INCARCERATION IN NEW YORK: THE EDUCATION JAIL

NAPTA SENT AN EMAIL TO SEVERAL MEMBERS ASKING THEM TO CONTACT A NEW MEMBER FOR SUPPORT. THIS DIALOGUE THAT ENSUED OFFERS YOU A VIEW INTO THE MIND OF A DEDICATED TEACHER TRAPPED IN POLITICAL HELL, AND THUS UNAVAILABLE FOR HER STUDENTS.
This new member requested a pen pal. I am forwarding this to a few people who may have offered to contact new members or others who might be interested. Please do contact her if you have time since networking seems to give back as much as it gives. We are all so needy after going through this.

THIS NY TEACHER RESPONDED, DISCUSSING THE INFAMOUS RUBBER ROOM, UNIQUE TO NEW YORK IN TERMS OF SOPHISTICATION OF ABUSE, BUT IN THE SAME SPIRIT THAT PERMEATES OUR COUNTRY - OR THE TEACHERS AS SLAVES MODEL. ONE WONDERS WHY THESE TEACHERS ARE IN A "ROOM" RATHER THAN IN A CATTLE CAR. NAPTA
Dear Aleene:

We 'incarcerated' teachers send you much sympathy and support - I think we should have a national list of ratings for administrators, posted on the internet. Humiliation, humor and publicity perhaps are our only weapons, since the unions have abandoned us. The psychological abuse of teachers is horrific - I am in a NYC "rubber room" full of teachers (approx. 150) who got in trouble with administrators, or are on mostly bogus charges against them, who sit there in a type of gulag doing nothing, being watched by security guards all day long. The Dept. of Education has even sent several retired teachers as "spies" to watch us closely and record all our activities. We are not able to see what they are writing and reporting about us. It is the most humiliating and depressing situation, but it is a paradigm of the disregard teachers are held in this society.

I think in order to survive psychologically, you have to see schools as institutions in crisis, with administrators worried about test scores, parents, school boards etc. who inflict their own insecurities and anxieties upon the teachers and staff. To focus on the students and dedicate yourself to them for me was how I survived. Unfortunately, the more competent, creative, caring and intelligent a teacher is, the more likely they will get into trouble.

Best of luck.
Imprisoned NY Teacher


Dear Karen:

I e-mailed Aleene with words of support. I am still in the NYC "rubber room" and go daily as though I am putting my head on the guillotine and wondering if this is the day the blade will fall. I am trying to endure the best I can, but I feel my resilience is wearing thin. I try to stay busy and productive despite the Attica type situation we are in - with extra security guards to watch us, and new spies from the main DOE office to watch us all day and take notes on our activities and movements. People endure the best they can but it is such a terrible human abuse - especially for teachers used to active days of interaction with students and colleagues. And, because people are getting paid, we are supposed to be content!

Wishing you well . . .
Imprisoned NY Teacher

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