A sorority has grown at MS 72 in Jamaica, Queens. The mean girls are in control and the un-mean girls on on the outside looking in.Principal Omotayo Cineus has seemingly split the school in two. Those who belong to the correct sorority and those that never have been sorority sisters.
With the school shrinking due to the growth of co-located Redwood Middle School choices needed to be made. Who to keep and who to let go. Obviously, this can be done honestly and easily by following the UFT contract of last in, first out. But what is one to do when the principal and the last in are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha and veteran teachers stand in their way?
You juke the data. Teachers who have been at MS 72 for decades have suddenly been rated ineffective or developing. You deny teachers who have yet to be tenured time after time after time after time and then you rate them developing or ineffective.
Some of the targeted teachers are special ed teachers dealing with the most challenging students. But is this not what one wants when dealing with such students? Yet it is too easy to find fault, especially if you are not a Kappa.
But what does Principal Cineus say about this? To the non-tenured teachers who are about to be discontinued she tells them, our colleagues, teachers with families, bills, health concerns, that hey she'll swear she fought for these teachers with the superintendent but someone screwed up, the tenure papers were lost!
How can something that had never been submitted been lost?
Cineus, according to our sources at MS 72 went out of her way to hire Kappas. Faculty meetings seemed more like rush week or a toga party with inside jokes, secret sayings, and perhaps the odd handshake. As of press time no reports about any pledge pins.
Cineus and her untenured newbie sorority sisters went to meetings and conventions together and made a show of it all when they got back to work.
The Crack Team curious, asked if there was any hazing happening at MS 72. According to sources there was none, but several commented that denying tenure to the deserved and giving it to Kappas could be seen as hazing.
The teachers at MS 72, you all are up against Doug Neidermeyer, Greg Marmalard, and their leader, Dean Wormer. You all are Delta House. You need a Bluto moment. Hang in there!
21 comments:
Dude...seriously...you are going to put a wonderful BGLO sorority on blast because you have a bone to pick with some of its members...so you have problem with black women who may network in their school....I am not a member, but I am one of their brothers...and you can go fuck yourself....asshole.
I really hope your ATR experience is horrible...you racist fuck.
Did either of you actually read what was written? Seriously. Read it again. Where is this an attack on women of color or BGLO sororities? Again, what was the main idea of this post?
It was about teachers (Who the majority are African-American), being targeted because they are not with the "cool crowd." Nothing more, nothing less. Don't these teachers have the right to be judged on their abilities and not whom they associate with? Should excessing these teachers be based on the UFT contract in which last one in is the first one out?
So next time you want to call me an asshole or a racist fuck, please...stop, read, and think.
Agreed Bronx Teacher ^O*
This is the poster from the first 2 posts....I read your fuckery again....and I still view it as such....to compare the first African American Female sorority to Animal House is very disrespectful...despite your intent....and these ladies are not referred to as Kappas....not amongst themselves or other members of BGLOs...dumbass. Why post a link to their national website? If anything, people will see the major accomplishments of the black women who are proud members...my mother, sister, aunt, and cousin are members. You could have kept the sorority out of your diatribe, but no...you have to be a bitter smartass like you normally are. If you got issues with what admin does...then focus on the solely...but to bring another organization into the discussion that really has nothing to do with your beef is asinine.
To compare to Animal House is what's getting you knickers in a bunch? Ever hear of allegory? Ever read this blog and notice the pop culture references as well as humor and snarkiness? Actually what's happening at MS 72 is more like the movie "Mean Girls". However I've only seen it once and Animal House a gazillion times I felt I had a better point of reference.
But What basically is Animal House about. How the cool people (Delta House) has to deal with those trying to do it in (Dean Wormer and Omega House). If you would click on some of the links it'll take you to scenes in the movie in which Omega is not being nice.
As for daring to mention Kappas. Too bad. The mean girls are Kappas. That's why Kappas are mentioned. If they were all Free Masons then I would be mocking Free Masons. If they were all members of the Racoon Lodge, the same. If they're not called that then correct me and I'll change it.
What's sad, and I believe you are a teacher, is that you seem not to be concerned about the lies and manipulations happening at MS 72.
My son graduates HS in 4 years. Before he goes off to college I'll tell him never, ever to pledge a fraternity. That he needs to remain an independent thinker and that he does not need to conform so he can have "friends"
Don't for a minute think that AKA is above reproach because it's members are black. It has done a lot of good. And, still, it suffers from the same troubles of all Fraternities and Sororities. I've known AKA members who were bullied into severe depression by the organization. To lash-out when someone criticizes the cliquishness of the organization betrays a blindness to group-think and cruelty. As in all things, balance is key. Calling someone a racist fuck for calling out favoritism and misdealing is not balanced. The blogger may simply have been calling out a moment when brotherhood and sisterhood went a bit too far and became something else. But, you don't want to hear it. That is frightening.
How about when Cineus only invited selected faculty to the summer retreat? Then, when only a few teachers signed up, she ranted about it during a faculty meeting. A teacher asked why only selected faculty were invited and Cineus' response was, [paraphrasing] "There are two groups of faculty - those who go to the retreat, and those who don't. Don't expect any favors next year if you do not attend the retreat." So, she never answered the question, and she already determined the "cool kids" by only inviting selected faculty.
This principal has no clue about leading a school , she needs to go! Her latest news is that she ran the school in a 1,000,00 and needs to excess 13 teachers. She pays hundreds of dollars getting one of her church minister to talk about " are you a bucket filler" at one of her retreats and has done it again this year. Just few weeks ago two parents was fist fighting in our main office- is that how to run a school.
Correction $ 1,000,000 deficit
Not only were tenure applications never filed, but arts teachers were given $1,000 each by the city to spend on materials and supplies. The teachers picked the supplies, but administration had to confirm the order. Were those orders ever confirmed or placed? Thousands of dollars wasted. Campaigning as an arts supporter when she became principal, she seems to have no intention of developing the programs.
This is the most ridiculous and cowardly article written. Its obvious that the author is acting off whatever personal feelings they may have. Its sad that 13 teachers may be removed from the lives of 700+ students, but its only sad if those 13 positively impacted those 700+ students. The principal can not deem you ineffective just because she wants to, Charlotte Danielson makes that call, based on observations and evidence than can be presented by the educator, so if the writer wants to get mad at an ineffective rating then they should have directed it towards Charlotte Danielson and the rubric created. As far as this idea that the last hired were part of a sorority, is this an assumption or fact? Did you ask the last hired if they are? Did you see this special shake or salute? Did you ask the newly hired if they were part of the same sorority of the principal or even a sorority at all? This is an attack on an individual from a person that is intimated by the Innovation Movement that Catherine and Count Basie is entering. The person or persons that wrote this have become comfortable in just going day to day not caring about the future of these students and not wanting to offer them all the opportunities that life has.
This is juicyyyyyyyyyy yassssssss keep it going huntayyyyy. But on another not I'm a little upset that you people didn't invite my friend to your little retreat, she was a little upset so play nice ladies. Datttizz it carry on
So being that your firing 13 of us next week can you do it on Friday you knowwwwwww Friday the 13th a day of horror emoji face I'm done :)
What about covering classes for free????Do you really think we're going to be paid what were owed?? Seriously,
Cineus needs to go!!!
Correction: we're owed
How about the Penny Harvest money that for the past two years she has refused to turn over to that Club , so they can carry out their Community Service. Guess what!!! She planned a work day for Penny Harvest to do the garden and make flower boxes , that wasn't accomplished . Please turn over the $1,000 to the Penny Harvest Club so that these students can get to do their charitable work. Please !!!!
I,too, think this article is written with a jaded view of one of the Divine 9. As a teacher of predominantly African-American students, one would think you would be a little less aggressive in your allegorical approach in insulting a staple within their community. Perhaps the organizations in your community are alot like Animal House. Fine. Convince your children not to join. But as for the children of the African diaspora, they need to know Alpha Phi Alpha produced Martin Luther King Jr, Omega Psi Phi produced Dr. Charles Drew & Michael Jordan, Phi Beta Sigma produced A. Philip Randolph, Kappa Alpha Psi produced Wilt Chamberlain, Alpha Kappa Alpha produced Maya Angelou& Rosa Parks. Shirley Chisholm a product of Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta gave us Zora Neale Hurston & Esther Rolle, Sigma Gamma Rho, Hattie McDaniel and Iota Phi Theta, Congressman Bobby Rush. These organizations are more than keg drinking, toga parties . They are groups that forge a lifetime of upliftment and opportunities for great leaders. Implying that Mrs. Cineus and her entire cabinet are somehow a conspiring group of AKA's intent on evil would be like comparing a disgruntled misguided, observing teacher to that of Dylan Roof. This did appear to be a sideways attack on Sororities. Having said that, it doesn't exonerate Mrs. Cineus' behavior. If all which is being stated is true, perhaps Mrs. Cineus would benefit from a little soul searching. Great leaders listen to their constituents. To whom much is given, much is required. As an African American woman in authority, you are scrutinized with a fine tooth comb. If there is a conspiracy to target African American women in charge, you should not be a part of your own conspiracy! Continuing to be so obtuse in your approach with your staff, is not only unwelcoming, it's unprofessional. There has to be accountability with your credibility. Your staff is important. All of them. Each has a desire to care for their families, as you so less than eloquently (at times) remark that you must do for yours. This situation can work. But you must lead by example. If not, there will be continued discourse and disconnect. The teachers will continue to feel alienated, the union will continually look to decapitate you , and the children( the most important of all) will suffer. Hopefully all of you will take it for what it's worth. The success of the school and these children lie in your hands...
hmmmmm.....I'm not comfortable with the idea that the people listed above were 'produced' by the list of sororities and fraternities. I'm sure these people would have shone without being members. However I would agree that the sorority issue is not relevant to this situation. Teacher morale has hit an all time low at 72 and the solution of the administration seems to be blame the teachers. They are told that if they don't like it then leave but at the same time the students receive no consequences. It is also not fair to call people cowards because they feel that this is the only place where their feelings can be voiced. If not here then where? In the meetings where teachers are treated like naughty children? The principal's office where students can walk right in but teachers are always being turned away? At the retreat where only the chosen were invited and then the rest were yelled at for not attending? Maybe staff commenting here do so because whenever they express concern or ideas they are told to be quiet......and if you don't like it the you can always leave!!
Praise God for our Constitution of the United States that allows freedom of speech. And in that same spirit I will ask each of you to reflect on the real motive behind your statements especially the negative ones. Leadership is one of the hardest jobs to perform with excellence at all times. We are all somewhere on the leadership continum on any given day. Sometimes up and sometimes down. Why not genuinely work to improve the issues with Principal Cineus. She is a God fearing woman and chosen vessel for MS 72. She is a LEADER and a gifted educator. I believe she would welcome genuine parents and teachers who will use love- the example that Jesus Christ gave us as a motivating factor to make MS 72 a loving place to work and learn. To thst end, let us commit today to forgive any negative comments raised and look for solutions. Will you join me? We can do it. Jesus is in our side. God bless you all. CHR
And the madness continues.........
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