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Subject: Long on rhetoric but short on practical suggestions Author: Ned Depew [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 11:10:41 07/07/05 Thu In reply to: Thomas Koulos 's message, "Re: Alternative To HCSD and taxpayers woes." on 07:17:12 07/07/05 Thu Tom - While you and I agree that the HCSD needs to get creative and figure out how to give their kids a good education for a reasonable cost, you don't seem to have much of handle on what the actual problems are or how to begin to address them. The key lies in a competent administration that is able to take pressure off teachers and allow them time to do what they need to do to teach - and is able to support, encourage and even inspire them. One of the things that needs to be done to take the pressure off is to handle the discipline problems better. Suspensions and expulsions don't work. They are counter-productive, creating a whole class of permanent drop-outs and non-graduates. Suspension can only be really effective if kids WANT to be in school (or in class) - if they feel they are being deprived of something by being suspended. If the school climate is such that kids want to be there, then the threat of suspension has some power. When kids only want to be gone, suspension holds as much power as throwing Br'er Rabbit into the Briar patch. There are models in many schools around the country that have grappled with this same problem, and come up with more successful solutions - which we could copy here. I've been a teacher, and I know that there's nothing like the stimulus of an involved, supportive, encouraging and appreciative administration to encourage teachers to do their best - and that spills over on to the students. Excited, involved, enthusiastic teachers are what makes school exciting, interesting and even fun - and that's what makes schools "successful!" It is the Administration's reponsibility to address this, and make it happen. This Administration needs to outline it's plan for doing this, and then implement it. The specifics have to be up to them. They are the "professionals" and part of their job is to figure out how to do what we pay them to do. But first of all they need to recognize that the problem exists and admit it - not stay stuck in denial. Then they need to come up with fresh ways of addressing the problems (not just more of the same-old-same-old), set specific, measurable goals for themselves, and then keep the public apprised of their progress (even admitting mistakes, and false starts - that are always part of any learning process!) - and be open to adjusting their plans as circumstances demand. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

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[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: Long on rhetoric but short on practical suggestions Author: Tom Koulos (edited by Ned Depew) [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 10:55:23 07/08/05 Fri Go tell the administrators and the Board the plan you propose and ask them to show you theirs. If I'm not mistaken one other major hurdle that they are stuck with is finding the money to pay for the other services that the school has adopted like sports,etc.that created a committee to be formed to fund raise the venture. Thusly,since Santa is the Gift bearer for Children that identify with him and their parents it would seem logical that the money makers bring their bags of money to the School District to satisfy this extra curricular activity.There are tax law write offs for such voluntary donations to keep these programs on the radar screen as the HCSD Administrators and Board Members come up with a School Policy,.. that they,the Parents and school children will be expacted to abide by. Tom Koulos

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Tom - I removed your rude sarcasm to leave the content of your message... Author: Ned Depew [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 11:10:30 07/08/05 Fri ...but I am getting tired of having to do so. If you can't be civil, please don't post here. As far as your idea is concerned, my understanding is that parents groups are already getting together to form "booster clubs" to support these programs. I applaud this effort - but it misses the point of the HCSD budget debate. The budget was not defeated because Hudson area taxpayers don't want to pay for sports - and to try to re-define the budget rejection in those terms only seeks to avoid (once again) facing the painful fact of the multiple failures of this Administration and BofE. The HCSD has got to first acknowledge and define their existing problems, then develop and articulate practical programs to address those problems, with clearly defined goals and a transparent evaluation process. That is their job - which they have not done. They MUST do it. The taxpayers have tried to make that clear - but the HCSD and BofE seem to be straining to live in continuing denial. The problem is not sports or music. It is unacceptable rates of "non-completion" of high-school. It is unacceptable rates of suspensions and expulsions. It is unacceptable rates of academic under-achievement. It is the continuing support of an unacceptably unimaginaitve and unsuccessful school learning environment. These are the important problems, and until the HCSD openly acknowledges them and addresses them, they are refusing to face reality.