I taught summer school this year and while the students were for the most part, well behaved and cooperative, I did find some real issues how the summer school program was run.
First, the summer school program included 6 high schools and there were more administrators in the building than teachers! Talk about a waste of money! How much money was spent on useless administrators that could have been spent on school supplies like copying paper, pens and pencils, paper clips, and folders?
Second, half the classrooms either did not have air conditioners or ones that worked. By afternoon the rooms were like ovens and the classrooms were not conducive for learning. On the unused first floor there were air conditioned classrooms but were not used since the summer school program was confined to the second floor.
Third, despite all the administrators, students were walking the halls throughout the day. Some students only showed up to get their metrocard and breakfast and/or lunch in the cafeteria. These students didn't bother to show up to class and the school never cancelled their metrocard or cafeteria privileges.
Fourth, few school supplies were given and no copying paper were supplied. The office copying machine was off limits to teachers.
Fifth, all teachers were observed twice. That's right twice! Instead of the usual once.
Sixth, during Regents, despite the numerous administrators, students were walking the halls three, four, or five strong and some were going into the staircases, out of sight and who knows what they were doing? The bottom line, I saw numerous violations of Regents protocol be it in the classroom or the hallways.
Finally, grading the Regents lasted a day longer than necessary because the summer school did not call in additional proctors to relieve the teachers to grade. Moreover, the teachers had to proctor the entire test. no breaks, no second proctor.
The bottom line, this year if you taught in an non-air conditioned classroom, was not supplied with adequate school supplies, and proctored the entire Regents, now you know why its called "blood money".