Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Rubber Room: The Movie
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Mar 21, 2010
Modified Mar 21, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Sabrina Jaszi
Published Mar 21, 2010
Modified Mar 21, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
You’ve heard it described, now two filmmakers are ready to give us a rare glimpse into the bizarre saga of NYC’s infamous rubber room. The long-term holding area for misbehaving teachers—fodder for many a sordid Post expose—is the subject of a documentary premiering soon, and the tabloid got a sneak peak. "It's like a jail for teachers," one rubber-room hostage says in the film. "We have constant fights," says another. "Yesterday, three fights broke out." See a trailer below.
Justin Cegnar and Jeremy Garrett started working on the film five years ago, inspired by a colleague of Garrett’s, disciplined for checking out a student’s rear (a common scenario apparently). In the guise of a booted teacher, Garrett got into the Rubber Rooms and started filming. He and Cegnar, a web designer, hope their film will out the little-known institution for its huge waste of city funds and resources. Still, Cegnar says, "I'm sympathetic toward everyone [involved], because it sucks for everybody." The pair is still looking for a distributor, but you can attend their premiere on April 16 at Puck Building.
Tagged
documentary
DOE
film
puck building
rubber room
teacher
Sabrina Jaszi
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .