New Principal, sexual harasser, needs to go
John Chase, principal of Bronxdale Academy…
wait a minute. This is a no-brainer. The school has been around exactly one term. This guy didn’t even design the school. Just a stiff behind a desk.
Oh yeah, and harassing his staff. Some of his staff. School aide. Secretary. Community Liaison. Precisely those who cannot disappear into a classroom to perform their duties.
Am I just saying this? Reporting Rumor? Nah. The Office of Equal Opportunity said so, in their first run at this creep. And there are two more investigations pending.
If a teacher did what this guy did, the teacher would be removed, pending disposition. (I get that. The teacher would also have their pay suspended – without a finding that’s plain wrong. Another serious, senseless giveback from 2005 that needs to be undone).
Choke Collar
In today’s Daily News, Walcott is quoted as saying “I’m not going to remove him, but he knows he cannot have any similar type of comments. He is on a very strict line as far as his behavior,” which sounds terrible. But maybe not. Klein never made “strict line” comments about Richard Bost or Tammy Smith, who are finally gone due to external events, or Barbara Kirkweg or Iris Blige who should be, but are still here. Maybe that “strict line” comment is a signal for what might happen. But we need to keep up the pressure.
Rally Tuesday
There’s a rally, in front of Columbus this Tuesday. A rally to demand his ouster. Chase Chase. Get him out. 3:30 PM. 925 Astor Avenue, in the Bronx. 2 to Pelham Parkway or the 5 to Pelham Parkway.
There are politicians coming to lend their support. Jeff Klein. Naomi Rivera. Jimmy Vacca. Their voices will be there. And I know, personally, maybe 25 people who will be there. Maybe 50. But there should be 250. Or 500. Or even more.
Links
Facebook Event (Chase Chase!)
Latest: New York Daily News (today’s edition) (sex Machine comments), Inside schools, WPIX
DoE decision to give a slap on the wrist: NY Magazine, News 12 – Bronx, NY Post xxx-Craving
Our members and colleagues should not be subjected to sexual harassment. Period. Our non-classroom colleagues are even more vulnerable. We must stand up for them. And we should enjoy the sense of power that comes from gathering for a just cause. Get used to it.
JD2718 
THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. THE COMMUNITY IS OUTRAGED AND THE PELHAM PARKWAY HOUSES THAT SURROUND THE SCHOOL ARE MOBILIZING. IT WILL BE A 50 DEGREE SUNNY DAY FOR EVERYONE TO RALLY AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT! AS FAR AS CHANCELLOR WALCOTT, HE WILL BE HIGHLY QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS COMMENTS SO FAR.
It’s an outrage! Everyone should express their anger at Walcott’s decision for keeping Chase in his position, an untenured principal, and for accepting this pervert’s unacceptable, disgusting behavior as a minor infraction. The staff and the students are at risk by having a deviant within the school and the community. I would like to ask Walcott if he didn’t mind having a pedophile living next door to his grandson. Why does Walcott feel that the staff, especially the female staff and students, should not be treated with respect? Sexual harassment is a crime and Chase committed that crime. Come out and protest on Tuesday, January 10th. Don’t let Chase get away with it.
Here we go once again, whereas principals are not held by the same accountability as teachers. Would Walcott like his daughter to work with this man? I seriously doubt it. We have seen what happens to principals who were found guilty and continued as perverts, mentally impaired, and cruel. They continue to reap abuse and incompetence. They graduate from Leadership Academy but not from any sensitivity training program. This is children first? Unstable principals remain until even the DOE can not deal with the public outcry and the stench. By that point, the “Leader-Principal” has often ruined careers for personal vendettas, caused nervous breakdowns, and a created a surreal hostile environment where you can feel the fear of people who MUST get along with a principal despite the insensitve and/or criminal behavior. And the students? They already have too few contemporary positive role models. Schools are not successful when a climate of fear and criminality pervade with the DOE’s sanctions. Attendance does not increase when a school is led by poor “leaders”. Too many principals use their position to “romp” or engage in unethical behavior.