This is a sign of the times.
GISD moves ahead with threat to sue parent
By Rhiannon Meyers
The Daily News
Published October 31, 2007
GALVESTON — The public school district has officially demanded that
parent Sandra Tetley remove what it says is libelous material from her Web
site or face a lawsuit for defamation.
I have not read the blog to make my own opinion.
The fact that the School Board is suing was enough to get my attention.
What I am curious to see is if this is an abuse of power of the School Board.
How many teachers do you know that have been told not to bite the hand that feeds them?
How many parents that you know have been retaliated against by indirect or direct threats? I've been there, and I know others that have been there. And one landmark Federal case. Right here in my county.
This is the blog: here
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Correlations Are Serendipitous - I hope
Bare with me while I set this up.
In Hillsborough County, there has been a long standing rumor that the local Tampa Tribune does not write articles that are negative towards the HCDS. There has been rumors of some type of relationship between school officials and Tribune decision makers. Over the last 15 years, I have read several articles regarding the school system that seemed to paint the school system as a victim of circumstances in controversial events. A couple of these articles I was personally involved in, and I knew a lot more information than what was reported.
Part two of this set up is that I have a tendency to promote my philosophy that "one gets more of what they pay attention to" when it comes to people's behavior. I use this in teaching class room management and dealing with employee issues. That is not to say that I am blinded to what I don't want. I deal with what I want to see more of and what I want to see less of in two completely different approaches.
Now to put these two together. Prior to my blogging, I thought the Tribune seldom, if ever, printed critiques about the HCDS. It seemed, over the years, that if I read the St. Pete Times, I saw more critical information. This was especially true the day after a Board meeting. Having watched the meeting myself and then reading the two different print medias, I felt my perceptions were validated.
On my side bar, I started tracking the reports from both sides. What has completely surprised me is that since I have started keeping track, there have been a lot of reports generated. Interesting correlation.
In Hillsborough County, there has been a long standing rumor that the local Tampa Tribune does not write articles that are negative towards the HCDS. There has been rumors of some type of relationship between school officials and Tribune decision makers. Over the last 15 years, I have read several articles regarding the school system that seemed to paint the school system as a victim of circumstances in controversial events. A couple of these articles I was personally involved in, and I knew a lot more information than what was reported.
Part two of this set up is that I have a tendency to promote my philosophy that "one gets more of what they pay attention to" when it comes to people's behavior. I use this in teaching class room management and dealing with employee issues. That is not to say that I am blinded to what I don't want. I deal with what I want to see more of and what I want to see less of in two completely different approaches.
Now to put these two together. Prior to my blogging, I thought the Tribune seldom, if ever, printed critiques about the HCDS. It seemed, over the years, that if I read the St. Pete Times, I saw more critical information. This was especially true the day after a Board meeting. Having watched the meeting myself and then reading the two different print medias, I felt my perceptions were validated.
On my side bar, I started tracking the reports from both sides. What has completely surprised me is that since I have started keeping track, there have been a lot of reports generated. Interesting correlation.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
If it was about religion, race or sexual orientation, there would be tolerance
"Marsha Alcorn, the district's 504 coordinator, says most parents with allergic children don't need the 504 plan.
"We do a health care plan in the schools with the school nurse," she says. "I think the parents feel there is more teeth [in the 504], but they should be getting all they need already."
See article :'A Peanut In The Classroom Is Like A Loaded Gun'
I am not surprised to hear this scenario in Hillsborough County. I am also familiar with the standard response of "isolated incident".
Research the year plus difficulties a parent had that led to a 504 complaint that resulted in the HCDS policy on juvenile diabetes (1997). This was a classic case of ignorance and refusal to accept medical information(over a year) exacerbated by a system entrenched in need to maintain power to back up the teacher’s actions.
This is also not a "broad brush attack".
I believe the problems lie where there is lack of understanding of the law and professional responsibilities infused with a cavalier attitude for some District personnel to maintain power. This abuse of power takes many forms, usually by backing a decision that was ill founded. The District appears to be reticent to openly correct a misguided administrative decision. I often wonder if switching student placement or promoting personnel is the preferred face-saving action.
I am aware that there are many professionals in HCDS that do a great job, work hard and are dedicated to the welfare of their students. In fact, the unprofessional actions of others play a big part of making your job more difficult.
Ask yourself how long these and other reported problems go on before they rose to a degree of exposure and forced accountability. Accountability is the issue. Parsing over health care plans or 504 plans and are they written or not is the smoke screen.
Read for yourself. Go to wrightslaw.com - bottom left link - Section 504
"We do a health care plan in the schools with the school nurse," she says. "I think the parents feel there is more teeth [in the 504], but they should be getting all they need already."
See article :'A Peanut In The Classroom Is Like A Loaded Gun'
I am not surprised to hear this scenario in Hillsborough County. I am also familiar with the standard response of "isolated incident".
Research the year plus difficulties a parent had that led to a 504 complaint that resulted in the HCDS policy on juvenile diabetes (1997). This was a classic case of ignorance and refusal to accept medical information(over a year) exacerbated by a system entrenched in need to maintain power to back up the teacher’s actions.
This is also not a "broad brush attack".
I believe the problems lie where there is lack of understanding of the law and professional responsibilities infused with a cavalier attitude for some District personnel to maintain power. This abuse of power takes many forms, usually by backing a decision that was ill founded. The District appears to be reticent to openly correct a misguided administrative decision. I often wonder if switching student placement or promoting personnel is the preferred face-saving action.
I am aware that there are many professionals in HCDS that do a great job, work hard and are dedicated to the welfare of their students. In fact, the unprofessional actions of others play a big part of making your job more difficult.
Ask yourself how long these and other reported problems go on before they rose to a degree of exposure and forced accountability. Accountability is the issue. Parsing over health care plans or 504 plans and are they written or not is the smoke screen.
Read for yourself. Go to wrightslaw.com - bottom left link - Section 504
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Abuse of Power under the premise of sexual pleasure -wink wink
"Students in America’s schools are groped. They’re raped. They’re pursued, seduced, and think they’re in love."
And they think they're in love.
This is an example of abuse of power. It is more than about sex.
But we won't pay attention to this. We will promote our A Rated Schools, our 5 Star Schools and brag about our National Recognition.
From my experiences, I understand full well the difference between "paper" compliance and real compliance.
The proof is in what really goes on in the schools, not just the classrooms.
As the system complains more and more about "bad parents", what is being done to address this real phenomenon?
As the system does not address the unlawful actions of teachers, what is being done to address this real phenomenon?
And they think they're in love.
This is an example of abuse of power. It is more than about sex.
But we won't pay attention to this. We will promote our A Rated Schools, our 5 Star Schools and brag about our National Recognition.
From my experiences, I understand full well the difference between "paper" compliance and real compliance.
The proof is in what really goes on in the schools, not just the classrooms.
As the system complains more and more about "bad parents", what is being done to address this real phenomenon?
As the system does not address the unlawful actions of teachers, what is being done to address this real phenomenon?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Cool Smoke after Hot Sex
There is an update about the King Middle School in Maine.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=142408&ac=PHnws
Having read a lot of the comments, there seems to be other issues with the Board.
Of interest to note is that the "health clinic" is "housed "in the school. One comment seemed to indicate that the actions of the health clinic were separate from the school. If so, then why is the School Board making a decision about how the health clinic will operate.
Frequently, so I have heard, some people like to smoke a cigarette after the physical exertion of passionate love making.
When I was a kid, well a "mature high school'er", I always heard that girls that smoked put out.
Both sex and smoking are illegal at some age. I think 11, 12 and 13 year olds are still illegal, but I am not sure about that.
Why doesn't the School Board provide "the nicotine patch" to those youngsters who ask for it along with the "the pill". Seems logical to me. Don't want the kids to get lung cancer. Those kids are going to smoke anyway. They won't tell their parents. Hit the "Mighty Mouse" cue: "Here he comes to save the day!!!".
The school board could easily put nicotine patches in the non-disclosed health services they provide. The unknowing parent, who trusts the school's authority, will never know.
I was under the impression that if a parent is found negligent to the point that the welfare of the child was endangered, the State had a legal process to deal with this negligence.
But if a parent is negligent when it comes to the child's sexual behavior, the State somehow decides to "take care of the welfare of the child" without notifying the parent. And the School Board holds up their hands since it is out of their control.
After they exerted their control to start the process.
Am I misssing something?
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=142408&ac=PHnws
Having read a lot of the comments, there seems to be other issues with the Board.
Of interest to note is that the "health clinic" is "housed "in the school. One comment seemed to indicate that the actions of the health clinic were separate from the school. If so, then why is the School Board making a decision about how the health clinic will operate.
Frequently, so I have heard, some people like to smoke a cigarette after the physical exertion of passionate love making.
When I was a kid, well a "mature high school'er", I always heard that girls that smoked put out.
Both sex and smoking are illegal at some age. I think 11, 12 and 13 year olds are still illegal, but I am not sure about that.
Why doesn't the School Board provide "the nicotine patch" to those youngsters who ask for it along with the "the pill". Seems logical to me. Don't want the kids to get lung cancer. Those kids are going to smoke anyway. They won't tell their parents. Hit the "Mighty Mouse" cue: "Here he comes to save the day!!!".
The school board could easily put nicotine patches in the non-disclosed health services they provide. The unknowing parent, who trusts the school's authority, will never know.
I was under the impression that if a parent is found negligent to the point that the welfare of the child was endangered, the State had a legal process to deal with this negligence.
But if a parent is negligent when it comes to the child's sexual behavior, the State somehow decides to "take care of the welfare of the child" without notifying the parent. And the School Board holds up their hands since it is out of their control.
After they exerted their control to start the process.
Am I misssing something?
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sex in the classroom
There was a recent article in the Tampa Tribune about two parents that were pursuing legal action against the School Board over a teacher's behavior with their daughters. A wrinkle in the story was the teacher died a while back, and apparently the school board closed the case. So what is the function of the parents' suit? Some say money, some say because it's "what did the District know and when did they know it" and the resulting actions or inaction. Time will tell.
Interesting to note, within the last few days, an Associated Press report came out.
I have seen it online in many many newspapers. Again, interesting to note, I have not seen it in the St. Pete Times or the Tampa Tribune.
This is one site randomly picked:
Special AP Report: Sexual misconduct plagues U.S. schools
Martha Irvine and Robert Tanner - Associated Press National Writers
OneNewsNow.com October 20, 2007
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/10/special_ap_report_sexual_misco.php
"Beyond the horror of individual crimes, the larger shame is that the institutions that govern education have only sporadically addressed a problem that's been apparent for years."
If the statistics are true and the reported actions of the education system are true, then society should act. It is an abuse of power towards the kids.
*******************
In April 2005, there was this:
"According to a draft report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, in compliance with the 2002 "No Child Left Behind" act signed into law by President Bush, between 6 percent and 10 percent of public school children across the country have been sexually abused or harassed by school employees and teachers.
Charol Shakeshaft, the Hofstra University scholar who prepared the report, said the number of abuse cases—which range from unwanted sexual comments to rape—could be much higher.
"So we think the Catholic Church has a problem?" she told industry newspaper Education Week in a March 10 interview.
To support her contention, Shakeshaft compared the priest abuse data with data collected in a national survey for the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation in 2000. Extrapolating data from the latter, she estimated roughly 290,000 students experienced some sort of physical sexual abuse by a school employee from a single decade—1991-2000. That compares with about five decades of cases of abusive priests.
Such figures led her to contend "the physical sexual abuse of students in schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests."
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/4/5/01552.shtml
Again, if these figures are true, then society should act. It is an abuse of power towards the kids.
*****************
Recently a middle school in Maine authorized a policy that will provide birth control pills to the girls if they ask for them. The parents have to have signed some type of consent form previously, but the fact remains that when it comes to Birth Control, by law the school cannot tell the parents. The schools includes girls 11 to 13, plus older girls who were retained.
If this information is wrong, please correct it. I am not here to spin or twist information to further my beliefs. I am fully aware of how corrupt the media can be.
****************
My first question is how did a governmental education system ever been given the authority to address sexual behavior?
My next question is how does the School Board's responsibility to teach "Health Education" and the School Board's responsibility for sexual behavior fall under the same category.
Do Political Science classes take students to the poll to vote? Can't wait for this answer: "no, because they are too young to vote".
Do Science classes take students out to hunt cats or frogs?
Is there any other curriculum that conveys this much responsibility to a School Board?
I don't see School Boards providing cars or purchasing auto insurance for students in Drivers Ed.
Yet, it seems to be the "Group Think" thing to do for School Boards to take on the responsibility of student's sexual behavior.
Take each stated reason a School Board should have the power to monitor a student's sexual behavior and ask one question - "why isn't this the parent's responsibility"?
If parent's are irresponsible with their children, it certainly is a societal problem, but why are school's the next in line for being responsible?
My guess is it has something to do with power and money. What else could it be?
Interesting to note, within the last few days, an Associated Press report came out.
I have seen it online in many many newspapers. Again, interesting to note, I have not seen it in the St. Pete Times or the Tampa Tribune.
This is one site randomly picked:
Special AP Report: Sexual misconduct plagues U.S. schools
Martha Irvine and Robert Tanner - Associated Press National Writers
OneNewsNow.com October 20, 2007
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/10/special_ap_report_sexual_misco.php
"Beyond the horror of individual crimes, the larger shame is that the institutions that govern education have only sporadically addressed a problem that's been apparent for years."
If the statistics are true and the reported actions of the education system are true, then society should act. It is an abuse of power towards the kids.
*******************
In April 2005, there was this:
"According to a draft report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, in compliance with the 2002 "No Child Left Behind" act signed into law by President Bush, between 6 percent and 10 percent of public school children across the country have been sexually abused or harassed by school employees and teachers.
Charol Shakeshaft, the Hofstra University scholar who prepared the report, said the number of abuse cases—which range from unwanted sexual comments to rape—could be much higher.
"So we think the Catholic Church has a problem?" she told industry newspaper Education Week in a March 10 interview.
To support her contention, Shakeshaft compared the priest abuse data with data collected in a national survey for the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation in 2000. Extrapolating data from the latter, she estimated roughly 290,000 students experienced some sort of physical sexual abuse by a school employee from a single decade—1991-2000. That compares with about five decades of cases of abusive priests.
Such figures led her to contend "the physical sexual abuse of students in schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests."
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/4/5/01552.shtml
Again, if these figures are true, then society should act. It is an abuse of power towards the kids.
*****************
Recently a middle school in Maine authorized a policy that will provide birth control pills to the girls if they ask for them. The parents have to have signed some type of consent form previously, but the fact remains that when it comes to Birth Control, by law the school cannot tell the parents. The schools includes girls 11 to 13, plus older girls who were retained.
If this information is wrong, please correct it. I am not here to spin or twist information to further my beliefs. I am fully aware of how corrupt the media can be.
****************
My first question is how did a governmental education system ever been given the authority to address sexual behavior?
My next question is how does the School Board's responsibility to teach "Health Education" and the School Board's responsibility for sexual behavior fall under the same category.
Do Political Science classes take students to the poll to vote? Can't wait for this answer: "no, because they are too young to vote".
Do Science classes take students out to hunt cats or frogs?
Is there any other curriculum that conveys this much responsibility to a School Board?
I don't see School Boards providing cars or purchasing auto insurance for students in Drivers Ed.
Yet, it seems to be the "Group Think" thing to do for School Boards to take on the responsibility of student's sexual behavior.
Take each stated reason a School Board should have the power to monitor a student's sexual behavior and ask one question - "why isn't this the parent's responsibility"?
If parent's are irresponsible with their children, it certainly is a societal problem, but why are school's the next in line for being responsible?
My guess is it has something to do with power and money. What else could it be?
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Maybe we can move from the football field to the classrom
Saturday October 6, 2007
High School Football Game Ends, Brawl Begins
By Beth Gaddis of TBO.com
Published: October 5, 2007
High School Football Game Ends, Brawl Begins
Read the comments.
High School Football Game Ends, Brawl Begins
By Beth Gaddis of TBO.com
Published: October 5, 2007
High School Football Game Ends, Brawl Begins
Read the comments.
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