Yeah, agreed. I think the mother sounds a tad too accommodating of other issues, probably that her husband couldn't find employment where they were --- otherwise why move the family to Brooklyn based upon some idea that there'd be work there for the father.
Seems as if the family has other issues but it still doesn't make it acceptable what the children experienced in the schools there after their move. Nor how the school refused to deal with the problem...which is why the problem exists.
I don't blame the problem largely on the school, although I am all to eager to find fault with any heavily unionized activity like the Mass Teachers Association.
I blame it more on the kids families, or lack or lack of home discipline thereof. How is a school supposed to raise these kids who are sent to them flawed from the start?
But I see your point. They share blame; their system bites by all accounts.