavior,” said Walcott, who added that some school staffers want Chase to remain in his post. Daily NewsOur pal South Bronx School has been on the Chase case promoting the rally tomorrow. Rally Against Bronxdale Principal John Chase Jr 1/10/2012
I wonder how Walcott would react if his teacher/daughter had been spoken to that way? And if a teacher should dare mention the word "penis" or "blow job" - suspension without pay and fired.When: January 10 @ 3 30 PM until dark
Where: Columbus Campus; 925 Astor Ave. - Bronx 10469
Speakers; Councilman Jimmy Vacca, the office of State Senator Jeff Klein, several U.F.T. chapter leaders from the campus, and the office of Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera.
Other groups; the N.O.W. Network (National Organization of Women) and local community groups, and The Bronx U.F.T.
Retired Bronx HS UFT District Rep Lynne Winderbaum points to the double standard and in a post on the NYCEdNews listserve asks:
What is wrong with Dennis Walcott?
Following the deplorable moral standards of his predecessors under Bloomberg, Dennis Walcott staunchly asserts that he will not remove principal John Chase from his leadership position at Bronxdale High School.
I have represented teachers for many years as a UFT chapter leader and district representative. Given the unique position of teachers, the role model status we have, and the damage we can do if we display immoral behavior in front of children, there has been no tolerance for remaining in a classroom under even an allegation of misconduct. Teachers are removed pending adjudication to err on the side of protection. The Department of Education does not see the equivalence in protecting staff and students from misbehaving principals however.
This article in yesterday’s Daily News focuses on his b--- j-- comment regarding the copy machine but omits his inappropriate comments made to female employees for which he has already been found guilty. Perhaps if his own wife were subjected to comments about her breasts by her boss Walcott might take it more seriously? But this is only a secretary and he doesn’t even know her. It is much more important to stand tough in protecting the job of a principal.
And as far as school staffers wanting him to remain in his post, his entire teaching staff consists of eight untenured teachers (another good argument for tenure). They can be fired for any reason at any time while on probation. So their position must be taken with a grain of salt until they can speak without fear of consequences. Teachers should stand against sexual harassment in the workplace even if the victims are secretaries or paraprofessionals--all union members and all human beings.
And since when do chancellors, including Walcott, care if staffers want accused workers to remain in their jobs? When 400 people marched outside Roosevelt High School in support of teacher Raqnel James, a respected and beloved tenured teacher, the Department of Education stood idly by as she was shipped to the rubber room and arrested. The principal, Iris Blige, created the charges to have her removed from the school after she took the principal’s friend to court for unpaid rent. It cost James three years of salary and legal battles until finally being found “not guilty” last month in a trial. Clearly, hundreds of staffers wanted this innocent teacher to remain in her job but the DOE was unmoved. And this is just an egregious example. There are many schools where good teachers face charges and the staff supports them. Suddenly, in this case of a foul-mouthed sexual harasser, who happens to be the school leader, Dennis Walcott feels that staff “support” should outweigh the finding of guilt and the suffering of his victims?
Easy answer. Excusing principals’ bad behavior is policy. This is the Department of Education that ignored years of allegations of sexual misconduct by Richard Bost, former principal of Fordham Leadership Academy, who was also found guilty of abusing a secretary and guilty of giving $7000 of school money to his AP. Finally, after committing unwanted sexual advances against a parent, Sen. Jeffrey Klein’s office got involved and he was removed.
This is the Department of Education that supports Valerie Reidy after charges of supervisory harassment were upheld by an arbitrator, a well-documented mass-exodus of excellent teachers from Bronx High School of Science, and many demonstrations--the most recent on January 5--asked for her removal. This is the Department of Education that keeps Barbara Kirkweg, of Bronx Aerospace in place after several investigations into grade changing and loss of all Air Force funding due to a finding of misappropriation. This is the Department of Education that failed to conclude investigations into Anthony Rotunno until the state comptroller found him guilty of misusing $90,000 of school money and then he resigned. This is the Department of Education that retains Iris Blige as principal of Fordham High School for the Arts despite the false charges against Raqnel James and the finding of guilt by the Office of Special Investigations into pre-determining the unsatisfactory ratings of teachers she did not like before she observed their teaching. She was fined a mere $7500 for abusing her authority and left in place. The protection of principals is paramount and appears to be the unwavering policy of the Department of Education. It is again time to fight back against this policy and demand the removal of John Chase.
What’s wrong with Dennis Walcott?
5 comments:
Interesting.
A teacher at my school had a "U" upheld by the DOE that was given to her by her principal when she gave a writing assignment to a male student that sexually harrassed a female student as a consequence.
Yet, absolutely NO consequences or disciplinary actions against the male principals that were cited in this article by the DOE for their actions.
You ask what's wrong with Walcott? Morally bankrupt and corrupt, that's what. Perhaps he's been drinking from leaden pots.....
Fine examples to set for the students of NYC when anything goes for those that are well placed and connected. Walcott should hang his head in shame, but I doubt if he has the decency.
"Some staff members want him to remain." That was the funniest part. Who are these staffers? Could they be 24 yr old untenured females who need their job and would be uncertain with the school up in the air? Who in their right mind would want Principal Perv to stay? Oh sorry, that's what all the kids call him at the campus. This is going to go national for Walcott - a"AS long as you don't talk about blow jobs and penis' and tell staff you wanna stick your _____ in a hole inside a copier, you're good my brother!" AHha aha haha ahaaaa - what a damnnnn shame puppet walcott.
Who thinks that a Part 83 complaint ("Determination of Good Moral Character") should be filed with the professional conduct officer of the State Education Department against the principal?
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part83.html
Is Part 83 specifically for teacher complaints?
Which division of NYS Education Department takes moral character complaints about PRINCIPALS?
thank you
Here is the updated URL:
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/respublic/teacherdiscipline.html
According to the above webpage:
Filing a Moral Character Complaint (Teacher Discipline)
The Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) investigates allegations concerning the moral character of individuals who hold or who are applicants for New York State teaching certificates, or about illegal practice of the profession by an uncertified person. Under the law, School District Superintendents must file a report with the Department upon knowledge that a certificate holder has been convicted of a crime or has committed an act that raises a reasonable question about the individual's moral character.
Complaints against certificate holders including teachers, administrators and school service workers, e.g., school counselors, should, in most cases, be filed with the Department only after the matter has been reported and addressed for remedial action by the appropriate authorities at the local level, including school building principals, superintendents of schools and State and/or local police.
Any person who knows that a certificate holder or an applicant for a teaching certificate has been convicted of a crime, or has committed an act which raises a reasonable question as to the individual's moral character, may file a written complaint with the Department. Complaints submitted must be signed and dated by the individual filing the complaint.
Complaints received by the Department will be reviewed pursuant to Part 83 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to determine the appropriate action.
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