SCHOOL PROGRAMMING CURSE

The reader may recall the substantial raise teachers obtained in exchange for, mainly, an increase of instruction time (20 minutes per day) ; however, in all likelihood, he or she is unaware that many principals are wasting days, or even weeks, of instruction simply because they are utterly incapable to get the school programming right.
On September 4, 2002, Charles Majors, Brooklyn High Schools Superintendent -- Middle College HS principal until June 2001 -- fired Dr. Michael Wiltshire, the man he hired to replace him, for incompetence. The Superintendent was incensed at Wiltshire's inept handling of the school programming, and the chaos that ensued. Two dozen parents lead by two politicians forced the chancellor to reinstate him -- next section for details. [Charles Majors was not aware of similar situation at Prospect Heights High School : the programming was so bad that new programs were given both to students and teachers 3 weeks into the semester were cancelled : back to September mode.]

What is meant by school programming ? Each semester, including summer, the principal faces the following problem :
How to a) issue a program card to each student, indicating his course schedule : periods, subjects, rooms, teachers ( click here for a sample) ; b) determine each teacher's program, i.e. teaching load including the list of classes and corresponding rooms
Based on : 1) the comprehensive list of students ; 2) the list of teachers (each to carry a 5-period teaching load with some exceptions : e.g. deans, UFT chapter leader, etc.) ; 3) the list of classrooms ( 40 approximatively at Middle College HS); 4) the list of subject matters at various levels : English, math, science, social studies, etc.
This is what programming is about. Failure to do it right -- Wiltshire's hallmark for the last four years -- leads to chaos as attendance sheets conflict with students programs. The consequences can be devastating :

• Instable environment hardly conducive to learning : click here and there for students testimonies.
• Inaccurate attendance making planning and evaluation futile.
• Bungled report cards causing frictions between students/parents and teachers.
  
  
  Please, contrast the real attendance and the fiction one for summer 2003 (2004 Fall will be no different) :
  
  

  *** CENSURED ***

  
  

You would expect Wiltshire, a "scholar", to address, and remedy, this issue adequately, especially when it almost cost him his job. After all, you need not reinvent the wheel : there are many schools in this blessed land where principals handle programming in a satisfactory manner, or at least prevent it from running amok. All it takes is to approach one's peers who have been successful -- apparently, ego prevents Wiltshire from doing just that.
Same cause, same effects : as described in subsequent sections Wiltshire's inability to create a stable learning environment manifested itself again in Fall 2004.