The United Federation of Teachers said Thursday the head of the math department at Bronx High School of Science is a difficult problem they're trying to solve. The UFT claims the teachers are not being treated with the respect they deserve and are sometimes treated like children.

"Screamed at, yelled at in front of students and had their jobs threatened. And told who they can and cannot speak to. And given disciplinary letters for minor infractions,” said UFT District Representative Lynne Winderbaum.

In 2007, the school hired a new assistant principal to head up the math department. Since then, the UFT said their members in that department have constantly complained about their new boss, Rosemarie Jahoda.

In fact, the union said last year, 20 out of 22 math teachers signed a Department of Education harassment complaint against her. The union representative for all Bronx high schools said five teachers have left since Jahoda was hired.

"I don't believe they have left because of better money or better job offers else where. I think their firsthand testimony is that they were leaving because of the harassment and the atmosphere there,” said Winderbaum.

The principal of the school did not want to appear on camera but did spend quite a while on the phone discussing the issue. She said, in her view, the criticism just doesn't add up.

Principal Valerie Reidy said the math teachers may not be happy because the assistant principal has moved them around to teach different courses. Reidy said the changes were initiatives for the good of the students. Students at the school said they have varying opinions about the schoolhouse battle.

"Before Jahoda came here there were so many good teachers here who helped out the students in their personal lives, no matter what,” said one student.

"Ms. Jahoda the principal is great and she could not have done anything to drive this,” said another student.

The two sides have already gone to the chancellor's office over this issue.

The teachers and their bosses are expected to head to an independent arbitrator to work out a problem they can't seem to figure out on their own.