So many of you have read this comment and requested that it not be lost in the cloud...that I've reposted it as a stand alone post...
I have read the postings of those in favor of the school board and changes by the superintendent on the basis that their children are benefiting from the change and my response to you is that your children would probably thrive in any environment because they have a supportive parent that believes in a sound education. The problem is that the changes are supposed to benefit all children but especially the kids that are "at promise" struggling learners and our Hispanic, Latino and students that require support for special learning needs. I would argue that these are the students that are suffering even more under these changes. They have been placed in all inclusive classes that have a teacher that has had little to no training for students with special needs or ESL learners, with the exception of a one hour staff development to date. These are the students whose parents are the most apathetic and uninformed with limited resources. How were they given the opportunity to voicetheir concerns about the new changes? The response is; they can email or participate in the on-line survey(lack of resources, e.g. computer), come to a PTA meeting (apathetic), make a phone call to the principal or school board or superintendent (uninformed, apathetic, lack of resources). Unfortunately this describes a significant number of the families that send their students to school in ACPS. I sincerely believe that there are some good programs within the many new programs that have been instituted in Alexandria over the last two years, however there is such a thing as too much too fast. New ideas and programs are being thrown out without the opportunity to properly investigate their validity to the needs of OUR district and without the opportunity to reflect on what works and what doesn't work. Instead it seems as if Mort hears or comes across a program, likes the idea and delegates to his minions to "make it work!". I pray for the students of Alexandria and what they are being subjected to by this superintendent that I feel does not know or care about them. I have heard students comment that they have emailed him about their concerns and were disheartened when he did not respond. They do not know who he is when he enters the school with his entourage but that is not an issue since he has not been seen in a middle school since the beginning of the year. It is a shame that he doesn't really know what is going on, or not going on because the principals send out the alert that he will be in the building. The floors are shined nicely, the bathrooms cleaned, the posters are hung just so and the "top" teachers can expect a visit. Instead of the school board polling to see "what's really going on", why don't they come in as a substitute (students would not know who they were anyway) and they can find out themselves. I issue the challenge to Mort as well. Stand in the hall of the middle school and direct students as they move from class to class and hear the language and bullying that occurs and then comes into the class, is reported but nothing happens (don't want those numbers to be documented and be reported). Come and look at the stack of 25 or more referrals that sit on the counter of the office unaddressed. Come and substitute for the teacher attending the Skillful Teacher staff development for the group of students that have decided that this is a free day because their math teacher is out again at another training and answer the question of the student that perceptively asks, "why were you hired if you need so much training?". Come and catch the students that have decided to skip because their teacher is out again. This is a future IB school. If Mort says it, it must be right.
Me: minority single working parent, go to every parent teacher conference, as many PTA meetings as I can, school sponsored workshops, make a School Board meeting as often as possible, e-mail teachers a lot, visit the school all the time.
ReplyDeleteMy kid: Very special student in inclusive environment, passing all classes doing very well. Don't worry about us, the apathy isn't on our side of the equation. But I too worry, I worry about the parents who are not at school as much as I am, or who are intimidated and back down the first time someone tells them no. Who love their kids and try their best. Who's fighting for their kids, and why do we have to fight so hard? I worry that some teachers see my student and shut down before even trying.
I'm hoping some of the professional development/staff development time will decrease the struggle, just a little bit.
If not now? When? The fierce urgency of now is upon us.
I encourage all who have read Alexandria's Pre-Labor Day proposal and have also read the Virginia State Code to write the Virginia State Board of Education stating their opposition to this waste of time, money, and resources. Below is the letter I am submitting to the State. Feel free to use it as a form letter. Send letters to- Margaret.Roberts@doe.virginia.gov
ReplyDeleteMadam Chairman and Members of the Board,
On March 3, 2011 the Alexandria School Board passed a resolution to request a Pre-Labor Day school waiver from the State Board of Education. It is of the opinion of this citizen of Alexandria that the Pre-Labor Day waiver request approved by Alexandria City Public Schools does not meet the "good cause" criteria pursuant to Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3).
Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3) stipulates that in order for a school district to be eligible under this waiver criteria the applying school district must provide students with experimental or innovative programs which require an earlier start opening. The programs listed in the Alexandria City Public Schools' Pre-Labor Day waiver request do not require an earlier start opening for implementation. In fact, all of the programs cited in Alexandria's waiver request have already been implemented in schools throughout the district, and an earlier start date was not required for the initial implementation of the cited programs. One of the programs cited within the waiver request, Changing Education through the Arts, was implemented over seven years ago in the district and never required an earlier opening start date. Other programs cited such as Habits of Mind and Mind-Up were implemented in the district two years ago and did not require an earlier opening start date when initiated. No new experimental or innovative programs requiring an earlier start opening are specifically cited in the waiver request made available to the public by Alexandria City Public Schools.
Furthermore, Alexandria City Public Schools has certified that the Pre-Labor Day waiver request should apply to all nineteen schools within the district. Again, the waiver request fails to meet the State Code criteria to permit an earlier start date for the entire district. Pursuant to Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3), an experimental or innovative program shall only apply to the opening date for those schools where such experimental or innovative programs are offered generally to the student body of the school. The programs cited in Alexandria's waiver request do not represent an individual experimental or innovative program which the district proposes to initiate district-wide. During the 2010-2011 school year, one school division, Charlotte County Public Schools, was granted a Pre-Labor Day waiver request for earlier start opening for all schools in the district. In that request, the Charlotte County school district demonstrated that it had a single program, initiated at all schools, which was new and innovative for that school year and required an earlier start opening. Alexandria has failed to cite the implementation of a similar district-wide program in their waiver request.
Based on the absence of any new experimental or innovative programs within Alexandria City Public Schools which require an early start opening, and pursuant to to Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3), the Virginia State Board of Education is urged to deny Alexandria City Public Schools' Pre-Labor Day waiver request.
Thank you,
If you have read the State Code of Virginia and feel that Alexandria's Pre-Labor Day proposal does not meet the State criteria, please write a letter to the State Board of Education. Below is an example of a letter sent to the Board. Letters may be sent to margaret.roberts@doe.virginia.gov
ReplyDeleteMadam Chairman and Members of the Board,
On March 3, 2011 the Alexandria School Board passed a resolution to request a Pre-Labor Day school waiver from the State Board of Education. It is of the opinion of this citizen of Alexandria that the Pre-Labor Day waiver request approved by Alexandria City Public Schools does not meet the "good cause" criteria pursuant to Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3).
Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3) stipulates that in order for a school district to be eligible under this waiver criteria the applying school district must provide students with experimental or innovative programs which require an earlier start opening. The programs listed in the Alexandria City Public Schools' Pre-Labor Day waiver request do not require an earlier start opening for implementation. In fact, all of the programs cited in Alexandria's waiver request have already been implemented in schools throughout the district, and an earlier start date was not required for the initial implementation of the cited programs. One of the programs cited within the waiver request, Changing Education through the Arts, was implemented over seven years ago in the district and never required an earlier opening start date. Other programs cited such as Habits of Mind and Mind-Up were implemented in the district two years ago and did not require an earlier opening start date when initiated. No new experimental or innovative programs requiring an earlier start opening are specifically cited in the waiver request made available to the public by Alexandria City Public Schools.
Furthermore, Alexandria City Public Schools has certified that the Pre-Labor Day waiver request should apply to all nineteen schools within the district. Again, the waiver request fails to meet the State Code criteria to permit an earlier start date for the entire district. Pursuant to Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3), experimental or innovative program shall only apply to the opening date for those schools where such experimental or innovative programs are offered generally to the student body of the school. The programs cited in Alexandria's waiver request do not represent an individual experimental or innovative program which the district proposes to initiate district-wide. During the 2010-2011 school year, one school division, Charlotte County Public Schools, was granted a Pre-Labor Day waiver request for earlier start opening for all schools in the district. In that waiver request, the Charlotte County school district demonstrated it had a single program, initiated at all schools, which was new and innovative for that school year and required an earlier start opening. Alexandria has failed to cite the implementation of a similar district-wide program in their waiver request.
Based on the absence of any new experimental or innovative programs within Alexandria City Public Schools which require an early start opening, and pursuant to to Va. Code §22.1-79.1(B)(3), the Virginia State Board of Education is urged to deny Alexandria City Public Schools' Pre-Labor Day waiver request.
Thank you,
Thank you very much for this. I will write as a parent of two TCW students!
ReplyDeleteTime is not now.
ReplyDeleteCorrection, Mrs. Roberts is out of the office, so direct your letters to Marian.Morris@doe.virginia.gov
ReplyDeleteThanks for the address, now I know where to send my letter of support for the waiver.
ReplyDeleteI question the use of the word "apathetic." On what do criteria do we judge that these parents are apathetic? Is it because they're not present for meetings, or school events? Maybe the latter comment is more appropriate that they are just not informed. I know many of my students parents could probably be written off as apathetic when in fact usually they are a single parent, working 2-3 jobs during the day, coming home and caring for their family. They don't get time off from work with pay and in all likelihood will not have a job to return to if they leave to attend a school meeting during the day. Meetings at night are also a problem because they may have a job then too or have no one to sit with their other children. Yes they could bring them but then when they do their homework or get to bed at a reasonable hour. How can we help these parents to become involved in their children's schooling?
ReplyDeleteHave those of you who are against the early start given any consideration at all to how beneficial that extra time will be in preparing our AP students for their exams? Having taught AP for many years, I can tell you that I welcome the early start and hope the waiver is approved!
ReplyDeleteYou mean the elementary and middle school AP exams?
ReplyDelete@March 6 2:56. Funny, but only if you have tunnel vision.
ReplyDeleteHow about some more time before the elementary and middle school SOLs, then, if you've got such narrow focus that our division's AP success rate doesn't matter to you?
How about some more time for teachers to be prepared for the arrival of the students?
ReplyDeleteOK - Let's state that some are for and some are against the waiver. I don't think anyone is against having more time to prepare students for tests - and more importantly, for life after graduation. The issue, as I see it, is that the waiver request is not fully meeting the state's criteria. Everything listed on the waiver, except giving more time for test prep, can be done after Labor Day.
ReplyDeleteI think my biggest concern now is that we have gone so far overboard on the negativity. We are all here for the kids. Let's remember that please. I am a teacher. I got into this profession to help kids. I do not believe parents, as a whole, are apathetic. A few are, but not the majority. I believe we all want what is best for the children of Alexandria. Let's all ask ourselves this, are we all about test scores? SOLs and AP exams are important, but they are not the be all, end all of our world. NCLB has made us all so focused on these tests that we've forgotten about the people - the children. It is just too sad!
If the waiver doesn't meet the requirements the State will determine that for themselves. If letters of support or of opposition actually make the difference, than the State rules don't mean anything. This isn't American Idol. You don't get a vote.
ReplyDeleteYou don't get a vote but as a citizen of the Commonwealth you can sure voice your concerns, just as you are doing on this blog.
ReplyDelete"Don't worry about us, the apathy isn't on our side of the equation. But I too worry, I worry about the parents who are not at school as much as I am, or who are intimidated and back down the first time someone tells them no."
ReplyDeleteAgain, I say good for you and your child, but what about the child that reads on a 2nd grade level in the 6th grade that came to the middle school with F's in all core subjects. This child that has a learning disability that was not caught until his 6th grade teachers insisted that he be tested, and when the results came back it was determined that the child needed a self contained class. This child that currently sits in an inclusive co-taught class with behaviors that make it difficult for other students in the class to learn. This child whose parent could not/would not come in to the conference to set up the IEP and had to be chased for almost 3 months for a signature on the IEP (kudos to the persistent teachers that saw that this was for the good of the child and endured being cursed out and hung up on). This is only 1 of the too many to count scenarios that exist in my building. I wish that all of our parents were as involved or had the time to be as involved as you but the simple truth is that it is not a reality for some of our parents for a variety of reasons.
I am a teacher and I LOVE all of my students from the time they enter my room until the time they walk across the stage (and many beyond that stage). I TEACH EVERY CHILD. If I am unable to reach a child then I work until I have found the solution and this did not begin with Mort and his staff developments. I work in this district because of the kids, and for no other reason but the sad and unfortunate truth is that many, such as myself, are entertaining a career change because it breaks our heart that this district seems to no longer be for every child but a district for the "Haves" and the "Have Not's" get pushed through. The true reality is that this did not begin with Mort, it is simply more exacerbated under Mort.
"I'm hoping some of the professional development/staff development time will decrease the struggle, just a little bit.
If not now? When? The fierce urgency of now is upon us."
Who suffers in the process? The students that sit in front of the substitute that has fallen asleep ( BTW,the kids thought it was a good idea to document the event, I believe on facebook). The teacher that now has to go back and re teach and make up for the lost time/day? That's right, the answer is to add more time to the calendar and school day to the tune of about 10 additional dollars to your pay check next year which is about what the increase in pay amounts to. What happens to the teacher that leaves the building at 6 and 7 at night on a daily basis? I wonder if parents were met with the same fate at their job if they would be so willing to jump on board what many feel is a sinking ship. Oh yeah, Mort has a quarter for your ride to Fairfax.
You are one teacher. I am one parent. You recruit more teachers like you and I'll work on more parents like me. If all teachers were like you ACPS would not be in non compliance.
ReplyDelete"You are one teacher. I am one parent. You recruit more teachers like you and I'll work on more parents like me. If all teachers were like you ACPS would not be in non compliance."
ReplyDeleteI like the way that you think.
Unfortunately, I am at a mandatory training.