Another harebrained scheme, and it shouldn't happen with out the agreement of the association. After all these times you'd think the association would be wise to this technique, IPS will announce a big plan, and then announce that the association is opposed to changes that will benefit students, standing in the way of reform, keeping bad teachers in the classroom, yada yada yada. IEA needs to get out in front of this if they decide to fight this, get the data, talk to the districts that have implemented it, see if it actually worked, talk to those who dropped it, and see why they did. Prepare a "position paper" in support of IEA's stance...don't let IPS cast IEA in the role of villain again. Perhaps Dr. Fisher could be asked to do the research?
Kuddos to the above post. Teachers that are actually involved in the educational process need to organize and fight this professionaly. The politicians in Washington and Indianapolis will be leaving very soon and the stimulus money will go by the wayside. (It will anyway)IPS will then be looking at a HUGE financial mess. When parents reform, education will reform. We have a union, lets use it for what we know is best. Dr. White's resume' is impressive enough, don't allow him to leave us with another scar.
IPS could get a one billion dollar budget increase and keep kids in school 24/7 and they would still be a failing system. As long as public education is controlled by politicians and teachers unions, there will never be any real success. Why any decent parent would choose public education for their children is beyond me. I see what goes on in these buildings often. They are a cesspool of undisciplined kids and apathetic adults and don't deserve to exist.
Emperor White does not hold a public hearing until anything is a done deal. With 5 bobblehead puppets on the school board including the big haired puppet, this is a no brainer. IEA should fight this big time but President Ann Wilkins if the sixth bobblehead puppet of Eugene White.
Evidently this 'balanced school year' proposal is yet another fait accompli served up to the parents and to us, the IPS employees.
After reading today's article in the Indy Star about this proposal, I gagged at our Board President Gore's fluffy reasoning saying "it is for the children" , or some over-used rhetorical excuse. She's the Board President, and that's the best reasoning she can give -- a worn out over-used platitude? Following her reasoning that 'it's best for the children' leads me to believe that everything up to this point the Board approved has NOT been for the best of the children. The woman sounds incompetent to lead a School Board.
Give the community, the parents, the students, and the teachers some hard evidence, some research-based proof that a year-round calendar does indeed improve student achievement levels before we jump into yet another initiative that impacts everyone's lives.
This forum is open to Board Members and Ed Center administrators to post anonymously their proof that a balanced calendar indeed improves students' levels of achievement. We're ready to hear from you.
Emperor White is d___ straight. White has let down teachers, parents, and the city, evidently those suits use the extra sleeve material in the pocket area. Ok so you have bobbleheads on the board and a guy who announces what everyone already knows... seems to me IPS needs to shake this guy up. No one ever directly confronts him on his battle ground - in the media - he loves the spotlight because he manipulates it soooo well. Our Govenor is the only one who has ever made him eat pie and he has not forgotten it. This huge paper tiger has no bite - ask parents in Washington Township - public confrontation with well supported facts, figures, and as much solidarity as possible is what is needed. Emperor White wears no real clothes just his ego.
Elizabeth Gore is the board member who stood up at School #48 and outright lied to the employees, parents and community. We will not forget her old lying ass!!
How in the world does IPS intend to pay for this? Anyone in their right mind knows that any Federal $$ that is available now will not be long term. Adding 20 days to the school year by remediating students during the intersession would add millions to the yearly budget. If teachers and IEA don't get their ducks in a row, IPS will be a thing of the past in 10-15 years. What charter school do you attend? Will that be a dream come true for Eugene White and Mitch Daniels?
"IPS could get a one billion dollar budget increase and keep kids in school 24/7 and they would still be a failing system. As long as public education is controlled by politicians and teachers unions, there will never be any real success. Why any decent parent would choose public education for their children is beyond me. I see what goes on in these buildings often. They are a cesspool of undisciplined kids and apathetic adults and don't deserve to exist."
You need to walk in the shoes of a teacher, first the union has no strangle hold on IPS, at best they are on the edge of a cliff holding on by their fingernails...so many teacher (including many many good ones) are under attack, they can barely keep up.
Second what few rights we have to any input on what is done are constantly under attack, SBDM in most schools is a joke, and for the most part even in schools that have one it is nothing but a point of contention between administration and teachers...They don't want to give an inch to teachers, and are under the mistaken impression that teachers should believe they work for them. (shouldn't teachers work for students and parents, and school administration should be there to support teachers and make sure the road is clear for them to do their job?)
And finally all those building where the kids are out of control and adults do nothing, well here is what happens, as a teacher you insist on good behavior, so if a student misbehaves and keeps you from teaching and other students from learning, you send them to the dean...who may or may not do something, but send too many and you are labeled a "bad teacher" you obviously have class control problems, class management problems. So you learn quickly there is no support, and it is nothing but an exercise in futility to insist on good behavior and student participation. There is actually a spot on the discipline referral for academic non-compliance, but try to get someone to do something, deans hand it off to counselors, counselors put it on the social worker, and you as a teacher have no ability to get a parent (who doesn't agree to come in on their own) to actually show up for a face to face conference is nil. You can make yourself crazy, or you can just do what everyone else is doing...the best you can.
Ask your students what they think about the "new" calendar. Oh, yeah, I know of at least one charter high school that is already using a year round model, Indy Met. So, to those who think kids are leaving the district because of uniforms etc. get a grip. There are tons of reasons students leave, and tons of reasons why they return too.
Students return to IPS from charters when the charters put them out because they are special needs kids, have behavior problems, have motivation problems and cannot afford to make all of the voluntary contributions for supplies and operational costs. The charters hang onto to them until afer ADM day so that they can receive the money before they return them to IPS.
"Second what few rights we have to any input on what is done are constantly under attack, SBDM in most schools is a joke, and for the most part even in schools that have one it is nothing but a point of contention between administration and teachers...They don't want to give an inch to teachers, and are under the mistaken impression that teachers should believe they work for them. (shouldn't teachers work for students and parents, and school administration should be there to support teachers and make sure the road is clear for them to do their job?)"
This entire premise is asinine. Teachers should not even have rights to input. They should do what they are told. SBDM should not even exist. Teachers are employess that should be directly and completely subordinate to their administrators, period. If they don't like the situation, they can leave. This not to say that the current administration is up to the task. They are just as big a part of the problem.
To the anti-charter post above. Your hypothesis doesn't make sense. Most charter schools have waiting lists, so they wouldn't get an increase in funding after ADM, because they'd get a replacement student with no extra funding. Not all charter schools succeed with special ed, but some do. Check out Christel House. And 100% of charter school students have parents who were dissatisfied with their district school. We are talking out both sides of our mouth if we claim schools must have parent support and then dismiss the schools that parents support.
Every student I have gotten in the last two years from a Charter school are problem children. Only two of the parents have admitted they have taken their child out of a Charter school because all they did was play. My question is this: When will these children at a Charter school make up all the learning they are missing in a Charter school? When they graduate from a Charter school is it listed as a Charter school and not a public school? The learning in both environments is completely different. Why should a Charter school teaching count as much as a public school? As far as I am concerned charter school are illegal...period.
Oh, well if a moron on the internet says they are illegal...
Charter schools ARE public schools. Whether you like that or not. Some are better than others, just like some traditional schools are better than others. When a child graduates, whether it's a charter school, traditional school, magnet option, urban, suburban, rural, etc. isn't on the diploma, only that it is approved by the state of Indiana. Educate yourself before you comment on things you know nothing about. You just embarrass yourself.
% passing 2009 ISTEP ELA IPS (including magnet programs) 47.7% Irvington Community 74.3% Fall Creek Academy 40% Christel House Academy 73.6% Flanner House 47.6% KIPP 36.7% Charles Tindley 67.5% Fountain Square 39.8% SE Neighborhood of Exc. 55.8% Indpls Lighthouse 52.7% Monument Lighthouse 34% Andrew J. Brown 60.5% Challenge Foundation 48% Herron High School 67.2% Hope Academy 0% 0% 25% Stonegate Academy 48.3%
% passing 2009 ISTEP Math IPS (including magnet programs) 52% Irvington Community Math 74.3% GR n/a 14/15 categories Fall Creek Academy 46.7% Christel House Academy 74.9% Flanner House 56.3% KIPP 42.3% Charles Tindley 77.1% Fountain Square 45.9% SE Neighborhood of Exc. 58.3% Indpls Lighthouse 55.5% Monument Lighthouse 48.2% Andrew J. Brown 65.6% Challenge Foundation 49.7% Herron High School 63.9% Hope Academy 25% Stonegate Academy 40%
Charter school demographics are very similar to traditional school demographics. Low-income African Americans are the demographic most likely to choose charter schools. Here in Indy, most charter schools are better than IPS on standardized tests. Also, there is opportunity available in some charter schools that aren't available in IPS. For example, if you want to take dual credit classes or AP classes, you're much better off in a charter high school. The Indy high school with the highest graduation rate, even compared to the township schools, is a charter school. And if we believe that parents must support the school in order for a child to succeed, then it's important to note that multiple studies have shown that parent satisfaction is much higher in charter schools.
ELA 9/15 (60%) do better than IPS. Over half of those score more than 30% better on tests than IPS. Note that IPS is also allowed to have magnet options that cherry pick students. Charter schools are not.
Math 8/15 (53.3%) do better than IPS. Half of those score more than 30% better on tests than IPS. Note that IPS is also allowed to have magnet options that cherry pick students. Charter schools are not.
This entire premise is asinine. Teachers should not even have rights to input. They should do what they are told. SBDM should not even exist. Teachers are employess that should be directly and completely subordinate to their administrators, period. If they don't like the situation, they can leave. This not to say that the current administration is up to the task. They are just as big a part of the problem.
Except research doesn't support your position, and neither does the law. SBDM also gives parents, community members, and students a voice in school policy. This is just a ball park estimate, but from my observations about 80% of the teachers in high schools do not bother to enforce the dress code, which was ramrodded down peoples throats. If you actually enforce it you are cutting your own throat, because step 3 involves suspending kids, so your purpose as a teacher is to teach, not get kids suspended, nor have meaningless battles of will with students. Both your class management ratings and test scores suffer if you follow the policy, so the vast majority of people let things slide.
You obviously adhere to the top down management style, are you Eugene White? Teachers are the most important employees in schools, everyone else should be there to support the work of teacher: educating children. Administrators should work for teachers and students, not the other way around. Any day that I am absent (no matter how well planned my lesson for a sub is) education grinds to a halt. Education and teaching are about so much more that just presenting information, it is truly an art and science, with a little magic thrown in, and a sub just can't do that. But an administrator can be gone for months, and no one knows or cares, as long as there is toilet paper in the stalls, and copier paper everything is good.
Teachers and parents need to be present at these year-round hearings. It may be a done deal, but we should demand transparency on the specifics. High level meetings behind closed doors have taken place already. Indeed, they are planning on diverting Title funds to intercessions. This will harm the majority of students not attending those intercessions. Eliminating Title teachers at the elementary level will add considerably to the workload of classroom teachers and principals.
@This entire premise is asinine. Teachers and parents had little or no input into the dress code. There were hearings but once again the code was already decided before the hearings were held. There was no buy in by teachers, students or parents. It is such a flawed policy that the building admnistration does not even enforce Eugene's dress code. Heaven forbid that we ever dress like Eugene does or we will full like a school full of pimps in clothes that are too small.
Charter schools should have higher scores than they do. They cherry pick their students and when they find that they have made a poor selection, they force them to return to IPS. If IPS could use that same policy, their scores would be higher than the charters. Of course, we would have the problem of who would educate the special needs students, the unmotivated students, the students of uncaring parents, the students with behavior problems. You theory about IPS cherry picking for magnets is off base. If a magnet cherry picks a student then some other program in IPS must educate the student. That student's education and test scores are going to show somewhere in the IPS numbers. All IPS magnets have open enrollment.
FYI, open magnet enrollment, like charter enrollment, means that the parents must fill out the application and turn it in. The magnets operate by lottery, but I am not sure if charters do or not. Having said that, it means that a better comparison would be to compare charter schools to magnet schools...wonder if it looks different?
You're incorrect. Magnets are allowed to cherry pick high achieving students and to keep out behavior problems and low achieving students. It's right on the application. Charter schools aren't allowed to qualify students in any way, and if they have more students than seats, they must choose students by lottery. For a realistic comparison, charter schools should be compared to IPS with magnet scores excluded. And even then IPS has twice the funding as charter schools.
Some teachers had to wait for well over a year to receive their pay for working during intercessions at Donnan and Marshall a few years back. I don't expect anything will change much regarding intercession pay under a year-round calendar.
Some people who did not work one hour during an intercession received the full pay as if they'd worked every day. Sloppy bookkeeping is the norm.
I continue to mistrust IPS's handling of Title 1 Funds. If you ever read the Board Meetings and notice those items paid for using Title 1 monies, you'll soon see that the justifications are very shaky. I mean like paying for thousands of dollars worth of food for catering at PD sessions.
I know a teacher who was offered a job at a charter school. She was told she didn't need to worry about behavior problems because if kids acted up they were sent back to their public school. She was then offered with her master's degree $25,000 to teach, with no benefits. No wonder she's not there.
You make this crap up. The tiniest bit of research can prove it. If traditional schools were doing what they should, nobody would ever choose a charter school. IPS sank its own ship. Don't blame the charter schools for offering lifeboats to the passengers.
Magnet students now all have open enrollment. Your statement was based on old information. For the person who doesn't believe that charter schools use public schools as a threat and as a dumping ground for students that they are ill qualified to teach, YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE. I agree with the person who posted that charter schools are ruining education.
I'm an IPS parent, and I'm only familiar with two magnet programs, the ones my children have attended, Montessori and the Gifted and Talented Magnet. Neither of those were open enrollment. I don't know about the others magnet schools though.
It sounds to me like we have a person posting from the Charter program run by the state. Charter schools shouldn't get one dime of tax dollars...and I didn't get to vote on having Charter schools in Indiana. All at once we had them...so if you are the one posting for charter schools you are not representing the majority on this website. Not only that but you aren't giving the true facts.
Charters are non-profit, their management firms are not. They don't pay their teachers squat. It is truly a redistribution of wealth, more money for the investors in the management firms.
They also have far more flexibility to compete against public schools, and public schools generally cannot compete at all. So if KIPP management decides to build a beautiful new college campus type high school next to BRHS or Manual, with wonderful vocational programs, and academic programs can BRHS or Manual suddenly add voc ed...build new rooms, offer new programs, no. And who is making money on this one?
The same thing is happening with these for profit schools (think Brown Mackie) they enroll all sorts of kids, run up huge federal "college loans" for these kids, and often leave the kids with nothing. I personally know a student who got a certificate from IPS, reads on the second grade level and was enrolled at Brown Mackie to become a pharmacist, now owes tons of money and has no skills for a job.
In addition real universities do research to benefit mankind...do you think that happens at the "University of Phoenix"? But investors in this "university" make some money.
Are there charters that don't operate on this model, yes, but many don't.
And yes as many have said, it you don't cooperate, have bad behavior, or have some type of disability they aren't ready to deal with, you are out the door.
If the majority of people on this site are against charter schools, then they are self-serving socialists who shouldn't be in public education. Because public education should answer to the public. And charter schools are an education solution based on public demand. If you don't like charter schools, the solution is to make changes in IPS that will cause parents to choose the district school over the charter schools. The solution is NOT to trap people in a poor school system and then put the blame on students and families when they had no other choice.
I only know a couple of charter school teachers, but they both make more than IPS scale, even before incentives. With incentives, they make significantly more. That's why they teach there. Most charter schools have more stringent hiring requirements than IPS. Check out the teacher roster on the IDOE website. IPS has way, way more first year teachers than most of the charter schools. Why would charter schools hire below-average teachers (the only ones who would take low pay)? They don't have the guarantee of students that IPS does. They have to actually do a good job or they will close. The anti-charter school person posting here needs to brush up on basic economics, because your version of charter schools wouldn't make sense. They can't be evil, greedy capitalists unless they get and retain students. And they can't get and retain students unless they actually teach them and/or do something else that makes parents and/or students like them. And the only way they will be able to stay in business and pay teachers below-average is if they offer something else the teacher wants more than he/she wants money. This is basic supply and demand.
I have talked to too many charter school teachers who are begging to get into a public school system because the pay in charter schools is way below the beginning salary of public schools. I would like some examples of your charter school teachers who make "significantly more' than public school teachers. I know they do not exist.
This information used to be readily available on the IDOE website, but they've changed it. By your other comments, it's obvious you're most familiar with KIPP and Met. Those aren't the ones who are paying for their teachers. But several are. Obviously if your friends can't even get a job in IPS, they must not come very highly recommended. Their charter school probably doesn't either. If that's your experience with charter schools, no wonder your opinion of them is so distorted. Don't worry. Those charters won't last.
I know someone who applied at Herron with a Masters in Special Education and they offered about $10,000 less than the person made in IPS. They have a fairly high turnover, and I know this because I have a friend who was on their board. They offered me a position but I couldn't take the $12,000 pay cut, but it might be a nice retirement job.
Okay, fine. I'm not going to argue with you because you're too stupid to realize how idiotic your position is. In your reality, charter schools will only be able to hire the worst of the worst. So either teachers don't matter, and a good school or curriculum can make up for a poor teacher or else the charter schools will all self-destruct (not very good capitalists, are they?)
Magnets now have open enrollment, but they don't have to keep you if you don't comply or cut the mustard. They may be worst than the charters. They'll keep kids through ADM and then start to boot them out, behavior, grades, attendance all reasons to have to return to your boundary school.
Here's an idea, excellent teaching and schools for everyone. But instead of developing programs that create excellent educational experiences, and motivate real students to learn, we focus on band-aides to try and remedy our problems, springboard, pacing guides, uniforms...nothing but rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
We can't even agree on what the goal of education is, is it high test scores? Or are high test scores the by-product of a good education?
From this months Educational Leadership, pg 13 The Right Question Schools cannot succeed by doing the wrong things for the right reasons. So what are the right questions that should lead our work?
What is the fundamental purpose of our school? Our schools were not built so educators would have a place to work each day, nor do they exist so that our government officials have a location to administer high-stakes standardized tests each spring. If we peel away the various layers of local, state, and federal mandates, the core mission of every school should be to provide every student with the skills and knowledge to be a self-sufficient, successful adult.
Ask parents what they want schools to provide their child, and it is doubtful the answer will be "I just want my child to score proficient on state assessment" or "I want my child to master standard 2.2.3 this year" Learning specific academic standards and passing state tests are meaningless if the student does not become an intelligent, responsible adult who possesses the knowledge and quality of character to live a happy rewarding adult life.
How did "Done Deal" turn in to a Charter School debate? Isn't the question/problem at hand about the new proposed "balanced calendar"? Maybe that is why it is difficult to unite as a force to be reckoned with. Focus people.
"Ask parents what they want schools to provide their child, and it is doubtful the answer will be "I just want my child to score proficient on state assessment" or "I want my child to master standard 2.2.3 this year"
Agreed. But as a parent, I want my child to be able to switch schools and not be behind. Standards and standardized tests help ensure that. Also, not to perpetuate the charter school debate, but parents are not leaving IPS because of standardized testing. The charter schools and township schools have those too. People can blame the media or politicians, but the fact is people leave IPS because the schools are dangerous and low-quality. Yes, parents are a factor, but a child of a bad parent will do worse at IPS and better elsewhere. Yes, it's about motivation, but a motivated child will still do worse in IPS than another school because the bar is set lower. Walk into an 8th grade math class at IPS and tell me with a straight face that they offer the same opportunity as "good" schools. The magnet programs do, but not the regular assigned ones.
To the person 3 posts above: At least if a Magnet school decides to kick a student out, they remain in the district, so arguing about them getting money for ADM is invalid. Charter school students get that specific school money and when they are kicked out to another school, that money stays in the Charter school and the public school adds another student without the funds. Magnet schools have specific academic/attendance guidelines that students/parents are aware of prior to enrollment. It's their choice if they want to follow them or not (and no, I do not work for a Magnet school).
You won't walk into an 8th grade classroom to see the same opportunity as in other school systems for one reason. It's not the teachers. When the majority of 8th graders don't even know their multiplication facts despite many years of schooling, having them drilled into their head in class, and daily homework, they don't exactly have the capabilities to complete typical 8th grade work. It can be taught to them, but they won't understand it because they were never made at home to learn the basics of math. It's a shame, but it's the truth. Teachers can only do so much, at some point, if a child is to be successful, the parents need to provide some support in that area.
Fine, but if you were a good parent with a decent student, would you send your kid to that IPS classroom?
(And you do know that what you're saying is the exact opposite of why Americans are told we need to pay for tax-funded public education in the first place. Your argument is what the radical libertarians use when arguing against the value of public education -- that educated parents can educate their own kids and that uneducated parents have kids who still aren't being educated in schools. So why spend the tax money? (I disagree with you and with them. I think teachers can and do teach children of the value of lessons and make children aware of their own academic potential, even when they don't have support at home. But even if I'm wrong, there's no excuse for the way IPS fails good (or pretty good) kids with parents who care (at least a little). THOSE are the kids leaving for the charters and townships.
Yes the district keeps the money, but the magnet school gets to keep the teachers, so last year when Ripple gave the boot to about 200 kids they didn't lose 9 teachers, they kept the same teachers, and the kids new schools simply had larger class sizes. And the people who moved to new schools were sent there because of academic performance, so larger classes with more at-risk kids.
It's just tedious to separate them all out. It benefits IPS to have them averaged together. Without the magnet schools, most of IPS is way worse than any of the charters.
I'm not in this debate, but it makes sense to separate out the charter schools but not IPS because each charter school is its own corporation with its own school board. IPS is a single corporation with its own school board.
IPS does have an excuse. Eugene White and Mary Busch are two reasons why IPS continue to fail. They are only interested in their own personal agendas. Mary Busch has funneled millions of dollars to her employer, the University of Indinapois. It is amazing that no one in the media ever investigates this conflict of interest. It will be an issue in her reelection.
"The solution is NOT to trap people in a poor school system and then put the blame on students and families when they had no other choice."
Or the solution would be to insure all schools are good schools. Your argument/solution is to leave kids whose parents aren't sophisticated or adept enough to get their kids into a good school, or who are just barely hanging on, and what school their kid goes to doesn't rank above food and shelter, in bad schools. Do you really believe the sins of the parents should be visited on the children...how sad. Where is your sense of social responsibility? I want great schools for all kids.
"I continue to mistrust IPS's handling of Title 1 Funds. If you ever read the Board Meetings and notice those items paid for using Title 1 monies, you'll soon see that the justifications are very shaky. I mean like paying for thousands of dollars worth of food for catering at PD sessions."
I have a friend who left IPS, and one of the things this friend noted that there was NEVER food provided in any activity in the new district, unless the participants brought the food.
Where was it ever said that public school students WEREN'T being educated? It simply says that a teacher can only do so much to make them understand in the classroom. You say you disagree, however, the last couple sentences of your statement backs that comment up!
Mary Busch raised hell when the proposal was made to discontinue meals for school board members at board meetings and board committee meetings. That shows the arrogance and sense of entitlement that Mary Busch has. It also shows where her priorities are.
"Where was it ever said that public school students WEREN'T being educated? It simply says that a teacher can only do so much to make them understand in the classroom. You say you disagree, however, the last couple sentences of your statement backs that comment up!"
You don't seem to understand that what has been created in IPS is a system where the end all/be all is the test score, by what ever means necessary you must raise the test scores...that is the only gauge that is being used to evaluate schools, never mind what this emphasis is doing to students desire or motivation to be educated. And to raise the whole school scores top kids who already passed the test are ignored, so are the bottom level kids...it isn't about the kids, it is about the school score.
No Child Left Behind had some effect but many districts haven't taken it to the extremes we see in IPS.
Several years ago I had a kid who insisted that he had never taken the GQE, well he had taken it and passed, and there was no big drama about the testing. Passing the test was the result of good education, not good test preparation. He was from a local Catholic high school.
My own nieces who go to a suburban district in another state, never think twice about the tests. Their district still offers a traditional full curriculum. The one in tenth grade is far more concerned with marching band and trombone slides than standardized tests.
Please don't assume that I don't understand what has been created by IPS regarding test scores. You don't know me. If you are a teacher, are you implying that ALL of your students have passed/raised their test scores every year? I'm sorry, but many will agree with me, there are students that no matter what you do (and you cannot do "whatever means necessary"), they will not do their homework, study for tests, or raise their test scores. That is not a poor reflection on the teacher if they have done what they are able to do and exhausted all options. I certainly am glad that you are so perfect and can judge everyone else.
Personally, I would NEVER send my child to any IPS school. The reason is NOT based on the Wonderful Teachers, nor the Ignorant Higher Uppers, but the "garbage" students they would be surrounded by. There are some awesome students who, unfortunately have no out but IPS. So sad that the "garbage" students do not have positive role models in their lives. So very sad.
If you think IPS is test score crazy, take a good long look at Warren Township, which just went to a balanced calendar. If it's Tuesday at 1pm in kindergarten you are on the same page as every other kindergarten teacher, or else. Come on out Warren folks and tell it like it is. Yes students pass the test, but that is a low bar.
@Agreed. And, the "garbage" students usually come from "garbage" parents.
So, in essence, IPS, for a large part, is working with a flawed raw product. There's nothing a school district anywhere can do about parents who don't give a rat's ass about education. I'm tired of being blamed for a societal problem that is not within our purview as public school teachers to change. As it stands today, schools are charged with things that have nothing to do with instruction. We are not trained to change social problems; we are trained to teach students content matter.
No one would grade a dentist who provided patient dental care that met or exceeded the Standards of Practice if a certain percentage of his patients would not follow his recommendations of brushing twice daily, flossing, refraining from candy, donuts, sugary drinks, etc. This dentist might have the most advanced and cutting edge skills to place a perfectly wonderful crown on a tooth, but if the patient receiving this perfect crown goes home and crunches on ice, never brushes, never flosses, and does not follow good oral hygiene, then the perfect crown will fail. Is it the dentist's fault or the patient's fault?
Maybe the attitude that our students are garbage is a large part of why they choose not to achieve for you. I'm glad my children's teachers don't call them garbage. At least not out loud.
That said, holding teachers accountable for things we have no control over like attendance is ridiculous. And test scores: We had several students who last year wrote "I don't know" on almost every extended response question. How do you fix that? Oh and my favorite was the one who wrote "I don't care, I hate this school"
Yes this truly happened I am not making it up. I'm just a teacher who believes in her students and is saddened by what's happenind around me.
As an IPS teacher, I am personally offended by teachers who don't believe we can make a difference. It's immoral. I can't imagine what makes someone become an inner city teacher if they think inner city kids are "garbage." I'm sorry for your incompetence but dozens of teachers succeed in teaching those same kids every day. But there are not enough of us. Because for every good teacher, there is another one tossing hands in the air and saying "They're garbage. Not my problem." Don't make excuses. Learn from the ones who ARE doing it.
As an IPS teacher, I also believe we can make a difference, but until we enforce discipline in our schools, our kids don't stand a chance. When Dr. White stated that just loving the kids wasn't good enough, that we needed to provide rules and discipline, we felt like he was talking directly to our principal. Unfortunately, she didn't listen, because she doesn't like to discipline. When fist-fights, throwing desks, and screaming at teachers has no consequences at all, what are we to do?
Dr. White imposed a six step discipline policy and then berates principals and teachers when they attempt to enforce it. What an arrogant S.O.B. he is.
I have certainly worked with some challenging students, but I have *never* considered them "garbage". Instead these kids have become "personal challenges" (can I get through, can I make a difference?) I have been successful more often than not - but the effort required to do so - has often entailed many additional hours beyond the traditional school day. Guess it would be easier to have no success, and call kids that I can't reach "garbage."
I am appalled at the post that calls kids garbage, and am just as appalled at the following "amen" type post.
I started teaching in the 80s - am not some idealistic youngster. The whole line of discussion per labeling some students as "garbage" disturbs me. I guess that if you are only in it for a pay check, and only partially investing in the challenging kid - the conversation makes sense.
To the person who described the students as garbage, time for you to go. No human being is garbage, and the fact you would refer to them as such goes to a cold wicked heart.
Adults can be horrible, with little to few redeeming qualities...but children? Please leave teaching.
I don't like students being referred to as "garbage". Something else I don't like. The male vice principal of a south side high school called a young male student a "closeted faggot"!! I think he should be referred to Child Protective Services or to the prosecutor's office. This is bullyism and child abuse. He should have to answser for what he did.
Very good article. Has anyone seen the movie? I haven't yet, but would like to. I saw the Oprah shows about it, and it looks like it's a pretty powerful documentary.
I'm actually considering applying for a charter. I've only been at IPS for a few years, so I'm kind of a newbie, but the defeatest attitudes of my coworkers really get to me. I would love to work in a school where everyone is "filled with the spirit" so to speak! :)
Well I'm a veteran and while I don't plan on going anywhere at this point in my career, if I was 20 years younger, I would find the reform movement very exciting. I completely disagree with the above poster who thinks the principal makes good schools. Bologna. Teachers make good schools. Sure good principals are helpful. But I've worked in several schools in my career under several principals and with every possible demographic of student imaginable. Kids are kids, bureaucracy is bureaucracy, but teachers are the ones with the talent and the power.
If the charters are so "filled with the spirit", why are so many of the charter teachers applying to the various public school systems and trying to change jobs......
Principals set the tone for the building. When a teacher is trying to get a class quiet and the principal walks up and puts one of the kids in a headlock, gives them noogies on their head, or pokes them, plays "I got your nose" It's sending a clear message that the teachers aren't worth listening to.
I've worked in 13 schools and I've seen good principals who demand quality behavior and I'm seeing what I described above. No question. I'll take the principal who demands excellence from both students and teachers and isn't trying to be everyone's best friend.
"I'll take the principal who demands excellence from both students and teachers and isn't trying to be everyone's best friend."
One such principal is Michael Sullivan. Teachers tend to either love him or hate him, but he does his job well and expects both students and teachers to put forth their best. IPS needs more no-nonsense building principals like Sullivan.
That doesn't even make sense. My principal doesn't even know half of the kids. It's not the principal up at 1:00 a.m. scouring the Internet for ways to connect my content area into something the kids see as interesting or important to know. The principal isn't the one trying to differentiate assignments so that the borderline inclusion students and the gifted and talented students and everyone in between are all getting the most out of my classroom. The principal isn't the one trying to get the "problem" kids to trust me and achieve for me, without compromising my own authority in the classroom. Why should principals get the credit for things that I give my heart and soul to accomplish?
I think it's both. I think teachers make or break achievement in the classroom. But principals make or break the overall atmosphere of the school. Those "high expectations" and "be the boss, not the friend" goes for problem teachers as well as problem students!
Was the ass principal who called the student a "closeted faggot" Larson? This is sexual harassment an it is a federal crime. Document, document, document.
And how about the older principal who used to end announcements with the phrase "Peace out, Dogz!" You are not their friend, don't try to be. One of the most difficult thing about teaching is not caring if kids "like" you. It is irrelevant if they like you, they must respect you, and that is not established by trying to be their friend. Andy you can't demand it, you've got to earn it. It is established by being fair, holding everyone to high expectations, and your level of caring. When ever I have to call a parent I tell the kid, "I am calling your parent because (fill in the blank for a reason) and your parent needs to know about this. It will hurt your chances for success if we don't figure out a way to solve this problem, and your parents need to know about it. You are calling because you CARE. Conversely if you let behavior/attendance/class cutting slide you are communicating a lack of concern.
It is a pain in the rear to make all those calls, but break it up, I would take my six classes and try to call every students parents once every six weeks. Twenty four kids, called over four nights, about 40 minutes, done while watching tv..not too bad. And those kids whose numbers didn't work, I'd ask the next day, and tell the kid "I wanted to talk to your parent about (fill in the blank, class cutting, nice work, good attitude, you name it).
The only reason I can think that Larson is still employed is that he must have something on someone. When he was at Marshall they used to call him one of the dualing principals, since he couldn't work together with the other principals and would contradict what they said (he told a kid with no text books to go to the lunch room and steal some). At Arlington he harassed faculty and was completely ineffective with discipline. And from what I hear (and read) he is no better at Manual. It is IPS's version of the Peter Principle, which says you rise to the level of your incompetence...except in IPS you rise to the next level above your incompetence. Imagine this man in a classroom....
He worked for Prudence Bridgwater at Coleman. Gene White loves loyal idiots. The Titanic is sinking but all of crew is dressed in suit and ties chanting I'm supported by Dr. White.
I drive by Prudence Bridgwater's house every morning driving into work. The place reaps with envy, jealousy, deceit, and lies. Maybe that's the reason why it has been on the market for over a year.
"I hope that comment about Sullivan is sarcasm. He causes more problems than he solves."
Like I said earlier, you either love him or hate him. There's no in-between. He is very bright, has a finely tuned crap detector, and does not suffer fools gladly (neither students nor teachers).
...but telling a teen age boy that he is a closeted faggot is not only unprofessional but illegal. Who could this be reported to that would pursue it? It would have to be a group or someone outside of IPS as the Ed. Center will support him. The story of him telling a student to steal his books sounds so typical of him.
The comment about Sullivan must be made by his mother or someone who hasn't worked with him very long. This man openly disrepects not only teachers, but the rest of the staff and parents as well. Just wait until he sends you home. The story about the principal giving noogies to the kids was probably him.
There is an organization in Indy that might want to hear about Larson's comment. Here is the link for someone who actually heard him make this comment. http://www.gayindy.org/about/?id=contact
There is a local organization that advocates for gay youth. I believe it is call the Indiana Youth Group. They would be a good one to contact also. The young man is very upset at a vice principal calling him that name.
None of these organizations are going to take you seriously with your anonymous accusations. No matter how many rumors you start here, they are all just rumors. If you seriously witnessed something, then fine, go ahead and call. Tell them who you are and what you witnessed and give them the name of the student and anyone else who witnessed it. It doesn't have to be some special gay advocate group. Any news source will be interested in a factual story.
The problem you suggest is not so simple. The student verball abused is in the closet and he is not ready to announce to the world what his sexual orientation is. IPS administration knows who the vice principal is. He apparently is the same one who told a student who did not have a text book to go to the cafeteria and steal one. More will be coming out about this soon.
Encourage the student to contact the two organizations, complaints can be filed without any public "outing". Don't file the complaint on the school level, get the form and have the signature notarized, and take it down town, or send it in by certified mail. The hearing will be private.
I believe the form is called the IPS complaint form and is easy to fill out.
Is this what they teach in Vice Principal school? "Bullying and Belittling 541: How to Use Your Authority to Intimidate and Berate." I just read on one of the other thread that the Vice Principal at Broad Ripple screamed something like "get the fuck out of here" at a student. Larson and that other Vice Principal need to be demoted out of any position of authority and should not be allowed to have contact with students. Our children need support, they do not need these men beating them up and tearing them down. These are men who obviously do not truly care one bit about kids or they wouldn't have said the things they said. Get them away from children before they do more harm.
I am the spouse of a current IPS teacher our children attended another public school that had year around we liked it but it was nothing like what IPS is proposing and here are the issues i see:
1. the teachers don't get the supplies and technology help they need now in time to start the school year or in a timely fashion so how in the world is IPS going to get the teachers what they need in 5-6 weeks over the summer.
2. what will be done when the 75% of students this new schedule is supposed to help and needs the help doesn't come to school in july but wait until Aug or September just in time for the 1st break?
3. what will be done when it is 100 degrees out and there is not air?
4. if you don't have 12.3 million to do remedial help why change the schedule?
5. if you ain't doing remedial help now why change the schedule just do it during school now and save the money or make summer school manditory or they get held back?
6. last but not least what will IPS do once it loses abotu 50-75% of the remaining students and teachers it has now because parents and teacher don't want this schedule?
I feel sorry for the parents who go to these hearings to give their input. They don't realize that Eugene has already decided and Mary Busch is there to make sure the board votes to support Eugene. This will be just another nail in the coffin of Busch as she will be defeated in the next election.
When Oprah and the fool that made Al Gore's movie loves charters then you know it's a scam!!! Oprah is all about money and charters can get her money and pay her teachers $000. Corporations can't do health care honestly or Wall Street why give them education too?
Oh, I completely disagree with you. I think the corruption is way more rampant in the government schools. They take way, way, way more money (like 3 times as much) as charter schools and rely on force and laws to get enrollment because people wouldn't enroll voluntarily. I'm all about improving IPS, but when show me someone who hates charter schools and I'll show you someone who makes money off of government schools.
The charter schools rely on churches or other groups to fund them. They also don't take expensive special needs students. They send those back to the public schools and they pay their teachers slave wages. You get what you pay for.................tell the truth about these charter schools that are in business to line the pockets of some corporation.
Any student that lives in the IPS district and attends a charter school, that charter gets money from IPS for that student. 10 years ago IPS paid out 6 million dollars to charters. I'm sure it's more now.
What are you talking about?! Charter schools are funded by the state, exactly like IPS and township schools. (Except, like the poster above noted, charter schools get less funding per student.)
They do not get money from IPS. They get the money from the state after ADM is figured, just like any other school. However, if a student leaves a charter school after ADM to return to a public school, that money stays at the charter school, so the public school has one more student but no more money.
The above post is correct, but this isn't one-sided to IPS. If a student leaves IPS after ADM for a charter school or moves out of the city, the same thing happens. There was an article in the Star last week about the waiting lists on many Indy charter schools, so when a spot opens up, another student moves in (that student usually comes from IPS). Mid-year migration OUT of IPS is much more common than migration in. Those enrollment declines each year. Many of those students moved or transferred mid-year, after IPS had received the funding for them.
Again, I am not anti-IPS. I truly hope that some day IPS transforms into a district that families abandon the charter schools for.
well, duh.
ReplyDeleteAnother harebrained scheme, and it shouldn't happen with out the agreement of the association. After all these times you'd think the association would be wise to this technique, IPS will announce a big plan, and then announce that the association is opposed to changes that will benefit students, standing in the way of reform, keeping bad teachers in the classroom, yada yada yada. IEA needs to get out in front of this if they decide to fight this, get the data, talk to the districts that have implemented it, see if it actually worked, talk to those who dropped it, and see why they did. Prepare a "position paper" in support of IEA's stance...don't let IPS cast IEA in the role of villain again. Perhaps Dr. Fisher could be asked to do the research?
ReplyDeleteKuddos to the above post. Teachers that are actually involved in the educational process need to organize and fight this professionaly. The politicians in Washington and Indianapolis will be leaving very soon and the stimulus money will go by the wayside. (It will anyway)IPS will then be looking at a HUGE financial mess. When parents reform, education will reform. We have a union, lets use it for what we know is best. Dr. White's resume' is impressive enough, don't allow him to leave us with another scar.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard anything about the MOU about the four "failing schools" and has DOE, IPS, and IEA worked out a deal to keep teachers on the job.
ReplyDeleteIPS could get a one billion dollar budget increase and keep kids in school 24/7 and they would still be a failing system. As long as public education is controlled by politicians and teachers unions, there will never be any real success. Why any decent parent would choose public education for their children is beyond me. I see what goes on in these buildings often. They are a cesspool of undisciplined kids and apathetic adults and don't deserve to exist.
ReplyDeleteEmperor White does not hold a public hearing until anything is a done deal. With 5 bobblehead puppets on the school board including the big haired puppet, this is a no brainer. IEA should fight this big time but President Ann Wilkins if the sixth bobblehead puppet of Eugene White.
ReplyDeleteEvidently this 'balanced school year' proposal is yet another fait accompli served up to the parents and to us, the IPS employees.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading today's article in the Indy Star about this proposal, I gagged at our Board President Gore's fluffy reasoning saying "it is for the children" , or some over-used rhetorical excuse. She's the Board President, and that's the best reasoning she can give -- a worn out over-used platitude? Following her reasoning that 'it's best for the children' leads me to believe that everything up to this point the Board approved has NOT been for the best of the children. The woman sounds incompetent to lead a School Board.
Give the community, the parents, the students, and the teachers some hard evidence, some research-based proof that a year-round calendar does indeed improve student achievement levels before we jump into yet another initiative that impacts everyone's lives.
This forum is open to Board Members and Ed Center administrators to post anonymously their proof that a balanced calendar indeed improves students' levels of achievement. We're ready to hear from you.
Emperor White is d___ straight. White has let down teachers, parents, and the city, evidently those suits use the extra sleeve material in the pocket area. Ok so you have bobbleheads on the board and a guy who announces what everyone already knows... seems to me IPS needs to shake this guy up. No one ever directly confronts him on his battle ground - in the media - he loves the spotlight because he manipulates it soooo well. Our Govenor is the only one who has ever made him eat pie and he has not forgotten it. This huge paper tiger has no bite - ask parents in Washington Township - public confrontation with well supported facts, figures, and as much solidarity as possible is what is needed. Emperor White wears no real clothes just his ego.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Gore is the board member who stood up at School #48 and outright lied to the employees, parents and community. We will not forget her old lying ass!!
ReplyDeleteHow in the world does IPS intend to pay for this? Anyone in their right mind knows that any Federal $$ that is available now will not be long term. Adding 20 days to the school year by remediating students during the intersession would add millions to the yearly budget. If teachers and IEA don't get their ducks in a row, IPS will be a thing of the past in 10-15 years. What charter school do you attend? Will that be a dream come true for Eugene White and Mitch Daniels?
ReplyDelete"IPS could get a one billion dollar budget increase and keep kids in school 24/7 and they would still be a failing system. As long as public education is controlled by politicians and teachers unions, there will never be any real success. Why any decent parent would choose public education for their children is beyond me. I see what goes on in these buildings often. They are a cesspool of undisciplined kids and apathetic adults and don't deserve to exist."
ReplyDeleteYou need to walk in the shoes of a teacher, first the union has no strangle hold on IPS, at best they are on the edge of a cliff holding on by their fingernails...so many teacher (including many many good ones) are under attack, they can barely keep up.
Second what few rights we have to any input on what is done are constantly under attack, SBDM in most schools is a joke, and for the most part even in schools that have one it is nothing but a point of contention between administration and teachers...They don't want to give an inch to teachers, and are under the mistaken impression that teachers should believe they work for them. (shouldn't teachers work for students and parents, and school administration should be there to support teachers and make sure the road is clear for them to do their job?)
And finally all those building where the kids are out of control and adults do nothing, well here is what happens, as a teacher you insist on good behavior, so if a student misbehaves and keeps you from teaching and other students from learning, you send them to the dean...who may or may not do something, but send too many and you are labeled a "bad teacher" you obviously have class control problems, class management problems. So you learn quickly there is no support, and it is nothing but an exercise in futility to insist on good behavior and student participation. There is actually a spot on the discipline referral for academic non-compliance, but try to get someone to do something, deans hand it off to counselors, counselors put it on the social worker, and you as a teacher have no ability to get a parent (who doesn't agree to come in on their own) to actually show up for a face to face conference is nil. You can make yourself crazy, or you can just do what everyone else is doing...the best you can.
AMEN!!
ReplyDeleteIf rumors can be believed, IPS has one H.S. who is an alcoholic and another one who is showing her dementia.
ReplyDeleteAsk your students what they think about the "new" calendar. Oh, yeah, I know of at least one charter high school that is already using a year round model, Indy Met. So, to those who think kids are leaving the district because of uniforms etc. get a grip. There are tons of reasons students leave, and tons of reasons why they return too.
ReplyDeleteStudents return to IPS from charters when the charters put them out because they are special needs kids, have behavior problems, have motivation problems and cannot afford to make all of the voluntary contributions for supplies and operational costs. The charters hang onto to them until afer ADM day so that they can receive the money before they return them to IPS.
ReplyDelete"Second what few rights we have to any input on what is done are constantly under attack, SBDM in most schools is a joke, and for the most part even in schools that have one it is nothing but a point of contention between administration and teachers...They don't want to give an inch to teachers, and are under the mistaken impression that teachers should believe they work for them. (shouldn't teachers work for students and parents, and school administration should be there to support teachers and make sure the road is clear for them to do their job?)"
ReplyDeleteThis entire premise is asinine. Teachers should not even have rights to input. They should do what they are told. SBDM should not even exist. Teachers are employess that should be directly and completely subordinate to their administrators, period. If they don't like the situation, they can leave. This not to say that the current administration is up to the task. They are just as big a part of the problem.
To the anti-charter post above. Your hypothesis doesn't make sense. Most charter schools have waiting lists, so they wouldn't get an increase in funding after ADM, because they'd get a replacement student with no extra funding. Not all charter schools succeed with special ed, but some do. Check out Christel House. And 100% of charter school students have parents who were dissatisfied with their district school. We are talking out both sides of our mouth if we claim schools must have parent support and then dismiss the schools that parents support.
ReplyDeleteEvery student I have gotten in the last two years from a Charter school are problem children. Only two of the parents have admitted they have taken their child out of a Charter school because all they did was play. My question is this: When will these children at a Charter school make up all the learning they are missing in a Charter school? When they graduate from a Charter school is it listed as a Charter school and not a public school? The learning in both environments is completely different. Why should a Charter school teaching count as much as a public school? As far as I am concerned charter school are illegal...period.
ReplyDeleteAmazing the Indianapolis Star doesn't publish the scores for Charter Schools. Is someone paying them not too?
ReplyDeleteOh, well if a moron on the internet says they are illegal...
ReplyDeleteCharter schools ARE public schools. Whether you like that or not. Some are better than others, just like some traditional schools are better than others. When a child graduates, whether it's a charter school, traditional school, magnet option, urban, suburban, rural, etc. isn't on the diploma, only that it is approved by the state of Indiana. Educate yourself before you comment on things you know nothing about. You just embarrass yourself.
% passing 2009 ISTEP ELA
ReplyDeleteIPS (including magnet programs) 47.7%
Irvington Community 74.3%
Fall Creek Academy 40%
Christel House Academy 73.6%
Flanner House 47.6%
KIPP 36.7%
Charles Tindley 67.5%
Fountain Square 39.8%
SE Neighborhood of Exc. 55.8%
Indpls Lighthouse 52.7%
Monument Lighthouse 34%
Andrew J. Brown 60.5%
Challenge Foundation 48%
Herron High School 67.2%
Hope Academy 0% 0% 25%
Stonegate Academy 48.3%
% passing 2009 ISTEP Math
IPS (including magnet programs) 52%
Irvington Community Math 74.3% GR n/a 14/15 categories
Fall Creek Academy 46.7%
Christel House Academy 74.9%
Flanner House 56.3%
KIPP 42.3%
Charles Tindley 77.1%
Fountain Square 45.9%
SE Neighborhood of Exc. 58.3%
Indpls Lighthouse 55.5%
Monument Lighthouse 48.2%
Andrew J. Brown 65.6%
Challenge Foundation 49.7%
Herron High School 63.9%
Hope Academy 25%
Stonegate Academy 40%
Charter school demographics are very similar to traditional school demographics. Low-income African Americans are the demographic most likely to choose charter schools. Here in Indy, most charter schools are better than IPS on standardized tests. Also, there is opportunity available in some charter schools that aren't available in IPS. For example, if you want to take dual credit classes or AP classes, you're much better off in a charter high school. The Indy high school with the highest graduation rate, even compared to the township schools, is a charter school. And if we believe that parents must support the school in order for a child to succeed, then it's important to note that multiple studies have shown that parent satisfaction is much higher in charter schools.
ELA 9/15 (60%) do better than IPS. Over half of those score more than 30% better on tests than IPS. Note that IPS is also allowed to have magnet options that cherry pick students. Charter schools are not.
ReplyDeleteMath 8/15 (53.3%) do better than IPS. Half of those score more than 30% better on tests than IPS. Note that IPS is also allowed to have magnet options that cherry pick students. Charter schools are not.
This entire premise is asinine. Teachers should not even have rights to input. They should do what they are told. SBDM should not even exist. Teachers are employess that should be directly and completely subordinate to their administrators, period. If they don't like the situation, they can leave. This not to say that the current administration is up to the task. They are just as big a part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteExcept research doesn't support your position, and neither does the law. SBDM also gives parents, community members, and students a voice in school policy. This is just a ball park estimate, but from my observations about 80% of the teachers in high schools do not bother to enforce the dress code, which was ramrodded down peoples throats. If you actually enforce it you are cutting your own throat, because step 3 involves suspending kids, so your purpose as a teacher is to teach, not get kids suspended, nor have meaningless battles of will with students. Both your class management ratings and test scores suffer if you follow the policy, so the vast majority of people let things slide.
You obviously adhere to the top down management style, are you Eugene White? Teachers are the most important employees in schools, everyone else should be there to support the work of teacher: educating children. Administrators should work for teachers and students, not the other way around. Any day that I am absent (no matter how well planned my lesson for a sub is) education grinds to a halt. Education and teaching are about so much more that just presenting information, it is truly an art and science, with a little magic thrown in, and a sub just can't do that. But an administrator can be gone for months, and no one knows or cares, as long as there is toilet paper in the stalls, and copier paper everything is good.
@This entire premise is asinine. Teachers should not even have rights to input. They should do what they are told.
ReplyDeleteYour statement makes you sound like a plantation owner with the teachers as slaves. You were born about 150 years too late.
Teachers and parents need to be present at these year-round hearings. It may be a done deal, but we should demand transparency on the specifics. High level meetings behind closed doors have taken place already. Indeed, they are planning on diverting Title funds to intercessions. This will harm the majority of students not attending those intercessions. Eliminating Title teachers at the elementary level will add considerably to the workload of classroom teachers and principals.
ReplyDelete@This entire premise is asinine. Teachers and parents had little or no input into the dress code. There were hearings but once again the code was already decided before the hearings were held. There was no buy in by teachers, students or parents. It is such a flawed policy that the building admnistration does not even enforce Eugene's dress code. Heaven forbid that we ever dress like Eugene does or we will full like a school full of pimps in clothes that are too small.
ReplyDeleteCharter schools should have higher scores than they do. They cherry pick their students and when they find that they have made a poor selection, they force them to return to IPS. If IPS could use that same policy, their scores would be higher than the charters. Of course, we would have the problem of who would educate the special needs students, the unmotivated students, the students of uncaring parents, the students with behavior problems. You theory about IPS cherry picking for magnets is off base. If a magnet cherry picks a student then some other program in IPS must educate the student. That student's education and test scores are going to show somewhere in the IPS numbers. All IPS magnets have open enrollment.
ReplyDeleteFYI, open magnet enrollment, like charter enrollment, means that the parents must fill out the application and turn it in. The magnets operate by lottery, but I am not sure if charters do or not. Having said that, it means that a better comparison would be to compare charter schools to magnet schools...wonder if it looks different?
ReplyDeleteYou're incorrect. Magnets are allowed to cherry pick high achieving students and to keep out behavior problems and low achieving students. It's right on the application. Charter schools aren't allowed to qualify students in any way, and if they have more students than seats, they must choose students by lottery. For a realistic comparison, charter schools should be compared to IPS with magnet scores excluded. And even then IPS has twice the funding as charter schools.
ReplyDeleteSome teachers had to wait for well over a year to receive their pay for working during intercessions at Donnan and Marshall a few years back. I don't expect anything will change much regarding intercession pay under a year-round calendar.
ReplyDeleteSome people who did not work one hour during an intercession received the full pay as if they'd worked every day. Sloppy bookkeeping is the norm.
I continue to mistrust IPS's handling of Title 1 Funds. If you ever read the Board Meetings and notice those items paid for using Title 1 monies, you'll soon see that the justifications are very shaky. I mean like paying for thousands of dollars worth of food for catering at PD sessions.
I know a teacher who was offered a job at a charter school. She was told she didn't need to worry about behavior problems because if kids acted up they were sent back to their public school. She was then offered with her master's degree $25,000 to teach, with no benefits. No wonder she's not there.
ReplyDeleteCharter schools are destroying public education.
You make this crap up. The tiniest bit of research can prove it. If traditional schools were doing what they should, nobody would ever choose a charter school. IPS sank its own ship. Don't blame the charter schools for offering lifeboats to the passengers.
ReplyDeleteMagnet students now all have open enrollment. Your statement was based on old information. For the person who doesn't believe that charter schools use public schools as a threat and as a dumping ground for students that they are ill qualified to teach, YOU NEED TO GET A LIFE. I agree with the person who posted that charter schools are ruining education.
ReplyDeleteI'm an IPS parent, and I'm only familiar with two magnet programs, the ones my children have attended, Montessori and the Gifted and Talented Magnet. Neither of those were open enrollment. I don't know about the others magnet schools though.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me like we have a person posting from the Charter program run by the state. Charter schools shouldn't get one dime of tax dollars...and I didn't get to vote on having Charter schools in Indiana. All at once we had them...so if you are the one posting for charter schools you are not representing the majority on this website. Not only that but you aren't giving the true facts.
ReplyDeleteCharters are non-profit, their management firms are not. They don't pay their teachers squat. It is truly a redistribution of wealth, more money for the investors in the management firms.
ReplyDeleteThey also have far more flexibility to compete against public schools, and public schools generally cannot compete at all. So if KIPP management decides to build a beautiful new college campus type high school next to BRHS or Manual, with wonderful vocational programs, and academic programs can BRHS or Manual suddenly add voc ed...build new rooms, offer new programs, no. And who is making money on this one?
The same thing is happening with these for profit schools (think Brown Mackie) they enroll all sorts of kids, run up huge federal "college loans" for these kids, and often leave the kids with nothing.
I personally know a student who got a certificate from IPS, reads on the second grade level and was enrolled at Brown Mackie to become a pharmacist, now owes tons of money and has no skills for a job.
In addition real universities do research to benefit mankind...do you think that happens at the "University of Phoenix"? But investors in this "university" make some money.
Are there charters that don't operate on this model, yes, but many don't.
And yes as many have said, it you don't cooperate, have bad behavior, or have some type of disability they aren't ready to deal with, you are out the door.
If the majority of people on this site are against charter schools, then they are self-serving socialists who shouldn't be in public education. Because public education should answer to the public. And charter schools are an education solution based on public demand. If you don't like charter schools, the solution is to make changes in IPS that will cause parents to choose the district school over the charter schools. The solution is NOT to trap people in a poor school system and then put the blame on students and families when they had no other choice.
ReplyDeleteI only know a couple of charter school teachers, but they both make more than IPS scale, even before incentives. With incentives, they make significantly more. That's why they teach there. Most charter schools have more stringent hiring requirements than IPS. Check out the teacher roster on the IDOE website. IPS has way, way more first year teachers than most of the charter schools. Why would charter schools hire below-average teachers (the only ones who would take low pay)? They don't have the guarantee of students that IPS does. They have to actually do a good job or they will close. The anti-charter school person posting here needs to brush up on basic economics, because your version of charter schools wouldn't make sense. They can't be evil, greedy capitalists unless they get and retain students. And they can't get and retain students unless they actually teach them and/or do something else that makes parents and/or students like them. And the only way they will be able to stay in business and pay teachers below-average is if they offer something else the teacher wants more than he/she wants money. This is basic supply and demand.
ReplyDeleteI have talked to too many charter school teachers who are begging to get into a public school system because the pay in charter schools is way below the beginning salary of public schools. I would like some examples of your charter school teachers who make "significantly more' than public school teachers. I know they do not exist.
ReplyDeleteThis information used to be readily available on the IDOE website, but they've changed it. By your other comments, it's obvious you're most familiar with KIPP and Met. Those aren't the ones who are paying for their teachers. But several are. Obviously if your friends can't even get a job in IPS, they must not come very highly recommended. Their charter school probably doesn't either. If that's your experience with charter schools, no wonder your opinion of them is so distorted. Don't worry. Those charters won't last.
ReplyDeleteI get really tired of being told I am lying when I post things. I DO NOT lie. What would be the point?
ReplyDeleteIf you are so paranoid that you think everyone is lying to you maybe you should go read/post on some UFO websites or something.
Who/what are you responding to?
ReplyDeleteI know someone who applied at Herron with a Masters in Special Education and they offered about $10,000 less than the person made in IPS. They have a fairly high turnover, and I know this because I have a friend who was on their board. They offered me a position but I couldn't take the $12,000 pay cut, but it might be a nice retirement job.
ReplyDeleteOkay, fine. I'm not going to argue with you because you're too stupid to realize how idiotic your position is. In your reality, charter schools will only be able to hire the worst of the worst. So either teachers don't matter, and a good school or curriculum can make up for a poor teacher or else the charter schools will all self-destruct (not very good capitalists, are they?)
ReplyDeleteMagnets now have open enrollment, but they don't have to keep you if you don't comply or cut the mustard. They may be worst than the charters. They'll keep kids through ADM and then start to boot them out, behavior, grades, attendance all reasons to have to return to your boundary school.
ReplyDeleteHere's an idea, excellent teaching and schools for everyone. But instead of developing programs that create excellent educational experiences, and motivate real students to learn, we focus on band-aides to try and remedy our problems, springboard, pacing guides, uniforms...nothing but rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
We can't even agree on what the goal of education is, is it high test scores? Or are high test scores the by-product of a good education?
From this months Educational Leadership, pg 13
The Right Question
Schools cannot succeed by doing the wrong things for the right reasons. So what are the right questions that should lead our work?
What is the fundamental purpose of our school?
Our schools were not built so educators would have a place to work each day, nor do they exist so that our government officials have a location to administer high-stakes standardized tests each spring. If we peel away the various layers of local, state, and federal mandates, the core mission of every school should be to provide every student with the skills and knowledge to be a self-sufficient, successful adult.
Ask parents what they want schools to provide their child, and it is doubtful the answer will be "I just want my child to score proficient on state assessment" or "I want my child to master standard 2.2.3 this year" Learning specific academic standards and passing state tests are meaningless if the student does not become an intelligent, responsible adult who possesses the knowledge and quality of character to live a happy rewarding adult life.
How did "Done Deal" turn in to a Charter School debate? Isn't the question/problem at hand about the new proposed "balanced calendar"? Maybe that is why it is difficult to unite as a force to be reckoned with. Focus people.
ReplyDelete"How did "Done Deal" turn in to a Charter School debate?"
ReplyDeleteBecause if this is really a done deal, we're going to lose more students to charter schools.
"Ask parents what they want schools to provide their child, and it is doubtful the answer will be "I just want my child to score proficient on state assessment" or "I want my child to master standard 2.2.3 this year"
ReplyDeleteAgreed. But as a parent, I want my child to be able to switch schools and not be behind. Standards and standardized tests help ensure that. Also, not to perpetuate the charter school debate, but parents are not leaving IPS because of standardized testing. The charter schools and township schools have those too. People can blame the media or politicians, but the fact is people leave IPS because the schools are dangerous and low-quality. Yes, parents are a factor, but a child of a bad parent will do worse at IPS and better elsewhere. Yes, it's about motivation, but a motivated child will still do worse in IPS than another school because the bar is set lower. Walk into an 8th grade math class at IPS and tell me with a straight face that they offer the same opportunity as "good" schools. The magnet programs do, but not the regular assigned ones.
To the person 3 posts above: At least if a Magnet school decides to kick a student out, they remain in the district, so arguing about them getting money for ADM is invalid. Charter school students get that specific school money and when they are kicked out to another school, that money stays in the Charter school and the public school adds another student without the funds. Magnet schools have specific academic/attendance guidelines that students/parents are aware of prior to enrollment. It's their choice if they want to follow them or not (and no, I do not work for a Magnet school).
ReplyDeleteYou won't walk into an 8th grade classroom to see the same opportunity as in other school systems for one reason. It's not the teachers. When the majority of 8th graders don't even know their multiplication facts despite many years of schooling, having them drilled into their head in class, and daily homework, they don't exactly have the capabilities to complete typical 8th grade work. It can be taught to them, but they won't understand it because they were never made at home to learn the basics of math. It's a shame, but it's the truth. Teachers can only do so much, at some point, if a child is to be successful, the parents need to provide some support in that area.
ReplyDeleteFine, but if you were a good parent with a decent student, would you send your kid to that IPS classroom?
ReplyDelete(And you do know that what you're saying is the exact opposite of why Americans are told we need to pay for tax-funded public education in the first place. Your argument is what the radical libertarians use when arguing against the value of public education -- that educated parents can educate their own kids and that uneducated parents have kids who still aren't being educated in schools. So why spend the tax money? (I disagree with you and with them. I think teachers can and do teach children of the value of lessons and make children aware of their own academic potential, even when they don't have support at home. But even if I'm wrong, there's no excuse for the way IPS fails good (or pretty good) kids with parents who care (at least a little). THOSE are the kids leaving for the charters and townships.
Yes the district keeps the money, but the magnet school gets to keep the teachers, so last year when Ripple gave the boot to about 200 kids they didn't lose 9 teachers, they kept the same teachers, and the kids new schools simply had larger class sizes. And the people who moved to new schools were sent there because of academic performance, so larger classes with more at-risk kids.
ReplyDeleteTo the person who posted the scores IPS vs Charter Schools why aren't the IPS schools listed individually like the Charter Schools? I bet I know.
ReplyDeleteIt's just tedious to separate them all out. It benefits IPS to have them averaged together. Without the magnet schools, most of IPS is way worse than any of the charters.
ReplyDeleteI'm not in this debate, but it makes sense to separate out the charter schools but not IPS because each charter school is its own corporation with its own school board. IPS is a single corporation with its own school board.
ReplyDeleteIPS does have an excuse. Eugene White and Mary Busch are two reasons why IPS continue to fail. They are only interested in their own personal agendas. Mary Busch has funneled millions of dollars to her employer, the University of Indinapois. It is amazing that no one in the media ever investigates this conflict of interest. It will be an issue in her reelection.
ReplyDelete"The solution is NOT to trap people in a poor school system and then put the blame on students and families when they had no other choice."
ReplyDeleteOr the solution would be to insure all schools are good schools. Your argument/solution is to leave kids whose parents aren't sophisticated or adept enough to get their kids into a good school, or who are just barely hanging on, and what school their kid goes to doesn't rank above food and shelter, in bad schools. Do you really believe the sins of the parents should be visited on the children...how sad. Where is your sense of social responsibility?
I want great schools for all kids.
"I continue to mistrust IPS's handling of Title 1 Funds. If you ever read the Board Meetings and notice those items paid for using Title 1 monies, you'll soon see that the justifications are very shaky. I mean like paying for thousands of dollars worth of food for catering at PD sessions."
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who left IPS, and one of the things this friend noted that there was NEVER food provided in any activity in the new district, unless the participants brought the food.
Where was it ever said that public school students WEREN'T being educated? It simply says that a teacher can only do so much to make them understand in the classroom. You say you disagree, however, the last couple sentences of your statement backs that comment up!
ReplyDelete"I want great schools for all kids." I absolutely agree. So create the great schools, and kids will return form the charters. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteMary Busch raised hell when the proposal was made to discontinue meals for school board members at board meetings and board committee meetings. That shows the arrogance and sense of entitlement that Mary Busch has. It also shows where her priorities are.
ReplyDelete"Where was it ever said that public school students WEREN'T being educated? It simply says that a teacher can only do so much to make them understand in the classroom. You say you disagree, however, the last couple sentences of your statement backs that comment up!"
ReplyDeleteYou don't seem to understand that what has been created in IPS is a system where the end all/be all is the test score, by what ever means necessary you must raise the test scores...that is the only gauge that is being used to evaluate schools, never mind what this emphasis is doing to students desire or motivation to be educated. And to raise the whole school scores top kids who already passed the test are ignored, so are the bottom level kids...it isn't about the kids, it is about the school score.
That was not created by IPS but by No Child Left Behind.......but you are correct in how destruction it has become to the educational process.
ReplyDeleteNo Child Left Behind had some effect but many districts haven't taken it to the extremes we see in IPS.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago I had a kid who insisted that he had never taken the GQE, well he had taken it and passed, and there was no big drama about the testing. Passing the test was the result of good education, not good test preparation. He was from a local Catholic high school.
My own nieces who go to a suburban district in another state, never think twice about the tests. Their district still offers a traditional full curriculum. The one in tenth grade is far more concerned with marching band and trombone slides than standardized tests.
Please don't assume that I don't understand what has been created by IPS regarding test scores. You don't know me. If you are a teacher, are you implying that ALL of your students have passed/raised their test scores every year? I'm sorry, but many will agree with me, there are students that no matter what you do (and you cannot do "whatever means necessary"), they will not do their homework, study for tests, or raise their test scores. That is not a poor reflection on the teacher if they have done what they are able to do and exhausted all options. I certainly am glad that you are so perfect and can judge everyone else.
ReplyDeleteUh, you guys are on the same side of the debate. Read the post again.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I attempted to say MANY posts up. She is arguing MY point!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would NEVER send my child to any IPS school. The reason is NOT based on the Wonderful Teachers, nor the Ignorant Higher Uppers, but the "garbage" students they would be surrounded by. There are some awesome students who, unfortunately have no out but IPS. So sad that the "garbage" students do not have positive role models in their lives. So very sad.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. And, the "garbage" students usually come from "garbage" parents.
ReplyDeleteIf you think IPS is test score crazy, take a good long look at Warren Township, which just went to a balanced calendar. If it's Tuesday at 1pm in kindergarten you are on the same page as every other kindergarten teacher, or else. Come on out Warren folks and tell it like it is. Yes students pass the test, but that is a low bar.
ReplyDelete@Agreed. And, the "garbage" students usually come from "garbage" parents.
ReplyDeleteSo, in essence, IPS, for a large part, is working with a flawed raw product. There's nothing a school district anywhere can do about parents who don't give a rat's ass about education. I'm tired of being blamed for a societal problem that is not within our purview as public school teachers to change. As it stands today, schools are charged with things that have nothing to do with instruction. We are not trained to change social problems; we are trained to teach students content matter.
No one would grade a dentist who provided patient dental care that met or exceeded the Standards of Practice if a certain percentage of his patients would not follow his recommendations of brushing twice daily, flossing, refraining from candy, donuts, sugary drinks, etc. This dentist might have the most advanced and cutting edge skills to place a perfectly wonderful crown on a tooth, but if the patient receiving this perfect crown goes home and crunches on ice, never brushes, never flosses, and does not follow good oral hygiene, then the perfect crown will fail. Is it the dentist's fault or the patient's fault?
Maybe the attitude that our students are garbage is a large part of why they choose not to achieve for you. I'm glad my children's teachers don't call them garbage. At least not out loud.
ReplyDeleteThat said, holding teachers accountable for things we have no control over like attendance is ridiculous. And test scores: We had several students who last year wrote "I don't know" on almost every extended response question. How do you fix that? Oh and my favorite was the one who wrote "I don't care, I hate this school"
Yes this truly happened I am not making it up. I'm just a teacher who believes in her students and is saddened by what's happenind around me.
As an IPS teacher, I am personally offended by teachers who don't believe we can make a difference. It's immoral. I can't imagine what makes someone become an inner city teacher if they think inner city kids are "garbage." I'm sorry for your incompetence but dozens of teachers succeed in teaching those same kids every day. But there are not enough of us. Because for every good teacher, there is another one tossing hands in the air and saying "They're garbage. Not my problem." Don't make excuses. Learn from the ones who ARE doing it.
ReplyDeleteAs an IPS teacher, I also believe we can make a difference, but until we enforce discipline in our schools, our kids don't stand a chance. When Dr. White stated that just loving the kids wasn't good enough, that we needed to provide rules and discipline, we felt like he was talking directly to our principal. Unfortunately, she didn't listen, because she doesn't like to discipline. When fist-fights, throwing desks, and screaming at teachers has no consequences at all, what are we to do?
ReplyDeleteDr. White imposed a six step discipline policy and then berates principals and teachers when they attempt to enforce it. What an arrogant S.O.B. he is.
ReplyDeleteI have certainly worked with some challenging students, but I have *never* considered them "garbage". Instead these kids have become "personal challenges" (can I get through, can I make a difference?) I have been successful more often than not - but the effort required to do so - has often entailed many additional hours beyond the traditional school day. Guess it would be easier to have no success, and call kids that I can't reach "garbage."
ReplyDeleteI am appalled at the post that calls kids garbage, and am just as appalled at the following "amen" type post.
I started teaching in the 80s - am not some idealistic youngster. The whole line of discussion per labeling some students as "garbage" disturbs me. I guess that if you are only in it for a pay check, and only partially investing in the challenging kid - the conversation makes sense.
To the person who described the students as garbage, time for you to go. No human being is garbage, and the fact you would refer to them as such goes to a cold wicked heart.
ReplyDeleteAdults can be horrible, with little to few redeeming qualities...but children? Please leave teaching.
I don't like students being referred to as "garbage". Something else I don't like. The male vice principal of a south side high school called a young male student a "closeted faggot"!! I think he should be referred to Child Protective Services or to the prosecutor's office. This is bullyism and child abuse. He should have to answser for what he did.
ReplyDeleteOff the subject questions, How's your schools handling the students without valid vaccinations?
ReplyDeleteAre they allowed in school? Are they being sent home?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-legend/wake-up-we-know-how-to-fi_b_748608.html
ReplyDeleteRead that. Still don't want to work in a charter school. Good Principals make good schools. Period.
ReplyDeleteVery good article. Has anyone seen the movie? I haven't yet, but would like to. I saw the Oprah shows about it, and it looks like it's a pretty powerful documentary.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually considering applying for a charter. I've only been at IPS for a few years, so I'm kind of a newbie, but the defeatest attitudes of my coworkers really get to me. I would love to work in a school where everyone is "filled with the spirit" so to speak! :)
ReplyDeleteWell I'm a veteran and while I don't plan on going anywhere at this point in my career, if I was 20 years younger, I would find the reform movement very exciting. I completely disagree with the above poster who thinks the principal makes good schools. Bologna. Teachers make good schools. Sure good principals are helpful. But I've worked in several schools in my career under several principals and with every possible demographic of student imaginable. Kids are kids, bureaucracy is bureaucracy, but teachers are the ones with the talent and the power.
ReplyDeleteIf the charters are so "filled with the spirit", why are so many of the charter teachers applying to the various public school systems and trying to change jobs......
ReplyDeleteWell, obviously, I don't want to work for the ones everyone's leaving!
ReplyDeletePrincipals set the tone for the building. When a teacher is trying to get a class quiet and the principal walks up and puts one of the kids in a headlock, gives them noogies on their head, or pokes them, plays "I got your nose" It's sending a clear message that the teachers aren't worth listening to.
ReplyDeleteI've worked in 13 schools and I've seen good principals who demand quality behavior and I'm seeing what I described above. No question. I'll take the principal who demands excellence from both students and teachers and isn't trying to be everyone's best friend.
"I'll take the principal who demands excellence from both students and teachers and isn't trying to be everyone's best friend."
ReplyDeleteOne such principal is Michael Sullivan. Teachers tend to either love him or hate him, but he does his job well and expects both students and teachers to put forth their best. IPS needs more no-nonsense building principals like Sullivan.
I agree that principals make or break a building!
ReplyDeleteSullivan??? I don't think so!
ReplyDeleteI hope that comment about Sullivan is sarcasm. He causes more problems than he solves.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't even make sense. My principal doesn't even know half of the kids. It's not the principal up at 1:00 a.m. scouring the Internet for ways to connect my content area into something the kids see as interesting or important to know. The principal isn't the one trying to differentiate assignments so that the borderline inclusion students and the gifted and talented students and everyone in between are all getting the most out of my classroom. The principal isn't the one trying to get the "problem" kids to trust me and achieve for me, without compromising my own authority in the classroom. Why should principals get the credit for things that I give my heart and soul to accomplish?
ReplyDeleteI think it's both. I think teachers make or break achievement in the classroom. But principals make or break the overall atmosphere of the school. Those "high expectations" and "be the boss, not the friend" goes for problem teachers as well as problem students!
ReplyDeleteWas the ass principal who called the student a "closeted faggot" Larson? This is sexual harassment an it is a federal crime. Document, document, document.
ReplyDeleteAnd how about the older principal who used to end announcements with the phrase "Peace out, Dogz!" You are not their friend, don't try to be. One of the most difficult thing about teaching is not caring if kids "like" you. It is irrelevant if they like you, they must respect you, and that is not established by trying to be their friend. Andy you can't demand it, you've got to earn it. It is established by being fair, holding everyone to high expectations, and your level of caring. When ever I have to call a parent I tell the kid, "I am calling your parent because (fill in the blank for a reason) and your parent needs to know about this.
It will hurt your chances for success if we don't figure out a way to solve this problem, and your parents need to know about it. You are calling because you CARE. Conversely if you let behavior/attendance/class cutting slide you are communicating a lack of concern.
It is a pain in the rear to make all those calls,
but break it up, I would take my six classes and try to call every students parents once every six weeks. Twenty four kids, called over four nights, about 40 minutes, done while watching tv..not too bad. And those kids whose numbers didn't work, I'd ask the next day, and tell the kid "I wanted to talk to your parent about (fill in the blank, class cutting, nice work, good attitude, you name it).
Yes, it was that fool Larson. Why does IPS tolerate this behavior which qualifies as a hate crime and/or bullying???
ReplyDeleteThe only reason I can think that Larson is still employed is that he must have something on someone.
ReplyDeleteWhen he was at Marshall they used to call him one of the dualing principals, since he couldn't work together with the other principals and would contradict what they said (he told a kid with no text books to go to the lunch room and steal some). At Arlington he harassed faculty and was completely ineffective with discipline. And from what I hear (and read) he is no better at Manual. It is IPS's version of the Peter Principle, which says you rise to the level of your incompetence...except in IPS you rise to the next level above your incompetence. Imagine this man in a classroom....
He worked for Prudence Bridgwater at Coleman. Gene White loves loyal idiots. The Titanic is sinking but all of crew is dressed in suit and ties chanting I'm supported by Dr. White.
ReplyDeleteI drive by Prudence Bridgwater's house every morning driving into work. The place reaps with envy, jealousy, deceit, and lies. Maybe that's the reason why it has been on the market for over a year.
ReplyDelete"I hope that comment about Sullivan is sarcasm. He causes more problems than he solves."
ReplyDeleteLike I said earlier, you either love him or hate him. There's no in-between. He is very bright, has a finely tuned crap detector, and does not suffer fools gladly (neither students nor teachers).
@I drive by Prudence Bridgwater's house every morning driving into work.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts there. I like that idea. Must be Karma. She might want to consider reducing the asking price, too.
She will have to take a loss. Karma. :-)
ReplyDelete...but telling a teen age boy that he is a closeted faggot is not only unprofessional but illegal. Who could this be reported to that would pursue it? It would have to be a group or someone outside of IPS as the Ed. Center will support him. The story of him telling a student to steal his books sounds so typical of him.
ReplyDeleteThe comment about Sullivan must be made by his mother or someone who hasn't worked with him very long. This man openly disrepects not only teachers, but the rest of the staff and parents as well. Just wait until he sends you home. The story about the principal giving noogies to the kids was probably him.
ReplyDeleteThere is an organization in Indy that might want to hear about Larson's comment. Here is the link for someone who actually heard him make this comment.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gayindy.org/about/?id=contact
There is a local organization that advocates for gay youth. I believe it is call the Indiana Youth Group. They would be a good one to contact also. The young man is very upset at a vice principal calling him that name.
ReplyDeleteNone of these organizations are going to take you seriously with your anonymous accusations. No matter how many rumors you start here, they are all just rumors. If you seriously witnessed something, then fine, go ahead and call. Tell them who you are and what you witnessed and give them the name of the student and anyone else who witnessed it. It doesn't have to be some special gay advocate group. Any news source will be interested in a factual story.
ReplyDeleteNope the noogie giving principal is in elementary school. Wonderful person. Bad with discipline.
ReplyDeleteThe problem you suggest is not so simple. The student verball abused is in the closet and he is not ready to announce to the world what his sexual orientation is. IPS administration knows who the vice principal is. He apparently is the same one who told a student who did not have a text book to go to the cafeteria and steal one. More will be coming out about this soon.
ReplyDeleteYeah, yeah, yeah. We've heard that before.
ReplyDeleteEncourage the student to contact the two organizations, complaints can be filed without any public "outing". Don't file the complaint on the school level, get the form and have the signature notarized, and take it down town, or send it in by certified mail. The hearing will be private.
ReplyDeleteI believe the form is called the IPS complaint form and is easy to fill out.
Is this what they teach in Vice Principal school? "Bullying and Belittling 541: How to Use Your Authority to Intimidate and Berate." I just read on one of the other thread that the Vice Principal at Broad Ripple screamed something like "get the fuck out of here" at a student. Larson and that other Vice Principal need to be demoted out of any position of authority and should not be allowed to have contact with students. Our children need support, they do not need these men beating them up and tearing them down. These are men who obviously do not truly care one bit about kids or they wouldn't have said the things they said. Get them away from children before they do more harm.
ReplyDeleteEugene White himself is a bully. These vice principals are simply following the lead of the head arrogant bully, Eugene White.
ReplyDeleteI am the spouse of a current IPS teacher our children attended another public school that had year around we liked it but it was nothing like what IPS is proposing and here are the issues i see:
ReplyDelete1. the teachers don't get the supplies and technology help they need now in time to start the school year or in a timely fashion so how in the world is IPS going to get the teachers what they need in 5-6 weeks over the summer.
2. what will be done when the 75% of students this new schedule is supposed to help and needs the help doesn't come to school in july but wait until Aug or September just in time for the 1st break?
3. what will be done when it is 100 degrees out and there is not air?
4. if you don't have 12.3 million to do remedial help why change the schedule?
5. if you ain't doing remedial help now why change the schedule just do it during school now and save the money or make summer school manditory or they get held back?
6. last but not least what will IPS do once it loses abotu 50-75% of the remaining students and teachers it has now because parents and teacher don't want this schedule?
if i have more questions i will post later.
I feel sorry for the parents who go to these hearings to give their input. They don't realize that Eugene has already decided and Mary Busch is there to make sure the board votes to support Eugene. This will be just another nail in the coffin of Busch as she will be defeated in the next election.
ReplyDeleteWhen Oprah and the fool that made Al Gore's movie loves charters then you know it's a scam!!! Oprah is all about money and charters can get her money and pay her teachers $000. Corporations can't do health care honestly or Wall Street why give them education too?
ReplyDeleteOh, I completely disagree with you. I think the corruption is way more rampant in the government schools. They take way, way, way more money (like 3 times as much) as charter schools and rely on force and laws to get enrollment because people wouldn't enroll voluntarily. I'm all about improving IPS, but when show me someone who hates charter schools and I'll show you someone who makes money off of government schools.
ReplyDeleteThe charter schools rely on churches or other groups to fund them. They also don't take expensive special needs students. They send those back to the public schools and they pay their teachers slave wages. You get what you pay for.................tell the truth about these charter schools that are in business to line the pockets of some corporation.
ReplyDeleteAny student that lives in the IPS district and attends a charter school, that charter gets money from IPS for that student. 10 years ago IPS paid out 6 million dollars to charters. I'm sure it's more now.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about?! Charter schools are funded by the state, exactly like IPS and township schools. (Except, like the poster above noted, charter schools get less funding per student.)
ReplyDeleteThey do not get money from IPS. They get the money from the state after ADM is figured, just like any other school. However, if a student leaves a charter school after ADM to return to a public school, that money stays at the charter school, so the public school has one more student but no more money.
ReplyDeleteThe above post is correct, but this isn't one-sided to IPS. If a student leaves IPS after ADM for a charter school or moves out of the city, the same thing happens. There was an article in the Star last week about the waiting lists on many Indy charter schools, so when a spot opens up, another student moves in (that student usually comes from IPS). Mid-year migration OUT of IPS is much more common than migration in. Those enrollment declines each year. Many of those students moved or transferred mid-year, after IPS had received the funding for them.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I am not anti-IPS. I truly hope that some day IPS transforms into a district that families abandon the charter schools for.