Read my previous post for part one.
This time I am on a different kick.
Read the public comments.
I have selected a few to bolster my own personal opinion about "the system". I am not about any individual - that was years ago. Now, all I can do is make broad brush attacks against the system and hope enough people get the idea that these are not isolated incidents. (Must be a long-time reader of my blogs to get that point.)
Posted by ( Momto3 ) on 11/07/2008 at 08:54 am.
I don't know about you, but my parents taught me that if I "don't know diddly" about something I should keep quiet.Contrary to your belief, this is a group of involved, motivated, reasonable, and courageous parents who are concerned about the fast-declining culture of a school was once a shining star of the community. They have a right to advocate for their children's safety and education.The parents of Alafia have been patiently waiting for a resolution to this situation for some time. I am sure that everyone in the community is well aware of the kind of people that would be posting vitriolic comments like these in the middle of the night.ANYONE could have maintained an A rating at a "slide and glide" school like Alafia for a few years. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is any way to prevent the children that are just now entering into the system from suffering the consequences of an unreasonable, unfettered administration.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( ufbull ) on 11/07/2008 at 12:18 pm.
Both my girls attend this school ... and I have spoken with the principle before . To me , since she doesn't have the backing of her teachers to be a leader ... then she should be replaced .
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( DennyCrane ) on 11/07/2008 at 01:23 pm.
DoodleBugg I guess you didn't read the original article. MOST of the complaints came from teachers, not from parents. It appears this principal is not a good leader when the teachers cause an investigation to happen.I am....Denny Crane
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( Augmented7th ) on 11/07/2008 at 02:06 pm.
Now sent the team to Monroe Middle School, I think the Principal has run off all but one teacher, and it only took 1 school year. She needed to retire some years ago, and it time before the whole has to be closed, due to lack of teachers who will work for her.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( reptaddict ) on 11/07/2008 at 02:45 pm.
School grades can be extremely misleading. School grades are generally a good indicator of the socio-economic status of the students but not necessarily a good indicator of the level of dedication of the faculty and staff. Sometimes, all that glitters is not gold. Sometimes, what is not gold glitters anyway.
Report Inappropriate Comments
Posted by ( ernstruntz ) on 11/07/2008 at 04:07 pm.
DoodleBug You don't know diddly. When you don't know about something it is better to keep your mouth shut than to show your ignorance.Schools need parental and community involvement. That is to whom the school belongs and serves. Smart principals will put these resources to work helping the school be more successful and giving feedback to school leaders so problems can be prevented. And nobody wins when good teachers leave. Sounds like the principal's ego is larger than her leadership skills.
*****************************************************************************************
First and foremost - we should all respect this one:
Posted by ( Momto3 ) on 11/07/2008 at 08:54 am.
I don't know about you, but my parents taught me that if I "don't know diddly" about something I should keep quiet.Contrary to your belief, this is a group of involved, motivated, reasonable, and courageous parents who are concerned about the fast-declining culture of a school was once a shining star of the community. They have a right to advocate for their children's safety and education.The parents of Alafia have been patiently waiting for a resolution to this situation for some time. I am sure that everyone in the community is well aware of the kind of people that would be posting vitriolic comments like these in the middle of the night.ANYONE could have maintained an A rating at a "slide and glide" school like Alafia for a few years. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is any way to prevent the children that are just now entering into the system from suffering the consequences of an unreasonable, unfettered administration.
It does say "public" in Hillsborough County Public Schools.
This is an important sentence: "they have a right to advocate for their children's safety and education."
The important part is how do "the professionals of public education" address this sentence?
As an outsider looking in, it would seem that this campus would have been crawling with outside supports. There would be so many behavior specialists, counselors, social workers, psychologists and liason workers that the parking lot would have been completely filled so the trash talking parents wouldn't even have a place to park and they could be arrested for illegal parking.
Ah, but there is the "other side" that says it is the parents (public) to blame. So when it is the public that is the problem, does the District only send in resources that are routed in "Authority". If it was simply the public to blame, if the District sent in behavior specialists, counselors, social workers, psychologists and liason workers, would the outcome be any differnt?
Posts
2 comments:
Richard
I do not understand what you are saying. Maybe its me, but I don't see were you are heading with this.
Most teachers I know teachers are happy to see parents advocating for their children. I would love to see more of it.
A classroom teachers primary responsibility is advocating for children. Someone in the schools has to do it.
:)
Thank you Thomas. I seem to forget that others don't see the world that I do.
As a parent who advocated for my son, over the years I came to have a disdain for the word "expert" when it was used by "an educator" to bully me. The most memorable occasion was Dec. 16, 1996 at Mann Middle school. The person that was introduced as an "expert" on my son was no where even close. Imtimidation and abuse of authority was what really was happening.
I frequently hear how bad the students and parents are and that they are the cause of the problem. I try to expose the other side of the coin, when it is applicable.
I was accused of making broad brush attacks, so I react when I hear broad brush attacks against students and parents. I forgot if I ever shared the story about a boy I knew who could not stand up without some type of assistance. He was angry and had set down on the ground. He "refused" the order of a school employee to stand up. The situation escalated, and while he was on the ground, he "attacked" the teachers with his walking braces, resulting in six felony assault charges being filed against him. The report was full of how the boy did not respect authority.
I will be the first to say the boy should not have hit any one. However, there is something to be said about how the education system perceives how to do it's job of educating.
Here are a few public comments about the Alafia situation found at this link:
Parents take beef with Alafia principal to School Board - St. Petersburg Times
by Faith Called It Oct 15, 2008 7:34 PM
Hooligans is a good word. They scheme and plot with each other every morning and every afternoon about how to take down ES.
by Who Knows Oct 15, 2008 7:23 PM
Oh yeah - and the PTA at Alafia is a bunch of meddlers that think they should be running the school. What principal wouldn't get a little bit testy at being challenged like that?
by Who Knows Oct 15, 2008 3:29 PM
Here's a silly question - What's wrong with a principal that is more 'businesslike' than the previous principals? Life isn't all fun and games. Teachers are just seeing something they're not used to.
by Bobert Oct 14, 2008 6:48 PM
From now on only people who care about writing perfect comments with pristine attention to English will be allowed to express opinions, how American.
by Real Alafia Dad Oct 14, 2008 4:41 PM
Alafia Dad: Real men do not make things up and try to intimidate those who disagree with them.
by Sharon Oct 14, 2008 4:41 PM
Alafia Dad: Why don't you get a job instead of attacking women and hiding behind fake names?
by Hal Oct 14, 2008 4:40 PM
Hey Raysfan, go edit your own message since you obviously cannot dispute the facts
by Nate Oct 14, 2008 4:38 PM
A real Rays Fan would consider someone else's opinion, not try and correct and make fun of someone else. Parent of Alafia, grow up!!
by Faith Oct 14, 2008 10:29 AM
Judging from the nasty personal attacks made by parents in this discussion board, I am thinking maybe the principal is dealing with a bunch of hooligans.
by mature adult Oct 14, 2008 7:42 AM
wow, see how mad they get when you challenge their accusations on the Smith? They bully and insult, kinda tells you what is really going on
by Largo teacher Oct 14, 2008 7:42 AM
Hey Robert, are you that nutty as to worry about sentence structure in a casual comments forum,laughable. Did you check the comments you agreed with the same way, I think not.
by a loving Mom Oct 13, 2008 12:37 PM
in respone to "name witheld"-you do not know me personally-Have you ever thought the problem with children today are the adults who influence them? I have no issues with Mrs. Smith, however I do have concerns for our childrens safety.
by flanygal Oct 13, 2008 11:17 AM
Can you imagine whipping this principal because there is an immature kinderkid? It's not all about YOUR KID,MS DREYER,your solution? Fences are not BOUGHT&SET UP by principals,MORE LIKELY the SCHOOL BOARD 1st approves it.
by ctricia Oct 13, 2008 11:17 AM
I see no mention of PTA/PTO.Most elem.principals have weekly newsletters to parents. 1st grader disappearing, fire lunch monitor. Ms Dreyer,do you want her to beat the bad Kinderkid,maybe you should homeschool or move your kid,this is the real world!
by Just Me Oct 13, 2008 11:16 AM
See also: http://prohcds.blogspot.com/search/label/Alafia%20Elementary Where there is smoke .........
by Robert Oct 13, 2008 11:16 AM
Dale, please ask your child about proper sentence structure and spelling. Name Witheld, I have no idea if these parents are " malcontents whose kids are the problem" can you elaborate? Please present us the "truth in this story".
by Only Oct 13, 2008 11:13 AM
To the parents that think there is a communications problem: What involvement are you doing in the school. Are you an ACTIVE member in the PTSA, or did you just write the check & say you are. PTSA can help out with getting the word out to parents.
by Lynn Oct 10, 2008 2:46 PM
First parents go about this the correct way, invite her to your meeting, openly discuss the issues. Two, invite a member of the school board to attend, o Three list all the objections, separate opinion from fact, and then consider the issue, present
Post a Comment