Filmmakers offer an inside look at NYC's 'rubber rooms'

New York Post ^ | March 21, 2010 | YOAV GONEN and BRAD HAMILTON

[NotSoModerate]

Lights, cameras -- inaction!

Two documentary filmmakers have infiltrated New York City's infamous "rubber rooms" -- the eight disciplinary dens around the city where educators accused of wrongdoing while away months, or even years, at full pay -- to reveal teachers snoozing at their desks, holding jam sessions, playing board games, and breaking into fights.

These educators in limbo -- some still raking in six figures a year -- show up from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a "work" day that, in some cases, consists of holding book-club meetings and prayer sessions, repeatedly karate-kicking a file cabinet, or forming a musical duo complete with keyboards and vocals, according to the makers of "The Rubber Room," screening next month.

snip

Notable rubber-room residents:

Alan Rosenfeld: Typing teacher, IS 347, Queens

Salary: $100,049

Got a wrist-slap for lewd comments to teen girls, telling one, "You have a sexy body." In since 2001, he lazes away the days overseeing a $7.8 million real-estate portfolio and a law practice.

***

Radharaman Upadhyaya: Guidance counselor, Long Island City HS, Queens

Salary: $102,852

Served a three-day suspension after he was accused of fondling a learning-disabled student at his home. The witness was found not to be credible. He has been twiddling his thumbs in the rubber room since 2003.

***

Francisco Olivares: Math teacher, IS 61, Queens

Salary: $94,145

Allegedly impregnated and married a 16-year-old student he met when she was 13. He allegedly molested two 12-year-olds a decade later. In a rubber room since 2003.

***

David Pakter: Medical illustrator, HS for Art and Design

Salary: $100,049

Named "Teacher of the Year" by Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In 2006, he was charged with insubordination and sexual misconduct.

***

Deborah Mortley: Gym teacher, Life Academy HS for Film & Music, Brooklyn

[RightOnline]

Words fail.

[Zack Nguyen]

I don’t understand. Why are they sent there and what are they doing? Is it just some office owned by the city where they go while their case is adjudicated?

[Zack Nguyen]

Okay, I get it now. The article is pretty clear. I knew there was some union shenanigans in this somehwere. Lo, I was right.

How about this gem?

"We have constant fights," another says. "Yesterday, three fights broke out."

Sounds a lot like the school these teachers came from.

[NotSoModerate]

Yep. They spent $40 million last year paying these “teachers” to fight, sing, run other businesses, take online classes, and sleep. Unbelievable!

[Lockbar]

O-Hole’s AmeriKa.

[Ann Archy]

OMG!!!!!

[Leisler]

Obama will have one for union care staff under Obamantion.

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

I can see that perhaps the union leaves no other choice than to allow the “teacher” to spend the day in this room. But just as a classroom teacher is not allowed to carry on other business from the classroom, cannot they regulate what these guys are allowed to do in the room. They were hired to teach. Make them spend the day in the room “teaching” even it is teaching to a blank wall. Set up mannequins and make them teach to the mannequins. Make them do all the ridiculous paperwork on the mannequins as if they were real students, and require lesson plans, etc. Send in evaluators or just have observation cameras rolling all day to observe just as if they were in the real classroom and write them up if the lessons are not up to par. In other words, even if they have to be sans-students, make them teach all day anyway.

Just can’t understand why they allow them to get away with a cushy existence.