I heard an amazing story on the "This American Life" pod cast. It concerns teachers in the New York City school district who are placed on "reassignment" after various infractions, some apparently deserved, some maybe not. Whatever their issue, they are sent to a Relocation Facility, not so affectionately called "The Rubber Room" by the teachers. From the TAF story, teachers are only sent for good reasons - verbal or even physical assault or possible assault on students, inappropriate behavior, poor performance. This is the school system protecting the student body, according to a school system spokesman. That sounds very noble. We all want our schools to watch out for our kids. But teachers report to this room for days, months, and even years on end; doing nothing, living in what becomes almost a prison, while on full pay and benefits. Their "cases" are often not resolved in any fashion. (You can read more about the day to day life in The Rubber Room here.) So where is the nobility here?

What this got me thinking of is not the injustice to the teachers (professionals; people we entrust to help educate our kids in one of the most difficult, under appreciated, underpaid jobs in America), but the incredible waste of resources such a governmental mess has created. These teachers (hundreds, apparently) are not allowed to produce anything of value, yet are sucking up money, benefits, HR time and effort, and space (which requires rent and maintenance). As a business owner, I find that unconscionable. I understand that it is difficult to get rid of bad teachers in a unionated work force; I understand that teachers often need to have a change of scenery; I even understand that there are bad teachers who don't deserve the opportunity they have been granted. But why let these people rot in a wasteful environment like this? As an entrepreneur, if I had expensive resources being wasted, I'd go out of business pretty soon. I have to figure out a way to make my human resources function, whether its me, a consultant I'm paying, or employees. If not, I'm dead, and quickly too.

How do large agencies get away with this? I submit that it is largely because it isn't their money and they don't look at it with any sense of responsibility. I guarantee the person who came up with this system of taking a troubled teacher out of action and creating a place for them to congregate while drawing a salary doesn't think of himself as an "owner" of the school system. He doesn't feel personal responsibility for the funds he spends. Instead, he sees a quick "solution" to a problem and installs it using other peoples' money. And then doesn't act on the fallout.

Don't even get me started on the potential injustices, the waste of effort this whole process entails. As a business owner, however, I'm appalled at this lack of ownership. How can the a responsible business (if a school system qualifies as a business) justify this?