"BTSA" - Busywork: Tedious, Senseless, and Asinine


Having taught public school previously in the Big Apple (in the South Bronx no less), I am not a first year teacher but I am new to LAUSD and find both the District and the "Complete Waste of Government Money that is BTSA" program to be an Orwellian nightmare.

NYC gets a bad rap as being a Darwinian "Survival of the Fittest" quagmire but at least it is a fairly efficient system and, more importantly, it makes sense. The NYC Board of Education is the polar opposite of LAUSD and its Demon Seed spawn, the mandatory BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support & Assessment) program. It makes no sense. None. Nada. Not at all.

The paperwork BTSA victims are expected to do is staggering in amount and laughable in content. The mandatory conferences are a waste of time and although we are given tons of printed materials, they are devoid of salient information. I'd rather they keep all the books we're given (Jesus - the trees killed in the name of education!) and instead give us a check to buy supplies for our classroom. (It is now December and I'm still fighting for pencils.)

The entire program is a sinister mystery. Although I've read through the BTSA intro binder, I still have no idea of what exactly I am required to do to successfully complete the program. I've asked many fellow participants and some BTSA advisors and, basically, have found my confusion to be Universal. I am at the point of sacrificing chickens at sunset in hopes to appease the angry BTSA Gods and therefore get definitive answers.

Despite the money thrown at this needless program, it is incredibly disorganized. Six months into the so-called Assistance program, I've yet to find a support provider (despite repeated requests.) I've attended two mandatory conferences, (kudos to a rep from the Fire Dept. who gave a great Emergency Preparedness lecture - unfortunately it was only about 30 min. of an eight hour day - the other 7.5 hours being a total waste of time), and was made to wait outside for over an hour because they had lost my registration - along with about 50 others. While I was complaining about the delay side (California or not, it can be pretty cold at 7:30 am), someone announced there were 50 "no shows".... hmmm - do the math - maybe someone brought the wrong list? It seemed a logical conclusion - nevertheless, we were made to stand there for another 30 minutes before they had the bright idea (which I had suggested some 90 minutes prior) of letting us sign in on a blank slip of paper. Eureka!

The amount of record keeping and paperwork an LAUSD teacher is expected to complete has reached IRS-like proportions and yet new teachers are expected to do more and more paperwork for BTSA, exercises that have all the value of making a student write "I will pay attention in class" 100 times. It is the ultimate exercise in futility. Indeed, the only entities that seems to be benefiting from the BTSA program are the caterers (keep your lunch, please, and let me go home an hour earlier) and the educational book publishers (which appears to be the biggest money making scam since Ken Lay's Enron deal).

What can we do? Perhaps write Sacramento. Perhaps stage a sit in? Really, I've no idea how to buck this ludicrous system. Suggestions? Anyone? Is this mic on?

I content that original idea for BTSA may have been a good one, but it has spun out of control and, like Godzilla, lumbers along, destroying all logic and reason in its path.

All Children left behind.

While far from a dewy eyed recent college grad, I received my teaching credential in May. I then signed an Early Contract with LAUSD - was told it was an honor of sorts and that I would have the right to refuse a permanent assignment.

I've discovered the Contract to more closely resemble indentured servitude.

I was given a "hiring advocate" that was theoretically to help me find a job but seemed to have been abducted by aliens as I never heard from her again - despite numerous calls/emails/faxes on my part. Nevertheless, found myself a job at a good school. Started off - got "displaced". (Too many teachers, dropping enrollment - wonder why?- last one hired, first to go.)

Was thrown into the District Pool, given a long term assignment that was supposed to end 12/16 but found out on 12/2 that the teacher decided to come back from maternity leave early (and had reported this 2 weeks prior but no one saw fit to tell me) and that Monday I was to begin a permanent job with a 4th grade class in Da' Hood. I've taught in the inner city before and know it can be a magical experience if the administration is strong. Could I at least interview for the position prior to accepting it? (as I was told I could).

"No, not if you want to stay employed by the District. Show up Monday."

Dial tone.

I showed up. I've survived one week. Barley. Rumor has it that the original teacher could never get the class in control and simply gave up and quit. Don't blame her - I'm considering throwing in the towel and steaming milk at Starbucks.

There are 30 kids - 15 are there to learn - 15 are there to destroy. Of those troubled 15; 7 are absolute nightmares. The types that, one or two, ruin a room - but seven?! The class has gone through 9 subs since November - indeed, the school has a very hard time getting subs at all and usually has to split up a class when someone is absent. (on my 3rd day, I had to take in some fifth graders, who basically sat in the back and phoned it in for the day). It appears the administration has washed their hands of the situation and the school has been left to run wild. Literally.

While I can get the class settled (slightly) in the room, there is no accountability school wide so when I take them to recess or lunch, all hell breaks loose. They have apparently never walked in line properly and do not listen to the playground staff, will not line up, etc. I was so frustrated trying to wrangle them after lunch on the 2nd day that when I finally managed to track them all down (as they continue to play, deface property, or fight - lots of fights - despite being yelled at to line up by the megaphone carrying staff), I marched all 30 of them into the main office and asked to the AP to please explain the rules for after lunch as they apparently did not understand. Later, I spoke with the principal who begrudgingly admits the class is out of control but then feeds me the party line about "positive reinforcement" and "giving kids a chance."

I'm so angry because the fact is they've let this situation grow to its current state of chaos through inattention or incompetence and now I am expected to clean up their mess. Also, it is parent/conference week and they took the liberty of scheduling conferences for me - despite the fact that I started four hours prior. How stupid is that? Plus - I just DID a week of conferences (i.e. unpaid overtime) at the previous school.

Friday wasn't as bad due only to the fact that the Magnificent 7 was suspended because Thursday they jumped another kid on the playground during a supposedly supervised recess and the victim's mother is pressing charges as apparently this is the fourth or fifth time it has happened and Principal does nothing. Because LAPD got involved, however, Principal had to suspend them so I got a day of partial reprieve (some gems were still there but I can manage when it is only two or three of 'em).

This Principal has no business running this school. I've contacted the District and the Union and have basically been told chin up, show up, and shut up.