Reassignment centers (New York City Department of Education)

For the psychiatric facility rooms, see padded cell.

Reassignment centers are holding facilities for New York City Department of Education teachers who are accused of misconduct. Among teachers and in the print media, they are referred to as "rubber rooms." [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/education/10education.html Where Teachers Sit, Awaiting Their Fates - New York Times ] ] The city has 13 reassignment centers. [ [http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0717,altman,76433,15.html village voice > nyclife > Class Dismissed by Mara Altman ] ]

Rubber room teachers assert that the "rubber room" term is offensive. They also claim that the city's teacher union, the United Federation of Teachers neglects to provide proper representation to teachers assigned to reassignment centers. [ [http://www.nypost.com/seven/03122007/news/regionalnews/rubber_room_teachers_demand_rights_regionalnews_david_andreatta____education_reporter.htm 'Rubber-Room' Teachers Demand Rights - New York Post ] ]

Reassignment centers arose as a budgetary concern in bureaucratic studies and press coverage in Spring 2008. [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/education/2008/05/04/2008-05-04_teachers_in_trouble_spending_years_in_ru.html Teachers in trouble spending years in 'rubber room' limbo that costs $65M ] ]

Documentary

Filmmakers Jeremy Garrett of Five Boroughs Productions produced an independent documentary on the centers, called "The Rubber Room." [ [http://www.rubberroommovie.com ] ] [ [http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1232 This American Life ] ]

External links

* [http://www.rubberroomnews.com/ NYC Rubber Room Heroes and Heroines]
* [http://www.rubberroomreport.com/ NYC Rubber Room Report]
* [http://www.rubberroommovie.com/ RubberRoomMovie.com]

Notes