file photo by Boyd Loving
I know from personal experience that NJ school districts DO practice nepotism in hiring. I graduated with a Masters degree, GPA 4.0, received Outstanding Student Teacher Award and went on numerous interviews where the interviewer DID NOT EVEN MAKE EYE CONTACT. When I was later told I did not get the job, I always asked for feedback on the interview; what was lacking, what could I have done better? Nine times out of ten they said my credentials and interview answers were excellent but they already had someone in mind for the job. One time a lazy C student I knew from school got the job for which I interviewed. She had a mother, aunt and cousin already working in the district. I was shocked and disillusioned by the whole experience. They couldn’t care less about getting the best for the students.
So sad. Is there any data on nepotism in the $110 million Ridgewood BOE?
I agree. Many years ago when I was in college taking an education course, there was a student, average at best, who was quite candid about why she wanted to be a teacher – summers off and a nice pension after 25 years. She was very unimpressive and expressed no special joy in the “love of learning” or the “wonder of children.” She added that she was not afraid of landing a job because her uncle was the principal at a local school. I don’t know if she ever got a job but the same story sadly plays out in many hiring situations, “It’s who you know, not what you know.”