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David Pakter Teacher Trial
Ohanian Comment: David Pakter may be the best known resident of New York City's infamous Rubber Room. I've followed his case on Norm Scott's Education Notes.
It is an extraordinary story. The media like to describe the Rubber Room as evidence that it's really hard to get rid of "unfit" teachers. As Norm observes, not one word has ever been uttered negatively about David Pakter's teaching.
Pakter wrote about the "teacher disappeared" policy in New York, noting:
Can anyone be surprised that so many more teachers are being "disappeared" at a time when the person appointed to be the Chancellor of the School System is a former Federal Prosecutor whose job was to- surprise of surprises-"prosecute" people.
Why are school officials trying to terminate Pakter? Read on. It is crazier than "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and I hope Pakter sells movie rights.
You can read about Pakter here.
You can also read a slimy New Yorkerpiece by lawyer Stephen Brill about the Rubber Room here. He didn't bother to talk to Pakter.
And here is Pakter, talking to Financial Times magazine.
Below Pakter talks about his upcoming May 10 Department of Education hearing.
by David Pakter
Re: David Pakter Teacher Trial
________________________________
It is well after 3 o'clock in the morning and just when I thought I could call it a day or a night, I decided to check the blogs of the good people I know who have followed my battles with the NYC DOE for literally years.
Not surprisingly all those good people showed up at my Hearing today, en masse, at 49 Chambers Street. How can anyone miss a trial where one of the charges is that the accused brought a plant to his school without Official Permission from the DOE.
Norm got the story correct up to a point but what appeared to be a non-Hearing in the room was anything but, behind closed doors throughout the morning. The old analogy-- still waters run deep.
For the courageous few who returned after the late Lunch break and stayed till the end, they had an opportunity to witness where the case is going and even got a preview of what is going to happen at the next two Hearings on May 10 and 11.
What visitors did not get to see today, because of all the behind the scenes activity, I can virtually guarantee those visitors will get to see in double spades on May 10 when the DOE spends the entire day Cross-Examining me.
To say it will be a lively Hearing on May 10 and 11 would be an understatement. So much so that for anyone who felt they were cheated today due to all the closed door meetings that took place I make this solemn pledge.
If you attended today, I will treat you a swell Lunch at the place we accused Teachers (and even DOE General Counsel Michael Best) like to frequent for their great Italian cuisine just around the corner from 49 Chambers Street.
So, once again I thank all those wonderful folks Norm mentioned in his great story who attended today's Hearing- and be well advised that May 10 and 11 are going to be better than most Broadway plays.
Be there so I do not have go searching for you all over Gotham to deliver that Italian Lunch promised above for those who felt shortchanged at today's Hearing.
And dwell on the positive and consider how all you great people, Norm mentioned, whose beat is the NYC Education scene enjoyed some wonderful comeraderie at today's Pakter Hearing, chewing the fat and arguing about where the heck the whole world of Education in Gotham is going.
See you all on May 10 and 11 and don't forget your seat belts because those two days should produce some noteworthy Testimony and verbal sparring. Those who stayed till the end today know why but they are Sworn not to spoil things for anyone who could not.
3:46 AM, April 07, 2010
— David Pakter
Ed Notes
2010-04-08
http://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/2010/04/seniority-and-pakter-non-hearing.html
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
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