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exists. We want to provide them with the tools to create a more positive school environment.” Data on suspensions in city schools shows that children of color are suspended at disproportionately higher rates than white children for the same kinds of infractions. Urbanski points out that teachers don’t suspend students. But Rivera says that teachers often initiate the process with a referral to an administrator. “What we’re saying is, what do we need to do to lower those referrals and help you with classroom management?” Rivera says. That misses the point, Urbanski says, and buys into the narrative that teachers are the problem. He cites a recent alleged incident at School 8 involving Cynthia Elliott, vice president of the city school board. The RTA filed a class action grievance with the district after Elliott allegedly interrupted a recent professional development meeting and told teachers that if they don’t feel comfortable teaching in an urban setting, to leave. The grievance says that Elliott repeatedly cursed at the teachers in the meeting. “I think this has a direct relevance to the Code of Conduct policy,” Urbanski says. “You can’t teach what you can’t model.” Elliott did not respond to requests for comment on this story. Urbanski says that Elliott seems to be saying that teachers should resign themselves to physical and verbal abuse if they want to work in city schools and that they better not complain about it. “The district has now lost any moral standing on the issue of Code of Conduct,” he says. “Why is it that the teachers union is the only one saying ‘You can’t talk to teachers this way’? Where is the outrage?”
22 CITY SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2015
Film Previews Full film reviews available at rochestercitynewspaper.com. [ OPENING ] BLACK MASS (R): Johnny Depp stars as Whitey Bulger, the most infamous mobster in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf. With Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Kevin Bacon, and Peter Sarsgaard. Canandaigua, Culver, Eastview, Geneseo, Greece, Henrietta, Pittsford, Tinseltown, Webster BLUE VELVET (1986): The discovery of a severed human ear in a field leads a young man on an investigation that leads him to a beautiful nightclub singer and a group of criminals who have kidnapped her child. Little (Fri, Sep 18, 8 p.m.) CAPTIVE (PG-13): A single mother struggling with drug addiction is taken hostage in her own apartment by a man on the run from the law. Starring Kate Mara and David Oyelowo. Henrietta CRIMES OF THE FUTURE (1970): This surreal film from David Cronenberg is set in a future where sexually mature woman appear to have been obliterated by a plague produced by the use of cosmetics. Dryden (Thu, Sep 17, 8 p.m.) CYRANO DE BERGERAC (1922): The classic tale of romantic deception about a lovestruck poet with a crisis of confidence due to an oversized schnozz. Dryden (Tue, Sep 22, 8 p.m.) EVEREST (PG-13): In this fact-based adventure story, a climbing expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snowstorm. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, and Keira Knightley. IMAX GRAND HOTEL (1932): Guests at a posh Berlin hotel struggle through scandal and heartache. Starring Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, and Joan Crawford. Dryden (Wed, Sep 16, 8 p.m.) GRANDMA (R): Lily Tomlin stars as a self-described misanthrope who has her protective bubble burst when her 18-year-old granddaughter shows up needing help. Culver, Henrietta, Little, Pittsford, Tinseltown LISTEN TO ME MARLON (NR): Using hundreds of hours of audio that Marlon Brando recorded over the course of his life, this documentary the screen legend to tell his story in his own words. Little (Mon, Sep 21, 7 p.m.) MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS (PG-13): The survivors of the Maze now face a new set of challenges on the open roads of a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles, in this adaptation of the popular YA book series. Brockport, Canandaigua, Culver, Eastview, Geneseo, Greece, Henrietta, Pittsford, Tinseltown, Webster NOTORIOUS (1946): Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman start in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic romantic spy thriller. Dryden (Saturday, Sep 19, 8 p.m.) SPIRITUS (NR): This locallyproduced documentary explores the events that led to the