Kimani Brown waited in the rubber room for 1 1/2 years; he hopes for faster justice for others

[tonysam]

This is what happens when you advocate for kids, when you do your job:

Kimani Brown spent a year and a half in the infamous rubber room simply for complaining about the treatment of special-needs kids at his Brooklyn school, he charges.

Now back in the classroom, Brown hopes this week's agreement between the teachers union and city will mean other educators won't have to wait so long for justice.

But he's not holding his breath.
...

Brown says he reported problems with the school's special needs program to the state. And after a state visit, he was reassigned to the rubber room in May 2008 on insubordination and misconduct charges.

But in November of last year, he was cleared of all the misconduct and incompetence charges, except one - calling his principal a liar, he said.

As a result, he had to take anger management classes and was not allowed to return to his school, but he did become a permanent substitute just blocks away at Middle School 534.

He's treated like a criminal for calling a principal a liar and is not allowed to have a real class anymore. Unreal, but you don't dare ever challenge a principal. He or she is a god in education.

NY Daily News

More about Kimani Brown here:

When he was removed, Brown had started raising questions about whether Bowden was misusing school funds. Brown noticed that the principal was selectively and seemingly improperly paying per-session wages to some individuals for administrative work, while simultaneously precluding other teachers from participating in proper per-session employment.

After repeatedly being rebuffed by Bowden in his attempts to confer with her, Brown contacted the DOE’s Office of Special Investigation about the spending irregularities. Then, on May 21, Bowden dispatched Brown to the temporary reassignment center on Chapel Street and, for the duration of the term, assaulted his personal and professional reputation.

Two large demonstrations by Brown’s colleagues and parents were held on the steps of the school on May 27 and again on June 10.

As set forth in the lawsuit, Bowden made several verifiably slanderous statements about Brown. She is said to have told a student that Brown was removed because he “messed up,” and she further accused him of having committed “grand theft” and “grabbing” at Bowden.

By the way, this lousy principal is still at this school:

link

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. I have *never* trusted the DOE's Office of Special Investigation.

>>>>>>After repeatedly being rebuffed by Bowden in his attempts to confer with her, Brown contacted the DOE’s Office of Special Investigation about the spending irregularities. Then, on May 21, Bowden dispatched Brown to the temporary reassignment center on Chapel Street and, for the duration of the term, assaulted his personal and professional reputation.>>>>>>>>>

Sounds like OSI.... rather than investigate the "irregularities" ( i.e. *theft*), dropped a dime on the whistle blower. Result: rubber room.

So... which DA's are investigating THAT apparent violation of the law? In other words: who's watching OSI while OSI is watching everyone else?


I've seen OSI do this before; in a case I was watching pretty close-up. Seems like they're modeled on Stalin's secret police.

[tonysam]

2. +100,000

In my case in Nevada, instead of demoting the principal or even firing her, character assassinate me, suborn perjury, alter documents, and bribe and tamper with witnesses. Kick me to the curb in order to help her and HR (which was the one really targeting me).

It's unbelievable, but everything short of murder is allowed in education "law," as long as it is the school district doing it.