IPS B.S. has been out sick for a few days. While recovering, we had time to reflect on the District and its policies. So here is the question of the day?
Which IPS policies are good for kids and which ones are harming them?
Saturday, September 26, 2009
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I think the IPS dress code is unduly restrictive and petty. We needed a dress code that could be enforced. What we got was a complicated one that is so detailed that gets interpreted in dozens of different ways. I dont care if my students are wearing a blue or green polo shirt. I just want it tucked in. I dont have a problem with jeans. I want them pulled up and not be filled with holes. When I was in school, most males wore jeans. They are less expensive if you avoid the designer ones and much more sturdy. I dont care about the color of shoe laces.....we have a mobil population and a move from one school to another can mean a big money output in different colored clothes......as a result, the code only gets sporadically enforced especially if a monitor or White is coming......time to retool and make it simple but still have some basic standards.
ReplyDeleteYou retool the dress code and you are asking for problems. I don't know why it is so hard for teachers to enforce this. The kids are better behaved and work better. I really wish teachers would be written up for not following policy. And principals too.
ReplyDeleteDress Code Yes. I don't want to see drawers hanging out, or rolls and bellies between the shirts and the pants on guys or gals.
ReplyDeleteIf they didn't look like hoochy mammas and thugs in school, we wouldn't have needed a dress code in the first place.
A kid comes into school in violation of the dress code and is sent to the principal from the adult who is required to report it.
The principal who gives "one day waivers",says come back tomorrow dressed properly. A never ending circle. You are an administrator, not one of the crew. Follow the rules and maybe, after several trys, the kids will realize clothes make the man or woman in the adult world.
Yes there are several teachers who should follow the dress code and should receive the same infraction as do the students.
My problem is that most administrators are so tired of trying to enforce it that they have given up. My point is that I want the sagging pants and bare bellies stopped also. In the process of doing that I see students who are nicely dressed but their shirt is blue and blue is not an approved color so they are given a warning or sent home.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THE DRESS CODE! I wish we were required to adhere to it, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's no longer "Because I said so." or "You look like a whore/inmate." It's "Because it's the rule for our system." and "I'm not losing my job because you won't tuck in your shirt."
Most former students I've seen who transitioned to charters and townships have similar clothing regulations. That's funny, since so many parents threatened to remove their children from IPS because of the impending dress code.
If Dr. White accomplishes nothing else (and it appears that may well be the case), the dress code will be a positive legacy (if and only if it never includes his cute little red slippers).
As far as a staff dress code, is there an official one? Our school's "spy" recently included a comments about staff "dressed like custodians", having open-toed shoes, and one low-cut top, presumably on a female. (We also have crabgrass and low water pressure on an outside water spigot.)Oh, how I want that job!
If these are the terrible conditions under which our students are expected to thrive, it's a wonder that any of our children can even walk without drooling and dragging their knuckles.
How did we make AYP last year?
I think the dress code is very positive. What I would like to see is the Six-Step behavior policy enforced. Special education students get way too many chances, even the kids themselves know the difference. Speaking of special ed., we have alot of students that need to be self-contained that are causing havoc in the regular classroom with the excuse they can't be denied services. I agree they should NOT be denied, however, they should be in a setting more conducive to learning for them. I have students reading almost 7 years below grade level. Every week I modify and spend a lot of time trying to find material to their level. Inclusion does not work--by the way, because I am Title, special ed. teachers are not allowed in my room--especially without another teacher in the room. When I see some of these kids grades--A's and B's, I am nauseous! It should read A/m, the m standing for modified.
ReplyDeleteInclusion does work with the students that it is intended to be used. The previous director of special education put out an order that she wanted all students in inclusion. This was illegal because that is not the appropriate placement for some students. It also stigmatizes the special education students who are properly placed in inclusion and are able to succeed. Teachers need to speak up at the case conferences and say that the student is not functioning at a level to succeed....
ReplyDeleteThe dress code is a joke, it should be like the national security levels; level blue- anything close goes. Level red- better have all the appropriate colors on. Level White- Dr. White is on his way, pants up, tops only in the regulation colors, no ruffles, no non-regulation socks, total compliance. Only they don't post or announce what level you are on, so it is anyones guess which dress code we are enforcing today.
ReplyDeleteThe dress code is so complicated and complex it is hard to follow, I've had a dean bring me a student, only to have to tell the dean I won't take the child because he had a khaki shirt and a black-t underneath and this is not dress code (the deans don't even know the code). I've sent kids out for undershirts that are the wrong color only to have them sent back and told to simply "cover up" the wrong color, a step that involves buttoning up a skin tight polo worn over a pink camisole; well those buttons aren't really even made to button so they pop right open again as soon as the student breathes.
I've sent kids to the dean with clothes that clearly don't meet standard only to get them back with a note that says the garments are ok, most recently a highly embroidered rear end, and I really do not like having my school administrators undermine my authority in the classroom this way, when I am trying to enforce the IPS policy.
Unless every single teacher in the building enforces the same dress code their isn't a chance in the world it will work. I currently have students who are part of the humanities magnet who apparently don't know or follow the dress code, and since I enforce it I am the evil one. I am spending far too much time on this issue. It has come to the point where the students come to my class in uniform and after my class they go to the restroom and change clothes.
Some one needs to look at how special ed teachers grade, I can recall looking at a students grades who I had failed because he had missed over 70 days in a semester, only to discover he had passed his special education English class with a C.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking about passed to the next grade, I would like to put my two cents in. I had students last year that did not pass math or english, But because they passed the ISTEP last fall they were able to be passed...so I concluded that " the students could have taken the entire year off" because they passed the ISTEP. Also, in the redistricting this year I have two student that FAILED math and english and were promoted on to the next grade. They have the skill level of maybe a third grader in the fifth and sixth grade. Also, they are NOT special ed. And they did not pass ISTEP last spring. My question is why are students allowed to be passed when they FAIL math and english. Anyone Know?
ReplyDeleteIf the districts wants to raise graduation rates. They need to bring back the trades, business, and arts to the classroom. They also need to drop the sports participation policy and just go with the IHSAA rule.
ReplyDeleteNo these are not ideal. Our students though come with the most problems. Yet we drop the classes they look forward to and give them one of the highest hurdles in the state to particpate. This does not make since.
It would be ideal if kids just came for reading and math. They do not (especially in high school when they reach drop out age)!
We need to keep the hook activities and trades they see benifits in. While coming for these things. They might actually raise scores and graduate.
Before these were done away with we had higher graduation and scores. We have been our own worse enemies here.
As a Special Ed. Inclusion Teacher I am outraged at the way IPS has DUMPED MIMH,MOMH,Autism and EH students into the general ed. classrooms without providing at least a fulltime special ed. teacher in each general ed. classroom to help provide fulltime services to students who are not performing at their present grade levels. If I were a parent of a special ed. student, I would be filing a law suit against IPS for putting my child in an environment that impedes their learning as well as other students learning due to behavior problems that are resulting from children being frustrated because they are not capable of achieving academic success. IPS needs to bring back self-contained classrooms which will help the special ed. students to focus on their academic and social skills in a smaller classroom setting.
ReplyDeleteAre we there to be fashion police or educators. I am tired of seeing kids go home who would be better served in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWe are own worse enemies when it comes to GQE, end of course, ISTEP and graduation rates. We find every way possible to send kids home.
Sending them home for behavior is one thing. Sending them home fro how they are dressed is setting up for poor test scores and poor graduation rates.
How about bringing back summer school. Research shows retention doesn't work, but many kids aren't ready for the next school year. Make summer school mandatory to go on to the next grade.
ReplyDeleteAlso I asked someone about sustained silent reading, and was told (true or false, I have no idea, anyone else know) that Dr. White doesn't like it because it can't be assessed? Sorry but nothing builds reading skills like reading, and getting hooked on a riveting book is essential to reading. The librarian at my school had started to buy books that are considered "Urban Fiction" or "Babies Daddy Fiction" and in some cases non-fiction biographies http://www.cupcakebrown.com/main.php?NAV=books&PIC=books
and my kids eat them up. They are sneaking something under the desk, and I think it is an IPOD, cell phone, food, and instead-horrors- it is a book they are sneakily reading. It wouldn't be hard to transition these skills to more traditional literature.
Not enforcing the dress code is wrong for kids, whether you agree with the dress code or not it needs to be enforced, everyday and with every student, by everyone. Otherwise you are simply telling kids that what we say is not what we mean.
ReplyDeleteImagine their surprise when they grow up and their boss tells them something and they simply believe that they don't really mean it, and end up getting fired.
We do this all the time, if you don't do well you won't pass; if you miss too many days you won't pass; if you don't pass the GQE you won't graduate, yet we never really mean what we say.
Many years ago at BRHS Steve Talley actually enforced the attendance policy, if you missed more than seven days during a semester you failed. He went through and changed grades for students who had violated the attendance standard to F. It seemed cruel, all the problems the kids have. yadda yadda yadda. But in reality the majority of the kids stepped up and met the standard and started attending everyday, every class. And on the long term they learned the lesson that you actually do have to attend work to get the benefits of work, be that a grade or a pay check.
Why doesn't IPS have a "holding school" for suspended students? Instead of sending them home they can go to a special school set up for just suspended students. It works in other areas throughout the state. Why not here?
ReplyDeleteResearch shows that Sustained Silent Reading does work. It is difficult to measure. Tech has had a huge school wide SSR for several years and it does stimulate reading. You can see students reading in the cafe, on steps in the buildings before school, and hear them talking about their books with their friends. This did not happen before SSR.
ReplyDeleteWhile not a policy, I'm growing weary of hearing both teachers and administrators say, "We teach students, not content."
ReplyDeleteI suspect that's why our scores remain so low; we're busy teaching students whatever, but we're not busy teaching them good solid content.
We spend more time teaching strategies than we do teaching content.
While not a policy, it certainly is a practice that every year something changes before enough time has elasped to evaluate whether or not it is effective.
ReplyDeleteThat is for sure and I heard Jane Kendrick say that was the exact reason they were staying with Springboard. So at least one person downtown knows that they seem to run programs and drop them or alter them before there is time to evaluate their effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteIn this day and age of technology. Why not just program the computer to give every kid who has over 10 days absent (in any class) a F in that class. Only an administrator code after an apeal is filed can change to another grade.
ReplyDeleteThis will take the attendance (letting kids by) out of the teachers hand.
Is my thought.
I though believe it will never happen. The number of kids in our high schools missing days and being told to let kids make up the work to pass is out ragious. You can hardly plan alternative lessons (group, film, etc) because you have to create a second lesson plan for the half of students who are not there.
Downtown does not want it either. They would have to face the reality that many kids are missing days.
Take the appeal process out of the hands of the teachers, make the student sit and face a panel who decides if the attendance is allowable. If it is ruled allowable then a teacher can decide if the student passes, if not tough luck.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that needs to be taught is the unwritten "rules" of society. You can't do well if you aren't there.
The entire issue of absences is a complete nightmare. So many kids miss so many days how are you suppose to build a curriculum that builds on skills learned in previous days. Instead many teachers have developed one day only lessons, each a stand alone. Unless you work a marginal job no tasks done at any employment are stand alones. Try and build a house without following each progressive step. It's not possible to pour the foundation then erect the roof. You must do all the steps, and we are "teaching" our kids the opposite.
I agree with what's been written about attendance issues, especially at the high school level where students are earning credits toward graduation.
ReplyDeleteI've always believed that 90% of success in anything is attributed to showing up. Show up and things tend to fall into place.
It is simply amazing how much better kids do when they are there, I have never had to fail a student who is in the class, puts forth effort and attends 95% of the time.
ReplyDeleteDowntown will not take it out of the hands of the teachers. (If they did. They would not be able to blame anyone but the students and parents.)
ReplyDeleteYou all must realize it is there goal to show us that we are all marginal and not worth the money they are paying. That way when you get 10 or more years in. They can jetison you and look for a younger teacher.
If the computer begins failing students (OK students failing themselves) for attendance. They would realize that we are all above average teachers if students actually show up.
This attendance and failing students make it look like we are failing. Gives them something to whip us with.
Just my take.
In addition. I agree with bringing trades back (we need funding though), bringing back summer school (again, we need funding though), and just going with the IHSAA rule for athletics (here we need common since to prevail). These would all help in raising the graduation rates.
Look at our scores before we droped these programs versus now.
Question comes down to funding. One way is to return to dept heads in each school. Get rid of expensive administration in the subjects that really has no clue to what is going on in the classroom. Could hire two more teachers in each subject at least if they were gone. Get rid of all the asst. superintendents and give the job back to Dr. White (as in other districts). More teachers in the classrooms. Stop over-lapping administration who does not know what the other is doing.
Lean out or close the ed center. How much could be saved by that?
Again, just my militant opinion.
"In addition. I agree with bringing trades back." Quote from above
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts totally. Vocational or trades classes are drawing cards for many of our high school students. Among these classes are the Family and Consumer Science classes, also. For many students, these classes were the only reason they attended school. That's not a bad thing either. At present, many of our high schools have little in the way of electives to offer our students. A rich and full adult life also includes learning beyond reading and math.
Oh come on folks, you know everyone is going to college. They need those core 40 diplomas and nobody is going into any trade.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.iea-in.org/
ReplyDeleteBy the way, at this website there is a document entitled."Dr. Bridgewater Classroom Visit Guidelines" for those who may have questions.
How is it possible that this woman is STILL employed by IPS?
ReplyDeleteIt boggles the mind.
That woman will never visit a classroom. She is afraid of the students...She spends her time with her handpicked posse.....I bet she goes to Shortridge to make lunch plans on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteDr. B IS making classroom visits! She's been to our school and made classroom visits, and then 'nailed' several teachers for not providing enough 'rigor' and 'higher level thinking' instruction.
ReplyDeleteHere's what the IEA is offering us as guidelines that are supposed to be followed before/after one of Dr. B's classroom observations.
______________________________________________
Dr. Bridgwater Classroom Visit Guidelines
Teachers, these are some guidelines that are to be adhered to concerning Dr. Bridgwaters' observations in your classrooms per Dr. Johnson:
1.) Dr. Bridgwaters will e-mail the principals informing them of the names of the teachers that she will be visiting/observing three (3) days prior to the actual visit/observation.
2.) Principals are responsible for informing the teachers of Dr. Bridgwaters' visit in writing prior to her visit.
3.) Principals must conduct their own observation prior to Dr. Bridgwaters' visit/observation.
4.) Dr. Bridgwaters will have forty-eight (48) hours to document her visits/observations to the principals in order to allow the principal to review her documentation.
5.) Principals are encouraged to conduct regular classroom visitations if Dr. Bridgwaters reports that the teachers need a great deal of support.
IEA has also requested that teachers are given feedback from those visits within twenty-four (24) hours of the principals receiving. If this is not happening please notify IEA by e-mail at presiea@yahoo.com and bphelps@ista-in.org
Ann Wilkins, President IEA
It sounds like Prudence is stirring the pot and causing her usual problems....it is good to know that IEA is acting on this problem...Now if Ann would quit ignoring the payroll problem.
ReplyDeleteI worked in a school that had over 96% attendance for the year. EXCELLENT, right??? What we want, right??? Nope, the principal told me that my attendance efforts reflected negatively on the teachers becaue the students in my building had poor ISTEP scores. The discrepancy between good attendance and poor academic performance made the teachers look bad.....
ReplyDeleteWho in the hell is this Prudence Bridgewaters that we have to have specific guidelines as to her classroom visits? What authority does she have? What IS her job title? And how, pray tell, to teachers end up on her "observation" list?
ReplyDeleteI bet she's at your room tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTwenty Year ago Prudence Bridgwaters was assigned to John Marshall Middle School as a Teacher. IPS archives will have documentation that she left almost everyday at Noon. Prudence can't lie about this. Hey Prudence, do you remember the Christmas Party at Pearl's??
ReplyDeleteThat must have been some Christmas party at Pearl's since it has been mentioned every time
ReplyDeletePrudence Bridgwaters' name appears in this blog.
If you were there, give the rest of us some of
the highlights of that event because it is obvious Prudence is not going to discuss it.
This blog is too family friendly to discuss that event!!!
ReplyDeletePrudence wasn't alone. We at IPS # 1 LOVED our half day at the end of the six-week grade period. All but Isaiah Greene's suck-ups would head to the 56th Street Pub and drink! That was the only way we could tolerate the rest of the day without kids to buffer us from Greene's tirades. Then he used the kids' popcorn money to fund our school-closing party.
ReplyDeletePoor School 88. They got him next.
Remember the Arlington administrator who hired kids to rob houses, then was taped buying hot stuff from car trunks?
And the famous catfight in the lobby? Grown white women fighting over Adams.
We could also discuss Peggy Averitt's use of ESL staff to spend school days at her home, translating her construction instructions to the workman.
When is Springer's show on? I have potential guests!
What went on at Pearl's Christmas Party? You're safe. We don't know your name, so spill the beans.
ReplyDeleteYeah we're dying to know, should we ask her when she shows up to observe?
ReplyDeleteWe need details! Is Pearl a woman, or is Pearl the name of a local dive?
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think that whatever happened at Pearl's is gonna stay at Pearl's. What a shame to waste a great story.
I wanna know what happened at Pearls.
ReplyDeleteIt was not only white women fighting at the Ed. Center over Superintendent Adams.....it was a truly multicultural fight.
ReplyDeleteAre these fighting women still with IPS? Were they at Pearl's Christmas party, too?
ReplyDeleteIsn't Bridgwaters old enough to draw Social Security by now? How come she's still with IPS? Isn't she considered a district liability at this point?
ReplyDeleteThat ugly old nasty heffa better not show up in my room tomorrow. Nobody answered my question! HOW DOES SHE SELECT WHICH TEACHERS TO OBSERVE???
ReplyDeleteTELL ME !!!!
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT PEARLS'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the Christmas party, but I know that it was a place that Prudence liked to go. It was a club I think on 21st Street, just West of Illinois. Here's a link to a vintage photo from a gathering there.
ReplyDeletehttp://images.indianahistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p0303&CISOPTR=261&CISOBOX=1&REC=2
The ed center dispute was just a Pillow fight.
ReplyDeleteHaHaHaHa
I was at the Christmas Party. I would love for Prudence to give her account of what happened. Prudence, I know you or D.R. read the comments on this blog. I got you where I want you on this one Prudence. It may have took twenty years but I got you on this one.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good website, and at times it can have some very good information and insights. However, talking about a party that has no impact on anyone's job or life is a waste of time. I don't know Dr. Bridgewaters but talking about her is not going to make anyone's job easier. Talking about un-fair observations, and classroom visits are valid and deserve discussions. Again this is just my opinion, and many might disagree with me. If this site turns into a teacher/ adminstration bashing/gossip blog people will lose interest in this good blog site.
ReplyDeleteA big part of the problem with IPS is they put people in the wrong positions, Bridgwater may be an example, I have a friend who is a friend of hers and he tells me no one knows more about curriculum for middle-schools. So she may be a curriculum expert. So why isn't she a curriculum director? Instead is is trying to micro manage schools and administrators.
ReplyDeleteWe actually need curriculum coordinators. Part of the problem we have is people deviate from the curriculum, and some have deviated so far now we have this pacing guide which is an over-reaction to this problem. Just get everyone back on the correct curriculum, and with the state standards and let teachers work have some freedom to develop ways to deliver the curriculum.
I knew of a third grade teacher who taught "Oprah" the whole second semester, the kids wrote biographies, and watched the program. Where was the principal, where were the curriculum coordinators? They both should have put a stop to this one.
I can't tell you the number of times the person who is making the high school schedules can't figure out the math of doing this. Please be advised, you can't give 45% of your faculty one lunch, 45% the second lunch and 10% the final lunch. Your percentage of teachers and students at lunch need to be the same, and equal through out the number of lunch periods. I was always among the 10% having the last lunch when you had 55% of the faculty teaching 70% of the kids. Somewhere in IPS someone must understand how to do schedules. FIND THOSE PEOPLE AND GET THEM TO MAKE SCHEDULES.
Just because someone can do one job well doesn't mean they can do all jobs well.
Stop hiring principals who are introverts, it is not a position for someone who doesn't communicate well or listen.
Those who can, teach
ReplyDeleteThose who can't, become administrators
Dr. White will forever be remembered as the superintendent who hired Prudence Bridgwaters to assist him at turning around a failing school district. I wonder could he have hired her when he was superintendent of Washington Township??? Nope. This guys has a problem with doing what is right.
ReplyDeletesorry.. Should have been "guy."
ReplyDeleteWhite hired her, but will he ever fire her?
ReplyDeleteBe nice, she has been in the hospital and had surgery, and there is always the chance she is only following the orders of the wizard in the ruby red slippers.
ReplyDeleteI know someone who left Marshall under stress disability last year, then Jane Adjubu called and told this person to return to work or be fired for abandoning the job (even thought there was medical documentation, that it was job related) The person filed for unemployment and a actual employee from personnel showed up at the hearing to say that "IPS was unaware of any adverse work conditions at John Marshall during the 2008/2009 school year". After the judge got over her laughing fit she slammed this person and the person I know is getting unemployment.
I then talked to someone who knew the representative from downtown who told this funny, and had this person as a building level administrator, so I asked about them. The teacher who I asked said the person was lovely and a wonderful caring administrator. Just like we need to keep our jobs some of these people down town also work for a living, and I have no idea what their bosses would say if they simply said "I'm not going to lie to cover your butt", but I just bet it wouldn't be "see you tomorrow, have a nice evening".
What ever happened to answering the question above? About policies that should be changed or strengthened. I believe good sugestions were being put forth to try and keep kids in school and help them.
ReplyDeleteThat was going well until you all got the Bridgewater theme. I don't know nor car about that person. Nor care!
Changing policies is vital to keeping kids in the district and move forward with ISTEP, GQE, End of Course, etc. exams. Not window dressing them. There needs to be true discussion about what is pushing the kids towards failure.
I am not talking about teachers. I am talking about policies with in the district that have discouraged students, programs of interest to the students and parents lost, etc. What can we do?
If you all want to talk about a specific person then maybe the host for the site can put up a Bridgewater (or whatever her name is link). Lets get back to real and vital discussion. Not small talk and teacher lounge talk.
As a parent. I would like to know why IPS athletics are not in the same seasons as the townships. Especially at the middle school level. Kids need challenges and competing against all kids (as township schools do) is the only way they will see they need to strive to be better. My son would rather be playing football like his friends in the townships. I have him playing at the park but its not the same as playing for your school team.
ReplyDeleteOr are adults telling them they cannot compete and be as good as students in the townships? Time to even up the seasons and let kids compete outside of IPS. Just as other districts around the state do. No wonder HS athletics are shambles. IPS is afraid to put emphasis on the lower levels and compete against others.
In addition my daughter ran at our township school cross country and finished sixth in division at the middle school state meet last year. IPS does not even have cross country in middle school. I have coaches at teachers telling her that inner city kids don't run distances and her sport should be softball and volleyball. A 5:30 girl miler in her summer running club. She had to not run track because only three people came out when my daughter said the coach barely recruited or talked with anyone in her classes. Said, that her school doesn't have the athetes to compete and what's the point. (Nice attitude coach by the way.) They (softball this fall) do nothing but stand around eat chips/pop and barely practice and have no discipline from my observation of the softball team.
I cannot waite to move out of IPS and back to reality.
To the last poster: unfortunately, you have witnessed the "reality" of IPS. Don't beat yourself over the head asking, "Why?" Best wishes on your move.
ReplyDeleteWe talk about Prudence Bridgewaters because she is the ideal representative about what is wrong with IPS.....and her behavior at Pearls did have a connection later on when she was fired from IPS...I mean when she resigned mid year....
ReplyDeleteWhy not put one of the traditional high schools (Manual, Northwest, Tech) on a Year Round Schedule.
ReplyDeleteThey would be the first in the state and I bet without burn-out might score high. This is an idea I like but seems to stop after elementary and high school.
I just don't understand why? If we are truely putting kids first then we should try this as well. I would transfer to the school doing it. I know others as well. So don't give me staff does not want it.
I don't really care about the kids jobs. We are here to educate not make them available for work.
The no shows during the early date. We could just say after such & Such a date the kids have to attend another high school for those who stay out and don't attend when school starts. Ya, enrollment might shrink at the school trying it but if scores go up! It would be another successful venture. Besides isn't it Dr. Whites plan to make Tech the only traditional school anyway?
The high school middle school combination is insane. This policy needs to be rethought. The middle schoolers are wild and out of control.
ReplyDeleteThe entire Middle School movement is and has been a mess in IPS. One of the primary tenants of the middle school philosophy is that middle schools be a small intimate environment so that every student is known and cared about, so IPS puts 1000 middle schoolers together and calls it a middle school.
No one works together to solve student problems, why aren't there meetings to discuss chronic discipline problems?
Discipline is such an issue that until it is handled and under control it is almost impossible to teach. It is about setting normative behaviors. The year Dr. White rolled out the "if you are disrespectful you are out"
I had some really wonderful classes, and can recall them sending a bad kid to one of these classes, the first day he clowned and the kids looked at him quizzically, the next day he tried again and got no response, the third day he walked in and said "where's my work?" He worked that day and the rest of the year. Had their been two or three other fools the out come would have been entirely different.
"If you are disrespectful you are out." ??? Are you KIDDING me? IPS has such a policy? Why didn't anybody tell our elementary principal? If she did that to HALF of our mean, angry, disrespectful little darlings, we'd still have more that needed to go. We had a third grader punch a teacher, while his older sister wrestled with a teacher who was trying to prevent a fight. The boy got in NO trouble at all, while the sis got ONE lousy day. The principal doesn't want to discipline them because they have "family problems." Boo-hoo-hoo. Tell that to the cops someday, because we're definitely dealing with some future criminals.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above post. Until we hold children accountable for their actions, we're not preparing them to live in the real world. It seems to me that discipline in the system really went to hell the year we began the dress code. Everything "looks" good, so it must "be" good, right? Nope. Just smoke and mirrors.
ReplyDelete