Tradition

The opening scene of Fiddler on the Roof is a musical number entitled, “Tradition!” I’m not Clive Barnes and I’m not going to review the play nor comment on Zero Mostel’s portrayal of Tevya. But I am going to comment on the ignorance of the New York City School System and it’s concept of mini schools within larger buildings. But bear with me a moment. As Fiddler points out, you do not mess with tradition. Why? As is answered in the play, Because, it’s tradition! Comical, but true.

I taught and coached at Tilden H.S. in Brooklyn for more than two decades. Before that I spent a dozen years at Jefferson. I loved my students and my players at both schools. THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS ARE THE SCHOOL, not the walls, ceilings, classrooms and cafeteria. The memories we have of our days in school, whether behind the desk or in front of it are thoughts that will last a lifetime. The friendships we nurture and the lessons learned will last until we breathe no longer. My players and my students are likie my own children. When I hear of one passing away, I grieve. We are family – and always will be family. We are Tilden! The same can be said of the other schools in our city. But at Tilden, we are THE BLUE DEVILS!

Several years ago, in its infinite wisdom the NYC Board of Education decided that one large High School does not serve its students properly. So they weeded out the student body as it was and created mini schools within each building. Each mini having its own principal, administration and staff. So in each building there are three or four people earning principal’s salaries and so on down the pay scale. Money poured into administration instead of educational tools!

A vast majority of the time the principals come from outside of the old school and staff. As a result, there is no connection to the history or tradition of the old school. Id this right? Donations are still solicited from alumni, yet these administrators ignore the history of the building they are in. I’ll use Tilden H.S. as an example. The three principals of Tilden have decided to do away with the name of the school’s teams – the Tilden Blue Devils. The reason? It has a negative connotation. Bull manure! One of the most prestigious universities in the world, Duke University has Blue Devils as the name of its teams. Have they thought of changing it? No! Why? Because it is simply the name of q team! Tilden did change its name from Blue Devils about thirty years ago. Some neighborhood people came in and convinced the principal that we were exalting the concept of devil worship! Rather than telling these people to seriously consider getting psychiatric help, he acceded to their demands and for a time Tilden became the Monarchs. That name went over so well that a few years later we returned to the Blue Devils. We ARE the Blue Devils. We SHOULD REMAIN the Blue Devils. Why? Because thousands of Tilden alumni are Blue Devils! These three principals who have decided to change the name of the teams – I ask you this – WHAT IS YOUR CONNECTION TO TILDEN’S PAST?

How dare you come into OUR school and without consideration for or caring about Tilden alumni, even think of changing the name of our teams! That’s not your job! Your job is to ensure that our children get as fine an education as those alumni of the past received during their days at Tilden. No matter what the names of the current mini schools are, you are housed in Tilden High School. DO NOT MESS WITH OUR PAST! DO NOT MESS WITH OUR NAME! Do some research and find out about the rich tradition of the place you now make your occupational home and honor our past!

TRADITION!

Jeff Schrier, Tilden 1981-2001