Clash With Security: Guidance Counselor Arrest is Protested

Clash With Security

Guidance Counselor Arrest is Protested

The Department of Education is investigating a possible sick-out by the Teachers at a Brooklyn high school over the arrest of a Guidance Counselor for allegedly inciting a riot during a student protest of a Principal's removal.

JILL LEVY: Blame enough to go around. The United Federation of Teachers claims that Guidance Counselor Yvonne Robinson was protecting students who were treated roughly by School Safety Agents while protesting the removal of Principal Joanne Pierre, who is under investigation by the city for allegedly stealing funds while in a previous position with DOE.

UFT: Arrest 'An Outrage'

"It is an outrage that school safety officers at Rachel Carson High School are insisting on the arrest of a Guidance Counselor for trying to ensure the safety of students," UFT president Randi Weingarten said in a statement. "This is a classic case of an educator trying to help control a situation and getting in trouble for it. Yvonne Robinson did not incite students to riot. How can anyone expect us to try to stop fights or intervene in these situations to protect children if they're going to end up in jail?"

CARL HAYNES: Agents just doing their job. All seven Teachers at the school did not show up on May 1, the Monday following the arrest.

"We are investigating today's teacher absences," DOE spokesman Keith Kalb said in a statement. "The school community, including teachers, students, and parents, must find a way to fulfill the school's educational obligation. The school's ongoing inability to focus on instruction raises concerns about its future."

Teachers returned to work on Tuesday, but the UFT leader still expressed concern about the school.

"It's a terrible situation," Ms. Weingarten said. "This school has gone into a rapid downward spiral. Our members are frustrated and demoralized, and many are sick over the situation, but people will report to work tomorrow because we have to do everything to get the school back on track."

Ms. Robinson is accused by police of letting additional students into the hallway during the April 29 protest. Officials alleged she then took some protesters into a classroom but did not allow the police access to the room. The UFT said that the measures were taken to protect the students from the school safety officers. Teamsters Local 237 President Carl Haynes, whose union represents the School Safety Agents, objected to this characterization.

"School Safety Agents were merely doing their job," he said in a May 4 statement. "They did what they were required to do, which is to bring order to the chaos going on at that school, and they did an exemplary job under the circumstances."

Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Jill Levy, who represents Principal Pierre, criticized everyone involved in the escalation of tensions.

"What is sad here is that the adults in the school are teaching children the wrong lessons about appropriate behavior," she said in a May 3 statement.