ForumGarden

:-6

May 16-2005.



Dear Senator,

Teachers are prepared to work for less, just to ensure that the equality of service, equity of pay, and institutional integrity of their craft prevails.

Therefore, we are asking for the intervention of your office, to ensure that a new contract is obtained for New York City/State teachers. We have been without a working contract for over two years now.

We implore your intervention and influence, for expeditious collective bargaining arrangements towards this end.



Sincerely,

Derryck S. Griffith.

Manhattan. NYC.

Political Educator & Advocate.

http://profiles.yahoo.com/mimbari2003

Umm..thanks Derryk, but I'm not a Senator and I'm not prepared to work for less. I work in the poorest, lowest paid state of the Union, New Mexico.

I have three degrees, an Associates and a Bachelor's of Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor's of Education. I have 11 years of college classes, and 12 years of military training. In addition, I was a corporate manager for 5 years with 20,000 people under my command in my training division.

With all this training, education, and life experience, I am paid $35, 000 per year.

That is about what a manager for a McDonald's food store is paid.

( I love my job and i wouldn't change it, but I think it's a terrible shame that my family has to suffer for it.)

You don't see this as hit-and-run unsolicited bulk distribution then, anastrophe?

yeah, I agree, Spot. After all, how many New York teachers do we have at this forum?

spot wrote: You don't see this as hit-and-run unsolicited bulk distribution then, anastrophe?
nope, not yet. selling something == immediate ban and deletion of posts. these aren't selling something. time will tell whether it is a hit and run - it's only been thirty minutes since this was posted.



however, i just had a massive wave of deja vu about just this topic title. so i'm going to do a quick search...

anastrophe wrote: nope, not yet. selling something == immediate ban and deletion of posts. these aren't selling something. time will tell whether it is a hit and run - it's only been thirty minutes since this was posted.



however, i just had a massive wave of deja vu about just this topic title. so i'm going to do a quick search... OK:Here is what I found on the clown "Derryck S. Griffith"





http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0 ... 74&start=0

http://www.truthfulnews.com/phpBB2/post-3372.html

http://www.hardbeatnews.com/editor/RTE/ ... etters.asp

http://boards.biography.com/thread.jspa ... =600000589

http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/001189.html

http://my.opera.com/DerryckG/journal/



Oh did I mention he was a poet too?



Poems

By Derryck S. Griffith.

The Nectar Of Hell!

I was born & raised in the Nigga yard

Guyana, my homeland:

In this yard where I grew up

I experienced many things that I considered

Hellish!



I longed to leave this place of misery,

But could not afford it, did not have

the filthy lucca to make it possible,

nor the prospects to realize it!



My Hellish existence came to an end

in an un-expected manner,

I grabbed on to it

like a drowning man, in a desperate effort

to save himself from drowning!



When I came to America, I said that I am now free from

Hell.

But I was wrong, very wrong.

Today, I realize that I only traded

places with Hell, unknowingly!



Hell, to my mind is a personal perception.

It varies in perspective from individual to individual,

but is still Hell,

no matter what you call it!



This Hell in America is referred to

as babylon by many,

it contains many of the same trials & tribulations as

Hell in Guyana, but different.



This Hell is based on ones' ability to prove, compete,

identify, & always validate ones' identity,

in order to gain acceptance.



This can be a life-long exercise in futility,

& only a few realize it! But they continue

along this path anyway.



But alas! I must choose, everyone has a choice,

this is difficult at this time. After tasting

the nectar of this new Hell,

& liking it!



Therefore, I am inclined to choose the lesser

of the two Evils, & let destiny

determine the end result: (America).



Foreword: "I Come From The Nigga Yard" was a poem written by Martin Carter (A Guyanese Poet); it reminds me of my experiences here

in America, & which I am about to share with you.





I Want My Life Back!

Somewhere in the midst of everything

There is this realm

called my life.



But truly

I can't seem to find it,

Don't even glimpse it

Hidden among the rubble of demands,

Buried between the garbage of roles

I'm required to play.



But right now,

I need it,

I desperately need my life.



Has anyone seen it?

Has a life been turned into

the lost and found department?



Perhaps somebody

kidnapped it,

Ran off with it,

Holding out for ransom,

Mistaken my life

for that of a wealthy person!



Excuse me,

My life is singularly poor,

There are no wealthy relatives,

waiting to come to my rescue!



I am alone,

Do you hear me?

Give me back my life!



Maybe

a pickpocket snatched it

& upon discovering

it was useless,

Tossed it into the garbage.



Hello!

Life, where are you?

Do you hear me calling you?

Can you answer?

Has someone gagged you?



Life-Life!

Where are you?,

I need you.



Please somebody, please help me.

Point me in the direction,

Turn the spot-light

on my life.



I promise,

I'll never be so negligent again.

I'll guard my life with my soul.



Oh Did I mention he was also trolling here too: OOPS as he puts it "Cruising"



Member Name:derryck1950

Email: derryck1950@planetout.com

View My Picture

Name: Derryck Alternate Email: derryck1950@planetout.com

Age: 54 Gender: Male Orientation: Bisexual Location: Manhattan, New York Relationship Status: Friendship & Romance! Occupation: Self-employed Homepage Address: www.virtualtourist.com/m/5a51c/ A little about me: Hello!



I am looking for Bottoms or Versatile Brothas who are confident with their sexuality for Good Sex! I am A TOP (ONLY): I am attracted to Good-looking: Muscular-Athletic: Slim or Average build brothas. Between the ages of 18 to 35 years of age.



I do not smoke cigarettes or reefer: Nor do any re-creational drugs. I do not have a drug or alcohol history either: I like brothas who are clean in Body/Hygine: Healthy Teeth & Personal Demeanor: Some intellect and a good sense of humour and no sissy attitude:



Relationship material or **** Buddy appreciated: Height-Ethnicity or religious beliefs does not matter to me. If you do not fit this profile: Don't bother to mail or engage me in conversation: I have no time to waste:

Peace!

Derryck.

Manhattan.

New York City.

Yahoo IM: derryck1950



I'm looking for: Cruising My favorite movie is: No special one!

Send Email To derryck1950

Get another chat profile.



This was found here:

http://www.planetout.com/msgbrd/read.ht ... &id=266095



I Rest My Case..............

did he post any of that here? no?

i may turn out to be wrong about the guy, and he was a hit and run. but so far he's posted nothing *here* that violates our TOS, even remotely.

For as long as employment has existed, public sector employees have always been screwed by governments and employers...............

I’ve been one of those poor public employees most of my working years. I don’t think it’s right to pay public employees so little that our families suffer but I think we should be paid less than our private counterparts. Serving the public is a high calling and it shouldn’t be answered on the basis of pay. The lower pay weeds out the money grubbers and helps ensure that the public servant is dedicated to public service.

Clint wrote: I’ve been one of those poor public employees most of my working years. I don’t think it’s right to pay public employees so little that our families suffer but I think we should be paid less than our private counterparts.


Why is that Clint? I'm as qualified as any counterpart in the corporate sector, as a matter of fact, I came from there.

Serving the public is a high calling and it shouldn’t be answered on the basis of pay.


So what are we, priests? personally, considering the magnitude of the job and it's inestimable effect on society, we should be paid like Baseball players.

The lower pay weeds out the money grubbers and helps ensure that the public servant is dedicated to public service.


Look, Clint, just because someone wants to be paid what their worth doesn't make them money-grubbers. Other professionals make way more than teachers. Why shouldn't teachers make as much as similarly educated citizens in society? With my education, I should be making as much as a doctor.

Here's a fact, there are very few male teachers in school now, despite the fact that the need for male role models is at an all time high. Why? Because males cannot make a wage that can sustain a family at teaching. Low pay is not attracting better teachers, it's costing us them every day.

Worse yet the attrition rate is incredible, the average length of a teaching career right now is two year. TWO YEARS!!! Why? Because people find they just can't llive below the poverty level when their education could place them in the upper middle class. They are quitting in droves.

Jives wrote: Why is that Clint? I'm as qualified as any counterpart in the corporate sector, as a matter of fact, I came from there.



So what are we, priests? personally, considering the magnitude of the job and it's inestimable effect on society, we should be paid like Baseball players.



Look, Clint, just because someone wants to be paid what their worth doesn't make them money-grubbers. Other professionals make way more than teachers. Why shouldn't teachers make as much as similarly educated citizens in society? With my education, I should be making as much as a doctor.

Here's a fact, there are very few male teachers in school now, despite the fact that the need for male role models is at an all time high. Why? Because males cannot make a wage that can sustain a family at teaching. Low pay is not attracting better teachers, it's costing us them every day.

Worse yet the attrition rate is incredible, the average length of a teaching career right now is two year. TWO YEARS!!! Why? Because people find they just can't llive below the poverty level when their education could place them in the upper middle class. They are quitting in droves.
Please read what I wrote carefully. I never said we should be paid poorly. I just said less. I could live well on a little less than what my private sector counterpart makes. If someone is a money grubber they should grub for it in the private sector so the public servant’s motives aren’t questioned more than they already are.

Jives wrote: Worse yet the attrition rate is incredible, the average length of a teaching career right now is two year. TWO YEARS!!! Why? Because people find they just can't llive below the poverty level when their education could place them in the upper middle class. They are quitting in droves.
I’m not a teacher for a very good reason. I don’t want to be a murderer. Isn’t it possible that the deterioration of the family and breakdown of decorum is at least partly to blame for the high rate of attrition? True, a teacher looks at what they have to put up with and when they realize they could make more with a lot fewer headaches they make the move. How many would make the move even if it meant a drop in pay, if they were already well paid? As it is, a drop in pay isn’t what most face when they leave, so how do you know pay is a leading factor? Many studies have been done that have determined the number one reason people do what they do, is job satisfaction. If the job wasn’t so stressful and people were still leaving, pay would be the reason without a doubt.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not advocating for low teacher pay.

Clint wrote: I’m not a teacher for a very good reason. I don’t want to be a murderer.


LOL. yeah, patience is the key quality needed to be a teacher. I've lost a couple of good friends who freaked out and choked a kid. Instant termination. One principal of mine once said, "If there's something a kid can say to you that will make you lose your cool, you shouldn't be a teacher."

Isn’t it possible that the deterioration of the family and breakdown of decorum is at least partly to blame for the high rate of attrition?


Big time, read this:

Students’ rudeness, lack of respect prevent learning

By The Associated Press

May 16, 2005, 09:42 pm



Email*this*article

*Printer*friendly*page

ALBUQUERQUE ” Guns and drugs bring stiff penalties for students, but educators say rudeness and a lack of respect are what disrupt learning most school days.

If you haven’t been in a classroom lately, you might be shocked to see how many kids are talking among themselves, goofing off, sleeping or text messaging on cell phones.

“Fifteen minutes of every single class is spent disciplining,” said Kim DeLeo, an English teacher for the past year at Rio Rancho High School. “If you’ve got four classes a day, that’s an hour wasted.”

In Albuquerque Public Schools ” the state’s largest school district ” guns, fights and drugs carry tough penalties. Students must attend an off-campus disciplinary hearing that often brings long-term suspension or expulsion.

But day in and day out, the lack of respect and rudeness in classrooms do more than the serious offenses to prevent learning, said Toby Herrera, director of the Student, School & Community Service Center for the Albuquerque district.

Schools usually try to handle disruptive behavior with an in-school discipline program that includes time outs, detention and short-term suspensions.

In spite of such discipline, some students are eventually suspended. Last year, the Albuquerque district reported 3,142 incidents of disrespectful behavior that resulted in suspensions. The behavior included disruptive conduct, defiance of teachers or administrators and use of profane or abusive language.

That was more than the incidents involving fighting, bullying, drug possession, weapons and gang activity put together, school records show.

Tim Thomassen, a hearing officer for the Albuquerque district, said the increase in disrespect is caused by a combination of factors.

“Socioeconomics is clearly a factor in growing disrespect,” he said. “But it’s not the only factor. There’s also the administration and family support. If they’re not strong, respect disappears. Then, some kids are dealing with heavy-duty issues, mental or physical problems, that we never used to see in the past.”

Herrera also sees a more basic cause: a lack of manners.

Parents are not teaching their children basic etiquette and kids aren’t learning good manners on television either, he said.

“Kids talk in class because kids on TV talk in class and don’t do their work,” he said.

At Truman Middle School in Albuquerque, administrators are trying to put a stop to rude behavior.

The first line of defense is a strict dress code: black, white or khaki only. The dress code is essential in a neighborhood where gangs are strong and gang signs can be a part of clothing.

The school also has an in-school suspension program that’s called Academic Alternative Address ” or Triple A.

Students in Triple A eat together in a separate room, wear orange mesh vests and are escorted everywhere.

The school’s principal Judith Martin-Tafoya also rewards good behavior. She hands out purple Tiger Bucks worth $1 off food from the school snack bar.

“I’ve instituted a consistent discipline plan. Students know what to expect, they have more pride,” she said.



True, a teacher looks at what they have to put up with and when they realize they could make more with a lot fewer headaches they make the move. How many would make the move even if it meant a drop in pay, if they were already well paid? As it is, a drop in pay isn’t what most face when they leave, so how do you know pay is a leading factor? Many studies have been done that have determined the number one reason people do what they do, is job satisfaction. If the job wasn’t so stressful and people were still leaving, pay would be the reason without a doubt.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not advocating for low teacher pay.


Don't worry, I get it. I'd just like to be able to buy my family what they want. I'll do the job for free personally.