Lucy and Ethel at PS 154 in the Bronx

"This shit can't be made up"-Maimonides AD 1167

We can't believe what is happening at PS 154. Lucy and Ethel have completely ruined the possibility of any education, any order, and any discipline. Worse, and I can't believe this is true, Lucy is the least of the problem. It is all Ethel.

As discussed many times on these pages the discipline, specifically the out of control 5th grade, is not just lacking, but non-existent. It is time that Ethel is held responsible for this.

One main reason for the out of control nature of the 5th grade students is that they know that once they are in anyway disciplined or admonished by any other teacher that the usual refrain from these  students is, "I'm telling Ethel." Yes, there are pockets of "I'm telling Lucy," but 99% of the time the teacher being told on by the students goes to Ethel.

Ethel thinks she is doing these students a favor by either being their buddy or that she feels so bad for them that she is foisting upon them ownership of their emotions and education. Sadly, when one has an Ivy League education one tends to forget from whence one came and believes they are smarter than the entire planet.

What Ethel is doing is just what Annie Wilkes did to Paul Sheldon, hobbling the staff. Worse, she is not allowing the students that most need to learn and respect boundaries to comprehend boundaries. She is doing these students a terrible disservice.

We talk about lifting these students up through the CCLS to be college and career ready, but how can we has a school community sit idly by while these students are not learning discipline, boundaries, patience, and ethics which they will need in college and their careers? All Lucy seems to care about is that these students feel good and are nice and happy.

I know there are many egregious examples of Lucy taking the "students first" mantra to the nth degree and pulling the rug from under teachers leaving them looking stupid and dumbfounded, but the following two are what come to mind and just sum up Ethel's liberal unrealistic mind set.

In February of this year a Herschel Weinstein lied to a teacher about the need to use the bathroom. Herschel left the classroom and went to a 2nd grade class instead. Why? Because the teacher in this class had a surprise candy concoction for him for Valentine's Day. Herschel came back to class after 20 minutes of having to "pee" and with the candy being prominently displayed.

Since this was the end of the day and being caught by the teacher he left from, his homeroom teacher told the Herschel in no uncertain terms that he has forfeited the candy, that a phone call will be placed home to notify his mother, that if mom agrees he will get the candy the next day, and it will be locked in that teacher's room overnight.

Guess what? Herschel entered the building after dismissal sought out Ethel and whined enough to have Ethel go into that teacher's room and give the candy to the Herschel. Right then, she made two teachers look like clowns. Right then, she taught Herschel that there are no boundaries, right then, she contributed to the circus atmosphere at 154.

Oh, and Herschel did not learn a lesson at all.

Next up is about a Faivish Goldbaum who had his blade-blade confiscated for having it out in class. Faivish was told that if and when mom contacts the teacher he can have it back. Faivish knowing that the mom doesn't even show up for parent teacher conferences surmised that he would never see the blade-blade again. Not to worry.

Faivish went whining to Ethel. Ethel then went to the teacher saying, "I will hold it until mom shows up. I just left a message on her voice mail." Knowing this was bullshit, but holding out against hope that Ethel was telling the truth the teacher handed over the blade-blade. That teacher even inquired to Ethel whether or not the mom had been notified and had shown up. Ethel even assured the teacher that Faivish will not get the blade-blade back without mom coming in.

This was two weeks ago. Faivish got the blade-blade back that day. Ethel caved. Ethel back stabbed a teacher. Ethel is a sucker. Ethel she taught Faivish that there are no boundaries, right then, she contributed to the circus atmosphere at 154.

Oh, and Faivish did not learn a lesson at all.

Seriously, Maimonides is right. This shit that happens in no way, no how, can be made up. It all is too real.

"Ay yai, yai!"-Ricky Ricardo AD 1954

What We Put Up With Day In and Day Out at PS 154

Ted Williams Comes to PS 154 in the Bronx

I remember when I was a young lad my dad telling me that if Ted Williams did not have to spend 5 years in the service during his baseball career, that he would have easily hit 800 home runs. If you look at the stats of Williams you could say by dad was exaggerating a bit. But, if you tool what my dad claimed and put Williams playing for the Yankees with that short right field porch. then maybe he would have hit 800 home runs if he did not miss those five years.

My dad was even wiser, but first a little background.
Alison Coviello
In 1969, Teddy Ballgame was named manager of the Washington Senators, now the Texas Rangers. Kind of made sense at the time? The greatest living hitter, one can say he had his doctorate in hitting, managing young ballplayers and imparting his wisdom upon them. Of course the Senators would soon become an American League juggernaut and march through the AL and win pennant after pennant.
Alison Coviello
Williams had one winning record, his first year as manager, and losing records the next 3 years after that. Williams never managed again.
Alison Coviello
Why? Because of what dear old dad had told me. Williams was so great, such a great hitter, that he had impossible expectations that everyone would be as great as him. Also, Williams had no respect for pitchers and did not know how to work and encourage them and constantly spoke down to them.
Alison Coviello
So what you may ask does Ted Williams have to do with education and in particular, PS 154 in the Bronx?
Alison Coviello
Let's imagine, if we can, that Ted Williams was an educator and that Ted Williams came to PS 154 to be its principal. So set your imaginations on the Splendid Splinter in the principal's office.

Ted Williams, who knew everything there was to know about education is a nice thing. But it does not translate into being a leader. Just because someone know a lot about a subject does not mean that person has the leadership qualities and mental capabilities to be a true leader.

A teacher that fails to measure up to the greatness that Ted Williams believes is only reserved for himself as a teacher and a principal is doomed to fail. Teachers set up to fail and incapable of succeeding as long as a someone like Williams is the principal of the school will be blamed by Williams as failed teachers not capable teachers being put in impossible surroundings and situations.

As Ted Williams the baseball player had total dedication, Ted Williams the manager, and now the principal at PS 154 has total dedication. But as Ted Williams the manager could not comprehend the total immersion and dedication of his players, Ted Williams the principal can't comprehend that teachers have outside lives which are equally if not more important.

When saddled with mediocre educators, or at least mediocre in the eyes of Williams -- the sort Williams the perfectionist could not abide by, not only did he lack the leadership qualities to have them rise, he is disdainful of such educators and will conjure up fiction to oust such teachers.

Just remember this, it does not take greatness to be a MLB manager or a NYC principal. Look at the likes of Bobby Cox, Sparky Anderson, Walter Alston, Earl Weaver, Tony LaRussa and many more accomplished managers. None of them could carry Ted Williams' jock.

But Ted Williams, could not carry the jock of so many managers of today and yesterday. What does that tell you?

Did I Have a Dream or Did The Dream Have Me?

"Did I have a dream, or did the dream have me?" Peart, Neil, from the song Nocturne off of Vapor Trails 2002.

There I was the other night about 3 AM, lying in my bed, my cat sleeping ever so peacefully at my

feet, my wife with the cold cream covering her face and the curlers covering her hair, sawing wood ever so unquitely. Me? I'm lying wide awake, in a cold sweat, and not knowing if I had a dream, the dream had me, or was whisked away to some other dimension and made part of a vision. All I know is the setting was my school.

Was it all just fantasy? Reality? A warning? Or some combination thereof? All I am sure of is it took place in my school and I was seeing what was happening there.

I saw a person that never lies (so this person says) kinda of like that Romulan chick that Spock once tried to get it on with once.

This Romulan came to us from an elite Ivy League university in Manhattan. A university in what was called Afternoonside Heights. And in this university is an elite school where people from all over the world come to learn how to be a teacher and fail to become leaders, Educators College. At Educators College these, let's call them elitists, oh wait better!! Cultists, of EC, of which the Romulan is part of, but also is an instructor there involved in some type of unseemly conflict of interest.

In the dream it appeared that whilst the Romulan was employed part time by Educators College, the Romulan also brought into the school the cultist, failing reading and writing program of EC. Yes, the one that spew forth all those inane drones who are willing to pay $995 a credit to keep the boys and girls of color ignorant so that they will learn that only the white Aryan types know what is best for them.

But this conflict of interest I see

But wait, don't go away, there is more. 

There it is, the summer of 2012. The In Reality It's a Closed Market system is up on the on the DOE website. But strange, even though there are vacancies I see in the dream at was is my school, there are no vacancies listed on the In Reality It's a Closed Market system.

In the dream someone shares with me a classified ad from the Educators College propaganda newsletter. In this news letter it is asking for a teacher that will be happy, joyful, and gosh diddly darn tootin the most sycophantical person ever. The position is for a general ed, or rather COMMON BRANCH position.

So ever more strange is that the position was filled not with one of the many hundreds of ATR's who were scouring In Reality It's a Closed Market system desperately trying to find a school but with someone, albeit someone very good yet unsupported.

That is all I truly remember from this vision, dream, or whatever it was. Just still remember a bunch of other lies, falsehoods and bullshit, but no details.

Soon, soon more details will emerge. Then all will be clearer.

Mr Portelos Picks the Ottawa Senators and Enjoys Lessons From Richard Nixon

 We here at SBSB know this might come off as snarky and a tad sarcastic,  for that is the style here. As should be known, The Crack Team has the utmost of respect, admiration, and love for Francesco Portelos.

One can learn so much from Francesco Portelos. For instance, if one were to ask Mr Portelos which team were to win this years Stanley Cup he would say with a great degree of self confidence that it

will be the Ottawa Senators. Or, where one can fine a good pastrami sandwich he would declare that it would be Katz's Deli on Houston St.

So when it comes to the New York State law on he legality of recording someone, he is the man to turn to. He basically has not only written the primer on such recordings, but has shared his techniques, secrets, and his annoying of others.


So, Mr Portelos, we here at SBSB put it to you. Please, can you share some of your vast knowledge with the readers of SBSB?

Can one in New York State record someone without their knowledge? 

Yes, we know the answer to that. As long as one person being recorded gives permission the answer is an resounding, yes.

Can one share, say on a blog, or other social media, said recordings?

The Crack Team says yes. Unless, that is David Letterman calls you at work and has previously asked you for permission. Or when a radio disc jockey asks permission when he calls your house. But then again, The Crack a team will defer to Mr Portelos.

Mr Portelos, we here at SBSB assume that you are too young to recall Nixon's Watergate Tapes, but do agree that Nixon was on to something? 

Mr Portelos, would it be safe to assume that there is something more damning out there than the Nixon Tapes?  

Mr Portelos, do you think those that are taped, like Ehrlichman and Haldeman liked the sound of their own voices?

 We here at SBSB await with bated breath not only the response from Mr Portelos, but guidance and direction as well.

Principal Ron Smolkin Gets Advice From Steve Martin

Another, yet a same, principal is in the news today for attempting to destroy a teacher's life and career. The New York Post reported today that Principal Ron Smolkin of Independence High School put fraudulent material in a teacher's file supposedly written by a parent. Recall, this is the same principal that wrote a teacher's co-op board in which a claim of pedophilia was lodged against the

teacher and his partner.

Too often, in fact, all the time in my opinion, a principal will and can get away with whatever he or she wants to short of murder, and even then, only if they find a weapon with prints.

But it got me to thinking about that old Steve Martin bit from the 70's. You know, the one in which he says that two simple words can get you out of any jam you're in.

You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, "Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, 'You.. have never paid taxes'?" Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!"

Well in NYC, three simple words in the English language can get you out of anything, any jam. "I'm the  principal."

Let's see if this theory can work for principals.

Lie? "I'm the principal."

Hide a vacancy on the Open Market system and give the vacancy to a first year teacher with zero experience and get caught? "I'm the principal."

Allow an AP of yours to do scheduling from home without using a time card and not reviewing actual hours worked and give that AP weeks of comp time? "I'm the principal."

Contribute to the death of an AP? "I'm the principal."

Cover up corporal punishment reported by a teacher in regard to one of the principals favorites?"I'm the principal."

Send a nascent, ignorant AP to write a teacher up for uttering the word shit in school when the school year has yet to start and  no kids are in school? "I'm the principal."

Offer no curriculum to the students? "I'm the principal."

Yell and scream and berate a teacher? "I'm the principal."

Write up a teacher for passing gas in violation of the prescribed NYC DOE method? "I'm the principal."

 Use a failed method of teaching reading and writing from a vendor in which also employs you? "I'm the principal."

Send a teacher to the rubber room because they were carrying a Coca Cola in their hand? "I'm the principal."

Charge a teacher with professional misconduct because they had a cup of coffee in their hand? "I'm the principal."

Tell a teacher that proudly announced she was pregnant to use condoms? "I'm the principal."

 Fail to give a teacher proper training in a program and then blame that teacher for not properly implementing said program? "I'm the principal."

Tell female teachers of your school that you wish to stick your ding dong into the copier and holes in the wall? "I'm the principal."

 Favor your sycophants with loads of per session while those with independent minds fail to get any per session? "I'm the principal."

 Tell OSI that you want to "get that teacher?" "I'm the principal."

Never worked in education before and went to leadership academy to become principal? "I'm the principal."

Blame others for your incompetence?  "I'm the principal."

Don't support your teachers in discipline issues? "I'm the principal."

Don't walk the walk? "I'm the principal."

Just clueless? "I'm the principal."

Belief in the fact you might be some deity brought forth by mystical powers? "I'm the principal."

Seriously, any of the above, will it be tolerated in Harrison? In Scarsdale? In Dobbs Ferry? In  Poughkeepsie? No. But in NYC, this prevails.

Again, this shit can't be made up.

Anthony Lives at PS 154 in the Bronx

Remember that Twilight Zone episode, "It's a Good Life"? Yeah, that one, the one with Billy Mumy as Anthony in which he wished people into the cornfield who annoyed him and the adults were all scared shitless of him?

And if today is any indication, Anthony is alive and well at PS 154 in the Bronx. But, not all adults are afraid of Anthony at PS 154. The teachers, the aides, the paras, the custodial staff, the cafeteria XXXXXXXXXXXX has a fear of Anthony. Only XXXXXXXXXXXX doesn't want Anthony to get angry.
Only, workers, school safety, have no fear of Anthony.
Alison Coviello
Today was a typical day for Anthony at PS 154. Anthony as usual was roaming the halls, banging classroom doors, bullying other students. When XXXXXXXXXXXX  was apprised of this situation, all that was muttered was, "We want to keep Anthony happy, we mustn't make him mad."
Alison Coviello
Oh, but that is not all Anthony did to make someone happy today. Anthony told a teacher, a young lady with virginal ears to "suck my dick!" Later when XXXXXXXXXXXXXX found out about it, all that was heard was, "Oh that is just wonderful how Anthony knows wonderful euphemisms." 
Alison Coviello
Anthony gets in the face of the aforementioned teacher goes around and proclaims that the teacher "sucks the dicks" of most males of the population. The Crack Team has thorough spoke to several deep sources at 154 and learned that XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX was quite happy with Anthony for that remark and reportedly said, "That's so nice that Anthony is able to use such colorful language." 

Oh but there is more. When done with the rants of sucking body parts Anthony tell this teacher that "I am going to mess with your car," and when he does not hear that this is a good thing and is actually confronted by the teacher then claims, "I will get someone to do it." As of press time The Crack Team at SBSB has not heard from its sources but is willing to go out on a limb and predict that XXXXXXXXXXXXXX when told of this said, "That is very good Anthony."
Alison Coviello
 Sadly this is the case at PS 154 where it has been made crystal clear to Anthony by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX that he can get away with anything whenever he wants to. 

This behavior by Anthony is a daily, all day occurrence at PS 154 and zero is done other than for XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX to keep on encouraging such behavior. 

Do not the children of Anthony's class have a right to an unfettered, uninterrupted education devoid of Anthony's hijinks enabled and encouraged by XXXXXXXXXX? Of course! But XXXXXXXXXXX is too busy caring about the liberal racist social engineering XXXXXXXXX is trying to install at PS 154. 

I swear, you can't make this shit up!Alison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison CovielloAlison Coviello