Well apparently all you have to do is be a school teacher in New York City and upset the apple cart (break a rule or just plain aggravate the wrong person). There are over 700 teachers in NYC alone that are getting paid to sit there. Yep they are under contract and well if they can't teach for some reason then they have to report to a room to sit or as some call it the rubber room. So they sit there and wait and wait for their dicipinary hearings. Some times they wait months and some times years.

700 NYC teachers are paid to do nothing

Because the teachers collect their full salaries of $70,000 or more, the city Department of Education estimates the practice costs the taxpayers $65 million a year. The department blames union rules.

"It is extremely difficult to fire a tenured teacher because of the protections afforded to them in their contract," spokeswoman Ann Forte said.

City officials said that they make teachers report to a rubber room instead of sending they home because the union contract requires that they be allowed to continue in their jobs in some fashion while their cases are being heard. The contract does not permit them to be given other work.

Ok what I dont get is we have so many students that are struggling why cant they atleast use their time to give some private instruction or some tutoring in small groups. I think what a waste of talent when so many need help. Even adult educations - something.