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Simple Questions. Wrong Answers.

Board Members receive lists of personnel, each month, who are retiring, taking leaves, adding or subtracting hours, changing schools within the district, are being promoted, or on occasion fired. Some, including administrators, leave to take jobs in other districts. These changes from varying departments are to be approved by the Board. And, what if we don’t approve them? Just saying.

“Why,” I ask, “Do we seem to lose so many teachers and others?” First answer from the Superintendent:  “Most of our teachers are women and they often get pregnant.” Of course. Is he kidding? Can’t remember whether I roll my eyes, or instantly clap my hand over my mouth to be certain I do not reply. I cannot, I will not, I must not. Next.

When it comes to our various department administrators and assistant superintendents taking similar or promotion positions at a neighboring district that pays more this is the Superintendent’s answer. “That’s good for us. It shows we’ve trained them well.” I have no idea we are a training center. Silly me. I think we are supposed to be an efficient school district. A constant. Reliable. And one to which our employees wish to remain loyal.

Perhaps I’ll get further with the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. “Do we recruit at colleges?” “Not really, because we have so many resumes that come through online.” Oh.

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Why Don’t You Believe Me?

 

Grade school – happily and a little sadly we send our children off to learn, make friends, have fun and hopefully to love school. It really used to be this way. And still is, in some few instances. Except if you have a question, or concern, your child’s teacher is likely to try to avoid it and you. It didn’t used to be this way.

Granted, parents are different – my own daughter and her husband fit into the ‘helicopter parenting’ mode. But so are schools very different and not in a positive manner. Maybe, even in a dishonest manner.

Our Superintendent, nice looking, nice personality, very likeable oh, and did I mention, has the local media in his pocket. Which on balance is of great benefit. Though, so much for writing letters to the editor to complain. Ha. As some – most board members just go along, believe or don’t understand – members question Common Core. The Superintendent tells us that CC is definitely not a curriculum. He says this so sincerely; he’s a sincere kind of guy. Except we few know better re this topic.

Here’s why: Along with the ‘standards’ come frequent testing. The purpose of these is 1) to determine whether the students are learning to the standards, and 2) show whether teachers are accomplishing teaching them. Okay. If the “standards” have nothing to do with curriculum however are the test results to match? They don’t. Of course, curriculum is written for the purpose of student ‘learning’ and teacher ability.

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“Capturing Kids Hearts”

Another Board Meeting (or as a close and highly intelligent friend  often asks, “How was the Bored meeting?).  This night among other agenda items is a request for Board approval – in other words will we agree to pay for it – for a ‘Capturing Kids Hearts’ program for the two high schools. “The purpose?” I ask. Well, I am told, it will be oh so beneficial for teachers to ‘bond’ with their students. ‘Aren’t you suppose to be teaching rather than bonding,’ I think.

The high school assistant principal assures me that the program will be worth the expense. Really.  They provide no paperwork, just tell us that they need this. Why? Because it will result in students being less difficult in class so better able to learn. I hadn’t been aware that our students were being so difficult so as not to be able to learn.  “Cost,” I ask.

For 20 teachers, 10 from each high school, for two days including a venue away from the school, meals, materials and instruction – $20,000. They forget to mention the cost for 20 substitute teachers for two days and the likely academic interruption. Practically a bargain to their minds because they really need the teachers to be able to ‘bond,’ get along with, show interest in and elicit from the students, “their best.” Don’t teachers already know how to do this? Don’t they already do it? Everyday? Just now I am keeping my thoughts to myself. Think it’s easy?

“If approved will you be asking for funding for 20 more teachers again next year?” Oh, no, the teachers who attend  will share the knowledge they gain with their colleagues. It will be helpful to everyone, he claims.

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Public School Uniforms – Pros & Cons

This isn’t an issue our Board considers, at least during my tenure. But, it is a School Board decision with two provisos: If a Board decides upon uniforms they must give a six month notice as to the policy, and provide financial assistance for purchase if necessary.

To my mind, and while I very much believe in individualism, the way students dress today too often causes classroom distraction. Since learning is the priority, uniforms might well be helpful to that end for many reasons. They are a basic of private schools which have far better learning records than do most public schools.

Uniforms certainly solve the morning ‘What shall I wear’ question which in some grades and some instances is nearly traumatic.  Not the best way to start the day. When my daughter is in elementary school she makes herself a really cute midriff top which she dresses in one day. “Honey, you have to change, you can’t wear that to school.” “Why not?!” “It just really isn’t appropriate.” “And, if I don’t change will you keep me home from school?” “Maybe.”

Not ever a serious student, she is seriously social and the idea of not seeing her friends surely prompts her quick change and off to school, apparently happily. Many parents must go through such discussions and frustrations often – uniforms remove this beginning of the day stress.

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Contentious Board Meeting – Part Two

Your Agenda is not My Agenda

When I ask, the Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Teaching claims they don’t actually use the book. How then is it given to the child home ill to keep up with her schoolwork? Haven’t really time to think because I’m listening. Continue. Instead, they replace it with ‘Social Studies’ study sheets replete with spelling, grammatical and factual errors. Oh, great. When I point to these he claims neither is this format any longer in use. Okay. Then why have 130 typewritten pages been copied, twice, two for each board member – which in itself is a significant expense, time consuming – and unlikely read? Clearly not read prior to putting this ‘replacement’ text into the hands of our children. How, precisely are they teaching social studies to third graders? And why can’t the Board get a clear answer. Apparently, they approve this. Do they have a clue what they are approving? It is worrisome, as is the absolute babble board members, teachers and any parents in attendance must endure.

Wait, much of the babble or drivel – whichever – comes from teachers and sometimes board members. I have a headache and sense even the Superintendent does at this point. Might feel sorry for him if I thought he was insisting that anything and everything leaving the district and departments be proofread.

Next day an article written and sold, probably for not very much, to a local news outlet takes aim: I am a “book burner,” and McCarthyite, – stay classy ‘news’ writer, and nothing positive because I have the gall to question an anti American text book which is due to be replaced, but now will not be – we’ll wait the administration and other Board members determine.  (Until I am no longer on the board which will be at least three years and nine months.) So, until then our children continue this exposure to the lowest possible form of instruction. In the meantime, I am not nor should our parents be, at all satisfied with what our children are being taught – or not taught.

It is said being a school board member is a thankless (in most instances volunteer) job. Important, but thankless. Still, I encourage parents and district taxpayers to run for their Board; and at the very least attend Board meetings, even if all you do is listen. Board members and the administration need to know you are paying attention. And contact them. All district websites list board members, their home or cell phone numbers and email addresses. Except, more recently on some sites the individual email addresses are no longer listed so that any contact goes directly to the administration. What’s wrong with this picture? If this is the case, call the board member or members with whom you wish to speak. If enough of you do there will be improvement and there must be improvement.

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Contentious Board Meeting – Part One

If doublespeak, flippancy, frivolousness, dismissiveness, duplicity, and omnipotent expression don’t give you headaches, or if you are able to easily comprehend and properly sort these you should attend school board meetings whenever possible. No, all of these don’t appear at every meeting, though one or two frequently do, still indicating by your presence that you are concerned with what is happening within your district it might be worth being a bit bemused or a headache. That’s why they make aspirin.

Remember my first Board meeting; the one at which a young parent brought to our attention (or to those who were paying attention) the third grade textbook she felt was anti American? (My Luck). At next month’s meeting I bring it again, to the attention of my fellow members. No child in our, or any other district should be exposed to this book. Period.

I say why I think so: Pro union (that’s fine) but an entire chapter is a bit over the top; goods made in other countries are less expensive therefore we should buy what we need and want from them; importance and purposes of protests, with pictures; how difficult life here is for immigrants (as if life isn’t difficult for most people at one time or another); that people live differently in different places and that the reader can help the world; basics of geography and exploring different cultures and public service roles; and how expensive childcare is in our Country while other countries have free childcare, and “Don’t you think we should have free childcare here?” it asks the young readers. THIRD GRADE. Give me a break.

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Considering Cursive

Interestingly, surprisingly cursive is deleted from some school curriculum even before Common Core. Although, CC does not require it, obviously. Actually, CC has no authority to require anything, but back specifically to cursive which is still taught at some schools – to my mind it should be taught at every elementary school from third (it used to be second) grade through fifth or sixth. Why?

Let me count the ways/reasons: Handwriting flows, encouraging thoughts to reach from pen to paper without interruption. So superior to stopping at each printed letter and word. Writing in cursive creativity continues with far more ease. Ideal not only for students, but all who wish to thoughtfully and clearly communicate: For taking notes during future high school and college classes. We best remember what we write, so we best learn, too.

Once the up and down lines and repetitive oval practicing is accomplished, cursive is easier and faster. Some teachers claim it is too time consuming to teach. Seriously? Oh, it might be they don’t recall the idea of assigning the practice as homework. Even on the surface it’s a silly reason. Isn’t it their job to teach?

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Clearly . . .

 

This child is not studying in a Common Core program. Gratefully. School board members hear often, not often enough, from parents about the difficulties their children are suffering through with CC related ‘standards’ lessons. One child I know pulls and pulls at his hair until he has a bald spot. He is eight. His older sister who loves school detests attending now. Parents are crazed. Countless teachers are wary and weary of the standards as well.

No matter, the Federal Department of Education insists. Really? Why even have a school board if local control is all but non existent and they are only going to ‘comply’ with policy sent down through state Ed Departments. Or? Or, no funding. Oh, my.

Guess what, this funding with its controlling regulations is usually unnecessary because property taxes primarily fund district schools. At least 80 plus percent of district support comes from homeowners. Gifts from local businesses or individuals sometimes help. How is it then that our intelligent, educated and experienced financial officers cannot better budget? They can if they want to.

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HOMEWORK?

 

 

So, kind of settling in, at a meeting I ask an Assistant High School Principal (there are several Assistant Principals at both high schools?) how many hours of homework are assigned to our students to complete each evening? His reply: “Oh, an hour or half an hour when they do it.” WHAT. “Mostly,” he adds, “they do homework during class.”

Now, other than hiring the Superintendent, determining expenses re curriculum and other costs, school board members haven’t authority. Certainly not over what teachers teach or how much homework they assign or are willing to accept. Doesn’t mean we aren’t permitted to think, be taken aback, be furious (to ourselves – decorum) or nearly go across the board table, leaning far forward, which I ultimately tend to do from time to time.

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In the News – Labor/Ed Departments

Because apparently there has been consideration of combining the Department of Labor with the Department of Education this post focuses on education. This Department is unconstitutional so shouldn’t be merged with any agency or department but rather dissolved.

With hundreds of thousands of employees and billions of dollars spent the federal Department of Education has yet to educate even one child.

School Boards begin with the formation of the American school system, at Massachusetts Bay Colony circa 1647, mandating that every town within its jurisdiction establish a public school. Committees combined to run the schools. The U.S. Constitution leaves educational authority to states – Tenth Amendment – which reserves to the states all powers not explicitly written within to the federal government. Oh, we know that.

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