Albany school officials owe a serious apology to the legacy of Philip Livingston, a New York delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776 and an influential signer of the Declaration of Independence. While it’s touching that Livingston has been honored with his name on the plaque, school officials have disgraced this real-life patriot by allowing the school to turn into a living hell for teachers and students. This story in Saturday’s news describes a 12-year-old boy who was arrested and charged with menacing after he allegedly threatened and spat upon his teacher. Cops said the kid went to the teacher’s classroom door and shouted obscenities, causing the teacher to close the door. But the determined kid returned later when the teacher was alone, shoved desks out of the way to get at her, cornered her, and then spit in the poor woman’s face and hair.

An isolated incident? Hardly. Despite a “zero tolerance policy” instituted by school officials last spring, the school is one of only five in the entire state to meet the ridiculously watered-down definition of a “persistently dangerous” school under NCLB. (In the 2004-05 school year, Livingston tallied one case of arson, two intimidations with a weapon, and 14 weapons possession cases – not to mention stabbings and several fights off campus.)

Albany school officials obviously have a lot on their hands, and teachers in the district are no strangers to harassment. (Ed: These teachers need a union or something!) According to the Times Union story:

The Friday before Christmas, four Albany High School students were arrested
after they allegedly harassed a teacher in her classroom.

Two girls confronted the teacher, Johnsi Ingram, as she sat in her
classroom, police said. The girls were joined by two boys and the four
surrounded the veteran teacher, taunting her and touching her in front of her
class, police said.

The teacher's wig was taken off her head and tossed around. Ingram was able
to get away and reported the incident to school security.

The kicker: One of the girls accused of taking the teacher’s wig off and throwing it around the classroom is the daughter of an Albany Board of Ed member.

Note to teachers in Albany Public Schools: If you want to work in a public school where the kids don’t pin you in a corner and spit in your face, (not to mention not throwing your wig around the classroom like a football) New York's charter schools are always on the lookout for the best and brightest education professionals to participate in their exciting reform efforts.