Shocking information about current DCSS BOE members continues to surface. Alleged wifebeating. Allegedly pointing a gun at another person – twice! Alleged theft in an amount large enough to be a felony.
And then there is deep denial about the serious deficiencies and integrated dishonest behavior of DCSS cabinet members and top administrators … and the alleged criminal and felonious activities of BOE members.
At the DHA forum on Tuesday night, October 26, Jim Redovian (Dist. 1) said “Things aren’t that bad in DeKalb. We’re doing pretty well.”
Jim's opponent, Nancy Jester’s well-researched, accurate spreadsheets document that things are, indeed, that bad in DCSS. For example: Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) started out at a 14% AYP school failure rate in 2004 as did DCSS. Today, GCPS has only an 8.5% school failure rate while DCSS has risen to a 44% school failure rate. GCPS has gotten better even as their population has become more “economically disadvantaged” (54% are now on free/reduced lunch), more diverse (now only one-third of students are white; they have more ESL) and quite large (now 160,000+ students). Of course, our board members say that we shouldn’t compare the systems.
Jim's opponent, Nancy Jester’s well-researched, accurate spreadsheets document that things are, indeed, that bad in DCSS. For example: Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) started out at a 14% AYP school failure rate in 2004 as did DCSS. Today, GCPS has only an 8.5% school failure rate while DCSS has risen to a 44% school failure rate. GCPS has gotten better even as their population has become more “economically disadvantaged” (54% are now on free/reduced lunch), more diverse (now only one-third of students are white; they have more ESL) and quite large (now 160,000+ students). Of course, our board members say that we shouldn’t compare the systems.
Perhaps the most damning thing is to look at the ITBS scores for reading comprehension. In first grade DeKalb County
It would be informative – and probably even more damning – to look at individual BOE member's voting records. The BOE has made certain that its members’ votes and statements in official meetings are inaccessible. All votes and statements are recorded in the minutes – for every meeting – including work sessions, business meetings, called meetings, and committee meetings. These are public record and should be easily, publicly accessible. Why are the minutes of these meetings not on the DCSS website? Why are members’ votes not on the DCSS website?
The only way to access this critical information, detailing the performance of BOE members, is through an open records request. That sure makes it tough to be an informed voter and Throw The Incumbents Out! on Election Day. Hmmm … exactly!
In the place of actual – vs. anecdotal – performance information for the incumbents, why take a chance? DCSS is one big hot mess – wasting unrecoverable time and education from our students … cutting unrecoverable salary and retirement funding from our teachers and other employees … threatening the livelihood of any employee who dares to speak up … protecting unqualified friends, family and sorority/fraternity members – their jobs and inflated salaries … and much, much more.
More of the same? It is your choice today, Tuesday, November 2, 2010.
7 AM - 7PM
As a taxpayer ... take charge, flex your muscles and
Vote NO on ALL DCSS Board of Education Incumbents!
God is good. Your comments WILL be read. Thanks for all the FACTUAL information, Sandy. :-) Hopefully, people will take this opportunity to vote for change. If they don't they will deserve more of the same and shouldn't complain.
ReplyDeleteWhoa - check out this comment in the article about remedial help in college -
ReplyDelete"You can't expect the state to fund your lack of capacity," [Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs] said.
Tough talk from the powers that be in Georgia's colleges - looks like we won't be able to use them as a crutch to "re-teach" high school material anymore.
"We do a good job giving everyone an opportunity to earn a college education, but you have to wonder if we're doing a disservice to some of these students," said Willis Potts, chairman of the state Board of Regents, which oversees the university system. "We need better programs and we need to start being more honest and upfront with these students."
By fall 2012 the university system no longer will admit students who need remedial courses in all three areas -- reading, English and math. About 2,100 freshmen were enrolled in all three last fall.
The system will reduce the wait before students can return to college after being dismissed for failing remedial classes from three years to one. Students will have two attempts to pass each reading and English class and three tries to pass two math classes.
Previously students had up to four tries to pass reading and English and five attempts at math. Studies show the less time students spend in remedial classes, the more likely they are to earn a degree, Michelich said.
If students can't succeed after repeated attempts they shouldn't be on campus, Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, said.
Remedial classes cost Ga. colleges millions
And, luckily for DeKalb, Atlanta is taking up all of SACS attention right now --
ReplyDeleteAtlanta Public Schools under formal accreditation review
At least we're not Atlanta! There's that...
Good quote by Wayne Dyer: If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandy! It certainly is time for change! Let's hope we can vote the incumbents out!
ReplyDeleteSandy -- I was about to correct you and say the minutes are on line as an attachment to the agenda item, like all other attachments to other agenda items. Then.... I took a look. Right you are. They're not there. They used to be. I wonder how long ago the change was made. It's a blatant example of a board unwilling to be open and transparent. Throw the bums out!
ReplyDeleteMr. Redovian will say anything...he's saying that Nancy Jester said maybe to moving the magnets. That's not true. She said "NO" at the DCPC forum. I was there. He's critical of her having "only" elementary school aged children. We should all be offended that this is the attitude of a sitting BOE member. I know I am! No wonder they are so rude to us all. I am proud of Ms. Jester for stepping forward to serve.
ReplyDeleteAnon, the minutes of the meetings haven't been accessible for a very long time -- it's one of the reasons this blog was started - we reported on the monthly meetings here... you can go back in our archives and find out what happened at most of the regular board meetings - you cannot do that by using the board's website. Funny - I can easily find the board meeting minutes online from my little hometown in Ohio!
ReplyDeleteCereb. I respectfully gisagree with your statement
ReplyDelete"And, luckily for DeKalb, Atlanta is taking up all of SACS attention right now --"
DCSS missed the only opportunity that will be available to it for at least two years to clean house. SACS failed the children of DeKalb county and its taxpayers by not investigating NOW.
The administration has achieved its goal of protecting the nest. Unless thee is a dramatic shift in the BOE today, all that we can expect in the future is platitudes and whitewash. Also, tax increases if Walker and Redovian are still here.
Cereb, you have done a great public service in mobilizing some of the troops and I compliment you. You should be nominated for DeKalb County Citizen of the year. But it looks like we were stopped on the one yard line by a bad call by the officials. I hope that today will bring about a chance for a review and another play.
I agree completely with your posting about the failure of DCSS schools--it's bad and getting worse. But as a teacher, and much as I dislike the arrogant way that the Board has treated everyone in the last few years, I have to say that the Board does not educate students--teachers educate students. And until DCSS AND the community that supports it decide to give teachers a decent wage, tolerable working conditions, and a strong, decentralized leadership that empowers principals, administrators, and educators to make decisions that affect their students, DCSS will continue to lag.
ReplyDeleteGwinnett has a much more decentralized system that allows principals considerable decision-making power. Teacher there also bemoan the lack of salary increases, but they are not, overall, as angry and unhappy as those of us in DCSS. Change the BOE membership here, for sure--but then watch the new members carefully to see whether they are willing to listen to teachers and administrators in more than a pro forma way. At present, teachers and administrators (except for the ones on the Mountain) have no voice whatsoever in decisions that impact students' lives, yet we are the ones who know those students' academic needs best. Please, don't forget us.
DCSS, I agree with you completely, but what happens after we "watch the new members carefully"?? (assuming that there are any?)
ReplyDeleteWe are watching a bunch of incompetents running the system now and can't do anything about it!
Side note--why aren't we worried about the state super candidates? I may have missed a thread on that, and if so, I apologize. It seems as if that choice is crucial.
Minutes have not been published for any BOE meetings since July 19, 2010.
ReplyDeleteMinutes for meetings are to be made public:
Open Meetings Act:
http://www.gfaf.org/open_meetings.html
" A summary of the subjects acted on and those members present at a meeting of any agency shall be written and made available to the public for inspection within two business days of the adjournment of a meeting of any agency. The minutes of a meeting of any agency shall be promptly recorded and such records shall be open to public inspection once approved as official by the agency, but in no case later than immediately following the next regular meeting of the agency; provided, however, nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the earlier release of minutes, whether approved by the agency or not. Said minutes shall, as a minimum, include the names of the members present at the meeting, a description of each motion or other proposal made, and a record of all votes. In the case of a roll-call vote the name of each person voting for or against a proposal shall be recorded and in all other cases it shall be presumed that the action taken was approved by each person in attendance unless the minutes reflect the name of the persons voting against the proposal or abstaining."
Perhaps someone would like to call or email Hollie Manheimer, Executive Director Georgia First Amendment Foundation to ask about the absence of DeKalb BOE minutes:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gfaf.org/contact.html
There is nothing that says the minutes have to be made available online. The BOE have the previous month's meeting minutes each work session because they have to approve the minutes.
ReplyDeletePerhaps DCSS could decentralize like most of Gwinnett if DCSS hired QUALITY principals like Gwinnett. Right now we have many principals (not all) that are part of the nepotism group and do not have sense to get in out of the rain!
ReplyDeleteMy sense in Gwinnett is that many decisions are made at the central office. They offer a very consistent program of instruction and professional development.
ReplyDeleteI do think they have some better administrators in the school house mostly because their schools are so large and tricky to manage and run.
The worst two teachers we ever had in DeKalb went to Gwinnett when run off by our principal. References were never checked but I think the schools are so large, bad teachers just kind of wash out.
Perhaps DCSS could decentralize like most of Gwinnett if DCSS hired QUALITY principals like Gwinnett. Right now we have many principals (not all) that are part of the nepotism group
ReplyDeleteThat would be CCHS in my opinion. Others have expressed that opinion also. But, yes, I know ... it is only an opinion.
The minutes have always been available. However, there is one copy you can go in and read. It is my understanding that you can either make an appointment or just go in the central office and ask to see them.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pain in the rear to get to see them. This is the whole point. In this century the board needs to be more transparent. They should be online.
I talk to a gentleman last night who call me and ask me to ask you guys to help me look into how horrible it is for many at Avondale since the construction has been completed.
Many of the coaches and athletes have no place to put equipment or dress out as athletes apparently due to space being taken up by the magnet program. I am all for the magnet program but apparently many of the other programs at Avondale are hurt because of the placement of the program at Avondale and their space being taken. Now they are without necessary space. I really do not think this is fair to this group of young adults either. He asked me to advocate for these children and I assured him I would so I am beginning now to advocate. This is not right for the other children at Avondale.
I am supportive of the magnet program at Avondale but the planning was done poorly and this needs to be corrected so others do not have to do without needed space.
Good points Anon 2:19 .... Actually, my point about luckily for DeKalb the APS system is taking up SACs attention, should have said - lucky for this board... You're right - it's not lucky for the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteAlso - teacher, remember, the next board will choose the next superintendent. The current board did a horrific job of allowing Lewis to run the system apparently without checks and balances - as in NO auditor! They rubber-stamped everything he did! They approved every single contract he brought to them from Pat Pope that highlighted very obviously that Vince Pope was on the job. Now they act like they were "hood-winked" - NOT!
In fact, Dr. Walker is so tight with Dr. Lewis that he sponsored him into the Commerce Club - a fancy business club in downtown Atlanta!
All the while, this board allowed Lewis to build a virtual kingdom using Title 1 funds - hiring hundreds of highly paid "coordinators " or other such titles - who pushed multi-million dollar programs and spent NO time with students. (Instead traveling to Hollywood to learn more about the program!)
In the past, Title 1 was spent on support teachers - for good old-fashioned things like reading and math - who worked directly with struggling students to ensure they had the same kind of support as non-title 1 students tend to have at home. But NOT LEWIS - he took those jobs and re-worked them into a massive department - putting his very closely allied administrator at the helm - and an army of people to "monitor" or "mentor" or "pester" teachers.
We need a superintendent who knows what kind of support teachers need to make learning happen to it's fullest -- NOT someone who wants to create his own personal fiefdom to gloat about as he hobnobs with the business elite at the Commerce Club.
We need to look for the person with their sleeves already rolled up.
Having had principals at two of my children's schools who were not part of any "in" crowd, I have to say that I think DCSS doesn't attract the highest caliber candidates. Having served on several interview panels for both assistant principals and principals, I was almost always underwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteOne way to fix this is to substantially reduce the number of schools we are operating. It is easier to find 80 great administrators than 120+.
The polls are now closed! Anyone care to make predictions about any of the elections tonight, whether they be DCSS Board or state wide races. Not your wishes or your hopes, but your best guess of what will happen.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that most of the incumbents on the DCSS board are either reelected or headed to a runoff. I suspect Redovian will lose, but I think Walker will win and Sarah Copelin-Woods may very well win without a runoff. I could be way off here, but given there have been no polls, I am just going with my gut.
Share yours,
I wouldn't want to make a prediction - but here's the link at the AJC to follow the returns - just hit refresh every once in a while -
ReplyDeletehttp://projects.ajc.com/election-results/2010/11/02/dekalb-results/
I do not think you are far off.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with your prediction about district 9. I thought this could well be the case before I ever entered the race but it did not stop me from entering and giving the voters a choice. This was important to me.
I think the Woods, Wilson race will be interesting as there is a third candidate who is a sharp guy. I have been to one forum with him. He appears to be a bright guy.
I am not for sure how district 1 will turn out. There are three candidates. There could be a run-off here. When you get into a run-off anything can happen. It does not matter how well you do in the first race. I can tell you all about that from experience.
District 7 and and 5 could also have a run-off. There are several candidates. It is hard to get 51% with several candidates like this.
Again once you are in a run-off anything can happen. However, I have said it before and I will say it again. Normally it is benificial to the retired citizens during a run-off as younger voters do not always go back to the polls. Citizens with jobs are just tired when they get home and just do not always make it to the polls before they close.
Thanks for the link Cere.
ReplyDeleteDeKalb is always really slow. The AJC is predicting that Fulton and DeKalb will be among the last votes reported to the state tonight/tomorrow early morning.
ReplyDeleteThe results will start coming in about 9:00 good normally. By 10:00 or 11:00 you should have a good idea unless the votes are close.
ReplyDeleteIf you go over to the election office you can see the results earlier as they post them out on the board.
Hey, you guys might enjoy this link - it's live chatter (tweets) from news reporters blogs - they're chatting about the election - kind of like listening in to a pub table of reporters.
ReplyDeleteGeorgia Unfiltered
There is a live site that also runs when the DeKalb Voters Office starts showing results you can see them here:
ReplyDeletehttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/voter/ElectionResults.html
You have to go to the see the results live at the left at the bottom.
Also, I've been told that back in the day WSB TV2 had quicker election result updates than even the election's office web site. Here's a link (below) if it's still true and you don't want to stay up too late watching results. It may be worth comparing their feed to others.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wsbtv.com/politics/index.html
1:45 in and DeKalb hasn't reported a single precinct. Annoying!
ReplyDeleteGo here:
ReplyDeletehttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/voter/ElectionResults.html
Then click on "Unofficial Results" under 2010 General Election
http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/voter/pdf/GEResult11102010.pdf
DeKalb just put up some results. Not many preceints reporting, Ella you are holding your own, with 11 of 88 preceints in you are only down by a few hundred.
ReplyDeleteThere are only 30 of 189 preceints in all for all of DeKalb.
This is a nightmare: Redovian, F-ing Crazy Copelin-Wood and Sugger Zepora may win because they had multiple opponents who are splitting the vote. There is a chance that every single of the incompetent five BOE incumbents may be re-elected. I give up.
ReplyDeletePossible many could be in a runoff situation. If that is the case, then we owe it to ourselves to get out there and help Ella and the others win--whomever gets out the vote best wins. Early results are disturbing, though.
ReplyDeleteStill early...only 30 or 189 preceints reporting...
ReplyDeleteSick to my stomach about the current results.
ReplyDeleteI agree PolitiMom, we need to do whatever we can if any runoffs do happen.
I just can't believe it and hope that things change.
Latest update with 75 preceints reporting:
ReplyDeletehttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/voter/pdf/GEResult11102010.pdf
I am disgusted by the results so far. What are people thinking!
ReplyDeleteHopefully these results will change as more votes start coming in.
I strongly believe that God is totally in control of the election for DCSS. God will allow those who have made mistakes in the pass the opportunity to make it better the next time. Yes there have been many mistakes with our current board members, those of you that have NO sin or have never ever made a mistake CAST the first stone.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to cast any stones but I might slug somebody.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:53-I wish I had the faith you have. Unfortunately, I don't believe some of these folks are walking in His path. At any rate, even if they are, I'm still going to fight until the last runoff vote is cast so I can go to bed at night knowing I've done what I can to help our kids. Does anyone think the incumbents who do win will look at this election as a wake up call?
ReplyDeletePolitiMom, I agree with you. The incumbents that get reelected will see this as a go ahead to do what they have always done. They aren't going to change their tactics or do what is right for ALL children in DeKalb.
ReplyDeleteSCW is winning 50 percent of the vote in spite of having two opponents. It may change as the evening goes on, but in 2006 she beat three opponents with no runoff.
ReplyDeleteTHIS is why there should be no districts. All DeKalb residents with sense should be able to vote OUT anyone who can raise their taxes.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't work very well. Have you seen the quality of the county wide officials elected in the last few years?
ReplyDeleteI am afraid we are getting ready to become the next Clayton County.
ReplyDeleteWell ain't this some sad news... Looks like Jay, Zepora and Sarah's constituents are going to send them back in again. Oh boy!
ReplyDeleteElla - I'm so proud of you! You are really giving Dr. Walker a run for his money! You go girl!
And Nancy and Jim are neck and neck -- probably going to a runoff...
Sigh! Looks like our job here is not yet done!
Looks like pizza man, incoherent Sarah, and the representative from Sembler are coming back, but Redovian and Roberts may be headed for run-off.
ReplyDeleteProbably would have been better if Cunningham and Copelin-Woods had not had multiple opponents (and if one of C-W's opponents didn't have major ethics issues of his own), but if 2 out of 5 do get picked off . . . it's been 69 years since the last man hit .400.
Cere
ReplyDeleteWhat numbers are you looking at?
I see ZR with only 39% with only half the vote in.
Do you have more numbers?
Heck, I better look at the result again. Maybe I should have put out signs and spent some money Celeb. However, I really did not want to put a great deal of money in a political race.
ReplyDeleteI am sure EduKalb and ODE is not overly happy with the results right now. They probable are not getting rid of who they were trying to get rid of.
WSB reports Zepora with 46%
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wsbtv.com/election-results/25591950/detail.html
Sarah has 51% and Jay is a slam dunk at 66%
(sadly, only a couple thousand people even voted in each district...)
Gene has 55 but Ella has 45!
So actually, when all is said and done, Zepora may have to have a runoff - if she doesn't get up to 51%.
ReplyDeleteAll the votes are in -- Jay, Gene and SCW elected without runoffs. Jay gets 64 percent, Gene 56ish and SCW just over 50.
ReplyDeleteOther races in runoff.
Think this link should work:
ReplyDeletehttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/GEResult11102010.pdf
All the precincts are in:
ReplyDeletehttp://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/voter/pdf/GEResult11102010.pdf
OK-you are all invited to some event I'm going to do for Nancy Jester here in Dunwoody. Stay tuned.
What can we do about Zepora's runoff?
100% in: Copelin-Wood barely relected? We may see a recount request here, as she has 50.84%
ReplyDeleteWalker and Cunningham re-elected.
Redovian and Roberts headed to run-off.
Work remains to be done.
I can't believe that only 141 people voted for Kirk Nooks. How uninformed are the people in District 5? Actually, the question is - how apathetic are they? Only 1536 people even bothered to vote at all... That is really sad. (District 1 had 3404 voters - more than double!)
ReplyDeleteThe District 1 seat isn't the important one -- despite what you see on this blog. District 1 doesn't set the tone for the Board and each board member is only 1 vote.
ReplyDeleteEvery cent of extra money you have should go to Edler. You might also contact her to see how you can volunteer.
It is unclear, though looking doubtful, that there are going to be any state wide races in a runoff. Getting voters out for judgeships and school board member runoffs will be difficult.There will be NO satellite locations for the Runoff Election only the main office. I think more than a third of the votes in ZR's district came from early voting while right about 20 percent came in from early voting in district 1.
Cere
ReplyDeleteNooks got 2500 votes.
http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/GEResult11102010.pdf
And it isn't exactly apathy. It is gratitude.
I don't think that is correct. If District 1 is in a runoff, then all polling places in district 1 have to be open, right? I don't know the law, but in my former life as a campaign staffer, I seem to recall the local race dictates which polling places are open in a runoff.
ReplyDeleteI am extremely happy I did as well as I did against Dr. Walker. I think it definitely makes a statement that I did as well as I did against such a powerhouse of a politician.
ReplyDeleteMany people of DeKalb are not happy with the current school board members. I think this message was received loud and clear to all the school board members. It is not always important to win. It is important to give the citizens a choice to make the current school board members think about the decisions they do make. I am happy I ran. I am glad I did as well as I did. I have no regrets.
Hmm - I don't see school board on your link, Anon - I was going by the AJC's report -
ReplyDeletehttp://projects.ajc.com/election-results/2010/11/02/dekalb-results/
I do see though in the fine print that only a few precincts had reported... my bad...
I am sorry, my brain is tired. It is the early voting satellites that won't be open, just the Decatur location.
ReplyDeleteThe early voting places aren't regular polling places.
You are correct, the polling places that are open today will be open on the 30th.
My hat is off to Ella for getting in there and trying. You have more courage than most of us!
ReplyDeleteBut, I was so disturbed that many people around here don't care at all about the corruption and poor judgement. They love how Redovian kept our attendance zones from changing and won't see past that.
Cere,
ReplyDeleteYou have to go to page 11-12
Oh! As I refresh - I see that Nancy has overtaken Jim! She's got 49% to his 42% (Bobbe has 9% - validating my theory that her presence in the race could cause a runoff...)
ReplyDeleteThe final for district 1 was Jester 48 percent, Redovian 43, Gillis 9
ReplyDeleteMaybe leaving all of these incumbents in will be an invitation to SACS for a more serious investigation.
ReplyDeleteOh well Doh! I am technically inept tonight! Yes - I see it now Anon -- great resource - we should have had this one up earlier - All 100% reported in your doc - thanks for the link -
ReplyDeleteDownload the entire pdf here everyone -
http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/GEResult11102010.pdf
And yes, there were over 10,000 votes cast in District 5 - Nooks only got 1289, Hall got 2508 and Cunningham was a slam-dunk with 7041 votes.
There's a good chance for Ms. Roberts to be defeated in the runoff - if the voters for the other 2 candidates swing to Donna Elder.
ReplyDeleteNo clue as to who Bobbe Gillis' voters will go to.
Yes, Ella!! You did awesome!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening between 1st and 7th grade? High schools aren't doing the job either as DeKalb is contributing to the high need for remedial classes in state colleges.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have children do you? Not in this day and age. Go ahead, blame the schools, but you are forgetting everything we know about what really makes kids successful. Teachers play a role, schools play a role, but its parents who truly determine success. If they instill the values that are necessary for a child to become interested in learning, teachers can then be very effective in bringing up all the children.
By 7th grade kids are on a path. They have developed friends and interests. If parents haven't guided their children through this process, then the child will not be interested in learning and will fall behind. If a child can't read on grade level by 7th grade, look at the home environment. Research shows that parental involvement in their child's education is critical. Parental regulation of what children are doing, homework, being a good role model, watching out for who their children are making friends with, having materials to read at home....those are critical factors. Teachers can then use those children and build critical thinking skills, reading skills, etc. But if a child is turned off by learning from a parent, no way is he going to succeed in school.
I taught high school. I called every parent of every deficient child, I met with a lot of parents, and almost every one could find something at home they weren't doing or hadn't done that led their children down the path. Here's some examples:
Child couldn't read - there were no books at home. None. No magazines, not even sports illustrated. This happened to more than one child. I was flabbergasted.
Child wasn't interested in learning. Mom said that she and her husband were working class people (she was a DKalb County bus driver). Stated that she and her husband didn't do well in school either, and they turned out alright, and she knew that she waas at fault for not stressing education in the home.
Daughter was getting into trouble. Mother stated she didn't think her daughter's friends were a good influence but admitted she did nothing to change the situation, and should have.
Child skipped school EVERY day. Mother didn't return phone calls, at first, then showed up one day. She admitted she didn't address the issue with her child, and that her ninth grader was "grown" and was going to do what he wanted to do.
There's other stories...kids on drugs, parents on drugs, kids out of control, parents out of control. There are a lot of awesome stories out there too...I taught high achiever magnet and say my fair share of blue collar parents - managers at McDonalds, prison guards, bus drivers, single parent families, etc. Parents who did the right thing, and whose children were successful.
Teaching is a tough profession, and I'll admit some of them, and some administrators and school board members, have to go, they aren't up to the task. But when you don't have a parent supporting their child's education at the minimum level, then the teacher has to waste time doing the parent's job; taking time away from the children who want to be there, who want to learn.
Went to DCPC this morning to hear Tyson's presentation on redistricting/vision 2020. Redovian was a no-show. Nancy Jester and two other board members (Womack and McChesney I think) were there.
ReplyDeleteThe parents that voted sarah woods by in deserve what ever they get. If they want someone like her too speak for there children then so be it. I think her brain stopped working many, many years ago. As long as she can still eat and drink she will be around. Is a sad day for those children.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 8:27, Great post!!! Sometimes we need a reminder about a teacher's day to day reality. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
ReplyDeleteanyone interested in getting some of those teens on birth control so we can stop some of the cycles from recurring.... fi the parents aren't going to parent, they shouldn't be having babies...
ReplyDelete"and the alleged criminal and felonious activities of BOE members."
ReplyDeleteDuring their board tenure what have they done for this to be factual? I have not heard of alleged criminial activity while on the BOE by the members; did see that FORMER superintendent has been indicted.