Problem The newark campus Rutgers is the step child of New Brunswick. The field staff at Newark were overworked and unsupervised. They were rude and did not do their job.
Sept. 2006 I received a phone call saying that I got a replacement for my field liaison.
Jan. 2007
During second semester of my program, the field instructor did not give feedback but started telling me how to do my lesson plan. For example, she wanted me to bring a library book and a mirror. I told her the children from the contained class room will break the mirror or tear the book. She wanted to know how I could determine that these rough kids can break the mirror. Two weeks later or so, she took me to a room and started giving me an attitude. She told me that I was rude and that she did not think that I was going to pass this year. She wanted to know why I wanted to be a social worker.
Jan. 2007
I received a very rude phone call from field liaison. He wanted to know what my plan was. I told him that I had no idea. I thought that I was doing fine and thought that she was going on a power trip. I told him all that was going on in my field. I also told him that I ask her if I am doing the process recordings right. The field instructor told me that the process report was just a learning tool. He did not care and ended the conversation by saying that I should respect her. I should also talk to her about what I need to do to improve myself. I felt nervous and uncomfortable approaching her.
However, I tried my level best and tried very hard passing that year. She did not provide me with any feedbacks or give me targets. She liked a book that I created for the children. She said that I did an intervention well. However, the field instructor started to have a laid back attitude toward her job responsibilities. She did not correct my progress reports and never gave supervision even though I constantly asked for it.in other words, she did not help me with my clients I had clients from special education who did not take their medication. She did not teach me the format of the end of the year progress reports for the year.
When the field liaison came, she told me that she does not think that I have what it takes I tried standing up for my self but the field instructor said that I just know how to talk well and that is about it. Note: a paid staff, the field liaison was poorly dressed in sweats and had to be called to come in to do the visit.
Aug. 2007
I found out that I did not learn the necessary skills for next year and had trouble finding a placement. The field director told me that the only placement that she has available was at Trenton jail and was finding placement that were at night time. The field department did not contain any books. When I told her that I do not want an internship at night, she told me how to protect myself. Finally, I was placed in a high school.
The director at the site told me that she wanted someone to tutor the children as well as a lunch aid. I brought my concern to the field director at my school. She reminded me that I was having tough time finding a placement and told me to work it out with the field instructor.
The field instructor was very critical. She used progress reports that I have done on algebra session to talk down at me. When I did have a client, she did not want to do supervise me on a client. She made a fuss when I told a junior about a senior college trip. When a teacher was talking about the time her sister was raped, she wanted me to elaborate on what the teacher said. The field instructor had unrealistic expectations such as memorizing the kid's name in the program. She also wanted wanted me to walk around the cafeteria and speaking to the teens. Not too many teenagers want to talk to the social worker.
Oct. 2007
The field liaison came from Rutgers and wanted to hear our clinical presentation. She told me that I came late on that day I forget that it was an A day. The A day starts earlier than the B day. She told him that I mixed up where a father of an algebra student came from. She told him that I said SeaBreeze instead of Breezeway. She suggested that I do the dirty work there such as scheduling appointments for their college trips. When I told them that I had to find a job after this, the field liaison said that I would also not have any references after this to find a job after this. The field liason also told me that the field instructor can lose her license if a client of mine commits suicide. He also said that I should be in the other track (administration and policy making)
Nov. 2007
The director sat with me and field instructor. She wanted to know whether I wanted to work with adolescent. She wanted to know whether I trusted Johanny. She told me that she had to protect the agency and had to let me go. She also told me that Nelinda, the field director was suppose to be there.
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Nov. 2007
I tried meeting the field director and tried talking to her about my situation. She did not even allow me to talk. They did not even hear my side of the story before deciding to switch my track. I did not receive the school policy of having a written explanation of why I had to leave the agency. The dean of student service said that she has no power over this situation. The field director told me that they were going to keep me and did not care because she was going to leave the department.
Dec. 7 2007
The dean did not allow me to appeal my situation. I had no choice but to withdraw because I have to support myself. I did not fail those two classes but received a NG and INC. My social work professor said that I did a good job in the role playing.in my opinion, I just need someone who is not so critical to supervise me. I also think that field instructor should have more people skills than what she had.
The ombudsman sent me to see one of the associate dean. She told me that they were going to have a difficult time finding a placement at that time. I also don't know why I had to leave the high school. I had no transportation. However, I do not think that it is fair that they changed my track as well.
Neeraja
Newark, New Jersey
U.S.A.
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