"That's New York City for ya..."

"Max, the city is terribly run." - Annie Hall

When I was considering joining the Teaching Fellows... I got endless advice from my family. Some was good... some was bad... some was screwy... all of it I took with that proverbial grain of salt.



The advice I have the hardest time digesting is that from my father. We have a strained relationship at times... but overall, obviously, I do indeed love him and want to please him like the good son I feel I am.

When I told him about my applying to the Fellowship, I was met with "The Factor." "The Factor" is this anomaly in my family where when you say something is great, you are inevitably met with a blasé attitude from other family members. Example... "Oh, this restaurant is FANTASTIC, you really should try it!" After they try it, "I wasn't too impressed with it." So if you want them to like something, you yourself have to be blasé over it.

My father of course follows this rule... so when I talked to him about considering the Teaching Fellows, he gave me 9,000 reasons why it was not a good idea. Being a retired New York City Fireman, my father had his share of run-ins with the administration, he figured that working in a NYC school would bring frustrations equal to what he received at the hands of the FDNY. In my uncertainty I would say that if I am able to get a job in Maine, I'll ditch the Fellows and stay where I am. Of course he would be contrary with this also... "You can't beat the pay and benefits of working in the city..." and give me 9,000 reasons why working in the city is a GREAT idea.

Well, Dad... which one is it?

Well obviously I am here, so therefore my father's contrary advice did nothing but get me a little crazed… nothing new there.

The one CONSISTENT thing about his advice when it comes to New York City as an employer is this: NOTHING SURPRISES HIM.

Example... we just got computers in our classrooms. In fact, we got them on JUNE 2. The school year is all but over, and they decide NOW to put these computers in our rooms. "That's New York City for ya," is the response. WITH OUT FAIL.

We went the entire school year without phones in our classrooms. If there was a fight in front of our classroom, we are expected to use our cell-phones to call security. "That's New York City for ya... they make you buy your own paper for copies, you think they want you making phone calls?"

I put in a request in September to have the air conditioners in my room fixed. They haven't fixed them yet. It's JUNE. "That's New York City for ya... to have a school with air conditioners that don't work."

I have at least three mice in my classroom... I've seen them. "That's New York City for ya... if you have one mouse... you have a million of em."

I heard they're going to hire monkeys next year to teach classes as a way to save money. "That's New York City for ya... they've been trying to hire monkeys since when I was in school."

The scary thing, he's right. This city is so big, so terribly run, I sincerely wonder how ANYTHING ever gets done. And what’s worse… it makes me think about who is suffering the most as a result… the kids. I may whine, but ultimately I can go to Westchester or a suburb and earn 10-15% more, but these kids are stuck.