There is a lot of back and forth on the blog about charter schools in the comment sections, so let's have a discussion about them here.
Frankly, charter schools don't scare me, they motivate me to be a better teacher because I know parents have a choice and I'm not worried about the competition. If charters didn't exist I would still have to compete with private and parochial schools.
Should we in IPS be afraid or worried about charters or should we be more focused on creating a better school system so parents won't want to go somewhere else to have their kids educated?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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Do they offer hope of removing control from corrupt administrators and superintendents and placing teachers, parents, and principals in control of education?
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with charter schools. Philosophically, I think they are a fair compromise between state-controlled education desired by the left and market-based education idealized by the right. And practically, I think they can serve as little mini-experiments on different school models. I think district schools have a great advantage over charter schools (more funding and it's the school that most others in the neighborhood will go to), but if they squander their advantage on ineffective programs and top-heavy administration, then I'm glad families (and teachers, for that matter) have a choice. There are only a handful of charter schools that I think are better than IPS. Most of them do exactly the same things we do and get exactly the same results. But the potential for innovation is there, and I definitely admire that all of them have far less administrative staff than we do.
ReplyDeleteMy son's charter school is a breath of fresh air. Brand new furniture and materials, idealistic young teachers who are willing to put in long hours, a principal who can hire the teachers who are willing to teach according to the model chosen for the school, families who are energized and participate. 100% of students had a parent attend conferences. The classrooms are orderly and learner-centered.
ReplyDeleteMy son loves to go to school now, which was not true when he went to Catholic school, where he was bullied and labeled a "discipline problem" because he didn't fill out the endless worksheets.
The year we spent in IPS was a disaster: disorganized teachers who did not communicate with us, unruly students, parents who cursed out the principal in the hallway.
We apply to IPS magnets every year, and have never even heard whether our application was received, much less considered. We would love to support the local school district, but the charter school community is welcoming and supportive in a way that IPS just has not been.
The IPS Administration obviously isn't afraid of the charter schools because they still continue to lead IPS down the wrong path. Competition is a good thing, and if it (eventually) forces change at IPS, then charter schools will have a great and positive affect on our community.
ReplyDeleteThe problem I have with charters is that we have an uneven playing field with them. They cherry pick their students, remove those who don't fit their profile, fail to provide an entire range of services and fail to provide many of the components of their proposals when they were approved. Most have a revolving door of teachers as they pay next to nothing. Then they want to compare their scores to public school scores. The funny thing is that with allof these "special treatment" features, many are not doing much better than IPS. Many remind me of the segregation academies that popped up in the south when the public schools there were ordered desegregated.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your information? From your imagination?! How is choosing students through a lottery "cherry picking?" What uneven playing field? Doe schools receive full state and federal funding, while charter schools agree to only a portion of government funding and supplement the rest by tirelessly fundraising every single year-because you know most funds are not recurring-you have to continue to raise money yearly. What "special treatment features?" working long extra hours/long days and shorter summers (most charters give 4-6 weeks for summer) and less pay (the more years you teach) to work in a fledgling school? A brand new school is like a brand new business. It takes over your life. There are many false starts. There are many trial by errors. We are so used to seeing schools that have been established for 100-50 -20 years we just take it for granted that all good schools are like that and don't thin about the journey an administration, faculty, students and parents take to get there. Established schools are a full fledged institution with all their kinks worked out. Most of our established schools were able to build their school without their strict regulations and fierce and evaluations charter schools undergo every year to ensure their charter is renewed. When you want to criticize think about what it must take to begin a new school.Charter schools have students from the same demographic as their neighboring schools yet, that must ensure more funding from sponsors yearly, they are implementing new curriculums, establishing new relationships with familie ans the community, adding on new grades each year, going back and correcting 1st year 2nd year and even third year issues that you only learn once you're in the fire, securing more space for your growing school and locating funds and property for a building, constant hiring of staff-because teachers get so burnt out they can't keep up the pace and have a life and family of their own. Also, the emphasis on test scores has reached an all high-throughout all of this and more and you've got to educate your students and get them to prove what they've learned to satisfy the city and state requirements.
DeleteI have a hard time believing the "cherry picking" theory. We are a foster family, and children often come to us with severe behavioral issues. Our charter school has admitted every child we have brought them. The special education staff is excellent, and the kids' IEPs are up to date and correct. We have never been asked to remove a child from the charter school.
ReplyDeleteThe unfair thing about comparing test scores between charters and other public schools is that many charters have not been open long enough for their students to have spent all their academic careers there. For instance, this is only the second year that The Project School has been open. Thus the oldest students that this school has taught from Kindergarten up are only first graders. That means that the poor ISTEP scores for their students reflect the failure of previous schools to teach these children. The third graders who took the ISTEP at TPS last year spent K,1, and 2 in other schools--and the test they took one month into the school year is used to judge the school!
ReplyDeleteI know charter schools don't tend to pay experienced teachers as much as the districts, but I'm currently in college to become a teacher, and many of my friends who already graduated say charter schools offer higher starting salaries than any of the districts. So "they pay next to nothing" is relative I guess.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think the "cherry picking" accusation is purely myth. I have never seen a shred of credible evidence to support the claim. I've only seen it on anonymous message boards like here and the Star. I think its based on the fact that when a student fails at both IPS and at a charter school, his parents will often have him return to IPS because of other factors (sports, proximity, etc.) and it gets twisted into "they sent him back." But I don't think real cherry picking takes place very often at all, if ever.
ReplyDeleteI am not a teacher, but only an interested observer.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is a strong co-ordinated effort nationally to dissolve teacher unions.
It is my opinion that the charter school movement is a part of this effort to break up teacher unions.
Yes, teacher unions have their own problems, but I would hate to see what it would be like for veteran teachers without them.
I agree. I don't believe that is the mission of charter schools-but I believe it is a political move by our politicians to do just that. I've noticed that Bloomberg has declared o "freeze" on hiring new teachers at the DOE schools at least 3 times since I lived in NYC. He's forcing all graduating teachers to go to charter schools. Most teachers would only pick a charter school as a 2nd or 3rd choice. Using his so called hiring "freeze" He's supplied a workforce specifically for charter schools. Scary.
DeleteDon't we "cherry pick" at magnet schools?
ReplyDeleteWe get charter kids all the time on the west side. We never get any "rocket scientists" which is neither here nor there. These kids always come to us two grade levels or more behind. All charters do is reduce teacher salaries and give teachers little voice when it comes to their jobs. I hear IEA supports charters anyway because they feel they will eventually organize them. It's only a matter a time if working conditions are as poor as I've been told. Some schools will do anything for enrollment-even if they have to dismiss a good teacher over an irate parent. Personally I don't fear them. I think parents on the west side have them figured out that's why we still get the kids. One grandparent complained to me that they never had homework, recess and the teachers' mobility rates were as high as the students. Here today-gone tommorrow- bring them on!!!
ReplyDelete"Don't we "cherry pick" at magnet schools?"
ReplyDeleteNooooo that's school choice. They choose us and we decide if we choose them. It's just as stupid as vouchers (welfare/handout) for students to attend a school.
How is funding education welfare if it is at one school but not welfare if it is at another? Isn't that like saying that using food stamps at Kroger is welfare, but using them at Marsh isn't? It's all government-funded regardless.
ReplyDeleteAs an outsider, I admit there are many facts I may not be aware of. However, the charter school concept has never been one that I agree with. Creating competition is not necessary because there will always be private schools. I see charter schools as an attempt to provide a "have your cake and eat it too" situation for some parents. These parents are attempting to get some of the benefits of a private school without the cost. This may sound nice but the problem is they are taking funds from the rest of the system and from taxpayers to do it. If someone wants to start a school, fine. Just don't expect the system and taxpayers to pay for it. If your school can't make it without public money, you're either doing it wrong or your school is not needed.
ReplyDeleteno one's taking anything. charter schools are public. We still need more schools. Good schools. And their doing it while taking less funding (hundreds of thousands less) from the government. Taxpayers aren't suffering-taxpayers are getting a break-because charters are taking less from them and in some cases giving more.
DeleteThere is a BIG difference between charter schools and school vouchers. I am not in favor of charter schools. I am completely in favor of vouchers. If I were able to get a voucher to send my kids to private school, that voucher would be nothing more than my OWN money that I already paid in taxes for the schools. If I am not using those schools, why shouldn't I be able to use some of my own money to pay for a private school?
ReplyDeleteFunding is per student, so why is it okay to give $_____ per student to school A but not to school B. We have all kinds of laws to prevent monopolies in the private sector because they are harmful on many levels (they harm the economy, they increase cost, decrease quality, and they prohibit innovation). Why is a public education monopoly okay? I know people compare it to the police or the fire department, but those are services, not sciences. Services don't evolve the way sciences do. Education needs to be changing as fast as medicine or technology or other sciences and it isn't. That's because our traditional system has held it back. In another 20 years, society will really start reaping the benefits of school choice (the limited version we have) and we'll realize how insane our 20th century education system was.
ReplyDeleteHow is public education a monopoly?
ReplyDeleteIt isn't if it includes charter schools. But if all the public schools in an area run by one "company" (or schoolboard) then it is a monopoly and it causes all the problems that a private sector monopoly causes.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe charter schools (at least here in Indy) are subpar. If I had school-aged children today, I'd send them to a private school. My kids went to private schools while I was a public school teacher (not here but in another area years ago). It's not unusual for IPS top level administrators to send their children to private schools, such as Jackie Greenwood did with her sons. I'm sure we can all identify IPS employees who send their children to private schools.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't waste my energies worrying about charter schools here in Indianapolis. If a parent wants a top notch education for his child, then we have some good private schools available. Money should never be a determining factor if you have a bright, eager child who needs a private school education. There are private schools who have endowments and scholarships available for bright inner-city students. Go for it!
"It isn't if it includes charter schools. But if all the public schools in an area run by one "company" (or schoolboard) then it is a monopoly and it causes all the problems that a private sector monopoly causes."
ReplyDelete-------------------------------------------------- This statement is completely flawed. It would only be true if not a single private school existed. By this logic, McDonald's should have to provide funding to to anyone that wishes to open a fast food restaurant even though many others already exist. Public schools provide one option for parents to educate their children. They are not required to use it. Which is the only way public schools could be considered a monopoly.
Most, not all, charters are nothing more than 'store-front' schools -- here today, gone tomorrow. Public schools do not constitute a monopoly on educational choices. Parents always have the option of private schools. If there were NO options, then a monopoly would exist.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you understand what a monopoly is. A monopoly means that one company or organization has total control of a market. A public school monopoly means that only one company controls the public schools in an area. Providing McDonalds with public funding is absurd and has nothing to do with funding education. But going with that example, if we offered public funding, for whatever reason to McDonalds but no other fast food restaurant, then McDonalds would have a public fast food monopoly. Make sense?
ReplyDeleteOne company controls all the Walmarts. We can still shop at Target. Same difference. You are doing a good job confusing yourself. A monopoly is not defined by how a product is made available. It is defined by the fact that is available no where else. In this case, the product is education. The distinction between public or private is irrelevant to the monopoly issue. Considering IPS as a monopoly in center township doesn't make sense. All Indiana public schools regardless of district or charter status are ultimately all part of (and controlled by) the Indiana department of education. Creating more layers of the same organization does not change who is controlling it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you might want to work on your reading comprehension. I never said anything about providing public funding to McDonalds.
ReplyDeletePrivate versus public does make a difference because it separates the industry (education) into separate markets. This is 7th grade level economics we're discussing here. Seriously. Don't take my word for it, poke around on the internet, maybe check out a book. You're in over your head in this conversation. Good luck to you, though.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that IPS has no money of its own, right? It's funded by private citizens. So having a choice besides IPS is not not like McDonalds giving Wendy's money. It's like you being able to choose to give your money to McDonalds or Wendys. Which you ARE able to do.
ReplyDeleteChildren are not entitled to a private school education. They are entitled to free education provided by public schools.
ReplyDeleteOFF THIS TOPIC BUT....isn't someone going to file to run against Michael Brown, school board president and toady of Eugene White. One of the reasons we fail to progess in IPS is that so frequently no one is willing to step up and assume some leadership. Friday, at noon is the deadline to file........SOMEONE PLEASE!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of charter schools. I think if we give them time, they will provide as much choice for teachers as they do for parents and students. IPS is notorious throughout central Indiana for micromanaging and disrespecting teachers. This entire blog is based on dissatisfied teachers. Charter schools can (and often do) give teachers more autonomy if they are achieving results, and have merit systems that financially reward successes instead of IPS's way of giving credit for teacher success to administrators. Like the poster above noted, charter schools often aren't competitive for experienced teachers. But for newer teachers, charter schools provide opportunities not available anywhere else. (Not to mention, they are doing the majority of teacher hiring in Indianapolis). I also agree with the poster above who said that education should be innovating as fast as other sciences and that charter schools allow for that. That's not to say that all of Indianapolis' charter schools are innovative, because they're not. But some of them are and if we learn from them (and especially if we keep an eye on successful charters nationwide) there is amazing opportunity to finally make some real progress in urban education.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to public and private schools, look at it like healthcare. My insurance covers me whether I go to St. Francis or Community. One is a privately-run hospital and one is a state-run hospital, but my insurance treats them equally (as long as they meet whatever guidelines the insurance company has). I am free to choose whichever one fits my own needs. That's all a voucher does. It's like education insurance.
ReplyDeleteThe Indianapolis Star today has an article today that says more than half of Indiana teachers are over 50. http://www.indystar.com/article/20100217/NEWS04/2170364/1013/New-program-clears-path-for-those-who-want-to-teach If charter schools are doing all the hiring of new teachers, and IPS is laying off or putting teachers in sub pools, then charter schools are going to take over in the next decade or so.
ReplyDeleteI know its taboo to talk about it, but having so many veteran teachers is a problem for a couple of reasons. First, veteran teachers are the most resistant to change, compared to newer teachers. They don't see themselves as professionals in an evolving science, and they don't want to keep changing the way they do things. Many of them don't even think it's POSSIBLE to teach kids unless their parents are supportive. How effective can anyone be at something they believe to be impossible? Second, they are the most expensive. Expensive would be fine if it brought expertise. But again, that's not what happens. I'm not bashing older teachers. The very best teachers in IPS are veterans. But so are the worst. So we're paying some of our highest teacher salaries for some for the worst teachers, costing us money and student achievement, as well as the administrative costs of financing more and more programs that would be avoidable if we simply had more of the better teachers. Right now, charter schools have the opposite problem. Great ideas, lots of energy, but so many teachers lack experience, and they make a lot of "rookie mistakes." So right now, we've got bad compared to bad. But I predict charter schools will improve in a few years as they gain more experience. I predict IPS will continue to do the same things it has always done, spend money on the wrong programs and the wrong people.
ReplyDeleteYou must be young and inexperienced. Because you sound it. For any teacher to be fully effective and reach their potential takes an administration who knows how to use their teachers. Just like any other profession. You work for a compny that doesn't compensate for great performance, doesn't invest in their employees-you will have disgruntled employees. The truth is No child left behind is a farce. There are children that will be able to achieve regardless of the lack of support at home and those who will not make it because of the lack of support at home. Children are human. Not every adult is out there achieving. Why do we think we have the power to make it happen for every child? It sounds so good--but it's insane to believe it's possible. You can only hope that somewhere down the road someone or something will change it for them. It may not be you or school. It may be a hardknocks lesson. it may be adulthood. It may be a life-changing experience. Or they may just get tired of not reaching theitr potential. Or they may never rise to the occasion. That's possible too. Education is always evolving and growing-what needs to happen is use your veteran teachers as a resource-training-mentoring-team teaching with rookies-push-ins curriculum writing-management. The truth is =our kids as a whole have become more challenging to teach and there is a lot more mental-emotional and physical energy required in certain class settings. A good administration knows where and how to use their teachers and understands there must be room for growing, learning, and improving. You don't get rid of new teachers because they don't know enough and you don't get rid of veteran teachers because they have years of experience and are opinonated. I've known teacers who have taught for 28 years and have seen every educatonal trend recycled under a new name. They were resistant to change because they were in their late 20's when this "ne radical idea phase in and phased out in their 30's. This had happened several times. Now they are in their late 50's sharing their concerns with their 32 year-old principal-who instead of really listening, and asking them to look over the material and perhaps share what they would do differently 20 years later and share it with her/him and staff. They are disregarded as disgruntled employees, troublemakers etc. That's not the case. This principal already had teacher's implement this same program in a school while she was just a 5th grader in elementary school, but s/he was un able to see the opportunity. One day you will be a veteran wherever you are. Be careful how you treat those with seniority -you may be treated the same. Remember some employers don't want to see a vets worth anymore because it's cheaper to fire them or force them into early retirement because they want to hire 2 1st year teachers with their salary. It happens in every field.
DeleteFebruary 17, 2010
ReplyDeleteIPS looks for ways to slash $26M
Officials hope the cuts won't be felt in the district's classrooms
By Andy Gammill
andy.gammill@indystar.com
Indianapolis Public Schools, which has been tapping its savings to get by, is preparing to make millions in cuts.
The district is considering a sweeping list of options, spokeswoman Mary Louis Bewley said, to make $26 million in spending cuts. Possibilities include laying off administrators and teachers and closing programs.
IPS has approved consolidating the two Key Learning Community school sites into one for cost savings. The district has been offering buyouts to teachers and administrators. And discussions about reducing the number of police officers in schools have been aired publicly.
"Our hope is kids and parents won't really feel the effect," Bewley said. "We're going to work really hard to keep class sizes the same as they are right now."
The district already was facing $12 million in budget cuts because of property tax caps when a $13 million reduction became necessary because of reduced state revenues.
IPS plans to cut $1 million beyond that to make up the difference between rising costs to purchase goods and services and the falling budget, finance chief Debra Hineline said.
Although other districts have put immediate cost-saving plans in place, Hineline said IPS has been able to live off its $59 million cash reserve.
But spending that down $1 million each month can't last forever.
The School Board will be asked to approve a plan in the next few months but has not yet received Superintendent Eugene White's recommendations.
Board members have scheduled a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the budget. A later meeting will be held to get public input on the proposed cuts.
School Board Vice President Elizabeth Gore said the board does not look forward to those decisions but that members are also embracing the administration's goal to affect students as little as possible.
"I know that we're talking about cutting back as far as we can, but we don't want to touch our classrooms," she said. "When we have our public meetings, I'd really like to hear people come up with some even more innovative ideas than we have."
Gore said she hopes that if personnel cuts are needed, teachers are spared and positions are instead cut among the administration and support staff.
Teachers union President Ann Wilkins said she hopes enough teachers take early retirement offers to avoid layoffs, but she doesn't think that's realistic.
"They've just told us they're not going to touch teachers unless they have to," Wilkins said. "But more people are working longer because of the economy."
With fewer people leaving, it seems unlikely layoffs can be avoided, she said.
And even if the district succeeded, life would get more difficult in schools with fewer support staff members, she said.
Other area districts have responded to receiving less money from the state not just with teacher layoffs but with reductions in administrative salaries, closing buildings, charging fees for athletics and other cost-saving measures.
Bewley said IPS won't have to make such drastic cuts because it already has been in a mode of cutting millions from its budget each year.
IPS had been assuming it would have to cut its budget because of declining enrollment but instead saw only a slight dip in students this year.
When the state announced that revenues were down and schools would have to cut costs, Bewley said, IPS shifted back to planning for cuts.
"For many of these other districts, it's the first time they're being hit with a big cut," she said. "We've had time to see what's coming down the road."
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I think the charters are a great laboratory for innovation. They get to make decisions about staff and curriculum at the building level. They can tailor the curriculum to the population they serve, without having to go through miles of red tape and waste to do it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm the one that's in over my head huh? That's hilarious. I tried to explain it to you in terms you could understand. Yet all you could do was come back with a repeat of something you already said. Believe what you want. Sorry for trying to shed some truth on the situation. If that's what they're teaching in seventh grade economics, no wonder they have trouble with success.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a teacher nor an administrator.
ReplyDeleteI am an older, retired person and I got a fine education in public schools and I am a strong supporter of local public schools.
With so many teachers nearing retirement age, there is going to come a time soon when there is a teacher shortage. We've already seen this to an extent prior to the recent economic recession.
Who is going to be able to attract and keep teachers when so many older teachers retire and the economy recovers?
From what I read and discuss with other people, charter schools are not going to be competitive to attract and keep teachers - unless and until they greatly improve their pay, benefits and job security.
I did some researching on this and found that it would be next to impossible for a family's main breadwinner to support even a very small family with a teacher salary/benefits/etc., in the vast majority of charter schools. I read an advertisement on the internet for a teacher hiring at an Indianapolis charter school and it listed pay at about 60 percent of an average teacher salary; weak benefits; and the teachers expected to be in class teaching from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each school day. Not exactly an attractive job for any young person who has put in the time and paid the money to earn a college degree.
As far as public school improvements are concerned: I think it has been a big mistake in recent decades to have a focus on having bigger schools and bigger districts. Kids, parents, teachers tend to get lost in the shuffle.
I would support any move to break up IPS into smaller districts. I don't know that breaking up IPS up and sending kids out to the townships would help the students - they'd still be lost in the crowd.
But, unless charter schools are able to provide pay, benefits and some reasonable job security for teachers/principals/support staff in a time when teacher shortages loom ahead - I don't think they are the answer. They will just continually have young, inexperienced teachers learning the ropes while still on the job. Then, these young teachers will get a couple of years of job experience and move on to something else.
What charter school is starting out at 60% of what IPS starting salary? Do you have a link to the ad? If you're telling the truth, I can assure you, they are the exception to the rule. I know several charter school teachers, and they all make higher than IPS scale. Granted, none of them have more than 7 years experience, but for new teachers, charter schools are VERY competitive. Also, I don't know what it takes for you to support your family, but millions of Indiana breadwinners make less than starting teachers, so it's obnoxious to act like we can't survive on it. Like everyone, I would love to earn more money, but if people can't survive on a perfectly respectable middle class salary, then they aren't very good with money.
ReplyDeleteEven though the two posts above me are at odds, I think they actually support the same point -- if charter schools want to be "real players" in the school competition, they have to attract good teachers. Whether they are doing that now or not, I don't know. Regardless, charter schools have the potential to offer choice to teachers as well as to parents/students. Which can only mean good things for the profession.
ReplyDelete"but for new teachers, charter schools are VERY competitive."
ReplyDelete----------------
Could be.
But for non-new teachers, they are not competitive.
...but why is there such a revolving door for teachers in the charter schools? Parents complain of multiple teachers for a classroom in one year....that tells s story..
ReplyDeleteI don't think it tells a story about the charters, it tells a story about the frequency with which new teachers leave the profession or move on to the suburbs once they gain a couple of years' experience. Turnover is quicker at charters and private schools because they have a higher percentage of new teachers. I worked at a Catholic school before I started at IPS, and turnover was horrible, and that was a CAKE job compared to IPS, but talk about low money!!
ReplyDeleteSteo back from the salary comparisons for a moment. As a teacher, how much is 100% participation in parent-teacher conferences worth to you? How valuable is it to be able to use best practices instead of pacing guides?
ReplyDeleteI'm an education student, and obviously in this economy, I'll take what I can get, but my first choice would be an innovative charter school. I do think charter schools are becoming more and more innovative. Just in Indianapolis in the next year or two, we will have a reading-focused k-8 school, an international school (5-12), a high school for adult learners (9-12) two military academies (one 9-12, the other 5-12), an Aviation technology high school, a finance technology k-8 school, and a pair of charter schools that seem pretty typical except that they offer before-school, after-school, and 7-week summer-school programs. How can anyone involved in education not find that pretty exciting?!
ReplyDeleteBeing on the drawing board and actually happening are two different things. Additionally many of the current approved ones have not been able to provide the programs that they presented when they were approved. All that glitters is not gold.
ReplyDeleteI'm nearing the end of my educational career as a classroom teacher, and it's been a good run; however, if I were 22 years old and fresh out of college, I'd definitely consider taking a position with a Charter School, here in Indianapolis or elsewhere. It would be a real rush to be a part of a youthful and like-minded faculty who could work without the burden of so much red tape.
ReplyDeleteAway from the subject momentarily
ReplyDeleteAny information available for the candidates listed in news story below:
Preliminary filing for school board seats on Monday saw Leroy Robinson file for an at-large seat on the Indianapolis Public Schools board and Ramon L. Butts and Glenn Eric Sandifer II file for the District 3 seat in IPS.
Why doesn't someone file against Michael Brown? He needs to GO!!
ReplyDeleteWhy does IPS need a PR department and one staffed with 3 - 4 people? At 34,000 students they are an average size school system.
ReplyDeleteI know there are a lot of competent people on here who are knowledgable on current education trends. Let's put our heads together and come up with true ideas for budget cuts.
ReplyDeleteI still think that having extended school days Monday through Thursday is a somewhat practical idea.
ReplyDeleteHey, there's a certain little bimbo in our building who needs to go to a charter school. Than way, she'd have a whold NEW faculty to tattle on!!! And the funny thing is, she's so smug, she doesn't think we're smart enough to know what she's doing. Her boyfriend, Ken, filled us in. LOL
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about your "Barbie" again? I wish I knew what school you are from, so I know to stay 500 yards away from it. You are hateful, and I have a feeling that you being "tattled" on was justified. Your posts here speak volumes.
ReplyDeleteI think I know what school "Barbie" works out. The staff is hateful to everyone, both students and parents.
ReplyDeleteI meant "at", not "out", but then that is not correct either. I can't win.
ReplyDeleteUm, excuse me, but the to the third poster above, I'm flattered than you think I blog so often, but I've never referred to our "Barbie" as a "Bimbo." If you will re-read that post, there are two misspelled words, and my real posts are always correct. Unlike many poor souls who blog here, I'm capable of using the "edit" feature. As for some of the posts I've contributed to this blog, I'll admit I've had some real masterpieces. As a matter of fact,it was in one of my best blogs ever posted on this site that I provided not only a strong clue to my real identity, but also where I work. As for the "tattling," I've never worked in a building where that didn't go on. But, I guarantee you that every day, no matter what, I am polite and cordial to the staff, kind and caring to the students, and respectful to parents. That, my friend, cannot be said about all of my co-workers. Have a nice weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteYour post shows your arrogance. I can assure you that, although you may think you've blogged some masterpieces, your posts show nothing more than you being an immature coward who would rather come on here anonymously and attack someone, rather than have a good old-fashioned face-to-face talk. I am sure you would find out through that conversation that your "Barbie" is doing what your principal tells her to do. But, I don't think you want to take the high road.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, your posts have not been the quality of work that you think they are.
I am happy that we have a forum to vent our frustrations. However, we all must remember that everyone sees this blog, and we all get lumped into the same category when catty, vicious employees get on here and act like 13-year olds. I hate how we are perceived on this Blog at times. A vast majority of IPS teachers love our students, and enjoy our jobs (minus the politics and paperwork, gross misuse of funds, etc). I am not sure how I would feel as an IPS parent while reading this Blog. Many points are valid, but I think that we are missing the point for this Blog. We need to let parents know how this district came to be in the dire shape it is in; we don't need the parents to see that we call each other petty names and bully one another.
You have a nice weekend, and a nice week! :0)
You poor soul. I'll be sure to say a prayer for you at church today.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone see the article in the morning paper? About a kid who couldn't get anyone to help him learn until he ended up at the Metropolitan High School? Anybody know any former students from there? What are they like?
ReplyDeleteI would really like to know the methods they used with this student at Metropolitan. I have to say that I really don't know how to help kids who can't learn to read and I know there are a lot of good programs out there. I have tried many methods and would love to have one that really works. Would welcome any suggestions.
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