Tuesday, August 4, 2009
UNCLE IPS B.S. WANTS YOU
Fellow IPS Teachers, IPS B.S. has to leave town Friday for family commitments and can't make the meeting Friday Arsenal Tech on our contract. So IPS B.S. needs you to be our eyes and ears. Use your phones or Blackberries to e-mail IPS B.S. the details and the disposition of our fellow teachers. You can either send your messages to ipsbs@hotmail.com or post on open forum IPS B.S. will create that day. We need to get the word out about what's going on.
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On another thread someone posted false and misleading information, no doubt to discredit what is being said on this blog. The meeting is still being held on Friday at Tech, if you want to confirm call IEA at 598-8464.
ReplyDelete7:27 here-Guilty until proven innocent,right? I have a phone message from the IEA saying that teachers who cannot attend the meetings at Tech on Friday can get the information on Monday and come to the IEA office to vote up until 5:30 on Tuesday. I apoogize for not adding that this is not replacing the Friday gatherings. Geez, lighten up with the accusations.
ReplyDelete7:44 & 8:13--
ReplyDeleteChill! I think we all are feeling a sense of suspicion after working in such a hostile environment for so long! Let's trust... each other at least.
It doesn't take much to discredit this blog seeing as how it is mostly gossip and misinformation. If working for IPS has so impacted your personality why not show some real character and quit. And before you go into your speech about being here for the kids let me just say that as a former student and current teacher the kind of vicious attacks I have seen on this blog are exactly what make those connected to this district feel the need to hang their heads. I agree that there are obvious problems in this district (as there are in every district) but I have seen little on this blog that amounts to meaningful solutions. It breaks my heart that you don't realize or just don't care about the damage you are doing here. I pity anyone who is this bitter yet unwilling to change their circumstances. You and all others like you are what is really wrong with IPS. The glory doesn't go to the ones who identify the problems. The reward goes to those who come up with the solutions.
ReplyDeleteUntil you identify a problem you can't solve it. This is a big part of the problem with IPS, we keep trying solutions without correctly identifying the problem.
ReplyDeleteWe know what the problem is ...Eugene White and a do nothing school board. Anon 6:26....you need to get out whatever Ed. Center office you are hiding in and see the real world of IPS..It isn't pretty!!!!! You know and I know that much of what is on this blog is 100% true...there is some gossip and misinformation but when the lack appropriate behavior and decision making goes on in the Puzzle Palace on Walnut Street, you are your fellow administrators are just fueling the fires of frustation and disprespect felt by those who work in the buildings.....
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that everyone who disagrees and tells it how it is has to be an administrator and/or on Walnut Street? Anon 6:26 said she/he was a current teacher. Not all TEACHERS agree with the bashing going on. I don't! It is quite embarrassing and sad.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all you people aren't relevant enough for me to lie to you. I am not an administrator. I am a teacher as I said. And the argument that anybody that doesn't see things the way you see them is misguided is wearing very thin. To assume that anybody that disagrees with you is out of touch or a plant is both paranoid and arrogant. Get over yourselves. Are you really such intelectual giants that to challenge you is pure folly? Really? I have had a very trying year in this district but I still believe in the possibility for change and I'm commited to being a part of that change. If you are not then I invite you to go out there and find your bliss and quit raining on my parade. I have been a part of this district in some shape or form for most of my life and I am sick of people like you who are good at tearing things down but never build anything up. And by the way this district had problems before Dr. White and I suspect we will have problems once he leaves given attitudes like yours. Perhaps part of the problem is that we expected him to be Superman and he is just a man. One piece of a very complicated puzzle. Maybe you are the one with a short memory. But I experienced the last 4 administations either as a teacher or a student and none of them were perfect. IPS will be what it needs to when all stakeholder (admin, teachers, parents, student etc.) take responsibility for the part they play in helping children reach their potential and quit blaming everyone else for the failures.
ReplyDeleteAnd another thing. I don't question whether some of the things on her are true. But some of them are irrelevant. And yet again I say to those things that are relevant what is your solution? You do have to identify the problem before you can find solutions so now what? We fire everyone who works on Walnut St. and replace them with whom? Who based on your brilliant PR would want to take on the impossible challenge as you have painted it?
ReplyDeleteTo 6:26 p.m. & 8:28p.m.--
ReplyDeleteI have been with IPS since way back in the days of Chapter 1 under Sylvia Dandridge and like you, I am also an ex-IPS student. I think a lot of teachers are frustrated, especially with this administration because as I stated previously, I had never experienced a principal degrading and insulting teachers openly in front of students. That is unique to this administration. Like you, I am still optimistic about IPS. but this ' divide and conquer' attitude has got to change. I have friends who are principals who are exhausted by the way they are asked to treat teachers--some have retired as a result. Your scolding of the teachers who post on this blog is unnecessary. Why are you on the blog in the first place?
We have two issues here, and it is a which came first situation.
ReplyDeleteFirst and most important is the lack of success of many many of our students. We are losing them, they are not graduating, nor are they prepared for life. We haven't come up with effective strategies for dealing with students who are from generational poverty and disenfrachised from mainstream society. The best teacher I know used to say "teach them, or fear them". This is the hardest job in the world, it takes passion, care, commitment, and love.
The second problem and one that has emerged with this administration is the role of administration. I have never believed that I work for "them". I work for my students future. They are suppose to be there to support me and facilitate my efforts, since what I do is the most important job and the primary focus of the entire school system.
And they are failing at this.
If Dr. White doesn't show up one day things pretty much go on, if the principal or assistant principal get called for a meeting the building continues. But when I don't show up education stops. No matter how careful and thorough I am with my planning for a sub, they do not carry in their head my subject knowledge or my knowledge and caring about my students.
What is going on in IPS needs to change, the corruption and immorality needs to end. Here is a novel thought, tell the truth. http://palmbeachpost.com/local-news/epaper/2009/08/03gates.html
When I speak of immorality here I am not speaking of who is sleeping with who, but of the secret relationships that amount to nepotism, and the sweetheart deals that funnel money away from students.
Oh well said 3:04a.m.Very well said!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, 3:04. (But your link doesn't work)
ReplyDeleteI'll try again with the link,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2009/08/03/0803gates.html
Harsh and confrontational words among IPS staff on this blog simply point out the level of frustration that all are experiencing. We stay in IPS for individual reasons...none should "accuse" another of motive. We feel disinfranchised and powerless to change the "system," and we are given little opportunity / input to do so. Much that has been posted here is accurate. Even the best journalism contains errors. We must focus on the "BIG PICTURE."
ReplyDeleteExcuse my misspelling "disEnfranchised."
ReplyDeleteYears and years of one program after another, even if the actually came up a magic spell that would work with every student, every time, no one would pay attention. Real change takes buy in and involvement from the faculty. Look at the Key School, and CFI.
ReplyDelete7:54 a.m--which is exactly why teacher incentive pay is misguided. The same teachers at the same schools would get the bonus pay every time, but send that same teacher to another school with different students, parents and lack of support and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteReal change takes time, involvement and is often painful. First, you have to be able to confront the truth about the situation.
Anon 11:18 You have an unchecked anger and hostility problem. Please work on it for the sake of the "students" who you claim you teach. If getting all of the info about what is happening in IPS, warts and all, helps then let's do it. Success? Key School...the Key School started out the early school year with 7 vacancies.....it is NOT the school that it was originally and is falling apart at the seems. I agree CFI is a star in the IPS crown.
ReplyDeleteAndy Gammill has talked to Dr.White about the agreement. No actual details are revealed.
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.indystar.com/education/2009/08/ips_reaches_ten.html
6:26 Often kids complain "this isn't fair" and we simply tell them life isn't fair, go on. However on some level we still desire fairness, it's an ideal we aspire to. So as you read this blog and discount and deride what is being said here, remember it is frustration at dealing with what is viewed as fundemental unfairness.
ReplyDeleteMoney that is suppose to be spent to impact student achievement is instead being funneled to colleagues and friends. Title 1
money is going to send administrators on "retreats". And who knows where all the "travel-vacation" money comes from, but how does sending people who have no direct contact with students on these "trips" benefit students?.
1:21 p.m
ReplyDeleteThat bring up a great point: Why was there a Title 1 workshop held last month and this month at the Riverwalk ( an expensive place, I know)?
The information is repetitve and teachers have no control over how the Title money is dispersed. The workshop could have been held in the Ed. Center, in some school's media center and wouldn't have cost as much as they spent at the Riverwalk ( with breakfast and lunch.) It only needed to last about two hours at the most.
A sad statement that my presence here is not needed simply because I choose not to bash our district. What is this high school? I can't be your friend because I don't like who you like and believe what you believe? I'm good with that but I will continue to express my opinion. I thought the purpose here was to vent our frustrations as teachers. This is my frustration. As for the corruption and favoritism in this district I agree it needs to be remedied. However, I don't really see how the personal attacks and name calling that I have seen on this blog is at all helpful in doing anything but detracting from real issues.
ReplyDeleteYes, this district has gone through a variety of diffrent initiatives to fix both curriculum and instruction. I have also seen where many teachers just turn up their noses and give a half hearted effort to implement change and then say "I told you so" when they don't work. (Some,not all. But enough to hamper progress.) Someone mentioned CFI and the Key schools. The difference there is both administrative and building level. They have buy in and commitment from staff around a shared vision and philosophy and because they have been successful they have been extended a little more latitude from administration.
The problem is that many teachers and administrattors lack real vision. They complain about what doesn't work without providing any clear plan about what will. If they had clear and reasonable plans of their own for success they might get a little room to breathe. Instead many of them just scapegoat Dr. White because of their own lack of vision. That doesn't mean that there is not a lot of pressure coming from Walnut St. but there is more than one side to every story.
Anon 8:26 I'm not the one with the anger problems. I am passionate about doing what is best for my "students". However, not surprised that people continue to project their issues on to others. Pretty typical of people with small minds. Show me where all this mudslinging is helping the students and I'll be first in line with mudpies but I just don't see it.
I once heard someone who was retiring say "I've been in hot water a number of times, but you need hot water to get clean." Time for downtown to clean up it's act. Did you read the article about Miami?
ReplyDeletePlease, 4:45, tell me when ANY teacher's opinion has been sought for the purpose of making IPS a district of "shared visions?" I think that the opinions / thoughts / ideas of teachers in IPS are rarely, if ever, ellicited!
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:45 you complain about the complaints and mudslinging but you are putting down your fellow teachers [if you are not an administrator] and slinging your share of mud.....so look up the word hypocrite in the dictionary....I am sure your picture is next to it.
ReplyDeleteThe 5:34 statement is valid and a good jumping off point for meaningful conversation. Let's start talking about what we can do as teachers to get our voices out there on the critical policy issues afecting our students. That is the discussion we need to have.
ReplyDeleteNow I am a lying, hypocritical, administrator. This gets better and better. I am a teacher and I support those teachers who are working to make things better. I just have met some, not all, but some who just make things harder. I think it has been mentioned more than once that sometimes the truth hurts. I am speaking the truth as I see it. Perhaps you need to look the word hypocrite up again perhaps you will see your own face.
This blog is about getting the word out? The word out to whom? We are losing a thousand students a year, if this blog is to be believed we have 100 vacancies, you never hear anyone saying anything positive about IPS. Who exactly are you still trying to convince that we are the worst district in the state? If you really want to rally public support behind teachers and students, you would start to talk about potential solutions to the problems.
In fact I find it very hypocritical that you obviously find that anyone who has anything to say in defense of IPS a con or a hypocrite yet every two weeks you continue to pay your mortgage and your light bill with an IPS check while deriding anyone who would say anything remotely hopeful about IPS. Hypocrite? You should really be careful about the words that you choose. Some words are like boomerangs that come back around and hit you in the face.
Truthfully, I am done here. As I look back at the very first posts on this blog the agenda is very clear. This is a blog to take jabs at all the people in IPS who iritate you without ever having to deal with a response. You are just as guilty of the strong arm tactics which you accuse the district of employing. I would be the last to say that you are wrong about their tactics but two wrongs don't make a right. You have no desire to improve this district or make things better for the students. You just want to air dirty laundry. The thing about airing dirty laundry is that when you take it down off of the line it is still dirty. In the end I feel sorry for you. Because teaching demands a large investment of time, energy, and emotion and to do it in a place that you don't believe in must truly eat away at your soul. Once in my career I had to make a tough decision about why I became a teacher and where I can make the most difference. That soul searching led me to IPS. Despite the challenges, and I acknowledge there are many, I don't regret my choice. I still believe and with school starting in a few days I am going to devote myself to standing alongside the other believers in doing what is best for children.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:13, 8:37 and posts prior (you know who you are), please don't leave. I agree with you and support what you are saying 100%! Are you (general you) part of the solution or part of the problem?
ReplyDeleteThings that continue to perplex me:
IPS has a student dress code, but nothing requiring teachers to even dress semi-professional. Many of our teachers look like slobs. Seriously. I guess the Indy Star finds no problem with that, since their staffers, too, dress like slobs.
Teacher pay is based on an out-dated scale/system that rewards classroom educator based on years of service and advanced degrees rather than innovation. IPS has lots of tenured, veteran teachers who aren't worth shit. Sorry, but it's true.
I think the pay issue is complicated. I believe someone posted under another topic about fair and accurate evaluations. Without consistent evaluations, how can a teacher really be judged? Basing judgement on ISTEP+ is unfair because children come to one's classroom at many different levels. Maybe a pre and post test over the year's standards to show growth would be appropriate. Students wouldn't have to have a certain score; instead, they would have to show a predetermined amount of growth.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:13 you need to read more carefully. I take offense when you state that the majority of teachers especially the veterans are lazy and dont care. I agree with you that there are teachers both young and veteran who are not doing a good job, don't care and need to leave. However, most of the people who I teach with are dedicated professionals who go way beyond the requirements of the job to help their students. Many of the township and doughnut county teachers would not last a week in IPS. I have pointed out positives like CFI, named some positive administators etc.....I do truly believe that Eugene White and the clueless school board are harming IPS.......The purpose of this blog is to point out the roadblocks IPS teachers face. If you want to be a cheerleader for Eugene White then you need to contact Mary Louise Bewley and join her blind, often inaccurate defense of this administration.
ReplyDeleteWhy must you continue to attack. Everyone has a right to his/her opinion. Drop it already!
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:34 I am not one of your children or your students if you are at teacher. I have the constitutional right to express my opinion and I will continue to do so....
ReplyDelete9:13, I totally agree that pre and post test would be much, much more appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI said I was leaving this blog and I am but I felt the need to clarify some things.
ReplyDelete1. I do not believe that IPS is the worst district in the state. I know ,however, that this is public perception. This blog has become a glorified teacher's lounge turned inside out validating all the worst things that are said about our district. And promoting very little of the positive.
2. There are amazing teachers in this district. Teachers who take some of the hardest to teach students and turn them into success stories. But, if we are discussing what is wrong with this district we need to discuss what is wrong with our teachers as well. (Young, old and in between) We can't keep argueing that teachers are the determining factor when it comes time for pay increases yet deny responsibility when it comes to failures.
3. I am not a defender of Dr. White. He is a grown man he can defend himself. I am defending all the kids like me who are/were made to feel like they have to defend the fact that they go to an IPS school. If the teachers have nothing good to say about this district then how can we convince anyone to want to send their kids here?
Surprisingly for all the venom I have had sent my way on this thread we are gradually getting more posts about real issues and how they can be addressed, which is all I wanted anyway.
Please leave the blog and please take your medications, ASAP. How many times have you made the same statement, you are not a person of your word. A professional teacher would stand by their statement, GO. I don't know if you stand on the same soapbox with your students? But you are truly self-serving person who seems eager to crank your handle to hear the rattle of your voice. I find it interesting that we have unfilled positions at John Marshall and will be using the Cadre until the Ed Center can find folks to take the job? That is not what the Cadre is for under the federal guidelines, its for providing Professional Development substitutes for teachers during the school day.
ReplyDeleteIf any of you teachers whining on this blog are the same ones that wore those pathetic black "this is my uniform" shirts, your words are meaningless. Any teacher who would bring that kind of attitude and lack of professionalism into the classroom doesn't deserve the honor of being a teacher.
ReplyDelete