ABUSE

SEPTEMBER 2007

Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Letter from Principal Re: Lateness

“The following is an accounting of the times that you have arrived late to work since August 30, 2007:
September 25, 2007 1 minute late
September 27, 2007 3 minutes late
Total 4 minutes late

…If this pattern continues a letter will be placed in your file and further disciplinary action may be taken.”

OCTOBER 2007

Monday, October 9, 2007
Classroom Visit

Principal P. and Assistant Principal Z. visit classroom without prior notice.
Principal P. asks for lesson plans. I give her the website address where I post my lesson plans.

As I leave the building that afternoon, I give Assistant Principal Z. a hard copy of the lesson plan.

Friday, October 12, 2007
Letter from Principal
Re: no hard copy of lesson plan

“I have scheduled an appointment for you to meet with me in my office on October 18, 2007 at 3:00 PM to discuss your lesson plan. This conference may lead to disciplinary action. Please bring a union representative.”

Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Principal screams at my homeroom class over the loud speaker. "Ms. Moriah's homeroom class is the WORST class."


Thursday, October 18, 2007 –
Meeting with Principal
Re: no hard copy of lesson plan

Principal states that she refuses to access lesson plans online. They must be accessible on demand in hardcopy form.

Friday, October 19, 2007
Condom Incident #1

Student in 8E brings in a little packet labeled "Personal Lubricant for Condoms" and proceeds to smear it all over his hands, his desk, himself, and his "teammates".

I call home, speak to mother, and tell her about the incident. I suggest that she talk to her son about the “who, what, when, where, why” of the condom incident.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Assistant Principal Z. tells me that mother has thrown father out of the house for taking his son to an AIDS awareness workshop where condoms were given out. Mr. Z wants to know why I called the mother. I remind him about the “Ladder of Referral”. (We are supposed to contact parents before referring students to the dean).

NOVEMBER 2008

Friday, November 30, 2007
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.
Re: Meeting to speak about verbal abuse charge #1

DECEMBER 2008

Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Meeting with Mr. Z.
Re: Allegation of verbal abuse.

Student in 8B complained to parent that I had read aloud report card grades of all students in her class and child had felt humiliated.

I replied that I had not read the grades out loud, but had written them in each student’s lab book without comment of any kind.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007 –
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.
Re: Allegation of verbal abuse

“I conclude that the conduct you exhibited when giving report card marks to your students did not constitute verbal abuse as alledged. Due to the consistent nature of the witness statements, along with yuoru description of the events, I condclude that the report card marks were written individually and privatgely into each stuent’s science journal, not in the manner reported to school administration.”

This letter was given to me on December 21, 2007.

Tuesday, December 4, 200
Step 1 Grievance
Re: disciplinary conference.

UFT representative files Step I Grievance. “Mr. Z. arranged a disciplinary conference on Tuesday, at 7:45 Am with Ms. Moriah without giving her and the union representative 48 hours notice which is in violation of Articles 20, 21 Section 2560, 2568, ……

Monday, December 10, 2007
Two boys in 8B call out “Ms. Moriah has HIV”

While I was teaching the unit on HIV, a boy called out, “Ms. Moriah has HIV” I told that was inappropriate, so he said another boy had also said the same thing, but that I hadn’t said anything to him. He said I only challenged him because he was Hispanic, and that I hadn’t said anything to the other boy because he was Asian.

I ask the Asian boy if it was true that he had also said that I had HIV. The boy admitted that he had.

I call both boys’ homes, spoke to the mothers and asked them to come for a parent-teac her conference.

Wednesday, December 13, 2008
Conference with Asian boy’s mother.

Friday, December 14, 2008
Conference with Hispanic boy’s mother.

Friday, December 14, 2007—Condom Incident #2

Class 8B—Last two periods of the day. A student drops a condom full of a semen-like substance as he walks toward the classroom door on the way to the bathroom. A trail of the liquid is visible from his seat to the place where the condom finally dropped out of his pant leg.

I call security, the custodian, and the dean.

The student is removed from the classroom by security.

Because the custodian takes a long time to come, I clean up largest spots of liquid myself, in order to avoid further possible contamination. The liquid has the appearance and consistency of semen. The custodian arrives and mops up the rest of the liquid.

As students pack up to leave for the day, I take aside the girl who was sitting next to the boy with the condom. I ask her if she saw anything regarding the condom or the liquid in the condom. She says she saw him fidgeting with his clothes, but didn't see the condom or the liquid. I recommend that she talk to her mother about what happened, and if her mother has any questions, I will be glad to speak to her. I also make her aware that she might be questioned about the incident because she was sitting right next to the boy. She should tell exactly what happened without exaggerating or leaving anything out.

I call the mother of the boy with the condom and suggest that she and her husband talk to their son about the “who, what where when and why” of the condom and the liquid inside. I stress that I am not assuming that the condom contained semen, but if it didn’t, then someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make the liquid look like semen.

I tell Assistant Principal Z. about the incident and suggest that this is a possible case of masturbation and that the liquid that was spilled on the floor may have been semen (Bloodborne Pathogen). He denies the possibility and keeps walking out the door. To my knowledge, he does not file an Incident Report.

I return to my classroom and with soap and hot water, I scrub the areas of my classroom where I had seen the liquid.


Monday, December 17, 2008
Mother’s reaction to condom incident

The mother of the student with the condom writes a letter to Assistant Principal Z. asking to meet with him and requesting that her son be taken out of my class. No mention of this fact is made to me. I try to reach the mother by phone to arrange a conference.

A monitor from the dean knocks at the door during science class and asks me to give her work for the student to do. I ask where the student is. The monitor states in front of the class, "He’s in the dean’s office. His mother doesn’t want him in your class.”


Tuesday, December 18, 2008
Student gossip

Students from 8B and other classes say that the condom boy’s mother has written a letter complaining about me and that I was in trouble. I was going to be fired. I advise the students to stop gossiping.


Wednesday, December 19, 2008
Visit from Assistant Principal Z to classroom

Mr. Z. comes to the door of my classroom and informs me that the boy from the condom incident is being removed from my class until further notice, and that I am not to try to contact the mother or any other member of the family.

Wednesday, December 19,2008
Letter from Assistant Principal Z
Re: Meeting to discuss condom incident

"Please meet with me on Friday, December 21, 2007, at 12:45 PM, in the principal's office regarding an allegation of unprofessional statements made by you on Friday, December 14,2007.
As per our discussion during period four today, Ms. Dandy, parent of Randy Dandy of class 8B requests the following:

Do not speak to Randy Dandy for any reason not involving instruction.
Do not attempt to contact any family member other than Ms. Dandy, mother.
Do not attempt to contact Ms. Dandy unless in the presence of an administrator.


Friday, December 21, 2008 (Day before Winter Break)
Silent reading assignment

I come to school with a fever, sore throat, and laryngitis. Barely able to speak above a whisper, I give ALL my classes a silent reading assignment. I explain as best I can to my students that I can’t talk, and ask for their cooperation. All my classes work quietly. At the end of each class, I whisper “Talk to you next year”.

Meeting with Z. is cancelled: UFT rep unable to attend. I am unable to speak.


JANUARY


Wednesday, January 2, 2008 (Day after Winter Break)
Assistant Principal Z takes student statements about “my behavior” on Friday, December 21, 2008


Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.
Re: Unprofessional statements and conduct exhibited by you on Dec. 14 and 21.

“Please meet with me on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 11:15 AM in the principal’s office regarding allegations of unprofessional statements and conduct exhibited by you on December 14, and 21. You may be accompanied, at you option, by the UFT chapter leader, or his designated alternate, as this meeting may lead to disciplinary action.”

(Meeting Postponed until January 18 upon request from UFT representative)

Thursday, January 4, 2008
Letter from Principal
Re: lateness

“I have scheduled a meeting for you to meet with me in my office on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 3:00 pm to discuss your lateness on January 3, 2008. The UFT Chapter Chair or his designated alternate may accompany you, at your option."

(I was four minutes late)

Thursday, January 4, 2008
Letter from Principal
Re: lesson plans

“I have scheduled a meeting with you to meet with me in my office on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM to discuss your lesson plan on Monday, January 14, 2008 and Thrusday, January 17, 2008. The UFT Chapter Chair or his designated alternate may accompany because this may lead to disciplinary action.”

Monday, January 14, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.
Re: Allegations of unprofessional statements and conduct

“Please meet with me on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 11:15 AM in my office regarding allegations of unprofessional statements and conduct exhibited by you on December 14 and 21, 2007”


Monday, January 14, 2008
Unannounced classroom visit from Mr. Z. Period 1.
Lesson plan is visible and available. I am reviewing for the midterm. Mr. Z. leaves without comment.

Monday, January 14, 2008
Unannounced classroom visit from Principal P. Period 8
Lesson plan is not visible and available – I have left my planbook in the library where I went to make copies.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Unannounced classroom visit from Principal.
Students are using computers to follow a tutorial on how to identify stars and constellations. She walks out without comment.

Thursday, January 17, 2008
Unannounced classroom visit from Principal during
AM Homeroom.

Principal P demands my lesson plan for period 1. I tell her that I am giving a midterm that day.
She insists that I should have a lesson plan anyway. I write in pencil on a piece of paper:
Objective: Students will be able to take Part 1 of the midterm
Opening: Take out a piece of paper and pencil
Group Work: Take midterm
Summary: How do you feel about the midterm?

Thursday, January 17, 2008
2nd Unannounced classroom visit by Principal

She returns to the homeroom and asks me to hand in my lesson plans for the week as of 7th period that day. Seventh period I provide her with a complete set of lesson plans from January 2 to January 17.

Friday, January 18, 2008
Meeting with Assistant Principal Z:
Re: unprofessional statements and conduct on Dec. 14, 2007 and Dec. 21, 2007.

I was given statements by students and asked to sign an agreement not to reveal their contents.

Friday, January 25, 2008
Meeting with Principal
RE: failure to provide a written lesson upon request on January 15, 2008 and January 17, 2008.

Principal P makes a big deal about how I had not prepared a lesson plan for my midterm. She ignores the collection of lessons I gave her on January 17.

January 29, 2008 Letter from Principal
Re: pre-observation conference

“I have arranged a pre-observation conference for you with Mr. Z and Ms. X on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 during period 8 in my office. The formal observation will take place on Friday, Februray 1, 2008 during periods 7 & 8 with class 8B.

(Postponed until January 31)

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
FILE LETTER from Mr. Z.
Re: unprofessional conduct on December 14, 2007 and December 21, 2007

Assistant Principal Z. concluded the following:

The Incident of December 14: Mr. Z. ignores my version of the conversation with the mother of the student in the condom incident and used the mother’s version.
“I conclude that you demonstrated unprofessional conduct when you stated to Ms. ________, that her son “masturbated into a condom”.

Conversation with girl sitting next to boy with condom: Mr. Z. ignores my version of what I said when I spoke to the girl who sat next to the boy with the condom. Mr. Z. used the girl’s version. “I conclude that questioning the female student in front of the class, and stating that you would “call her mom” was unprofessional.”

My “Behavior” on December 21, 2007: Mr. Z. ignored my version of what I said and did on the day of the silent reading assignment and used the students’ version.“ I conclude that you demonstrated unprofessional conduct when stating that you would no longer speak with class 8B, and that you had “received a letter and were in trouble”.

“I conclude that you demonstrated poor judgement in your reaction to an incident of adolescent mischief. Your continuing unprofessional discussion of the incident in your classroom has resulted in a negative impact upon your students, and an unproductive and oppositional atmosphere in your classroom. Further evidence of poor judgement/unprofessional conduct may lead to an unsatisfactory rating for the current school year and /or further disciplinary actions.”

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Preobservation meeting with Assistant Principal X and Assistant Principal Z.


FEBRUARY


Friday, February 1, 2008
Formal Observation by Mr. Z. only.

Friday, February 8, 2008
Post Observation with Mr. Z.

Mr. Z. informs me that the lesson was unsatisfactory.

Monday, February 11, 2008
U-Rating Hearing

Monday, February 11, 2008
FILE LETTER from Principal

“Please be informed that on the two separate occasions above, January 14, 2008 and January 17, 2008 you failed to have a written lesson plan as required by Chancellor’s Special Circular No. 28 and our Faculty Handbook. Please be informed that it is your professional responsibility to develop and write lesson plans for your classes. Please be informed that recurrence of your failure to provide a written lesson plan to a supervisor upon request may lead to further disciplinary action including an unsatisfactory rating and or discontinuance.

Friday, February 29, 2008
Experiment on the diffusion of an odor through the air.

I wipe the lab table with vinegar and then students mark the time they first smell the vinegar at their location on a map of the classroom. We successfully perform this experiment in two other classes. Then I try it with 8B (The condom class). Several boys begin to make vomiting noises. One starts spitting in the garbage. I hear a comment to the effect that this is what an old lady’s “genetalia” smells like. I terminate the experiment, send the boys to the back of the room, and lecture the class on their “unscientific” behavior. I then give them a reading assignment.

Friday, February 29, 2008 Mr. Z asks students in 8B to write statements about what happened in science that day.


MARCH


Monday, March 3, 2008
Unannounced visit from Assistant Principal X

Ms X enters the classroom and goes to the back of the room. I pick up my lesson plan and go to the back of the room. She has turned away from me to look at the bulletin board. I say, "Excuse me". She jumps. The children laugh. I give her the lesson plan. She walks around the room, writes some notes and then walks out.

March 3, 2008
Formal Observation Report from Mr. Z.

The report gives me a U-rating for the lesson he observed on February 1, 2008.

March 3, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal X

I have scheduled an appointment for you to meet with me in my office on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 3:00 PM in reference to your unprofessional conduct.

(Meeting is postponed to March 13 as per request by UFT rep)

Friday, March 7, 2008
Mr. Z. asks students from 8B to write statements about what happened in science on Feb. 29.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.
Please meet with me on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 3:00 PM in the principal’s office regarding allegations of verbal abuse and unprofessional conduct exhibited by you on Friday, February 29, 2008.

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Meeting with Assistant Principal X.

Assistant Principal X accuses me of being insubordinate in the way I gave her the lesson plan during her visit of March 3, 2008.

Wednesday March 12, 2008
Letter from Principal

"I have scheduled a meeting with you on March 18, 2008 at 3 PM to discuss your unprofessional behavior on Monday March 11, 2008 in the office."

Monday, March 17, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.
"Please meet with me on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 2:30 PM in the principal’s office regarding allegations of verbal abuse and unprofessional conduct exhibited by you on Friday, February 29, 2008"

Friday, March 18, 2008
Meeting with Principal

Principal P. accuses me of entering the main office at approximately 2:55 PM on March 10, 2008 and stating, “Here comes the abusive teacher”.

I reply that I have no idea what she was talking about.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Meeting with Assistant Principal Z.

Principal Z. gave me statements by several students from 8B.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 Meeting with two girls from 8B

With so many statements being written by students from 8B, I was curious as to whether, their parents had been informed. I did not discuss the contents of the statements, but I asked two girls if their parents were aware that they had written statements. They said no.

Monday, March 25, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.

Please meet with me on Tuesday, April 1 at 1:45 PM in my office regarding allegations of verbal abuse and misconduct exhibited by you on Thursday, March 20, 2008”

Monday March 25, 2008
LETTER TO FILE from Mr. Z.

Based on exaggerated and untrue statements made by students of 8B (Yes, the same class that had the condom incident) Mr. Z. concluded “In doing so, you committed verbal abuse which is prohibited by the Chancellor’s Regulation A421 and New York State Educational Law, and which constitutes unacceptable teacher deportment.

Monday, March 26, 2008
LETTER TO FILE from Ms. X

“On March 3, 2008, I entered your classroom to conduct a snapshot of your lesson. I walked into the room facing the students. I had not spoken to you. However, immediately upon entereing the room, you screamed, “Excuse me, excuse me” at me. You then came over to me and thrust your lesson plan at me…. I conclude that your screaming “excuse me, excuse me” and thrusting a lesson plan at me in front of the students, constitutes conduct unbecoming a professional educator.”

My reply to this letter was: “I did not scream and I most certainly did not “thrust”.

APRIL

Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Meeting with Mr. Z.

I admitted that I had spoken individually with two girsl on March 20, 2008. I told Mr. Z that I believe it is outrageous and a violation of human rights for a student to be asked to give a statement which may lead to involvement in a court hearing without the knowledge of their parents. Parents should be informed that a student made a statement and be given a copy. This is a public school, not a private school. I believe that none of the students have an understanding of the seriousness of their statements or of the consequences. I believe that the adminstration has created an unhealthy environment and has sabotaged the relationship between my students and me by constantly requesting the whole class to write statements during their class time.

Friday, April 4, 2008
LETTER TO FILE from Assistant Principal Z.

Mr. Z. accuses me of violating the confidentiality agreement which I deny because I did not discuss the content of the statement with the students--only the fact that their parents had not been notified.

Monday, April 7, 2008
LETTER TO FILE from Principal

“I conclude that you did say, “Here comes the abusive teacher” in the main office on March 10, 2008. I further conclude that you used poor judgement when you made that statement and that it represents conduct unbecoming a professional educator.”

April 29, 2008
Letter from the Office of Appeals

Please be advised that the appeal of Moriah from the rating of “Unsatisfactory for the period ending June 2007 has been denied and the said rating is sustained as a consequ3ence of refusal to adequately plan and deliver instruction.”

May 7, 2008
I write a referral for a boy who stated that his goal in life was to kill the president of the United States before the age of 20.

Thursday, May 8, 2008
I refer two students to the Dean—one for calling another student “cockroach” and another for saying that I had a fat stomach and my ass smelled like shit.

Friday, May 9, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal Z.

Please meet with me on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 in the principal’s office regarding the letter you gave me quoting a statement made by a student on May 7, 2008. You may be accompanied by the UFT chapter leader as this meeting may lead to disciplinary action.

May 12, 2008
Letter from Assistant Principal X

“ I have scheduled an appointment for you to meet with me on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 2:30 PM regarding allegations of verbal abuse exhibited by you on Thursday, May 8, 2008”

May 13, 2008
Meeting with Mr. Z. about student stating he wanted to kill the president.

I asked why I was being threatened with disciplinary action for writing a referral. Mr. Z. stated that I had not used the right form. He supplied me with forms.

May 14, 2008
Meeting with Mr. Z

I am supplied with students’ statements about the day I of the referrals I wrote on May 8.

AND THE YEAR ISN’T OVER YET……