SMSD Teachers Heavily Bullied
St. Mary’s students return, but complaints continue about superintendent
excerpts:
Students at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo returned to their classrooms Tuesday, but the frustration that prompted students to walk out of class — many with their parents’ support — continues.
While the tipping point came last week with the dismissal of a popular math teacher, Nettie Brewer, the discontent runs much deeper.
Fourteen current and former staff members have signed affidavits complaining about the way Superintendent William P. Johnson runs the school. Three other complaints are under investigation by the state Division of Human Rights. Numerous other complaints are being aired less formally.
Fourteen current and former staff members have signed affidavits complaining about the way Superintendent William P. Johnson runs the school. Three other complaints are under investigation by the state Division of Human Rights. Numerous other complaints are being aired less formally
Based on Kendra’s chemistry grades at St. Mary’s, she was placed in a Regents chemistry class in public school. She couldn’t keep up.
Students didn’t conduct experiments during Trent Johnson’s chemistry lab at St. Mary’s, Kendra said. “We played chess. I got a good grade because I never gave the teacher any trouble,” she said
“I want her [Brewer]back. She was the only black teacher here,” said Ronald Amerson, who is black
Commentary: Countless reports about bullying among the students aren’t a rarity. However, we don’t normally hear complaints of teachers heavily bullied, belittled, and undermined by the administrators. That is B A D, alright!
When a protest erupts, it is usually after all the options have been explored, to no avail. With no outlet, the frustrations and resentments eventually build up and up until they reach the level of an explosion: a protest
The poor quality of academics and the inflation of grades are alleged here. Students reportedly playing chess games in lieu of chemistry lab??? This is too crazy! An A-average chemistry student cannot wing it in a Regents chemistry class at a hearing school? No wonder why the students and their parents are unsatisfied with their education.
Well, now that these grievances are being aired publicly where they cannot be hushed and ignored by the administrators as previously done, hopefully some good will come out of the abuses and constructive changes implemented for a healthier atmosphere for both the teachers and students. MZ
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
St. Mary’s students return, but complaints continue about superintendent
excerpts:
Students at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo returned to their classrooms Tuesday, but the frustration that prompted students to walk out of class — many with their parents’ support — continues.
While the tipping point came last week with the dismissal of a popular math teacher, Nettie Brewer, the discontent runs much deeper.
Fourteen current and former staff members have signed affidavits complaining about the way Superintendent William P. Johnson runs the school. Three other complaints are under investigation by the state Division of Human Rights. Numerous other complaints are being aired less formally.
Fourteen current and former staff members have signed affidavits complaining about the way Superintendent William P. Johnson runs the school. Three other complaints are under investigation by the state Division of Human Rights. Numerous other complaints are being aired less formally
Based on Kendra’s chemistry grades at St. Mary’s, she was placed in a Regents chemistry class in public school. She couldn’t keep up.
Students didn’t conduct experiments during Trent Johnson’s chemistry lab at St. Mary’s, Kendra said. “We played chess. I got a good grade because I never gave the teacher any trouble,” she said
“I want her [Brewer]back. She was the only black teacher here,” said Ronald Amerson, who is black
Commentary: Countless reports about bullying among the students aren’t a rarity. However, we don’t normally hear complaints of teachers heavily bullied, belittled, and undermined by the administrators. That is B A D, alright!
When a protest erupts, it is usually after all the options have been explored, to no avail. With no outlet, the frustrations and resentments eventually build up and up until they reach the level of an explosion: a protest
The poor quality of academics and the inflation of grades are alleged here. Students reportedly playing chess games in lieu of chemistry lab??? This is too crazy! An A-average chemistry student cannot wing it in a Regents chemistry class at a hearing school? No wonder why the students and their parents are unsatisfied with their education.
Well, now that these grievances are being aired publicly where they cannot be hushed and ignored by the administrators as previously done, hopefully some good will come out of the abuses and constructive changes implemented for a healthier atmosphere for both the teachers and students. MZ
email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
March 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
thanks for bringing this out; it seems those days that we’re exposing so many bad execs and directors of schools.
my qustion is; are there any school leaders that bully who are deaf? cause it seems that they’re all hearing.
i often wonder too, if hearies just want the job so they can move up to other positions and leave us behind once again.
its times like this when you dont have to be deaf to know who’s leadership sucks.
March 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
That’s a good question. It seems most of the complaints, if not all, come from deaf schools headed by hearing administrators. Same with schools with poor academic quality as they are usually directed by hearing people. It does make one wonder.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I don’t think it’s about moving up to better positions. I think it’s about going on power trips. Due to a lack of communication and lack of understanding about proper documentation and protocol, it’s very easy to cover up matters in those educational institutions.
It’s sad, and we’re gonna pay the price eventually.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
One of the news items states that Johnson, the head of the school, is deaf. I wondered about that, since it gives Deaf leaders a black eye when we have seen IJK discredited at Gallaudet and now others, including Johnson.
What other issues are involved that aren’t reported? What does the Board of Directors have to say about this? How can we, the public and the stakeholders of the Deaf community, sort this out so we keep good administrators and get rid of the questionable ones before they reach the administrator level?
Indeed, how can honest administrators be protected from political backstabbing? We have an entire first generation of Deaf school superintendents and principals, and their necks are frequently at risk.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Bill Johnson is not deaf. He is hard of hearing and can speak very well. So he is functionally hearing.
It is unfortunate that people are being told to trust the administration. If people are to trust the administration at St. Mary’s, then morale at the school should not be so low. Something is not right there.
The Board of Trustees themselves are also being bullied. If you read the newspaper article carefully, you will spot that.
March 12th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
This is unfortunate! It is time to change the overall system. I think it is everywhere. I fear we are back to Milan 1880 style.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I am concerned that deaf students are being taught that protest is the only way to get attention for issues. It would be more productive if they were taught how to effect change within the system. And that approach would begin the process of cultivating leaders within the deaf community who can be viable over the long term. Bill Johnson is from a long line of deaf people — his whole line of ancestors are deaf — and as happens often each generation of his family has been less and less deaf. The gene will wipe itself out over time. We give a poor impression to parents of deaf children and the general public when we keep tearing down deaf leaders. King Jordan and Jane Fernandes come to mind. Now Johnson … as a community we need growth for the long term not the spurts that the protest method is giving us.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Well. It’s definitely a mess.
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/298127.html
March 13th, 2008 at 11:52 am
As a special education and elementary education teacher, I am embrassed that any school system does not provide appropriate education. Where is the accountability? Where is the data? It is not just the adminstration, but the educators and parents fault. I don’t care if anyone is deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing, poor educators and education is a shame. I hope they clean it up and improve education, so the students can develop appropriate skills.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
The effective delivery of educational programming takes a strong advocate and tireless worker. Johnson fit’s that description to a T. If the those members of the educational community that can only find fault with one who has deveoted his life’s work to those who only wish to coast along and find fault, then they are the losers. Belly up to bar, earn a terminal degree and try your hand at making the world a better place instead of casting stones.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
If Mr. Johnson is so great an administrator, why is there a protest?
There are 199 comments in this forum on this protest alone:
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/buffalo-ny/TQ9572MCAF4I62HAK/p10#lastPost
From what I’ve understand, the firing of the only African American teacher with a good reputation as an educator who signs fluently doesn’t look good in school that has been reported to have teachers lacking in ASL. Ignoring the grievances of the parents is never a good idea, especially when they complain of inferior academic quality and poor communication access.
Perhaps it is time for Mr. Johnson should stop being ‘deaf’ to these stakeholders