Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "English and Textbooks, and Teaching in Middle Scho...":
This particular topic should be renamed ,"The curriculum". That is what
is really the issue here. I bet most parents would agree that we as
children were never given the amount of school and homework that our
children receive. The HW is excessive with some teachers. Maybe one of
the teachers on this blog could explain to me why any teacher in their
right mind would load a child up with hw on halloween. There are some
teachers that do give assignments to children on work that was never
introduced .I know this to be a fact because my child has told me this
on multiple occasions . I don't think slamming parents on this blog is
to smart. I think the employees of our school district should give
thanks on this holiday. Thanks for being employed while other districts
have layed off teachers.As I have stated before there should be more
anger directed at the administration and the BOE for the majority of the
problems in our district because they are the ones that set the
policies, curriculum, and political agenda. God forbid you say anything controversial at a pta or board meeting and you will be cast as a
troublemaker. We need enough residents to complain to the board to a
point that they will have to do something for fear of not being re
elected again
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
I'm a parent and I take issue with this post. First, the writer asserts the issue is "The curriculum," which implies the issue lies with teachers , administrators, and the board. The writer then veers into homework, which has no relationship to curriculum. The post continues to vent vitriol about the feeling that the "HW is excessive." This poster continues to rant about homework, "Maybe one of the teachers on this blog could explain to me why any teacher in their right mind would load a child up with hw on halloween (sic)?"
ReplyDeleteThis writer then slams teachers further by writing, " I don't think slamming parents on this blog is to (sic) smart." He or she further writes that teachers should give "thanks for being employed while other districts have layed (sic) off teachers."
Finally, he or she writes, "God forbid you say anything controversial at a pta (sic) or board meeting and you will be cast as a troublemaker."
This post has nothing to do with the curriculum. It is just another rant against the district, an angry rant that lacks focus. Is the writer upset with teachers, the Board, or the Administration? Further it is typical of the posts on this blog. The writer demonstrates a lack of sophistication by failing to capitalize Halloween, misusing to instead of too, and failing to conjugate the verb "to lay" correctly.
I will address the homework issue. The Board of Education has addressed this issue with individual teachers through Department Chairs. I have knowledge of parents that have complained of not enough homework from certain teachers. Those teachers were spoken to. The word has gotten out and now you have a lot of homework from teachers at the direction of the Board of Education.
We all want our kids to go to good schools, but we may not all want to do what we need to do to get them there. Some parents have complained, and the homework load has increased. if you want it to decrease, talk to your Board of Education - that is where it is coming from.
Realize that anything happening in your child's classroom is a result of a push by parents. This district is very responsive. If there is too much homework, it's a push by the parents. If there is too much test prep, it's a push from the parents. It's just the way it is.
Thank you for your words 7:38 PM!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see some clear comments for a change! I take issue with people always blamming the teachers for everything that is wrong in our district. I for one am thankful for the teachers here in our community.
Is there too much homework at times??? YES, but the parents should do there job and parent and attend PTA meetings and school board meeting more often. AND also by the way show some support and respect for our schools, teachers and administrators. Slamming them 24 - 7 is not productive at all.
WOW...The person that post at 7:38 should talk. Your angry and one non-informing response picking apart that person's post is not warranted. And I don't think that they were on a rant. And I kinda agree with you, but this is a blog with opinions of people of this town. The person that you angrily responded to said that the BOE is primarily at fault, just like you said. I will give you facts. When MY kids come home with work and have no idea how to do it because it was only assigned in the classroom and not taught or reviewed is a problem. It is a fact that teaching..at least here, is becoming a race to prepare for testing, which the Supt. stated in the last newsletter, therefore the loading up of homework, quizzes, etc. But it still needs to be TAUGHT. That falls on the teachers. There are many good ones and there are ones that just suck. It is not my job to teach the curriculum, but to reinforce and review with my kids. The job action 2 years ago left many parents in this town upset with teachers in general. So, if you want to disagree with a post, use facts and don't be so angry to the person that you are responding to. You just seem like a fool doing that. You actually sound like a teacher that has just had enough. There are many different ways to view what's going on here. Maybe the teacher's unioun should address the BOE that the curicullum as is cannot be taught in the time frame given. Maybe your kids have the good teachers, or you just know one. I really don't remember how much homework my kids had on Halloween, but this person's kids had a lot. Are you calling them a liar? How about your child? You didn't say yes or no to that. There ARE problems here. Buildings are in disrepair, there really is no curicullum. We need a solid Supt and Supt of Curicullum. Not poor ones that are here for a few years. Castles are being built by various groups...The way to keep things in check is to go to board meetings and show the BOE and.....staff? that we are watching.
ReplyDeleteNew topic??
ReplyDeleteOur experiences with extra help 9th period have been mixed also. What about teachers who don't provide much help 9th period? Why is that acceptable?
If you look at the structure of writing, it is quite likely that the person who continues to attack people on this blog is the same person.
ReplyDeletePeople should be free to post whatever concerns they have. Those who disagree are within their rights to disagree. Attacking people and denegrating their legitimacy is out of line.
As far as I am concerned, so long as people on this blog are polite, I'll respect their concerns regardless of whether I personally do or do not agree with them.
Supt of curriculum is up for tenure this school year
ReplyDeleteSince our district fell into "needs improvement" under her watch and our ELA scores are pretty mediocre this decision should be delayed
We shouldn't be saddled with someone whse track record is not that great
Tne community should demand a written explanation including data that supports the decision to grant gierasch tenure
Hopefully she isn't granted tenure! It is completely unwarranted. I am not sure the BOE reads this site so we will have to let them know how we feel NOW!
ReplyDeleteIf we as a community don't attend board of ed meetings and just use this blog to vent our frustrations then WE are to blame for the Board of ed's bad calls. They need US to help and guide them. If we don't voice our concerns to them, then we have only us to blame. We voted for them, So they must listen, How can they hear us if we don't make a stand and hide behind this Blog? No Offence to the Editor.
ReplyDeleteed's note:- none taken, and I agree. sz
ReplyDeleteI spoke to one board member about Ms. Gierasch. At least the one I spoke to is aware of the problem. I was also told that I am not the first person to have raised this concern. Attendance at board meetings with a willingness to stand up and voice concerns as opposed to just sitting there is certainly helpful, to say the least. It is also important to speak directly to board members if you can. Sending letters is also important.
ReplyDeleteBottom line, NOW is the time for action.
This BOE doesn't exactly have a good track record in the "listening" department! Nor do they tend to admit their mistakes...BUT something has to be done here before they vote to grant her tenure and we get stuck with her forever.
ReplyDeleteSo who's going to say this to the boe while gierasch is sitting right there?
ReplyDeletePerhaps a petition should be started as well. The BOE will NEVER get the full impact if they are only presented with the occassional comment from a small handful of people who muster the courage/desire to speak out publicly. A petition and perhaps phone calls directly to BOE members??? However it is accomplished Ms. Gierasch has to go before our academic standards decline further.
ReplyDeleteYou can always right letters to the Board, If you feel you can't speak up at the meetings.
ReplyDeleteThe point here is to make yourself heard.
The Board needs us to voice our concerns because if we don't then they will do what they think is best which isn't always the best. I for one will be writing a letter tomorrow and sending it toe BOE, it can't hurt.
Someone with brass, might be hard to find.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I would like to see more than one person at a time who has the nerve and courage to speak up at the BOE meeting. People can complain all they want on this blog. I personally have spoken numerous times. While the Board may have heard what I was saying, they failed to listen. I got tired of being one of the very few people to have to courage to speak up. Unfortunately my efforts were fruitless considering that I was one of a few that had to courage to speak up. Our town is in dire need of residents to speak up . Will that ever happen ?
ReplyDeleteTenure of admnistrators should be backed up in writing with an evaluation instrument that proves their worthiness. To grant someone a job for life after 3 short years is ridiculous, especially when ey are so controversial and don't have data to prove that they are helping make things better here.
ReplyDelete