Thursday, December 13, 2007
Public Square: Teacher Refuses to Teach Until She Gets Apology
Posted by Pete Kotz on Thu, Dec 13, 2007 at 1:12 PM
Comments (13)
Showing 1-13 of 13
As I read this article I am quite distrubed that the Scene would simply publish an editoral and an article about a teacher without any evidence to back up an allegation. Instead you would prefer to print a commentary by a disgruntuled grandparent of a child who had gotten in trouble for talking back to a teacher. The previous so called "Fired" teacher was never fired, she didn't get her contract renewed for lack of creditable hours for certification and secondly you would go on to defimate the reputation of a teacher who comes in at 6:30 in the morning to plan her lessons and to tutor students on her own time. She has helped kids who were failing to believe in themselves, to try and succeed and to achieve. Yes, Mrs. Tekien may be a first year teacher, a novice one at that, but she has taught a group of students who have come out of the Cleveland Schools that may have been kicked out or other school districts where these kids have had trouble, the kids repeatedly disrespected her and assistant, she and her assistant have been swore at, had things thrown at them, have their materials stolen and thrown out the windows, kids who repeatedly hit each other, fool around, walk out of the room, and roaming the hall. These kids to not follow directives and constantly interupt the teaching of their fellow peers. Students frequently deface property, write on walls, desk, tables, clog up toilets on a daily basis and write gang graffitti on the wall. Most of these kids appear to be street wise with no respect for authority or themselves. Thy mock their teachers and their peers and make fun of kids who are special needs. When staff write referrals for inappropriate behavior, your right Grandma,the management won't do anything about it and they prefer to look the other way and not act on a referral tnat most staff person write and they do not expell their students. Why? Well, that's only is about a $8,000 per child out of their pocket. Remember White Hat is a for-profit-school. Money doesn't go back into the schools for the benefit of the school or the staff. Teachers are made to teach in an environment that is hostile, teachers are being threatened, teachers get hurt because they step into a fight to stop kids from hurting each other. Not enought libarary books for the children's accelarated reader program,no library at all all this while Mr. Brennan makes about 108 million a year and prefers to give his money as donations to various parochial schools throughout Greater Cleveland and Akron. I personally have seen Mrs. Tekien be swore at by students and manegment looks the other way. Students at Hope Academy are not taught consequences as they are few and far in between. The ones in charge are the kids in the classroom that continue to distrupt the learning process while management looks the other way and simply blames it on the staff.
like
dislike
The only thing that David Brennan can buy is a bad reputation for himself and all of WHM. Anyone who work for their schools, need to get out and I am one of those who is searching for a new job. There are many good teachers at Hope Academy who put up with a lot of stuff. They are dedicated staff who put up with alot of crap that the management dish out with no support to their staff. All you hear is raise OAT scores and you'll get a bonus!!! Yeah, right! How do you raise scores when you can't teach kids who don't want to be taught? The environment is hositile~
Prefers to unamed as I am an employee of WHM: I am thoroughly amused - why is Ms. T's name being mentioned? She is not the only 8th grade teacher at Hope, guilty conscience maybe? IF she is so fabulous why was she seen leaving the building in tears after she was reprimanded for another incident? There is still no viable explanation as to why the teacher mentioned in the original article acted like a "spoiled brat." Amazingly since wind of the original article the teacher mentioned has become quite a role model, coincidence? I don't think so! Furthermore the finger pointing that has gone on at HOPE since this article appeared is ridiculous. It was the manner in which the original incident was handled that caused me to write. This behavior at HOPE w/ "some" of the teachers has been going on for way too long. "We don't want negative feedback" has been going around HOPE like the flu. HOPE can make up any excuse they want about the teachers they discarded, SCENE can contact those teachers and I really don't think Hope wants that! WAKE UP MANAGEMENT!!
Grandma, I think you need to read the the other article that was written in reference to your editorial. I have pasted it here. You are right Management has a big problem in the manner in which they take care of things. There is no accountability and a lot of rumors flying. Ms. T was obviously distressed with what was written in the Scene because management did't do their job in the first place and address the issue like you stated previously. We have to think about what is best for the kids first, then the staff. Management only worries about themselves.White Hat Madness When the time came for Chariste Roberson to send her granddaughter off to middle school, one thing was clear: "I'd rather lock her in the house than send her to Shuler," she says of the West Side public school. Without the money to cover Catholic school, Roberson was left with one option — Hope Academy West, a for-profit charter school run by the Arby's of Education, White Hat Management. (Motto: Like Them Madrassahs They Got in Pakistan, Only With Shareholder Dividends!) At first, Roberson was pleased with the crisp uniforms, tiny classes, attentive teachers, and absence of small-arms fire. Her granddaughter became student-council president. But as most parents of White Hat students discover, quality is a fleeting thing. "I've watched that school plummet and just kept my mouth shut," Roberson says. "They didn't even have gym classes until this year." Then her granddaughter started coming home in tears. She complained that teacher Catherine Tekien spent more time scolding kids than teaching. When the girl couldn't understand a math lesson, Tekien would simply reply, "Why don't you and your mama teach the math class then?" Roberson says. And when her daughter contacted the teacher, hoping to clear the air, Tekien responded by refusing to teach the entire class until she received formal apologies. Tekien admits "I'm a first-year teacher," but intimates the trials of White Hat aren't restricted to suffering students. "Just today, I had a student call me a fucking bitch. When I threatened to write him up, he told me it didn't matter. I teach a bunch of liars." No, Catherine, you're teaching on the New Frontier of Education, Ohio-style.
"A current employee of WHM says: ...All you hear is raise OAT scores and you'll get a bonus!!! Yeah, right! How do you raise scores when you can't teach kids who don't want to be taught? The environment is hositile~" Yes, this is exactly the case at PDELA when I left....the kids enrolled there just don't want to be taught at any school. The shame is that White Hat Management and David Brennan just keep collecting PA taxpayer's money.
To Unnamed employee - Before you can even begin to comment, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!! You have made quotes on statements that were never made by me. I have no problem in discussing this one on one, I'm not ashamed to make my name known.
ok...I have sat here patiently reading the comments, and I would like to say a couple of things!I had 3 children who went to Hope, 1 of which has entered highschool, the other 2, 1 if which is a 1st grader, the other in the famous,Ms.Tieken class!My 1st graders teacher is a true blessing and when my 1st grader acts out in class her teacher calls me to let me know because she knows I will handle the situation and I want to work w/her as her teaching is educating my daughter.My 8th grader has a mouth on her there is no doubt,and I in no way shape or form accept her disrespect to her teacher or any adult and numerouse times I have commented on what i have seen w/ my own eyes on the craziness of the 8th grade class,I have spoke w/ both Principle and assistant Princple in reference to the behavior and disrespect that goes on in that class, on several times I was told the situation would be dealt w/.My daughter has come in tears, about the things that has came out of Ms.Tiekens mouth.Her job is to teach, not love my daughter, not buy her christmas presents!If Ms.Tieken would not have made the comments she made none of this would be going on! I have given ms.tieken every chance to contatct me if a problem arose w/ my daughter, my 1st instinct when I observed her teaching was that although she might be extremly gifted w/ her teaching skills in math, she is intimidated by the youth in her classroom.I have always taught my children in order to recieve respect you must give it!Unfortunatley Ms.Tieken choose to have the problems she has when she told me in a phone conversation I think her exact words were"I am at work and don't have time for this"! I am wondering Ms.Tieken do u have time now????It is ashame that all this confusion is here and the sad thing is , that the ones that will be hurt are the children that attend Hope academy west!I used to brag about the school my daughters attend and the only good thing I can say atthis point about the school is that at least my 1st grader has a teacher who truly cares about her education! Please understand my purpose for this responce is not to cause any problems for anyone, but hopefully to open the eyes of the 8th graders in this class and pray that more parents become involved w/ the things going on in that classroom!I am sure teaching teenagers is not the easiest job in the world,Lord knows I could never do it.But the fact is that is the job Ms.Tieken chose to do,so instead of telling students about their "mammas" maybe she can do what she is paid to!
It's really sad to read that all of you have stepped this low to get your points accross by throwing your dirty laundry out in public.
I came accross this web page researching for Accelarated Reader Program. I have no idea where's the connection.
If the teacher is so bad, how come you still have your kids in that class in that school?... It seems you have no other choice, because if you did, you wouldn't have your kids at that school. Come on! There dozens of school all across Cleveland. Yet, you choose to have your kids at the same school /class with the same teacher your talking so bad about. Something must be wrong. As a parent, Iwouldn't think it twice to withdraw my student from such a class / school.
Sorry, for all of the above mispellings... Here's an updated version...
It's really sad to read that all of you have stooped / stepped this low to get your points across by throwing your dirty laundry out in public and ridiculing yourselves.
I came across this web page doing some research on Accelerated Reader Program. I have no idea where's the connection that it listed this web site.
Anyway, being that I read all the comments. I have a question for the grandmother and mother:
If the teacher is so bad, how come you still send your kids to that particular school?
It seems to me (which I may be wrong) you have no other choice. If you did, you wouldn't have your kids at that school with that horrible teacher (as you say). Come on! There are dozens of school in the city of Cleveland. Yet, you choose to send your kids to Hope Academy. Why? For sure, something must be wrong.
As a parent, I wouldn’t think it twice to withdraw my student from such a class / school.
Take this message from an outsider who doesn’t know who you are. Next time resolve your problems outside of the public spectrum. It looks bad for both ends.
i wonder who is going to be the responsible Party and explain to the above parent, and grandparent that their suspcions about Mrs.Tieken were rite on the dollar...She was let go today due to drinking on the Job! who is going to apologize for not checking into these peoples worse fears about the woman who taught their children.I wonder how much the teacher who decided to ridicule Mrs.Roberson and her daughter feels now? My child thank heavens does'nt attend Hope Academy, but I have family members who do,and I think its a crying shame that when the principle was told that the suspected Mrs.Tieken to of either been a alchoholic or on drugs, no investigating was done!That is the woman who has been teaching that poor 8th grade class! You know who I realy feel sorry for!!! THOSE CHILDREN IN HER CLASS ROOM!WHAT DID SHE SHOW THEM??HOW TO BE A UNDERCOVER DRUNK??? WHAT DOES WHITE HAT MANAGEMENT HAVE TO SAY NOW??AND WHAT DOES THE PRINCIPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT HER TEACHER THAT SHE WAS JUST SO PROUD OF??????????????
All I have to say is the person who wrote the Feb. 26th article - - guess we don't have to worry about taking those children out of her classroom now, do we? And IF White Hat Management would LISTEN, we wouldn't have to air our laundry for all to read now would we? Personnel who abuse alcohol, use drugs and there are still some in the school.....
Well, well this doesn't print a pretty picture does it? The problem you see is that the system stinks. I worked at Hope Academy West and I kept tell management that there was something going on with this women and NOONE LISTENED!!!! So what do you do? I walked out the door never to return. Like one stated before MANANGEMENT doesn't care, it's all about money!!!
Top Commenters
