uptowngirl
uptowngirl

New York City teacher troubles

DBlack recently had a post about the quality of teachers and tenure. Well, NYC teachers now seem to be stirring the pot.

while One took his class on a field trip to Cuba-( didnt the parents of the kids know better? this is the UWS in NYC not some hick town in the Mid-west where people dont care about world affairs)
http://dnainfo.com/20100720/upper-west-side/teacher-took-upper-west-side-high-school-students-cuba-report-says

Another showed extremely poor judgment on a school field trip which resulted in a calamity
http://dnainfo.com/20100714/central-harlem/nicole-suriels-death-result-of-poor-judgement-by-harlem-school

yet another teacher is in the news for a 2008 case where she expressed feelings for her 15 year old student, she was given a 90 day suspension for the crime but the city is now seeking a harsher punishment.
http://gothamist.com/2008/06/04/lawyer_for_hotf.php
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
As for the teacher who expressed feelings, if that teacher did not touch the student, why did the school suspend her. I could see if she was having sexual relations with the student. But if nothing happened why such a harsh punishment.
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ajadedidealist
ajadedidealist 2yrs+
Agreed, @hhusted! I think a 90 day suspension seems fair if nothing happened...
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Wait, so why is it wrong to take kids to experience Cuba? You don't have to agree with Castro to see the merits of exposing near-adults to a completely different way of seeing the world and to the effects of Castro's regime.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish US citizens are not freely allowed to travel to Cuba at least not school-going kids hence the crime..
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted and @ajadedidealist I guess they thought it was immoral to express such thoughts.. she being a teacher et al
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
@Everybody That law about US citizens traveling to Cuba belongs to the era of the Cold War and is ridiculous nowadays. Who cares if a US citizen goes to Cuba? They obviously won't lift the law because they're so annoyed that Castro won't just let go and die already. Not that I'd break the law by bringing schoolchildren there myself, but we might as all admit some laws are just stupid politics.
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DBlack
DBlack 2yrs+
@hhusted The teacher abused her power of authority, especially in relation to someone who is underage. She's supposed to protect the kids she teaches, not try to come on to them!
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Everybody: Ever since Fidel Castro resigned and his son, Raúl Castro took over, Cuba has seen a lot of improvements in freedoms, employment, and economy. Cubans no longer are restricted as they once were. But I guess despite these changes, the question remains, is the law regarding U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba still in force?
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@DBlack well said on both counts.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted I think it's still in place but you could check the State Departments travel website for more information,
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hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Uptowngirl: Yeah, I think I will. Is that the State Department for Cuba? Here is a link to such information:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html#entry_requirements

Looks like Cuba has strict requirements just to visit there.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted I meant the US state department but you seem to have got it right,.. it sure has a laundry list of rules for Cuba..
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
I have a German friend whose teenage daughter went to Cuba for a month and it was a great experience for her. I think even the parents would have wished they could spend the month in Cuba but since that was not possible they made the opportunity possible for their daughter. Kids should see more than their own neighborhood.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish I totally agree with you..travel is my absolute passion and I do think it opens your mind to so many new experiences. If I could afford it I would travel all year long though in this case perhaps the teacher should have obtained the necessary permits for travel to Cuba
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
I do have to agree that the US restriction on travel there is pretty lame. Seriously, what harm can it do for US citizens to travel there.
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish You can actually get permits to travel to Cuba for educational purposes - I actually had a college professor who took a gaggle of students to Cuba every year, legally. The travel restrictions are not designed to protect the American traveler, but rather to stick a knife in the communist government.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@NeverSleeps So, no US tourist money for Cuba? OKay, all that means is they're not tempted to build high rise hotels and casinos on their beaches like they do in the Bahamas. Maybe a better thing in the long run.
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