In_II a_AT1 windowless_JJ room_NN1 in_II a_AT1 shabby_JJ office_NN1 building_NN1 at_II Seventh_NP1 Avenue_NNL1 and_CC Twenty-eighth_MD Street_NN1 ,_, in_II Manhattan_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 poster_NN1 is_VBZ taped_VVN to_II a_AT1 wall_NN1 ,_, whose_DDQGE message_NN1 could_VM easily_RR be_VBI the_AT mission_NN1 statement_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 day-care_JJ center_NN1 :_: "_" Children_NN2 are_VBR fragile_JJ ._. 
Handle_VV0 with_IW care_NN1 ._. "_" 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 June_NPM1 morning_NNT1 ,_, and_CC there_EX are_VBR fifteen_MC people_NN in_II the_AT room_NN1 ,_, four_MC of_IO them_PPHO2 fast_RR asleep_JJ ,_, their_APPGE heads_NN2 lying_VVG on_II a_AT1 card_NN1 table_NN1 ._. 
Three_MC are_VBR playing_VVG a_AT1 board_NN1 game_NN1 ._. 
Most_DAT of_IO the_AT others_NN2 stand_VV0 around_RP chatting_VVG ._. 
Two_MC are_VBR arguing_VVG over_RP one_MC1 of_IO the_AT folding_JJ chairs_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB there_EX are_VBR no_AT children_NN2 here_RL ._. 
The_AT inhabitants_NN2 are_VBR all_DB New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 schoolteachers_NN2 who_PNQS have_VH0 been_VBN sent_VVN to_II what_DDQ is_VBZ officially_RR called_VVN a_AT1 Temporary_JJ Reassignment_NN1 Center_NN1 but_CCB which_DDQ everyone_PN1 calls_VVZ the_AT Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 ._. 
These_DD2 fifteen_MC teachers_NN2 ,_, along_II21 with_II22 about_II six_MC hundred_NNO others_NN2 ,_, in_II six_MC larger_JJR Rubber_NN1 Rooms_NN2 in_II the_AT city_NN1 's_GE five_MC boroughs_NN2 ,_, have_VH0 been_VBN accused_VVN of_IO misconduct_NN1 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 hitting_VVG or_CC molesting_VVG a_AT1 student_NN1 ,_, or_CC ,_, in_II some_DD cases_NN2 ,_, of_IO incompetence_NN1 ,_, in_II a_AT1 system_NN1 that_CST rarely_RR calls_VVZ anyone_PN1 incompetent_JJ ._. 
The_AT teachers_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN in_II the_AT Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 for_IF an_AT1 average_NN1 of_IO about_RG three_MC years_NNT2 ,_, doing_VDG the_AT same_DA thing_NN1 every_AT1 day_NNT1 --_NN1 which_DDQ is_VBZ pretty_RG much_RR nothing_PN1 at_RR21 all_RR22 ._. 
Watched_VVN over_RP by_II two_MC private_JJ security_NN1 guards_NN2 and_CC two_MC city_NN1 Department_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 supervisors_NN2 ,_, they_PPHS2 punch_VV0 a_AT1 time_NNT1 clock_NN1 for_IF the_AT same_DA hours_NNT2 that_CST they_PPHS2 would_VM have_VHI kept_VVN at_II school_NN1 --_NN1 typically_RR ,_, eight-fifteen_MC to_II three-fifteen_MC ._. 
Like_II all_DB teachers_NN2 ,_, they_PPHS2 have_VH0 the_AT summer_NNT1 off_RP ._. 
The_AT city_NN1 's_GE contract_NN1 with_IW their_APPGE union_NN1 ,_, the_AT United_JJ Federation_NN1 of_IO Teachers_NN2 ,_, requires_VVZ that_CST charges_NN2 against_II them_PPHO2 be_VBI heard_VVN by_II an_AT1 arbitrator_NN1 ,_, and_CC until_CS the_AT charges_NN2 are_VBR resolved_VVN --_NN1 the_AT process_NN1 is_VBZ often_RR endless_JJ --_NN1 they_PPHS2 will_VM continue_VVI to_TO draw_VVI their_APPGE salaries_NN2 and_CC accrue_VVI pensions_NN2 and_CC other_JJ benefits_NN2 ._. 
"_" You_PPY can_VM never_RR appreciate_VVI how_RGQ irrational_JJ the_AT system_NN1 is_VBZ until_CS you_PPY 've_VH0 lived_VVN with_IW it_PPH1 ,_, "_" says_VVZ Joel_NP1 Klein_NP1 ,_, the_AT city_NN1 's_GE schools_NN2 chancellor_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ appointed_VVN by_II Mayor_NNB Michael_NP1 Bloomberg_NP1 seven_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
Neither_RR the_AT Mayor_NN1 nor_CC the_AT chancellor_NN1 is_VBZ popular_JJ in_II the_AT Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 ._. 
"_" Before_CS Bloomberg_NP1 and_CC Klein_NP1 took_VVD over_RP ,_, there_EX was_VBDZ no_AT such_DA thing_NN1 as_CSA incompetence_NN1 ,_, "_" Brandi_NP1 Scheiner_NP1 ,_, standing_VVG just_RR under_II the_AT Manhattan_NP1 Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 's_GE "_" Handle_NN1 with_IW Care_NN1 "_" poster_NN1 ,_, said_VVD recently_RR ._. 
Scheiner_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS is_VBZ fifty-six_MC ,_, talks_NN2 with_IW a_AT1 raspy_JJ Queens_NN2 accent_NN1 ._. 
Suspended_VVN with_IW pay_NN1 from_II her_APPGE job_NN1 as_II an_AT1 elementary-school_JJ teacher_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 earns_VVZ more_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 hundred_NNO thousand_NNO dollars_NNU2 a_AT1 year_NNT1 ,_, and_CC she_PPHS1 is_VBZ ,_, she_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, "_" entitled_VVN to_II every_AT1 penny_NNU1 of_IO it_PPH1 ._. "_" 
She_PPHS1 has_VHZ been_VBN in_II the_AT Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 for_IF two_MC years_NNT2 ._. 
Like_II most_DAT others_NN2 I_PPIS1 encountered_VVD there_RL ,_, Scheiner_NP1 said_VVD that_CST she_PPHS1 got_VVD into_II teaching_VVG because_CS she_PPHS1 "_" loves_VVZ children_NN2 ._. "_" 
"_" Before_CS Bloomberg_NP1 and_CC Klein_NP1 ,_, everyone_PN1 knew_VVD that_CST an_AT1 incompetent_JJ teacher_NN1 would_VM realize_VVI it_PPH1 and_CC leave_VVI on_II their_APPGE own_DA ,_, "_" Scheiner_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" There_EX was_VBDZ no_AT need_NN1 to_TO push_VVI anyone_PN1 out_RP ._. "_" 
Like_II ninety-seven_MC per_NNU21 cent_NNU22 of_IO all_DB teachers_NN2 in_II the_AT pre-Bloomberg_JJ days_NNT2 ,_, she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ given_VVN tenure_NN1 after_II her_APPGE third_MD year_NNT1 of_IO teaching_NN1 ,_, and_CC then_RT ,_, like_II ninety-nine_MC per_NNU21 cent_NNU22 of_IO all_DB teachers_NN2 before_II 2002_MC ,_, she_PPHS1 received_VVD a_AT1 satisfactory_JJ rating_NN1 each_DD1 year_NNT1 ._. 
"_" But_CCB they_PPHS2 brought_VVD in_II some_DD new_JJ young_JJ principal_NN1 from_II their_APPGE so-called_JJ Leadership_NN1 Academy_NN1 ,_, "_" Scheiner_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
She_PPHS1 was_VBDZ referring_VVG to_II a_AT1 facility_NN1 opened_VVD by_II Klein_NP1 in_II 2003_MC ,_, where_RRQ educators_NN2 and_CC business_NN1 leaders_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 Jack_NP1 Welch_NP1 ,_, the_AT former_DA chief_JJ executive_NN1 of_IO General_JJ Electric_JJ ,_, hold_VV0 classes_NN2 for_IF prospective_JJ principals_NN2 ._. 
"_" This_DD1 new_JJ principal_NN1 set_VVD me_PPIO1 up_RP ,_, because_CS I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 whistle-blower_NN1 ,_, "_" Scheiner_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" She_PPHS1 gave_VVD me_PPIO1 an_AT1 unsatisfactory_JJ rating_NN1 two_MC years_NNT2 in_II a_AT1 row_NN1 ._. 
Then_RT she_PPHS1 trumped_VVD up_RP charges_NN2 against_II me_PPIO1 and_CC sent_VVD me_PPIO1 to_II the_AT Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 ._. 
So_RR I_PPIS1 'm_VBM fighting_VVG ,_, and_CC waiting_VVG it_PPH1 out_RP ._. "_" 
The_AT United_JJ Federation_NN1 of_IO Teachers_NN2 ,_, the_AT U.F.T._NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ founded_VVN in_II 1960_MC ._. 
Before_II that_DD1 ,_, teachers_NN2 endured_VVD meagre_JJ salaries_NN2 ,_, tyrannical_JJ principals_NN2 ,_, witch_NN1 hunts_VVZ for_IF Communists_NN2 ,_, and_CC gender_NN1 discrimination_NN1 against_II a_AT1 mostly_RR female_JJ workforce_NN1 (_( at_II one_MC1 point_NN1 ,_, there_EX was_VBDZ a_AT1 rule_NN1 requiring_VVG any_DD woman_NN1 who_PNQS got_VVD pregnant_JJ to_TO take_VVI a_AT1 two-year_JJ unpaid_JJ leave_NN1 )_) ._. 
Drawing_VVG its_APPGE members_NN2 from_II a_AT1 number_NN1 of_IO smaller_JJR and_CC ineffective_JJ teachers_NN2 '_GE groups_NN2 ,_, the_AT U.F.T._NP1 coalesced_VVD into_II a_AT1 tough_JJ trade_NN1 union_NN1 that_CST used_JJ strikes_NN2 and_CC political_JJ organizing_NN1 to_TO fight_VVI back_RP ._. 
By_II the_AT time_NNT1 Bloomberg_NP1 took_VVD office_NN1 ,_, forty-two_MC years_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, many_DA2 education_NN1 reformers_NN2 believed_VVD that_CST the_AT U.F.T._NP1 and_CC its_APPGE political_JJ allies_NN2 had_VHD gained_VVN so_RG much_DA1 clout_NN1 that_CST it_PPH1 had_VHD become_VVN impossible_JJ for_IF the_AT city_NN1 's_GE Board_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ already_RR shared_VVN a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO power_NN1 with_IW local_JJ boards_NN2 ,_, to_TO maintain_VVI effective_JJ school_NN1 oversight_NN1 ._. 
In_II 2002_MC ,_, with_IW the_AT city_NN1 's_GE public_JJ schools_NN2 clearly_RR failing_VVG ,_, the_AT State_NN1 Legislature_NN1 granted_VVD control_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 new_JJ Department_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 to_II the_AT new_JJ mayor_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS had_VHD become_VVN a_AT1 billionaire_NN1 by_II building_VVG an_AT1 immense_JJ media_NN company_NN1 ,_, Bloomberg_NP1 L.P._NN1 ,_, that_DD1 is_VBZ renowned_JJ for_IF firing_VVG employees_NN2 at_II will_NN1 and_CC not_XX giving_VVG contracts_NN2 even_RR to_II senior_JJ executives_NN2 ._. 
"_" They_PPHS2 're_VBR in_II the_AT Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 because_CS they_PPHS2 have_VH0 an_AT1 entitlement_NN1 to_TO stay_VVI on_II the_AT payroll_NN1 ,_, "_" says_VVZ Dan_NP1 Weisberg_NP1 ,_, the_AT general_JJ counsel_NN1 and_CC vice-president_NN1 for_IF policy_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Brooklyn-based_JJ national_JJ education-reform_JJ group_NN1 called_VVN the_AT New_JJ Teacher_NN1 Project_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 job_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ an_AT1 economic_JJ decision_NN1 on_II their_APPGE part_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ O.K._JJ But_CCB do_VD0 n't_XX complain_VVI ._. "_" 
Until_CS January_NPM1 ,_, Weisberg_NP1 ran_VVD the_AT Department_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 's_GE labor-relations_NN2 office_NN1 ,_, where_RRQ ,_, in_II 2007_MC ,_, he_PPHS1 set_VVD up_RP the_AT Teacher_NN1 Performance_NN1 Unit_NN1 ,_, or_CC T.P.U._NP1 --_NN1 an_AT1 elite_NN1 group_NN1 of_IO lawyers_NN2 recruited_VVN to_TO litigate_VVI teacher-incompetence_JJ cases_NN2 for_IF the_AT city_NN1 ._. 
"_" When_CS we_PPIS2 announced_VVD the_AT T.P.U._NP1 ,_, the_AT U.F.T._NP1 called_VVD a_AT1 candlelight_NN1 vigil_NN1 "_" --_NN1 at_II City_NN1 Hall_NN1 --_NN1 "_" to_TO protest_VVI what_DDQ they_PPHS2 called_VVD the_AT Gotcha_FU Squad_NN1 ,_, "_" says_VVZ Chris_NP1 Cerf_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 deputy_NN1 chancellor_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS ,_, like_II Klein_NP1 and_CC Weisberg_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ an_AT1 Ivy_NP1 League-educated_JJ lawyer_NN1 ._. 
"_" You_PPY would_VM think_VVI candlelight_NN1 vigils_NN2 would_VM be_VBI reserved_VVN for_IF Gandhi_NP1 or_CC something_PN1 like_II that_DD1 ,_, but_CCB you_PPY could_VM hear_VVI this_DD1 rally_NN1 all_DB the_AT way_NN1 over_II the_AT Brooklyn_NP1 Bridge_NN1 ._. "_" 
Randi_NP1 Weingarten_NP1 is_VBZ unapologetic_JJ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 believed_VVD that_CST the_AT way_NN1 this_DD1 Gotcha_FU Squad_NN1 was_VBDZ portrayed_VVN in_II the_AT press_NN1 by_II the_AT city_NN1 unfairly_RR maligned_VVD all_DB the_AT teachers_NN2 in_II the_AT system_NN1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 says_VVZ ._. 
Weingarten_VV0 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ a_AT1 lawyer_NN1 before_II becoming_VVG a_AT1 teacher_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 U.F.T._NP1 officer_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ a_AT1 smart_JJ ,_, charming_JJ political_JJ pro_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 always_RR tries_VVZ to_TO link_VVI the_AT welfare_NN1 of_IO teachers_NN2 to_II the_AT welfare_NN1 of_IO those_DD2 they_PPHS2 teach_VV0 --_JJ as_CSA in_II "_" what_DDQ 's_VBZ good_JJ for_IF teachers_NN2 is_VBZ good_JJ for_IF the_AT children_NN2 ._. "_" 
Cerf_NP1 's_GE response_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST "_" this_DD1 is_VBZ not_XX about_II teachers_NN2 ;_; it_PPH1 is_VBZ about_II children_NN2 ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 says_VVZ ,_, "_" We_PPIS2 all_DB agree_VV0 with_IW the_AT idea_NN1 that_CST it_PPH1 is_VBZ better_RRR that_DD1 ten_MC guilty_JJ men_NN2 go_VV0 free_JJ than_CSN that_DD1 one_MC1 innocent_JJ person_NN1 be_VBI imprisoned_VVN ._. 
But_CCB by_II laying_VVG that_CST on_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 process_NN1 of_IO disciplining_VVG teachers_NN2 you_PPY put_VV0 the_AT risk_NN1 on_II the_AT kids_NN2 versus_II putting_VVG it_PPH1 on_II an_AT1 occasional_JJ innocent_JJ teacher_NN1 losing_VVG a_AT1 job_NN1 ._. 
For_IF the_AT union_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ better_JJR to_TO protect_VVI one_MC1 thousand_NNO teachers_NN2 than_CSN to_TO wrongly_RR accuse_VVI one_PN1 ._. "_" 
Anthony_NP1 Lombardi_NP1 ,_, the_AT principal_NN1 of_IO P.S._NN1 49_MC ,_, a_AT1 mostly_RR minority_NN1 Queens_NN2 elementary_JJ school_NN1 ,_, puts_VVZ it_PPH1 more_RGR bluntly_RR :_: "_" Randi_NP1 Weingarten_NP1 would_VM protect_VVI a_AT1 dead_JJ body_NN1 in_II the_AT classroom_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ her_APPGE job_NN1 ._. "_" 
"_" For_IF Lombardi_NP1 to_TO say_VVI that_DD1 ,_, "_" Weingarten_NP1 said_VVD ,_, "_" shows_VVZ he_PPHS1 has_VHZ no_AT knowledge_NN1 of_IO who_PNQS I_PPIS1 am_VBM ._. "_" 
Should_VM a_AT1 thousand_NNO bad_JJ teachers_NN2 stay_VV0 put_VVN so_CS21 that_CS22 one_MC1 innocent_JJ teacher_NN1 is_VBZ protected_VVN ?_? 
"_" That_DD1 's_VBZ not_XX a_AT1 question_NN1 we_PPIS2 should_VM be_VBI answering_VVG in_II education_NN1 ,_, "_" Weingarten_NP1 said_VVD to_II me_PPIO1 ._. 
"_" Teachers_NN2 who_PNQS are_VBR treated_VVN fairly_RR are_VBR better_JJR teachers_NN2 ._. 
You_PPY ca_VM n't_XX have_VHI a_AT1 situation_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ fear-based_JJ ..._... 
That_DD1 is_VBZ why_RRQ we_PPIS2 press_VV0 for_IF due_JJ process_NN1 ._. "_" 
Steve_NP1 Ostrin_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ assigned_VVN to_II a_AT1 Brooklyn_NP1 Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 fifty-three_MC months_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, might_VM be_VBI that_RG innocent_JJ man_NN1 whom_PNQO the_AT current_JJ process_NN1 protects_VVZ ._. 
In_II 2005_MC ,_, a_AT1 student_NN1 at_II Brooklyn_NP1 Tech_NN1 ,_, an_AT1 elite_JJ high_JJ school_NN1 where_CS Ostrin_NP1 was_VBDZ an_AT1 award-winning_JJ social-studies_NN2 teacher_NN1 ,_, accused_VVD him_PPHO1 of_IO kissing_VVG her_PPHO1 when_CS the_AT two_MC were_VBDR alone_JJ in_II a_AT1 classroom_NN1 ._. 
After_CS her_APPGE parents_NN2 told_VVD the_AT police_NN2 ,_, Ostrin_NP1 was_VBDZ arrested_VVN and_CC charged_VVN with_IW endangering_VVG the_AT welfare_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 child_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 denied_VVD the_AT charge_NN1 ,_, insisting_VVG that_CST he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ only_RR joking_VVG around_RP with_IW the_AT student_NN1 and_CC that_CST the_AT principal_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS did_VDD n't_XX like_VVI him_PPHO1 ,_, seized_VVN upon_II the_AT incident_NN1 to_TO go_VVI after_II him_PPHO1 ._. 
The_AT tabloids_NN2 ran_VVD headlines_NN2 about_II the_AT arrest_NN1 ,_, and_CC found_VVD a_AT1 student_NN1 who_PNQS claimed_VVD that_CST a_AT1 similar_JJ thing_NN1 had_VHD happened_VVN to_II her_APPGE years_NNT2 before_RT ,_, though_CS she_PPHS1 had_VHD not_XX reported_VVN it_PPH1 to_II the_AT police_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB many_DA2 of_IO Ostrin_NP1 's_GE students_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX believe_VVI the_AT allegations_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 staged_VVD a_AT1 rally_NN1 in_II31 support_II32 of_II33 him_PPHO1 at_II the_AT courthouse_NN1 where_CS the_AT trial_NN1 was_VBDZ held_VVN ._. 
Eleven_MC months_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ acquitted_VVN ._. 
Nevertheless_RR ,_, the_AT city_NN1 refused_VVD to_TO allow_VVI him_PPHO1 to_TO return_VVI to_II class_NN1 ._. 
"_" Sometimes_RT if_CS they_PPHS2 are_VBR exonerated_VVN in_II the_AT courts_NN2 we_PPIS2 still_RR do_VD0 n't_XX put_VVI them_PPHO2 back_RP ,_, "_" Cerf_NP1 said_VVD ,_, adding_VVG that_CST he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ not_XX referring_VVG to_II Ostrin_NP1 in_RR21 particular_RR22 ._. 
"_" Our_APPGE standard_NN1 is_VBZ tighter_JJR than_CSN 'beyond_VV0 a_AT1 reasonable_JJ doubt_NN1 ._. '_" 
What_DDQ would_VM parents_NN2 think_VVI if_CS we_PPIS2 took_VVD the_AT risk_NN1 and_CC let_VV0 them_PPHO2 back_RP in_II a_AT1 classroom_NN1 ?_? "_" 
Ostrin_NP1 's_GE case_NN1 may_VM be_VBI vexing_VVG ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 distraction_NN1 from_II the_AT real_JJ issue_NN1 :_: how_RRQ to_TO deal_VVI not_XX with_IW teachers_NN2 accused_VVN of_IO misconduct_NN1 but_CCB with_IW the_AT far_RG larger_JJR number_NN1 who_PNQS ,_, like_II Scheiner_NP1 ,_, may_VM simply_RR not_XX be_VBI teaching_VVG well_RR ._. 
While_CS maintaining_VVG that_CST the_AT union_NN1 in_II no_AT way_NN1 condones_VVZ failing_VVG teachers_NN2 ,_, Weingarten_NP1 defends_VVZ the_AT elaborate_JJ protections_NN2 that_CST shield_VV0 union_NN1 members_NN2 :_: "_" Teachers_NN2 are_VBR not_XX bankers_NN2 or_CC lawyers_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX have_VHI independent_JJ power_NN1 ._. 
Principals_NN2 have_VH0 huge_JJ authority_NN1 over_II them_PPHO2 ._. 
All_DB we_PPIS2 're_VBR looking_VVG for_IF is_VBZ due_JJ process_NN1 ._. "_" 
Dan_NP1 Weisberg_NP1 ,_, of_IO the_AT New_JJ Teacher_NN1 Project_NN1 ,_, independently_RR offered_VVN a_AT1 similar_JJ analogy_NN1 for_IF the_AT other_JJ side_NN1 :_: "_" You_PPY 're_VBR not_XX talking_VVG about_II a_AT1 bank_NN1 or_CC a_AT1 law_NN1 firm_NN1 ._. 
You_PPY 're_VBR talking_VVG about_II a_AT1 classroom_NN1 --_NN1 which_DDQ is_VBZ far_RG more_RGR important_JJ --_NN1 and_CC your_APPGE ability_NN1 to_TO make_VVI sure_JJ that_CST the_AT right_JJ people_NN are_VBR teaching_VVG there_RL ._. "_" 
By_RT21 now_RT22 ,_, most_RGT serious_JJ studies_NN2 on_II education_NN1 reform_NN1 have_VH0 concluded_VVN that_CST the_AT critical_JJ variable_NN1 when_CS it_PPH1 comes_VVZ to_II kids_NN2 succeeding_VVG in_II school_NN1 is_VBZ n't_XX money_NN1 spent_VVN on_II buildings_NN2 or_CC books_NN2 but_CCB ,_, rather_RR ,_, the_AT quality_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE teachers_NN2 ._. 
A_AT1 study_NN1 of_IO the_AT Los_NP1 Angeles_NP1 public_JJ schools_NN2 published_VVN in_II 2006_MC by_II the_AT Brookings_NP1 Institution_NN1 concluded_VVD that_CST "_" having_VHG a_AT1 top-quartile_JJ teacher_NN1 rather_II21 than_II22 a_AT1 bottom-quartile_JJ teacher_NN1 four_MC years_NNT2 in_II a_AT1 row_NN1 would_VM be_VBI enough_DD to_TO close_VVI the_AT black-white_JJ test_NN1 score_NN1 gap_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB ,_, in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 and_CC elsewhere_RL ,_, holding_VVG teachers_NN2 accountable_JJ for_IF how_RGQ well_RR they_PPHS2 teach_VV0 has_VHZ proved_VVN to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 frontier_NN1 that_CST can_VM not_XX be_VBI crossed_VVN ._. 
The_AT walls_NN2 of_IO the_AT large_JJ ,_, rectangular_JJ room_NN1 were_VBDR covered_VVN with_IW photographs_NN2 of_IO Barack_NP1 Obama_NP1 and_CC various_JJ news_NN1 clippings_NN2 ._. 
Just_RR to_II the_AT right_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 poster_NN1 that_CST proclaimed_VVD "_" Bloomberg_NP1 's_GE 3_MC Rs_NNU2 :_: Rubber_JJ Room_NN1 Racism_NN1 ,_, "_" a_AT1 smiling_JJ young_JJ woman_NN1 sat_VVD in_II a_AT1 lounge_NN1 chair_NN1 that_CST she_PPHS1 had_VHD brought_VVN from_II home_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 declined_VVD to_TO say_VVI what_DDQ the_AT charges_NN2 against_II her_PPHO1 were_VBDR or_CC to_TO allow_VVI her_APPGE name_NN1 to_TO be_VBI used_VVN ,_, but_CCB told_VVD me_PPIO1 that_CST she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ there_RL "_" because_CS I_PPIS1 'm_VBM a_AT1 smart_JJ black_JJ woman_NN1 ._. "_" 
I_PPIS1 asked_VVD the_AT woman_NN1 for_IF her_APPGE reaction_NN1 to_II the_AT following_JJ statement_NN1 :_: "_" If_CS a_AT1 teacher_NN1 is_VBZ given_VVN a_AT1 chance_NN1 or_CC two_MC chances_NN2 or_CC three_MC chances_NN2 to_TO improve_VVI but_CCB still_RR does_VDZ not_XX improve_VVI ,_, there_EX 's_VBZ no_AT excuse_NN1 for_IF that_DD1 person_NN1 to_TO continue_VVI teaching_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 reject_VV0 a_AT1 system_NN1 that_CST rewards_VVZ failure_NN1 and_CC protects_VVZ a_AT1 person_NN1 from_II its_APPGE consequences_NN2 ._. "_" 
"_" That_DD1 sounds_VVZ like_II Klein_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE accountability_NN1 bullshit_NN1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 responded_VVD ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 can_VM tell_VVI if_CS we_PPIS2 're_VBR doing_VDG our_APPGE jobs_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 love_VV0 these_DD2 children_NN2 ._. "_" 
After_CS I_PPIS1 told_VVD her_PPHO1 that_CST this_DD1 was_VBDZ taken_VVN from_II a_AT1 speech_NN1 that_CST President_NNB Obama_NP1 made_VVD last_MD March_NPM1 ,_, she_PPHS1 replied_VVD ,_, "_" Obama_NP1 would_VM n't_XX say_VVI that_CST if_CS he_PPHS1 knew_VVD the_AT real_JJ story_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB on_II July_NPM1 24th_MD President_NNB Obama_NP1 and_CC Secretary_NP1 Duncan_NP1 announced_VVD that_CST they_PPHS2 would_VM award_VVI a_AT1 large_JJ amount_NN1 of_IO federal_JJ education_NN1 aid_NN1 from_II the_AT Administration_NN1 's_GE stimulus_NN1 package_NN1 to_II school_NN1 systems_NN2 on_II the_AT basis_NN1 of_IO how_RRQ they_PPHS2 address_VV0 the_AT issue_NN1 of_IO accountability_NN1 ._. 
And_CC Duncan_NP1 made_VVD it_PPH1 clear_JJ that_CST states_VVZ where_RRQ the_AT law_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX allow_VVI testing_VVG data_NN to_TO be_VBI used_VVN as_II a_AT1 measure_NN1 of_IO teacher_NN1 performance_NN1 would_VM not_XX be_VBI eligible_JJ ._. 
Duncan_NP1 has_VHZ fashioned_VVN the_AT competition_NN1 for_IF this_DD1 stimulus_NN1 money_NN1 as_II a_AT1 "_" Race_NN1 to_II the_AT Top_NN1 ,_, "_" offering_VVG four_MC billion_NNO dollars_NNU2 to_TO be_VBI split_VVN among_II the_AT dozen_NNO or_CC so_RR states_VVZ that_CST do_VD0 the_AT most_RRT to_TO promote_VVI accountability_NN1 in_II their_APPGE schools_NN2 ._. 
"_" That_DD1 could_VM mean_VVI five_MC hundred_NNO million_NNO dollars_NNU2 for_CS New_NP1 York_NP1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ huge_JJ ,_, "_" Weisberg_NP1 says_VVZ ._. 
"_" But_CCB New_NP1 York_NP1 wo_VM n't_XX be_VBI able_JK to_TO compete_VVI without_IW radical_JJ changes_NN2 in_II the_AT law_NN1 ._. "_" 
Such_DA changes_NN2 would_VM have_VHI to_TO include_VVI not_XX only_RR the_AT provision_NN1 forbidding_JJ Klein_NN1 to_TO use_VVI test_NN1 scores_NN2 to_TO evaluate_VVI teachers_NN2 (_( which_DDQ Weisberg_NP1 is_VBZ most_RRT focussed_VVN on_RP )_) but_CCB also_RR provisions_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 those_DD2 mandating_VVG teacher_NN1 tenure_NN1 ,_, that_CST are_VBR at_II the_AT core_NN1 of_IO the_AT teachers'-union_JJ contract_NN1 ._. 
Klein_NN1 has_VHZ already_RR come_VVN up_RP with_IW a_AT1 debatable_JJ technical_JJ argument_NN1 that_CST the_AT testing_NN1 restriction_NN1 wo_VM n't_XX actually_RR disqualify_VVI New_NP1 York_NP1 from_II at_RR21 least_RR22 applying_VVG for_IF the_AT money_NN1 (_( because_CS the_AT restriction_NN1 is_VBZ about_II using_VVG test_NN1 scores_NN2 only_RR for_IF tenure_NN1 decisions_NN2 )_) ._. 
