Hillsborough School Bus Administrator Retiring
From the reader comments we now have this one. I have highlighted the sentence that got my attention:
"Posted by ( hhrusso ) on August 28, 2008 at 9:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Jack Davis has been much more than Transportation administrator. After 34 years of service he is very deserving of his retirement. He served the district as an instructor, principal, and administrator. I wish he and his family much happiness in his retirement.
Some of these comments are pure trash. Some Board Members vote on something and then blame anyone but themselves. It is unfortunate that this transportation conversion had some very serious giltches. What you do not here is how everyone is pitching in to get it all on track. With a district the size of Hillsborough it is a difficult task at best.
If everyone would step back and take responsibility for their own that would be great. Parents - it is YOUR responsibility to get your children to and from school. Busing is a SERVICE!!!
Superintendent Elia you have my support. It is a pity that people are so narrow minded that they can't see the good you have done and continue to do for our children. Thank you. Board members take a hard look on what you have before you lose it. You have a leader that is recognized nationwide for her accomplishments. Pity you do not see it at home.
Now watch all the little minds jump on a positive posting with even more simple minded comments."
*****************
Remember when I talked about how the public school system decides to provide something to the public for "free"? Remember when I talked about that when this "free" provision becomes too costly for the school system, the system discontinues the "free" provision. Remember when I talked about how the public then becomes angry and frustrated when something is taken away? Remember how I talked about that when the parents get angry for losing this "free" provision, the school system blames the parents for being irresponsible? Remember when I said that everyone forgets that the school system started the mess by offering a "free" provision.
I conceptualized this when I read the article about "free" breakfast being offered by the school system. What do you think is going to happen when the "free" breakfast is taken away? Parents will be blamed for not being responsible for giving their children breakfast and everyone will forget that the school system was the one that started the dependency.
PRO on HCPS: Blaming Parents 101
Showing posts with label eloquentmind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eloquentmind. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Who Will "They" Hire- Part Two
Embattled Bus Administrator Retiring
As always, read the public comments.
My previous post asked the question "would the person be hired by how long they have worked for the District?"
Please read "Peas" post - the last two sentences (copied below).
Am I the only one that thinks that promotions to administrative positions are based on the "life time of sacrifice" that one has given to the District, therefore they will be rewarded simply based on this criteria?
Does the District promote "The Peter Principle"?
Are people promoted to positions of responsibilities based on their qualifications to meet the job requirement?
Does a person who was first a teacher and then a principal gain the required knowledge to "Direct" or "Supervise" any area in the District?
Has anyone looked at the job history of the current Director of Exceptional Special Education? Is there anyone out there that knows what qualified her for this position?
The same question could be as asked for all of the ESE positions.
"Posted by ( Peas ) on August 28, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I cannot in any way say that what happened is acceptable. However please consider, Hillsborough County Schools has 193K kids and 40K employees in one county almost the size of Rhode Island. It is inconceivable that any business process being recreated from the top down would not cause construction inconveniences/mishaps. I do not in any way mean to down play the problems. But it was NO ONE PERSONS GOAL to ever cause this intentionally to the parents or students of this county. Employees of Hillsborough County Schools are expected do more and more with less and less. Ask anyone who works there in any capacity and you will develop an understanding. Although he made a good salary, he was one individual. His job description shows his responsibility. In every aspect of industry the county school system pays its employees FAR LESS than that of private sector employees for the work performed. Maintenance staff, custodians, BUS DRIVERS, food service workers, clerical staff...etc...etc... receive nickels and dimes comparatively and are expected to produce superior results. This administrator did not start off making this salary. He worked in the school system and contributed to the greater good for decades before making the money he made. ANYONE would expect that kind of compensation after that personal investment of time and dedication vs. responsibility."
As always, read the public comments.
My previous post asked the question "would the person be hired by how long they have worked for the District?"
Please read "Peas" post - the last two sentences (copied below).
Am I the only one that thinks that promotions to administrative positions are based on the "life time of sacrifice" that one has given to the District, therefore they will be rewarded simply based on this criteria?
Does the District promote "The Peter Principle"?
Are people promoted to positions of responsibilities based on their qualifications to meet the job requirement?
Does a person who was first a teacher and then a principal gain the required knowledge to "Direct" or "Supervise" any area in the District?
Has anyone looked at the job history of the current Director of Exceptional Special Education? Is there anyone out there that knows what qualified her for this position?
The same question could be as asked for all of the ESE positions.
"Posted by ( Peas ) on August 28, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I cannot in any way say that what happened is acceptable. However please consider, Hillsborough County Schools has 193K kids and 40K employees in one county almost the size of Rhode Island. It is inconceivable that any business process being recreated from the top down would not cause construction inconveniences/mishaps. I do not in any way mean to down play the problems. But it was NO ONE PERSONS GOAL to ever cause this intentionally to the parents or students of this county. Employees of Hillsborough County Schools are expected do more and more with less and less. Ask anyone who works there in any capacity and you will develop an understanding. Although he made a good salary, he was one individual. His job description shows his responsibility. In every aspect of industry the county school system pays its employees FAR LESS than that of private sector employees for the work performed. Maintenance staff, custodians, BUS DRIVERS, food service workers, clerical staff...etc...etc... receive nickels and dimes comparatively and are expected to produce superior results. This administrator did not start off making this salary. He worked in the school system and contributed to the greater good for decades before making the money he made. ANYONE would expect that kind of compensation after that personal investment of time and dedication vs. responsibility."
Who Will "They" Hire- Part One
Embattled Bus Administrator Retiring
I first met Mr. Davis in the early years of the 90's. Colson Elementary was opening. Since I do not have time to elaborate, I will just say that I encountered both pros and cons with Mr. Davis. Maybe I could write more on that later.
The question we should all be asking today is what will be the hiring process to replace Mr. Davis. Will the new person be picked simply because how long they have worked in the District?
I first met Mr. Davis in the early years of the 90's. Colson Elementary was opening. Since I do not have time to elaborate, I will just say that I encountered both pros and cons with Mr. Davis. Maybe I could write more on that later.
The question we should all be asking today is what will be the hiring process to replace Mr. Davis. Will the new person be picked simply because how long they have worked in the District?
Friday, May 30, 2008
Today, we have a commentary in the Tampa Tribune: Parents Gone Wild: An Impediment to Education
To present her case of how "parents have gone wild", the author relates a story of a day of bad weather at high school release time in which a parent "goes wild" demanding that the parent's child be released for an orthodontist's appointment.
Later in the commentary, we are provided a new term to categorize some parents: "For years in education, we addressed the problem of the absentee parent, but an equally troublesome type has emerged: the vigilante parent."
Since my days as a parent of a student of the public school system are gone, I guess I have missed that moniker. This term is like a spin off of the old mantra: "First we blame the kid, then we blame the parent".
Interestingly enough, the author also preempts any chance of dismissal of her parental critique by making sure we know this event was not an "isolated incident", a common defense used when the public school system is accused of a wrongdoing.
At least the above "vigilante parent" was only "going wild" over her child and wasn't extending her authority to other kids. I wonder if the irate parent was aware that there was a written policy that says no students are to be dismissed when there is a lightening storm. I used to read my "student handbook" and don't remember seeing it, so it must be a new policy. I also wonder if this had been a "closed campus" as opposed to the identified "open campus", then the administrative decision to lock down the campus may not have happened. The answers to these questions would go far in reducing the strained relationship between "wild parents" and "professional educators".
Frequently, I hear or read stories, and used to experience first hand, incidents of poor professionalism on the part of a public school employee. I also am quick to read, and used to be told, a follow up comment that I should not judge in haste, and wait for the "other side of the story". In deference to due diligence, I too would like to hear the rest of the "vigilante parent's" story. There must have been some circumstances unknown to the rest of us of why the parent just "went wild". Perhaps there was only a short window of opportunity for the appointment and she knew her job was in jeopardy if she did not make it back in time. Perhaps her other child had to be picked up from another school, and she knew the other school would not tolerate her being late. There are a lot of hard working parents that are trying to do the best they can with what they have to work with.
The author makes a valid point with this statement about teachers: "Parents put their trust in us. We are held to a higher moral standard. When one of us screws up, the domino effect topples the integrity of every one of us."
If nothing else, school personnel of all levels should highlight the word trust. Every time a public school person gets cute with their defense, every time a public school person parses words, and every time a public school person alters or fabricates documents, out goes the trust.
I have one last, lingering question. I keep hearing that the downfall of our education system is due to the kids and the parents. So, why not get rid of the "teacher performance" money? Why reward the teachers for something they are not responsible for? Why not put the money towards "school system -parent-student" collaborative efforts so we can quit blaming each other?
To present her case of how "parents have gone wild", the author relates a story of a day of bad weather at high school release time in which a parent "goes wild" demanding that the parent's child be released for an orthodontist's appointment.
Later in the commentary, we are provided a new term to categorize some parents: "For years in education, we addressed the problem of the absentee parent, but an equally troublesome type has emerged: the vigilante parent."
Since my days as a parent of a student of the public school system are gone, I guess I have missed that moniker. This term is like a spin off of the old mantra: "First we blame the kid, then we blame the parent".
Interestingly enough, the author also preempts any chance of dismissal of her parental critique by making sure we know this event was not an "isolated incident", a common defense used when the public school system is accused of a wrongdoing.
At least the above "vigilante parent" was only "going wild" over her child and wasn't extending her authority to other kids. I wonder if the irate parent was aware that there was a written policy that says no students are to be dismissed when there is a lightening storm. I used to read my "student handbook" and don't remember seeing it, so it must be a new policy. I also wonder if this had been a "closed campus" as opposed to the identified "open campus", then the administrative decision to lock down the campus may not have happened. The answers to these questions would go far in reducing the strained relationship between "wild parents" and "professional educators".
Frequently, I hear or read stories, and used to experience first hand, incidents of poor professionalism on the part of a public school employee. I also am quick to read, and used to be told, a follow up comment that I should not judge in haste, and wait for the "other side of the story". In deference to due diligence, I too would like to hear the rest of the "vigilante parent's" story. There must have been some circumstances unknown to the rest of us of why the parent just "went wild". Perhaps there was only a short window of opportunity for the appointment and she knew her job was in jeopardy if she did not make it back in time. Perhaps her other child had to be picked up from another school, and she knew the other school would not tolerate her being late. There are a lot of hard working parents that are trying to do the best they can with what they have to work with.
The author makes a valid point with this statement about teachers: "Parents put their trust in us. We are held to a higher moral standard. When one of us screws up, the domino effect topples the integrity of every one of us."
If nothing else, school personnel of all levels should highlight the word trust. Every time a public school person gets cute with their defense, every time a public school person parses words, and every time a public school person alters or fabricates documents, out goes the trust.
I have one last, lingering question. I keep hearing that the downfall of our education system is due to the kids and the parents. So, why not get rid of the "teacher performance" money? Why reward the teachers for something they are not responsible for? Why not put the money towards "school system -parent-student" collaborative efforts so we can quit blaming each other?
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