Fenger Blog Is Still Online

This morning's Tribune includes a fascinating little story (Teacher's biting blog stirs storm) about how a Fenger teacher's angry blog (Fast Times at Regnef High) may have led to the teachers' departure from the school -- and a renewed awareness about the problems Fenger faces.

One thing, however:  the story (by Tracy Dell'Angela) states that the blog was taken down after it was discovered, but that was apparently not permanent.  Click here to see what Regnef had to say, or click below if the links stop working. (Just so you know, I'm told this may be a repost of the original blog, not the original itself.)

It's angry and inappropriate stuff, to be sure, but also a real-world look into a troubled urban school like relatively few have experienced for more than a day or two.  I say, read for yourself, think for yourself -- and tell Regnef I want to interview him about what happened.

Crying Wolf

Aptly titled, it's what we do best here at Regnef.In a literal sense, this could be verified via the 5 false fire alarms this week alone. 2 on Friday March 31, 2 on Thursday March 30, and 1 earlier in the week. Nothing like 30 minute breaks in the courtyard to negate the rare actual 5 day work week! (well, almost a full week - Friday was a 1/2 day).

You see at Regnef, every Monday is a holiday/day off - whether Pulaski Day, Martin L. King Day, President's Day, Lincoln's birthday, Columbus Day...the list goes on and on. Ironically, I doubt that any of those we "honor" if given the option, would elect to close schools. These men were big on education. They would be the type to say "have school on Saturday to honor me". But nope - at Regnef we close the doors, and the students don't know a lick about MLK or Lincoln, DEFINITELY not a thing about Pulaski, and can't name all the presidents, let alone honor them.

Naturally, this just MIGHT be the reason that students don't ever beleive they're actually in school. With so many 3 day weekends, 4 days of school doesn't seem like much to put forth effort toward. This is, of course, not counting the fact that Regnef has record low attendance on Fridays and Mondays due to "student imposed" holidays; that is, they just don't feel like coming to school.

Let me get back on track: crying wolf; the 5 false fire alarms in 1 week. Note, there were several in the previous 2 weeks as well. I'd guesstimate about a dozen or so this year alone. Not sure how much that costs the school in terms of fines, but one thing it definitely earns is the scorn of firefighters. Can you blame them?I mentioned the gathering in the courtyard during alarms. This is apparantly a new security procedure - since there have been several violent incidents this week in which they evacuated via standard routes and the usual street mob gathering ended up in an ambulance being called.

As yes, I love the courtyard. I somehow doubt that evacuating 1,200 students from the building via only 3 exits to the courtyard would be the most timely way to save lives if there were a real fire, but it's the new standard. Highlights today included students smoking weed while leaning against the assistant principal's vehicle and local neighborhood gangbangers jumping the fence to get into the courtyard.

Additionally, a new "trouble shooter" has been called upon to assist Regnef. The gentleman won't really say what his position is, and has no title. When asked, he said "I do whatever the principal needs". He usually walks the halls with a walkie-talkie, but you have to wonder if it's a front and he's really reporting back about the teachers. All good surveillance needs better counter surveillance. Then again, maybe he really is here to help. Time will tell. A formal introduction to the staff might be a more professional angle to take, instead of just showing up and walking the halls.

More smoke and mirrors: Regnef has a new group of tough-talking security guards in suits that mostly intimidate and bluff the students with empty threats. Nothing like calling in the cavalry in the 26th week of school to make sure the place runs as it should.

How about those security cameras? They rock. The amount of fellatio performed and drugs sold in the stairwells continues to grow, since there are no cameras there and security sure won't walk the stairs. Walking/rotating patrols are not a standard security procedure here at Regnef. Instead, our guards like to sit on desks or chairs and chat on their cell phones. Their behavioral patterns are predictable and known by students; when they take lunch, when they sleep, and which guards will let you do whatever you want. Additionally, because they do not rotate, guards become friendly with students. The students give false respect in return for the favor of walking the halls, selling snacks and cd's, and treating teachers in whatever fashion they deem appropriate. (usually the same way an interrogator may treat a hostage at Gitmo or Abu-Ghraib). The guards are neighborhood locals who may be friends of the students' families, church members, or dating a relative. The loyalty is to the hood, not the school. The administration at Regnef need to understand and change this.

Then again, "you get what you pay for". That was the explanation offered up by Regnef's principal in response to some teacher's laptop being stolen from a locked classroom. This guy's was the 6th of the year -all from locked classrooms. That students were recorded on camera either picking a lock or using a key for entry (believe me, they're not skilled enough to pick a lock because that skill acquisition actually requires discipline, patience, and practice). This means they have keys. Wonder who they get those from? Could it be the teachers who regularly have the students selling candy bought at wholesale for "fundraisers"? True, a rare few fundraisers are legitimate efforts at raising money for teams that are denied the basic finances to buy needed equipment. The shame is that teachers have no real knowledge as how to fundraise or win grants properly. Most times, however, there is simply an arrangement that the student will share 1/2 the profit with the supplier (teache r with a Costco card). There are teachers in schools with an army of student "salespeople" working for them who make literally thousands of dollars yearly on these ventures. How embarassing.

Back to theft at Regnef: kids with keys, security and administration with no accountability. Apparantly it was a teacher's fault last week when a borrowed LCD projector was stolen from a locked classroom. This teacher was informed of his tremendous faults, while volunteering at the school on a Sat. morning, by the principal. (This poor sap is one of those who had a laptop stolen and was told that the solution was to claim it on homeowner's insurance because the school wasn't responsible). Granted, it was passed from colleage to colleague (the library where it was checked out and to be returned to is notoriously closed or unattended) and that ain't right. But later, the LCD was mysteriously "returned". Turns out that one of the coaches, who in some abstract way feigns security guard status, errand runner for the "discipline office" (or just hangs out in there) had "borrowed" the projector from a locked classroom to watch game film with it. The reamed-out teacher is still waiting for that admission or a quasi-apology of sorts from the principal, but it won't come. And what exactly does that coach do at Regnef anyway? (besides re-locate expensive equipment without telling anyone.) No one really knows. In fact, does anyone know if any of the disciplinarians or security "experts" indeed HAVE any expertise or training? The head of discipline was a band teacher for over 20 years, until this year when appointed to head of the discipline office. That expertise must have been gained overnight or in some super-seminar. Perhaps this very well-paid official can teach Regnef's criminals how to play the trumpet, because consequences sure aren't being taught.

On the security note: When the A.P. was asked today "why can't cell phones, hats, hoodies, and music players be confiscated on the way in the door when bags are scanned and students go through the metal detectors, for later retreival by parents?", the answer was: "we're doing what we can to get to June 16, those are things that maybe we'll consider for next year." Nevermind that this is a policy that can be implemented in a matter of days. Nevermind that it would likely greatly reduce these problems:- students texting or calling one another to schedule fights, fellatio, drug deals, or notifying one another as to the location of security personnel so they can be avoided.- students calling outsiders during false alarms who deliver weapons to the school - like the gun earlier this week.- students ignoring staff because they are listening to their music players- the sale of illegally copied cd's by students (and staff)- students calling their friends and baby-daddies during class.

These are things staff must deal with in the halls of Regnef everyday. But instead, the administrative priority is to station staff in front of fire alarm boxes so they can't be pulled. Don't mind the fights occuring in the now-unattended classrooms, the textbooks, chalk, erasers, and people being thrown out of windows, the vandalism, or the theft of teacher items. A band-aid is better than a cure; that's the attidude at Regnef.

I wonder if secretly there is no confidence that security can handle a task as simple as contraband confiscation? Or a fear that security may in fact steal the items? Or are they so worried that this may generate media attention from inconvenienced parents who have to retreive their little darling's electronics and gang-banging hoodie and hat of choice, or may attempt to hold the school liable via bogus lawsuit threats for lost or stolen items? The fact is, Regnef has no idea as to its legal procedural rights. Confiscation of contraband is one of them.

And why institute a standard blue/white dress code? I mean, it's so much more fun to decipher which gang is being represented by appropriately chosen colors, teams, symbols, etc. Amazing - 83% of the school gets government paid free or reduced (about 40 cents) breakfast/lunch, but 83% of the students at Regnef can also somehow afford $100 NBA jerseys, several pairs of gym shoes, and some really hideous fake-fur pimp-coats that look to be constructed of road kill. And there's nothing more appealing than the young ladies who wear their full pregnant bellies with pride, tiny half t-shirts proudly displaying that sexy newly attained protrusive belly button and mammaries, and the new "ink of the week". Lots of student names being tattooed on backs, necks, arms, and wrists. In case they forget who they are. And "Fuck the Ville!" "Dirty 130's run this bitch!" "GDN!" (Gangster Disciples Nation, for those less in-tuned to the local gang acronyms) At least, that's what the airbrus hed t-shirts that are allowed in Regnef say! That is, the ones that don't have pictures of handguns or serve as cotton tombstones letting us all know that "Lil' Wayne, gone but never forgotten, RIP 1993- 2000".

Dress code? Bah! Regnef loves it this way!The saga continues: 2 teachers cars with tires flattened this week. 3 weeks ago, a young guy had his car window bricked (for the second time) and his door smashed. Course, his hubcaps were stolen months ago. Am I repeating myself?

And the violence! Who doesn't love a good stand-off between a teacher and a 19 year old 260 lb. special ed student (who Regnef supposedly "can't" kick out because of the SPED designation)? There's nothing like a man-child balling his fists and screaming "I'ma beat your motherfucking white bitch ass, motherfucker, I'll kill you, I will shot your fucking ass you fucking white bitch" when a teacher asks him to evacuate the building during a fire alarm. Naturally, if that teacher were to defend himself verbally or physically, the kid's mom will be at the school, the teacher will be investigated, and that's that. There is the mistakenly held notion that "self-defense" means one must wait until the other "throws the first punch" in order to take action. This is incorrect. An individual has the legal right to defend him/herself in a hostile situation when an aggressor places the subject in a position in which immediate safety is compromised.

To all the Johnny Cochran wanna-be p arents and students out there: think again. You'll be a laughed out of court. And to the administrators that think a teacher can "never" put hands on a student, you too should reconsider that the lawsuit faced because you have verbalized instructions that result in teacher injury ("reactive" self defense instead of "proactive" self-defense) will be much greater than the pathetic attempt at prosecution of a properly responding staff member. The State doesn't even want to pursue a case in which, on camera, a student moves agressively toward a teacher and creates a hostile confrontation. If you tell a teacher to not act until acted upon, that teacher may be stabbed or seriously hurt before they feel they have a right to defend themselves. Now THAT's lawsuit potential! It's techinically called "failing to provide a safe working environment", and it will be taken seriously by the courts - especially given Regnef's reputation.

And what better to couple with violence than a serious drug problem? The student caught last month possessing enough marijuana to distribute to the whole junior class (about 10 oz) was suspended for 10 days. Not arrested. Not prosecuted. Why not? Because the school police officers were at the police station processing a previous in-school arrest (I'm convinced they are among the hardest workers at Regnef - likely because school politic consequences mean nothing to them; they are the police, and they do their job) and the security staff failed to search the dealer properly.

Finally, after an unannouced 3-week vacation, the Tech Coordinator at Regnef has been reprimanded by being removed from this position and appointed instead to a different, higher paying position - one that has no cumbersome responsibilities like computer or network maintenance. So Regnef has no tech person now. When a pc or printer breaks - too bad! When grades have to be entered and the program must be activated by the tech coordinator - sorry!:Cancun  calls!We shall see how many fire alarms are pulled next week...VIVA REGNEF! The true House of Illusions!

posted by regnef @ 12:29 PM  

1 Comments:

At 6:37 PM, Anonymous said...

who eva this is yall is bogus i bet i know who this is!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comments

viva la blog

Now this is a blog!

[solo]

I read the Tribune story today and then read the actual blog.

The sad thing is, I grew up in Roseland back in the 60's and early 70's and will never forget going to Fenger one summer for a math and typing class. I say sad, because at one time this area was a thriving community with well-kept up houses, including trimmed bushes and mowed lawn, safe neighborhoods, schools and businesses. People went to work, kids went to schools, and I might add didn't have sex in the stair-wells, $100 jersey's, or belong to a gang, and best of all there weren't any juvenile delinquents or should I say thugs, like there are now!

But getting back to Fenger, and my own personal experience. One day, while I was in the math class, the teacher, a White woman by the name of Lucy P. had turned her back and was writing something on the blackboard and suddenly without warning or provocation a Black guy that was sitting next to me threw a blackboard eraser directly at her. She turned around in stunned amazement and then got ahold of the disciplinarian. That's when they actually had one and actually did the job they were paid for! BTW, this was over 30 years ago and I still remember that incident like it was yesterday. That ugly experience told me more about the real version of race relations that you never read about or see on TV.

My point is, this was my first (of many) real experiences with racism. Not the White/Black kind that the media usually portrays, but the Black/White kind that they hardly ever portray. I say hardly ever because I really can't recall when the media, which includes the Sun-Times, Tribune, Channels 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 32 ever reporting a story, including Tracy Dell'Angela, on reverse racism. Oh my! I actually said it. Reverse racism, what a radical concept!! It happens all the time... just never gets reported.

Just wondering when the media outlets are going to be "fair and balanced" like they portray themselves to be?? The operative word here is portray. They're kind of like actors, always portraying.

Probably never. No one ever reports the other side, what I like to call the real side. I certainly didn't see it in Tracy's column??

I have a suggestion, how about changing the reporter's slogan to unfair and not balanced!! I think that would be more appopriate. It might even sell more newspapers, at least it would be believable.

But once again, getting back to Fenger. Am I surprised to read about all the problems. No. It's just the same old racism, but now it's at a much more accelerated pace than it was 30 years ago. And just so there's no confusion, the racism is on the part of the students or should I say thugs.

[solo]

I read the Tribune story today and then read the actual blog.

The sad thing is, I grew up in Roseland back in the 60's and early 70's, and will never forget going to Fenger one summer for a math and typing class. I say sad, because at one time this area (Roseland) was a thriving community with well-kept up houses, including trimmed bushes and mowed lawns, safe neighborhoods, schools and businesses. People went to work, kids went to school, and I might add, didn't have sex in the stair-wells, guns, knives, $100 jersey's, or belong to a gang, or disrespect teachers, and best of all there weren't any juvenile delinquents or should I say illiterate thugs, like there are now!

Update, I was recently in the neighborhood (at least half a dozen times) to take pictures of the school. All I saw were kids hanging out of the windows, milling around near the stairs in groups, walking, or hanging around on corners aimlessly without purpose. I only felt safe enough to get out of my car because several police cars now surround the school !

But getting back to Fenger, and my own personal experience. One day, while I was in the math class, the teacher, a softspoken White woman by the name of Lucy P. had turned her back and was writing something on the blackboard and suddenly without warning or provocation a Black guy that was sitting next to me threw a blackboard eraser directly at her. She turned around in stunned amazement and then got ahold of the disciplinarian. That's when they actually had one and actually did the job they were paid for! BTW, this was over 30 years ago and I still remember that incident like it was yesterday. That ugly experience taught me more about the "real" state of race relations, the one that you never read about in the Trib, or see on the sanitized TV version of the evening news.

My point is, this was my first (of many) real experiences with racism. Not the White/Black kind that the media usually portrays, but the Black/White kind that they hardly ever portray. I say hardly ever, because I really can't recall when the media, which includes the Sun-Times, Tribune, Channels 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 32 ever reporting a story, including Tracy Dell'Angela, on reverse racism. Oh my! I actually said it. Reverse racism, what a radical concept!! It happens all the time... just never gets reported.

Just wondering when the media outlets are going to be "fair and balanced" like they portray themselves to be?? The operative word here is portray. They're kind of like actors, always portraying. Probably never. No one ever reports the other side, what I like to call the "real" side. I certainly didn't see it in Tracy's column??

I have a suggestion, how about changing the media slogan to unfair and not balanced? I think that would be more appopriate. It might even sell more newspapers, at least it would be believable. Maybe it would increase the dwindling readership they're now experiencing?? That manipulation newspapers use to get away with, and I might add made a lot of money off of, you know, where instead of reporting a story that was really gray they turned it into something that was more black and white to sell more newspapers, is finally catching up with them. The "real" news is now being written and reported on in the blogs.

But once again, getting back to Fenger. Am I surprised to read about all the problems? No. It's just the same old racism, but now it's at a much more accelerated rate than it was 30 years ago. And just so there's no confusion, the "real" racism is on the part of the students, or should I say thugs, administrators and unecessary service personnel! That story is not being reported in what's known as the "traditional media", or the fakes as I call them.

Surprised? I'm not!

A critical situation overlooked regarding the security is true at many schools. The security is the neighborhood locals, friends,boy friends. Rather than patrol they cluster together, sit in chairs and talk on cell phones. Behavorial patterns know by students. They don't confiscate cell phones and other items as students come through the detector. A survey of many high schools you will find the same patttern. If security had assigned areas to patrol the principal wouldn't have to assign teachers at the alarm boxes. A major problem.

I know Fenger and there are good and bad things going on there. What strikes me, however, is that the central office is running around, totally consumed with this reorg and none of the current leaders, (Mitchell, Maheley, Whelan, Swanson, Eastwood, Bugler, Vitale, Duncan, Runcie, Stanton, etc.) have even the most rudimentary clue about Chicago neighborhood high schools. Have they ever spent some time at these schools? Have they ever tried to teach a course at these schools, or any schools for that matter?
I am appalled at the disconnect between the realities of teaching and the agendas of the leaders at CPS. It is depressing.

The re-org is only moving deck chairs around once in place there will be no new knowledge that will impact student learning. "In Chicago we have worked hard to develop what we think is one of the most thoughtful and comprehensive approaches to high school reform in the nation," said Duncan. A new curriculum will change nothing at most high schools. The re-org should be about changing leadership at the very top.

[the tourist]

I'm a teacher. I taught at southside schools. I can't say I think this guy's attitude is totally appropriate- he sometimes lashes out at the student body in too general of a sense. Yes, things are-pardon my blue language, but sometimes only expletives can convey the depth of the situation- totally fucked up. Even in dire situations, i don't think it's a positive thing to alienate an entire population because some of them have problems, and probably reasonably so. That said, a lot of people have no idea the myriad of problems or corruption in these situations. I read the blog, and, while the tone makes me itch, if only for the good students who might read it and feel disillusioned, I can't say anything he spoke of surprised me or rang untrue. If we are to put trust in the CPS, machine, which perhaps, or most definately,we should not, shouldn't they do more to support their own enterprise? It's about time we stop bitching and start doing. I am guilty of the bitching part- we all might be. But I think we might have more power than we realize. It's depressing to see a teacher become disillusioned with a clearly flawed system, but maybe if we are loud enough, it can change. I can't and don't want to live in a world where that isn't true. I certainly may be disillusioning myself to think that things WILL change, but given the choice, I pick the proactive one.

[the tourist]

Now, THAT being said, watch out fat cat MF's in CPS, the proletariat are getting hungry, and you've got all the cake. Challenge your teachers- if they can't help you, they will refer you to the principal, or go there directly. If you get the run around, go to the Local School Council and make some noise. If they don't got game, call the principal's boss. That might not be enough. Call the press. How? Not sure, but I'm gonna find out.

[some who cares]

This is actually true there are gang fights that start on fridays & do not end till monday morning. Kids are arrested in herds taken to The 22nd police district. Who runs the school the students not the principal/administration. I have seen it w my two eyes. Kids walking in going through the metal detectors smelling like bud & commenting to one another about it. Cellphones being used down the hallways. they do not search & investigate the situation. Their loyalty to the gangs & neighborhood not to the kids & their jobs. They are not protecting the future nurses, doctors lawyers they are protecting the remnants of drugs, crime,sex & collecting a paycheck. Is this why you send your children 2 school? HELL NO! We send them there to get a education so that they can accomplish things in life. Fenger should been on the list to close! Maybe next year?????
Back in january the freshman class was not allow to school unless their parents had to come with them & be told that their child is failing. 80% of the class of 2009 was failing in the second marking period due to lack of attendance. These kids decided to come school now & request or demand extra credit so that they could recieve at least a D(passing). Also since the last gang fight in January at least 20 students were arrested/suspended & sent home w no homework assignments for 3 weeks!!!!How do you expect them to pass. State laws state that is you miss a certain amt of days you cannot become a soph,jr ,sr or better yet graduate. Go online to the CPS website & take a look at their report card & tell me are the kids LEARNING? I got my child the hell out of there. Her safety & education is very IMPORTANT to me.

What a disgusting bunch of comments. I hope they aren't coming from teachers. If they are, it's no wonder that only 6% of our kids are graduating college.

[dont worry about it]

yes i read school news on the internet,yes i am black and i go to fenger,some of the stuff is true but some of it wast a damn lie no students ever have sex on the stairwells and no people dont have spray painted shirts that say fuck the ville and all that.just because the ville was fighting with the dirty 1-30,s (argeal gardens for paeople who dont no)the didnt have shirts of disrespect,anyway everbody knows who the teacher was so i dont got to say his name,and i thought he was cool but i guess not.anyway no other teacher complains that hard about the schoo and to me i think he was a punk and could handle the situations,he might as well start his own school or somethin so he wont bitch or nuthin,but now he supid cuz he out of a job and i hope he dont get another one,so fuck u mr. D erbody else no the rest.

[Sharon Smith]

Digital literacy amongst our young people is wonderful. Actual literacy would be even better. Preview, proof, and drop all that darn profanity. A sharp tongue and an empty mind often reside in the same head.

[Mark A. Studney]

What a cuntry!
I called 3 different elementry schools this week...and the principal for each school was on "sick leave" (blue cross, blue shield)..."don't ya know". My 5yr. old son who attends Kozminski Elem. school (only white student in the entire school)was sexualy (once) abused and twice physically assaulted in less than 90 day, after attending the same school for 1.5 years... has been profiled as an outcast "minority". Now let's remember "the best interest of the child" focus , and as a highly responsible father...a mid term transfer to one of two (same distric) schools with a more multi-cultured format and secure setting would be in order??? ---- NO! ...I was told by the big wiggs of the most concerned CPS union members. "January 15th is the final day of registation for next fall, or transfer students". I am so sorry for all the CPS shit for brain upper hand reps. I do not find any gain in bringing the CPS board to court, I am not that kind of person, but I will expose this form of reverse discrimination and negligence (of the union members,teachers ,principal, etc.)no reports and no notification to my son's mother or to myself. CPS forgot to do their homework, I have direct contact to AM,FM,local and international television folks, should I let them know? M.A.S.