It is not that no one cares about Howe, people are emotionally exhausted with all this drama. The sooner this whole nightmare (the reign of terror of White and his minions) is over and we can get back to the business of educating children the better.
Please who ever is in charge down at the BOE make this end.
The local branch of the NAACP is submitting a plan to the State to serve as the new leader of Arlington. What are your thoughts about this?
The problem with this is they are not prepared as educators, what model are they planning on using? Joe Brown? Old School? This is a complex problem and as Mencken said "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."
Remember that at various times they tried to get rid of Greenwood and it was various organized groups in the black community that saved her job. This is what happens when you put race or any other factor in front of student success...
Yet she is part of the old school group, nothing old school has worked there. Arlington needs a new approach; some decent marketing to let kids know what is offered in the classrooms is important to their future. Lots of social workers and teachers who can get into the neighborhoods and talk to the parents and get them on the schools side. And a few psychiatrist to help kids deal with their problems, let's stop calling what is going on their with kids a crime, and instead call it depression; when you have no hope for the future or interest in your own life that is what the rest of society would call it.
The crime that has happened at Arlington is the crime of adults not putting kids first.
Carole Craig was the HR Director for years, sitting right there in the Ed Center and fully aware that Arlington was falling apart at the seams during the 20 years of Greenwood's regime. I don't trust the NAACP to do anything different than ever's been done at Arlington. Right now, the NAACP is on the wrong side of history by standing 'against' real reform and indirectly supporting the status quo. I don't believe the Indy Urban League thinks Carole Craig and her group of old-timers is prepared to operate a school. Arlington students need leadership that is not related in any shape, form, or fashion to the current IPS leadership.
I know some people here are anti charter school, but Arlington needs to look at schools such as Charles A. Tindley. They have been very successful with a similar population and what it took was discipline and hard work. The kids were too rowdy in the halls, so the teachers changed classrooms instead. They separated the sexes and have had success there too. It was exhausting for the teachers the first few years but it WORKED.
So what you are saying is they didn't bother to teach the kids to be self disciplined, instead they adjusted the teachers behavior so the lack of discipline was not such a problem, and separating kids by gender, where in the real world does that happen...once again short term benefit for the school in terms of good test scores trumps long term benefit for the students, learning to control their own behavior, getting along with everyone regardless of gender, and how to stay focused and concentrate no matter who else is in the room.
Hey, Tindley tried some different things and they're working. But, as noted, it took a few years. That's one of the problems with IPS and reform. It takes time. Donnan made AYP last year (in the 3rd year of a new principal and staff) and STILL we were made to change principals and 51% of staff. Yeah, kids first.
I don't think your post is logical. First, you are insinuating that IPS teaches discipline better than Tindley, which they don't. So if neither school is successfully teaching discipline, and one of them is successfully teaching academics, isn't the one who is teaching academics doing better? Also, all discipline teaching and behavior modification techniques are "short term." That part doesn't make any sense at all. The whole point is you manipulate behavior with the hope that good behavior becomes a habit. You can use explanations, rewards, punishment, or countless varieties of environmental changes. (Didn't you learn this stuff in college?) Punishment is the least effective behavior modification technique for long-term results, so it makes sense that schools are trying to enforce more non-punitive policies.
Folks above, you can argue all you wish about charter schools vs. traditional schools; however, the point in question is Arlington and who is selected to clean it up.
Do you really think that volunteers from community organizations can operate and turnaround a long-time dysfunctional high school like Arlington? How long will these volunteers have the commitment to stick with the job?
Do you really think that Carole Craig and the NAACP will offer anything new and different than what Jackie Greenwood offered for 20+ years?
"I know some people here are anti charter school."
I wouldn't say all are anti-charter. But for every 1 great charter school there are hundreds of poor ones run like zoos that operate just to make a profit. I wouldn't wish the current regime's demise so soon having friends who work for "the state." Not looking forward to being micro-managed to death by "suits" who failed to get REAL teaching jobs so they hooked-up with a turn around outfit instead. That's no different than what we have now.
We are too busy allowing personal ideology to stand in the way of getting IPS students educated. Does it really matter if a school is a traditional public, a charter, private for-profit, private not-for-profit, if the school can provide a better education than what Arlington has offered for years and years?
Why is the conversation just about Arlington? What about the kids at Manual . . . the kids at Howe . . . the kids at Northwest? Don't get me wrong, Arlington is a mess, and something needs to happen drastically there, but it seems that Arlington has become the focus.
As far as the community group strategy is concerned, well, I guess it can't be worse than what is currently happening. However, I wouldn't sign on as a community group unless we had full authority. A negotiated contract with the district will just mean more of the same. I would also imagine that the "volunteers" would have to become "employees". There is no way one could launch this kind of reform and make it work as a volunteer. There isn't a model for that anywhere in the world. So, a better question to ask is are these retired citizens ready to unretire (I just made that word up)?
@So, a better question to ask is are these retired citizens ready to unretire (I just made that word up)?
You are correct. Volunteers cannot accomplish the task; moreover, I have a sneaking idea the unspoken paid job aspect is driving part of this push from the NAACP. Before we know it, the NAACP will hire the same old folks/cronies who've been leading IPS into the ground. I can imagine that Jackie Greenwood will become the first paid consultant.
IPS is in a financial crisis when it relates to the schools and the people in them. The ed center and all Dr. White's buddies don't have to worry, they get all the money. What's left over goes to the schools, teachers and lastly to the students. children come first....my hiney.
Looks like everyone got a raise..what luck, and if you look at the rest of the report we are once again hiring Greg Abati, who caters a nice lunch, to consult for $120,000. Look him up on the web, one article in Teaching Tolerance in 1990, and that is it...what kind of expert is that? For only $100,000 I'd be willing to bring in fried chicken several times a year...nice guy, big waste of money.
I see that Eugene White is still paying back his old mentor, Dr. Ann Grooms. Seems the School Board can always find some extra Title 1 money to keep Ann Grooms employed by IPS. Just last week at a special Board meeting, Ann was hired again to help put together the turnaround program for Arlington. __________________________________________
Agenda Item Details Meeting Jun 21, 2011 - Board Briefing Session; June 21, 2011; 7:00 P.M. Category General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Subject Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms) ***ACTION AT BRIEFING*** Type Action Fiscal Impact Yes Dollar Amount $ 17,707.00 Budgeted Yes Budget Source Title I Recommended Action I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve the payment of $17,707.00 to Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms) for external constultant services for Arlington Community School's Turnaround Improvement Plan, and work with the co-principals, administrative team and teachers. The total amount will be paid by Title I grant.
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Strategic Plan: Eliminate Achievement Gaps
***ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT BRIEFING***
TOPIC: Request permission to pay Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms), an amount not to exceed $17,707 for consultant work with the co- principals and staff at Arlington Community School during the 2010-2011 school year.
Administrative Consideration
Dr. Grooms worked with the co-principals, administrative team and staff at Arlington Community School during the 2010 – 2011 school year to develop procedures and processes for changing the school’s culture, improving student management, and improving teachers and staff supervision. Dr. Grooms served as the external consultant for the development of the School’s Turnaround Improvement Plan that was presented at Dr. Bennett’s IDOE community meeting at Arlington on the evening of June 1, 2011. This is request is retroactive.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve the payment of $17,707 to Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms) for external consultant services for Arlington Community School’s Turnaround Improvement Plan, and work with the co-principals, administrative team and teachers. The total amount will be paid by Title 1 grant.
It depends. Who is it being sold to? If it's being sold to a private buyer, it sounds like a crooked deal. The private market would bring a much higher price. But if it's being sold to another tax-funded department or service, then that makes sense.
Talk about doing the same thing over and over...What does Ann Grooms have to offer other than touting year round schools? Eugene just wants to keep tossing money her way. Time for some fresh meat!
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ANN GROOMS:
Dr. Grooms is a total rip-off. She help Dr. White complete his dissertation. If the Indianapolis Star agrees to do a story about this person, I would go on the record say how much this is a rip-off. This person is horrible, but Kendrick loves her.
July 21, 2009 Anonymous said... Ann Grooms' name appears in searches in the Cincinnati area. Kendrick did a work stint in that same area after her Anderson (IN) snafu as Superintendent.
Something sounds fishy about using Title 1 funds to pay a consultant who is going to help IPS principals with their portfolio development. Good grief, why can't principals do their own graduate work? Are they so intellectually lacking they are unable to complete their certification process without outside assistance?
July 21, 2009 Anonymous said... Ann Grooms is the person who organized the very first year-round school conference in Arkansas back in 1969, a meeting whose featured speaker from the Kettering Foundation claims in a handwritten letter that he never attended that meeting. Was the keynote speaker at that meeting an impersonator, an imposter, an archangel? Only God knows.
Ann Grooms is an icon in the Year Around School movement. She would have public schools taking care of children from sun up to sun down 365 days a year if she had her way.
July 21, 2009 Anonymous said... It takes State Representative John Barlett to talk about Dr. Grooms. Ask him about her. He will have you laughing.
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Ann Grooms did year round school conferences in 1969??? Excuse me, but that is 42 years ago! How old is this lady by now? We need "fresh" ideas, not old warmed over stuff.
Greg Abati "also taught Special Education and at risk youth in Louisville, KY for about 30 years."
and there are plenty of people who have taught special ed to at risk youth in Indiana, and would be willing to pick up some Church's Chicken for a whole lot less that $120,000.
Noticed in the Board Agenda that 7 Lead Counselors have received new job titles. These 7 counselors are now called Guidance Directors with hefty four to five figure salary increases. Seriously, I thought there was a financial crisis!
Margaret Means has been promoted and received a $10,000 pay increase, also. By the way, she is Board member Mary Busch's sister. How nice to keep it in the family.
@Greg Abati "also taught Special Education and at risk youth in Louisville, KY for about 30 years."
And, that experience certainly does not qualify him to receive $120K. Abati is the 'expert from afar' like Jimmy Hill and his gang. All of them drive up from Kentucky to pad their pockets with Title 1 money. He's been feeding at the IPS trough for several years. Like Ann Grooms, he's not bringing any new ideas to the table. Just the same old, same old. But, that fried chicken sure is good.
They used to bring in Dr. Frank DeSensi who actually had wonderful ideas (four column method) and a track record of success, we'd all listen, take notes, and implement nothing. Even when the presentation has value no one in IPS has the ability to use the information.
I remember DeSensi. He, too, was from Kentucky. You're so on the mark about IPS bringing in good program consultants; however, once the consultant leaves town, nothing is implemented with fidelity. Everything appears to be done piecemeal with no real oversight or game plan. It's like decorating a Christmas tree...ooh, that's a pretty ornament, let's buy it and hang it on the tree.
The inability and lack of a track record in implementing research-based programs with fidelity is the prime reason I'm convinced that IPS cannot and will not turnaround any high schools. Furthermore, because the volunteer community group who's wanting to turnaround Arlington is steeped in IPS dysfunctional tradition and culture, they too will be unable to effect a turnaround. We need a whole set of new faces, people who have not contributed one iota to IPS's failures.
"We need a whole set of new faces, people who have not contributed one iota to IPS's failures."
Where are we going to ship in an entire school full of new teachers and administrators with no previous experience or ties to IPS. Not only does it seem unfair to the many positive forces in IPS, but it's not very practical either.
Re: "We need a whole set of new faces, people who have not contributed one iota to IPS's failures."
Not new teachers but a whole new set of administrators. Administrators are the instructional leaders, and evidently we've got a large number of leaders who've been doing the same things for years. It hasn't worked and won't work in the future. Good administrators can lift and bring vigor to the entire system. Teachers gladly will follow good administrators who know what they're doing, where they're headed with the district, and can impart their vision to the teachers. I'm a teacher; I'm begging for a set of good administrators. I don't care where they come from; just bring 'em on.
There comes a point in the administrative ranks where having 'too much experience with IPS and too many ties to the IPS community' is a liability for change. I'm speaking about the many IPS top-level administrators who appear to care more about how many jobs they can land for their community friends, their neighbors, and worst of all, their family members.
"Carole Craig was one of the best principals I ever worked for. We need more like her."
WTF????? Whatever you're smoking, I'll take some of that too. She was one of the worst administrators to come down the pike. Played favoritism, hounded teachers she didn't like out of the system, had lax discipline at Marshall, and did a pretty incompetent job in HR. Being a mentor to Yvonne Rambo also speaks vlumes. She's exactly the sort of problem IPS can do without.
I need spell check on this thing, duh. Should be, "Being a mentor to Yvonne Rambo also speaks volumes." Sort of like venal teaching venal how to get better at it.
I'm all for getting rid of bloated and ineffective administration, but I think you're kidding yourself if you think replacing administrators would have a more positive impact than replacing about 15-20% of IPS teachers.
A good administrator can work wonders by having discipline in the building with a firm and fair treatment of the students, and by working with teachers who need help in reaching the higher levels. I've seen it a few times, not many perhaps, but it does happen now and then even in IPS.
Re: School 64 sold. The Euclid Machine Company (Thomas/Euclid Industries) is located about a block from the school. It would appear they could expand their business using the school building, which would be a good thing if it brings more jobs and generates more taxes for the area. Perhaps, as a community service, they want to purchase the building and lease it to a potential Charter school? Heck, for twenty grand, they might just raze the school and start over. Maybe they just want it for storage. According to governmentcontractswon.com, they received $12,254,288 worth of Defense contracts from 2002 to 2010, all but about $83,000 from 2002 through 2008. They're classified as "Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing".
Great administrators are wonderful. Good teachers are better. Pick any IPS student at random and chances are you'll find that some years he/she has progressed more than a year and other years he/she has not. Then pick any teacher at random and chances are you'll find that the teacher has a pretty consistent rate of progression. If 50% of the teacher's students progressed a year this year, you'll find that rate is pretty consistent last year and the year before. The same thing with teachers who have classes where 90% progressed a year. The same thing with teachers with only 20% progressing a year. By cross referencing, it becomes immediately obvious that many IPS teachers are consistently and predictably bad. Yes, a good administrator would fire them or improve them. But good teachers don't need strong administrators to succeed. Only weak teachers need strong administrators.
Your "they're animals" excuse only explains a very small percentage of students who consistently fail. It doesn't explain the much larger percentage who succeed with one teacher and fail with another. To explain those, you have to look at the teachers.
"a very small percentage of students who consistently fail"
Then how would you explain Arlington's (and IPS's) low graduation rate? A few years ago we were number three in the country for young black men dropping out, and a stellar number one for young white men. We've allegedly fixed this problem, but the fix looks like a new way of manipulating the numbers not bigger graduating classes.
Say what??? No one called them animals. It sounds more like you're getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions. The only thing remotely linking animals here was the comment "You have obviously never been to Arlington, when the wolf packs of 35 kids run the hall, looking for a target to beat." That describes the behavior of gang mentality and is apt for the situation. You want to know why a large number fail? Check to see who holds their feet to the fire to do some serious work; that'll be the one with the high failure rate. When we've got less than 15% of the graduating students not college ready, and a lot more than that passing the course work, something doesn't smell right.
"You want to know why a large number fail? Check to see who holds their feet to the fire to do some serious work; that'll be the one with the high failure rate."
http://compass.doe.in.gov/Dashboard.aspx?view=SCHOOL&val=5483&desc=Northwest High School
Heh, good job Larry(aka George Jefferson) Yarrell. Your lying, back stabbing, and yelling did a lot of good, didn't it? And just think folks, for that success, he gets a pay raise and a larger school to screw up. And more teachers to screw over.
This is getting old. Many teachers at Arlington do just fine with the pack of wolves or whatever you want to call children to dehumanize so you don't feel guilty for robbing them of an education with your inadequacy. The fact that you don't do fine with them says more about you than the students. A handful of teachers like you results in students with fragmented educations, which is why they end up ill-prepared to graduate. You have to remember, I'm an IPS teacher too. Do you ever wonder what the other teachers are doing? The teachers who seem to like working at Arlington and seem to have a knack for getting kids to behave and enjoy learning. Or do you refuse to acknowledge that such classrooms exist in IPS?
I wish I knew which post you're responding to, but it looks like no one is calling the "children" wolves, someone said they roam the hallways like a pack of wolves. I hesitate to call them children, as they're past that stage and becoming young adults.
Maybe there are some good things happening there, but the overall outlook seems to be dismal given the standardized exams there. Roughly 1 out of 8 pass the GQE, and 2 out of 3 graduate? That sounds like more than fragmented education, it sounds like lack of it. Are you saying the reports of widespread discipline issues at Arlington are bogus? That only a handful of teachers are having trouble getting students to comply? It would look like the only teachers having trouble there are the math and LA teachers, and everyone else is doing just fine, thank you very much.
http://youtu.be/FxZcM3I3l-0 4 minutes 38 seconds of "Chillin in the Hallway During Class" and if you check out the video directors collection you will see what goes on in the classrooms...and it is Arlington High School Indianapolis.
Dear Administrator...Why don't you watch Dr. Phil, he has some Life Laws Number 4: You cannot change what you do not acknowledge. Just because there isn't a discipline problem in your office and teachers have become so used to the wild out of control behavior in the halls doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Here is a hint, wait until a bell rings, go out in the hall, stay out there until a second bell rings, about five minutes, then stay until all the kids finally exit the hall and go to class.
I didn't say there wasn't a discipline problem at Arlington. I said good teachers can and do overcome that. You're saying there are only a few good teachers at Arlington that are capable of doing that; I think the number is higher than that, but regardless, I think the root of the discipline problem is the adversarial dynamic between the students/parents/community and the teachers. That has always caused and will always cause discipline problems in the school, regardless of the "sides" (suburban/urban/rural, affluent/poor, white/black, secular/religious, old/young, tradition/modern, etc.)
That's a good descriptor :-) Too many students don't want to be there and they want to drag everyone else down to their level. It's too bad it'll take them twenty years to figure out what they did wrong, and in the mean time everyone has to suffer for their ill-considered behaviors.
I certainly hope you're wrong. Hopefully we get more teachers in there who are better with city kids. Between the takeover and the expanded school choice, I really hope the kids are able to escape the damage done by adults who are supposed to know better. Why bother with education programs in colleges if we allow teachers to ignore the things proven to work in favor of things proven not to work. It's just such a tragic, heartbreaking waste of resources. How do teachers who think like you ever get hired in the first place?! Surely you weren't honest about your opinions, which makes me think you know how wrong you are!
She probably was honest. She posts to the Star and has a Facebook page complaining about how bad IPS kids are. I disagree, I don't think she knows how wrong or dangerous she is. But regardless, I agree that some of the reforms will weed out her and teachers like her and get some competent people in these schools. I know they exist because I've seen them and talked to them. But they're outnumbered by bitter, ineffective teachers. I agree it's both tragic and heartbreaking.
Just saw that our weenie board turned down the opportunity to merge our police force with IMPD. Too bad. Indianapolis is short of officers, and we've lost too many of our best and brightest. I'm concerned for all involved. Our children need the positive protection provided by a visible and proactive law enforcement community, both while in and out of school.
Speaking about the 'weenie' IPS Board, did you ever think about our Board president? Here's a nice enough lady who likely has good intentions, but her sole business experience comes from being an airline reservationist. IPS has a 1/2 billion dollar budget ($.5 billion) and the president of our Board is a retired airline reservation clerk! And, we wonder why the Board defers to the Superintendent. The Board is clueless and doesn't have an iota of experience in managing a mega budget for an organization.
Would you mind doing everyone a favor and referencing your remarks so we can follow what you're saying and who you are referring to. I can ofer this suggestion to one of your questions, "How do teachers who think like you ever get hired in the first place?!" It was probably under the reign of Queen Carole Craig when she was in charge of HR and responsible for the hiring decisions. It made a lot of sense for an incompetent racist administrator to be placed in a position of far sweeping responsibility. Even though she is gone, her toxins live on, and it concerns me that she is still active in and around the system.
It's obvious it was a reply to the post directly above it. I have a hard time believing Carole Craig would be responsible for hiring a racist white lady to teach inner city kids, but I suppose stranger things have happened.
I'm none of the above. I must be out of the loop here or missing something bigtime. The post with "I certainly hope you're wrong" doesn't look like it's answer to the one above it. One is talking about students and the other is about teachers. I'm lost about the part of Carole Craig hiring a racist white lady. I've heard various stories over the years about her favoritisms and lack of control at Marshall, and general cluelessness in HR. BTW, she had a federal EEOE discrimination complaint filed against her by a subordinate a few years ago but I don't know how that was resolved. This blog needs a better way to track replies.
I was under the impression from reading the bills current contracts were suppose to still be inforced until they expire or renegotiated. That increments could not be negotiated into new contracts.
Current ones in effect were to be inforced. IPS though does not pay attention to law or and apparently is hoping our union and staff role over for this one. Instead of negotiating a new one (as they should have been doing all year) they are going to do what they want!
I am sure glad the gram and spelling police are here!
Otherwise I would not have known that my cell phone (when doing from there) does i and e wrong.
Thank you! What would the world do without people like you constantly correcting us low life individuals!
You know individuals like JFK and Einstein would have gotten no where with people like you. They had learning disabilities and were able to have knowledge that furthered others. In your world they would have been trash collectors because of poor writing skills.
This was a typo on my cell phones fault but just wanted to make a point. Oops! Might have done it again!
I attended IEA meetings (with the AR at my school) and they said current laws and contracts would be first. Until new contracts were signed. Guess, the home office should have made them more aware!
The post above is correct, that is why IEA has put the matter in the hands of the attorney to file the correct legal against IPS. Thank God for IEA holding IPS's feet to the fire, Dr. White needs to retire.
Remember IPS does not play fair and has no sense of honor or morals. That is why DOE will take IPS apart until nothing is left, and the "Bobble Heads" will just keep on bobbing to running twenty schools, nope they will be outsourced to the townships schools
Interesting piece on corruption in charter schools on NPR... http://www.npr.org/2011/06/27/137444337/what-happens-when-charter-schools-fail
listen and see how much also applies to IPS, nepotism...unqualified people in charge...money diverted to benefit adults not kids.... corruption...kids who don't do well.
"Thank you Linda Davis! Very smart woman who surrounds herself with professionals who do their jobs plus! Now, all you haters of BRMHS, keep on hating as WE are only going to get better!"
I agree! Linda Davis does surround herself with professionals who do their jobs plus. The majority of the faculty members are wonderful, professional, caring, and intelligent. BUT she also surrounds herself with people who are seasoned hind-end kissers. And that, indeed, is also smart as they help her keep her position on the throne.
The biggest problem at your school sits in the main office. I won't stoop to the name calling. It isn't necessary. The truth tells the tale. The climate at Broad Ripple is very negative. The students feel that the administrators are out to get them, and that is the reality. The kids are not wrong. It is not "children first" at Broad Ripple. It is "Make us LOOK good" at Broad Ripple. And THAT is harming children.
Broad Ripple parents: Your children deserve to be served by ALL of the adults in that building. And the service should be from not only the teachers and support staff, but from the administrative leaders as well. Right now, to administration, your children are nothing but State ID numbers and ISTEP scores. Get some administrators who care as much about the students in the school as the teachers do, and your children will excel and the school will become the world class school it was supposed to be!
Me taking courses at Americann National University to be made a teacher in english, their I will show you older donnot careless teachers how to helped the childes. I have applyied to be a teacher with Doctore Bennett in turened arounded schools. You shoulded be ashamed of yur unloved of the childes.
Who are you even mocking? American National University? Dr. Bennett? I've seen you do this before to make fun of IPS students and charter school teachers. Why play silly games? We git it. You're against reform. But you don't make Bennett look bad when you post stuff like this. You make IPS teachers look bad. I wish you'd stop.
I think that's probably the point. I know it's a dead horse trying to figure out who posts these things. But I disagree with those who think it's a teacher or an ex-principal. I think it's someone from a charter school or private school who posts these things to try to "prove" how pathetic IPS teachers are and how insecure they are about reform.
Maybe the poster who wrote "me taking courses" wasn't a real IPS teacher, but many "pathetic" comments are indeed from real IPS teachers. Some post the same types of comments under their real names on Facebook and send letters to the Star. They really don't seem to know they're pathetic.
"You're against reform. But you don't make Bennett look bad when you post stuff like this."
Here's some reform for you. Has anyone heard that there will be NO teacher incremental pay after this year? All raises will be based on "evaluations." They always tell you not to get your masters early because the pay won't kick in till about 15 years of service. Let's say you have 12 years in... you may never get compensated for your masters degree. I could see the district/corporate HQ just saying, "You meet all criteria based on your evaluation but we just don't have the money for it....too bad" Too bad for y'all with less than 25 years.
I don't understand how without a new contract IPS can refuse to pay the Step increment. I have been teaching too long to get one for about 7 years now. But I understand how that helps the younger teachers out since we get a pittance of a raise, if any at all. I was really looking forward to completing my 20th year of teaching and getting that increment.
I guess my "lavish" benefits will have to cover for me. Oh yeah, since I have a pension I won't get my Social Security benefits...gotta love this state.
Who told you that you don't get Social Security benefits. the earliest that you can get them is 62, but each paycheck you pay into Social Security. You need to go online and request a current statement, that will show you what you should be getting. Who told you that you will not get Social Security?
I'm not a teacher, but in other professions with pensions, if you pay into the pension, you don't pay into Social Security, and therefore, you're not eligible for Social Security. But if you're paying into Social Security, you should be eligible to collect it.
Also to the person above claiming that there will be no teacher incremental pay raises, can you cite a source or provide a link?
@ I'm not a teacher, I believe you are mistaken. Social Security isn't a retire program, it's more of a public insurance program, to cover you if you need it. Very few people are exempt from paying Social Security tax and paying SS taxes doesn't guarantee you'll be eligible for SS benefits. It depends on how much you you get from your pension.
I also haven't heard anything about changes to incremental pay raises in this district or any other district. The merit legislation that went through only took away step increases for teachers who were evaluated as "improvement necessary" or "ineffective."
The union may have let the contract lapse leaving the school corporation an opportunity to take advantage of a loophole in the law
WTF...it wasn't the union...it was IPS, If they don't reach an agreement the union has nothing to take to the membership for ratification...no agreement no ratification.
Also in some states teachers do not pay into social security, so they are not eligible, for teachers in Indiana there is some cut in social security based on teacher retirement payments.
"to the person above claiming that there will be no teacher incremental pay raises, can you cite a source or provide a link?"
I hate to be the bearer of bad news... we've had enough, but that was one of the laws passed. There will be no pay raises without yearly evaluations. My principal will be evaluating all day while the kids run the building I guess.Or maybe a "weed checker" will do the evals for her. Principals were told that this was the last year for incremental pay and that further pay increases would be based on some evaluation procedures. Being strapped for cash I could see a district evaluation saying, "passed all requirements...if we were giving out a raise...you would qualify, but we don't have the money honey." Bet teachers and working people vote differently next election.
The above poster is simply fearmongering. Check the legislation yourself. Incremental pay raises are not being abolished unless you get a bad evaluation. If you don't have a bad evaluation, you still get a raise. Regardless of who you vote for.
The problem is that the district will determine how much money is in the pot for pay raises and tell administrators how many raises they can give, they will put everyone on a continuum and decide the cut off for raises....at most schools the principal's friends will get raises... everyone else forget it...we have seen this type of favoritism in the past, what makes anyone think this won't happen with this system.
Since the new teacher evaluation was "borrowed" from DC's impact system...perhaps they should adopt DC's plan of independent evaluators. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/education/28evals.html?_r=1
Of one thing I feel sure—history will not be kind to those who gleefully attacked teachers, sought to fire them based on inaccurate measures, and worked zealously to reduce their status and compensation. It will not admire the effort to insert business values into the work of educating children and shaping their minds, dreams, and character. It will not forgive those who forgot the civic, democratic purposes of our schools nor those who chipped away at the public square. Nor will it speak well of those who put the quest for gain over the needs of children. Nor will it lionize those who worshipped data and believed passionately in carrots and sticks. Those who will live forever in the minds of future generations are the ones who stood up against the powerful on behalf of children, who demanded that every child receive the best possible education, the education that the most fortunate parents would want for their own children.
I disagree. I teach both history and economics, and I think the future will be baffled that we ever had the current system in the first place. It defies both history and economics. A government run education monopoly contracted with unionized teachers was destined for failure. There are no incentives to serve the clients, whether you view the clients as children, parents, or taxpayers. I know change is scary, but I predict the advances in education in the next 20 years will be drastic and rapid, similar to advances in other competitive industries (technology, medicine, marketing, etc.)
It's called Windfall Elimination Program or something like that. WEP. People with pensions even though they have paid their money into Social Security don't get either any or as much due to WEP. KY has it too. Of course by the time we get to retire at 67 there probably won't even be Social Security.
And in the current Lightning Bolt on your Groupwise e-mail it talks about how IPS won't be honoring our contract and giving us the steps.
Pensions will only affect your SS benefits if you draw SS early. If you wait until your full retirement age, you will not notice the change. Pensions are handle like you are working and are considered income, so it only affects SS if you draw early.
"A government run education monopoly contracted with unionized teachers was destined for failure."
Our police force is run by the government and they are a union. Do you think that system has failed us? What I see is a government that cannot fix the ills of society that educators face so they then in turn create a diversion by condemning the teachers, thus handing over public dollars to corporate special interests. They also will not be able to solve these ills, but if they pick and choose the students who will pass and scale back salaries like any corporation they will call what they do successful. Look what Mitch has done to Indiana. I would hardly call what he has done an economic boom but he HAS cut state wages. However even privatization of welfare services backfired on the state.I think in the future we'll look at this bubble- sheet testing craze, where we send dollars to test makers and we number crunch all day and realize, "What were they thinking back then about servicing kids and learning?"
There are no incentives to serve the clients, whether you view the clients as children, parents, or taxpayers. I know change is scary, but I predict the advances in education in the next 20 years will be drastic and rapid, similar to advances in other competitive industries (technology, medicine, marketing, etc.)
You know so little about what motivates people...read Drive (Daniel Pink), there are so many motivational factors besides MONEY AND PROFIT. If you feel this way perhaps you should get out of teaching and go visit the Watts Towers.
police, military, firemen, etc. are skilled tradespeople, not professionals. If you watch 100 fireman handle the same type of fire, they will do things almost identically. If you watch a 100 professionals (teachers, lawyers, doctors, marketing execs, investors, etc.) handle the same case, they will do things differently and have completely varying results. Unions keep us from being able to learn from the experts in the field. Instead, we treat teaching like a trade, like there is no difference between them, like they are interchangeable because they all perform the same task in the same way, like an electrician or a fireman. This hurts the teaching profession as well as severely limits the potential of education. Competition spurs innovation and advancement. Lack of competition inhibits innovation or advancement. If you can tell me one major advancement or invitation in any unionized industry, I'd love to hear it.
Then explain to me why Direct TV, Dish Network, Brighthouse, AT&T and Comcast have the worst consumer complaints of any industry? They are all over priced, deliver an awful product and have the worst customer service anywhere. They practice collusion and have everyone over a barrel. We pay MORE for less. I get so tired of hearing this talk radio tripe about "competition." There is no competition, it's just a facade created to look like you are getting your money's worth. The little guy pays for the big guy's mistakes.
"If you can tell me one major advancement or invitation in any unionized industry, I'd love to hear it."
Irsay, Manning and the Colts. I'd trade places with any of them as would most. It's obviously a pretty good deal for all of them. Plus the NFL owners practice shared revenue which is basically socialism and goes against the corporate hoo-ha we get from the usual "experts" in the field of what makes America tick.
I believe that the decline of unions is why so many are on welfare. Good jobs at fair wages don't exist. They try to pay you Mexico wages while you owe Meridian-Kessler utility bills.
I don't think you understood the question. The Colts haven't advanced the profession of football or innovated sports in any way. They also make money based on a value established by the private market. Nobody is forced to buy tickets and if enough people stopped attending games, the state would stop subsidizing the Colts. And your comment about unions and welfare shows that you don't understand economics. Until small businesses are allowed to collectively bargain (that's called a cartel or monopoly and its completely illegal), then unions will hurt the economy because they favor large corporations over small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Unions are in bed with the government and corporations, but they're losing popularity. The Internet has really helped reveal a lot of the waste and corruption in this unholy trinity. I think the unions and liberalism peaked in the mid 20th century, but I think it's been on the decline. I think capitalism, individualism, and libertarianism will continue to trend in the next several decades, as much out of necessity as anything else. As the economy becomes more global, it's unsustainable for the U.S. to keep inflating our economy. We have to drastically cut spending. Everybody knows this -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.
My uncle belongs to a union and he isn't allowed to work too hard or too fast. He takes books to read and crossword puzzles to work because he meets the goal in only a few hours and has nothing to do the rest of his shift. He's not lazy. He'd gladly do twice the work, but he's not a allowed in a union job and a non-union job would pay half. That's great for him (to do half the work for twice the pay) but as someone whose taxes pay for government contracts with unions, I think it's awful. Most occupations can't unionize, so why should those people have to pay for unions.
Nope.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you actually attend. Really? Stop moanin'.
ReplyDeleteIt is not that no one cares about Howe, people are emotionally exhausted with all this drama. The sooner this whole nightmare (the reign of terror of White and his minions) is over and we can get back to the business of educating children the better.
ReplyDeletePlease who ever is in charge down at the BOE make this end.
The local branch of the NAACP is submitting a plan to the State to serve as the new leader of Arlington. What are your thoughts about this?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theindychannel.com/education/28274129/detail.html
ReplyDeleteThe local branch of the NAACP is submitting a plan to the State to serve as the new leader of Arlington. What are your thoughts about this?
ReplyDeleteThe problem with this is they are not prepared as educators, what model are they planning on using? Joe Brown? Old School? This is a complex problem and as Mencken said "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."
Remember that at various times they tried to get rid of Greenwood and it was various organized groups in the black community that saved her job. This is what happens when you put race or any other factor in front of student success...
Also the spokeperson for the NAACP plan was Carol Craig, former IPS administrator.
ReplyDeleteCarole Craig was one of the best principals I ever worked for. We need more like her.
ReplyDeleteYet she is part of the old school group, nothing old school has worked there. Arlington needs a new approach; some decent marketing to let kids know what is offered in the classrooms is important to their future. Lots of social workers and teachers who can get into the neighborhoods and talk to the parents and get them on the schools side. And a few psychiatrist to help kids deal with their problems, let's stop calling what is going on their with kids a crime, and instead call it depression; when you have no hope for the future or interest in your own life that is what the rest of society would call it.
ReplyDeleteThe crime that has happened at Arlington is the crime of adults not putting kids first.
Carole Craig was the HR Director for years, sitting right there in the Ed Center and fully aware that Arlington was falling apart at the seams during the 20 years of Greenwood's regime. I don't trust the NAACP to do anything different than ever's been done at Arlington. Right now, the NAACP is on the wrong side of history by standing 'against' real reform and indirectly supporting the status quo. I don't believe the Indy Urban League thinks Carole Craig and her group of old-timers is prepared to operate a school. Arlington students need leadership that is not related in any shape, form, or fashion to the current IPS leadership.
ReplyDeleteI know some people here are anti charter school, but Arlington needs to look at schools such as Charles A. Tindley. They have been very successful with a similar population and what it took was discipline and hard work. The kids were too rowdy in the halls, so the teachers changed classrooms instead. They separated the sexes and have had success there too. It was exhausting for the teachers the first few years but it WORKED.
ReplyDeleteSo what you are saying is they didn't bother to teach the kids to be self disciplined, instead they adjusted the teachers behavior so the lack of discipline was not such a problem, and separating kids by gender, where in the real world does that happen...once again short term benefit for the school in terms of good test scores trumps long term benefit for the students, learning to control their own behavior, getting along with everyone regardless of gender, and how to stay focused and concentrate no matter who else is in the room.
ReplyDeleteHey, Tindley tried some different things and they're working. But, as noted, it took a few years. That's one of the problems with IPS and reform. It takes time. Donnan made AYP last year (in the 3rd year of a new principal and staff) and STILL we were made to change principals and 51% of staff. Yeah, kids first.
ReplyDelete@ so what you are saying...
ReplyDeleteI don't think your post is logical. First, you are insinuating that IPS teaches discipline better than Tindley, which they don't. So if neither school is successfully teaching discipline, and one of them is successfully teaching academics, isn't the one who is teaching academics doing better? Also, all discipline teaching and behavior modification techniques are "short term." That part doesn't make any sense at all. The whole point is you manipulate behavior with the hope that good behavior becomes a habit. You can use explanations, rewards, punishment, or countless varieties of environmental changes. (Didn't you learn this stuff in college?) Punishment is the least effective behavior modification technique for long-term results, so it makes sense that schools are trying to enforce more non-punitive policies.
Folks above, you can argue all you wish about charter schools vs. traditional schools; however, the point in question is Arlington and who is selected to clean it up.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that volunteers from community organizations can operate and turnaround a long-time dysfunctional high school like Arlington? How long will these volunteers have the commitment to stick with the job?
Do you really think that Carole Craig and the NAACP will offer anything new and different than what Jackie Greenwood offered for 20+ years?
"I know some people here are anti charter school."
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say all are anti-charter. But for every 1 great charter school there are hundreds of poor ones run like zoos that operate just to make a profit. I wouldn't wish the current regime's demise so soon having friends who work for "the state." Not looking forward to being micro-managed to death by "suits" who failed to get REAL teaching jobs so they hooked-up with a turn around outfit instead. That's no different than what we have now.
We are too busy allowing personal ideology to stand in the way of getting IPS students educated. Does it really matter if a school is a traditional public, a charter, private for-profit, private not-for-profit, if the school can provide a better education than what Arlington has offered for years and years?
ReplyDeleteWhy is the conversation just about Arlington? What about the kids at Manual . . . the kids at Howe . . . the kids at Northwest? Don't get me wrong, Arlington is a mess, and something needs to happen drastically there, but it seems that Arlington has become the focus.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the community group strategy is concerned, well, I guess it can't be worse than what is currently happening. However, I wouldn't sign on as a community group unless we had full authority. A negotiated contract with the district will just mean more of the same. I would also imagine that the "volunteers" would have to become "employees". There is no way one could launch this kind of reform and make it work as a volunteer. There isn't a model for that anywhere in the world. So, a better question to ask is are these retired citizens ready to unretire (I just made that word up)?
@So, a better question to ask is are these retired citizens ready to unretire (I just made that word up)?
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. Volunteers cannot accomplish the task; moreover, I have a sneaking idea the unspoken paid job aspect is driving part of this push from the NAACP. Before we know it, the NAACP will hire the same old folks/cronies who've been leading IPS into the ground. I can imagine that Jackie Greenwood will become the first paid consultant.
Check out the board report. Lots of folks getting raises. I thought IPS was in a financial crisis.
ReplyDeleteIPS is in a financial crisis when it relates to the schools and the people in them. The ed center and all Dr. White's buddies don't have to worry, they get all the money. What's left over goes to the schools, teachers and lastly to the students. children come first....my hiney.
ReplyDeleteAm I wrong, hasn't Carole Craig been a consultant for IPS since she retired?
ReplyDeleteLooks like everyone got a raise..what luck, and if you look at the rest of the report we are once again hiring Greg Abati, who caters a nice lunch, to consult for $120,000. Look him up on the web, one article in Teaching Tolerance in 1990, and that is it...what kind of expert is that? For only $100,000 I'd be willing to bring in fried chicken several times a year...nice guy, big waste of money.
ReplyDeleteHe also taught Special Education and at risk youth in Louisville, KY for about 30 years.
ReplyDeleteI see that Eugene White is still paying back his old mentor, Dr. Ann Grooms. Seems the School Board can always find some extra Title 1 money to keep Ann Grooms employed by IPS. Just last week at a special Board meeting, Ann was hired again to help put together the turnaround program for Arlington.
ReplyDelete__________________________________________
Agenda Item Details
Meeting Jun 21, 2011 - Board Briefing Session; June 21, 2011; 7:00 P.M. Category General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business Subject Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms) ***ACTION AT BRIEFING*** Type Action Fiscal Impact Yes Dollar Amount $ 17,707.00 Budgeted Yes Budget Source Title I Recommended Action I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve the payment of $17,707.00 to Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms) for external constultant services for Arlington Community School's Turnaround Improvement Plan, and work with the co-principals, administrative team and teachers. The total amount will be paid by Title I grant.
Presented By:
Dr. Willie Giles
Strategic Plan:
Eliminate Achievement Gaps
***ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT BRIEFING***
TOPIC: Request permission to pay Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms), an amount not to exceed $17,707 for consultant work with the co- principals and staff at Arlington Community School during the 2010-2011 school year.
Administrative Consideration
Dr. Grooms worked with the co-principals, administrative team and staff at Arlington Community School during the 2010 – 2011 school year to develop procedures and processes for changing the school’s culture, improving student management, and improving teachers and staff supervision. Dr. Grooms served as the external consultant for the development of the School’s Turnaround Improvement Plan that was presented at Dr. Bennett’s IDOE community meeting at Arlington on the evening of June 1, 2011. This is request is retroactive.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve the payment of $17,707 to Educational Services Institute (Dr. Ann Grooms) for external consultant services for Arlington Community School’s Turnaround Improvement Plan, and work with the co-principals, administrative team and teachers. The total amount will be paid by Title 1 grant.
IPS is selling school 64 for a mere $20,000. That is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteIt depends. Who is it being sold to? If it's being sold to a private buyer, it sounds like a crooked deal. The private market would bring a much higher price. But if it's being sold to another tax-funded department or service, then that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteTalk about doing the same thing over and over...What does Ann Grooms have to offer other than touting year round schools? Eugene just wants to keep tossing money her way. Time for some fresh meat!
ReplyDelete-------------------------------------------
ANN GROOMS:
Dr. Grooms is a total rip-off. She help Dr. White complete his dissertation. If the Indianapolis Star agrees to do a story about this person, I would go on the record say how much this is a rip-off. This person is horrible, but Kendrick loves her.
July 21, 2009
Anonymous said...
Ann Grooms' name appears in searches in the Cincinnati area. Kendrick did a work stint in that same area after her Anderson (IN) snafu as Superintendent.
Something sounds fishy about using Title 1 funds to pay a consultant who is going to help IPS principals with their portfolio development. Good grief, why can't principals do their own graduate work? Are they so intellectually lacking they are unable to complete their certification process without outside assistance?
July 21, 2009
Anonymous said...
Ann Grooms is the person who organized the very first year-round school conference in Arkansas back in 1969, a meeting whose featured speaker from the Kettering Foundation claims in a handwritten letter that he never attended that meeting. Was the keynote speaker at that meeting an impersonator, an imposter, an archangel? Only God knows.
Ann Grooms is an icon in the Year Around School movement. She would have public schools taking care of children from sun up to sun down 365 days a year if she had her way.
July 21, 2009
Anonymous said...
It takes State Representative John Barlett to talk about Dr. Grooms. Ask him about her. He will have you laughing.
--------------------------------------------
Ann Grooms did year round school conferences in 1969??? Excuse me, but that is 42 years ago! How old is this lady by now? We need "fresh" ideas, not old warmed over stuff.
School 64 was sold to a private company. Thomas Euclid Industries.
ReplyDeleteGreg Abati "also taught Special Education and at risk youth in Louisville, KY for about 30 years."
ReplyDeleteand there are plenty of people who have taught special ed to at risk youth in Indiana, and would be willing to pick up some Church's Chicken for a whole lot less that $120,000.
Noticed in the Board Agenda that 7 Lead Counselors have received new job titles. These 7 counselors are now called Guidance Directors with hefty four to five figure salary increases. Seriously, I thought there was a financial crisis!
ReplyDeleteMargaret Means has been promoted and received a $10,000 pay increase, also. By the way, she is Board member Mary Busch's sister. How nice to keep it in the family.
@Greg Abati "also taught Special Education and at risk youth in Louisville, KY for about 30 years."
ReplyDeleteAnd, that experience certainly does not qualify him to receive $120K. Abati is the 'expert from afar' like Jimmy Hill and his gang. All of them drive up from Kentucky to pad their pockets with Title 1 money. He's been feeding at the IPS trough for several years. Like Ann Grooms, he's not bringing any new ideas to the table. Just the same old, same old. But, that fried chicken sure is good.
Ann Grooms is 74 years old.
ReplyDeleteThey used to bring in Dr. Frank DeSensi who actually had wonderful ideas (four column method) and a track record of success, we'd all listen, take notes, and implement nothing. Even when the presentation has value no one in IPS has the ability to use the information.
ReplyDeleteI remember DeSensi. He, too, was from Kentucky. You're so on the mark about IPS bringing in good program consultants; however, once the consultant leaves town, nothing is implemented with fidelity. Everything appears to be done piecemeal with no real oversight or game plan. It's like decorating a Christmas tree...ooh, that's a pretty ornament, let's buy it and hang it on the tree.
ReplyDeleteThe inability and lack of a track record in implementing research-based programs with fidelity is the prime reason I'm convinced that IPS cannot and will not turnaround any high schools. Furthermore, because the volunteer community group who's wanting to turnaround Arlington is steeped in IPS dysfunctional tradition and culture, they too will be unable to effect a turnaround. We need a whole set of new faces, people who have not contributed one iota to IPS's failures.
"We need a whole set of new faces, people who have not contributed one iota to IPS's failures."
ReplyDeleteWhere are we going to ship in an entire school full of new teachers and administrators with no previous experience or ties to IPS. Not only does it seem unfair to the many positive forces in IPS, but it's not very practical either.
Re: "We need a whole set of new faces, people who have not contributed one iota to IPS's failures."
ReplyDeleteNot new teachers but a whole new set of administrators. Administrators are the instructional leaders, and evidently we've got a large number of leaders who've been doing the same things for years. It hasn't worked and won't work in the future. Good administrators can lift and bring vigor to the entire system. Teachers gladly will follow good administrators who know what they're doing, where they're headed with the district, and can impart their vision to the teachers. I'm a teacher; I'm begging for a set of good administrators. I don't care where they come from; just bring 'em on.
There comes a point in the administrative ranks where having 'too much experience with IPS and too many ties to the IPS community' is a liability for change. I'm speaking about the many IPS top-level administrators who appear to care more about how many jobs they can land for their community friends, their neighbors, and worst of all, their family members.
ReplyDelete"Carole Craig was one of the best principals I ever worked for. We need more like her."
ReplyDeleteWTF????? Whatever you're smoking, I'll take some of that too. She was one of the worst administrators to come down the pike. Played favoritism, hounded teachers she didn't like out of the system, had lax discipline at Marshall, and did a pretty incompetent job in HR. Being a mentor to Yvonne Rambo also speaks vlumes. She's exactly the sort of problem IPS can do without.
I need spell check on this thing, duh.
ReplyDeleteShould be,
"Being a mentor to Yvonne Rambo also speaks volumes." Sort of like venal teaching venal how to get better at it.
I'm all for getting rid of bloated and ineffective administration, but I think you're kidding yourself if you think replacing administrators would have a more positive impact than replacing about 15-20% of IPS teachers.
ReplyDeleteA good administrator can work wonders by having discipline in the building with a firm and fair treatment of the students, and by working with teachers who need help in reaching the higher levels. I've seen it a few times, not many perhaps, but it does happen now and then even in IPS.
ReplyDeleteRe: School 64 sold. The Euclid Machine Company (Thomas/Euclid Industries) is located about a block from the school. It would appear they could expand their business using the school building, which would be a good thing if it brings more jobs and generates more taxes for the area. Perhaps, as a community service, they want to purchase the building and lease it to a potential Charter school? Heck, for twenty grand, they might just raze the school and start over. Maybe they just want it for storage. According to governmentcontractswon.com, they received $12,254,288 worth of Defense contracts from 2002 to 2010, all but about $83,000 from 2002 through 2008. They're classified as "Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing".
ReplyDeleteGreat administrators are wonderful. Good teachers are better. Pick any IPS student at random and chances are you'll find that some years he/she has progressed more than a year and other years he/she has not. Then pick any teacher at random and chances are you'll find that the teacher has a pretty consistent rate of progression. If 50% of the teacher's students progressed a year this year, you'll find that rate is pretty consistent last year and the year before. The same thing with teachers who have classes where 90% progressed a year. The same thing with teachers with only 20% progressing a year. By cross referencing, it becomes immediately obvious that many IPS teachers are consistently and predictably bad. Yes, a good administrator would fire them or improve them. But good teachers don't need strong administrators to succeed. Only weak teachers need strong administrators.
ReplyDeleteYou have obviously never been to Arlington, when the wolf packs of 35 kids run the hall, looking for a target to beat...try teaching in a riot.
ReplyDeleteYou can still teach, but this makes it so much harder.
Your "they're animals" excuse only explains a very small percentage of students who consistently fail. It doesn't explain the much larger percentage who succeed with one teacher and fail with another. To explain those, you have to look at the teachers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dr. White. Yes. It has to be the teachers. It is not the parents or even the students themselves. Let's raise them all!
ReplyDeleteRe: "But good teachers don't need strong administrators to succeed. Only weak teachers need strong administrators."
ReplyDeleteOk. Fine. Then do not hand me your dress code and reprimand me becuase Timmy refuses to comply.
"a very small percentage of students who consistently fail"
ReplyDeleteThen how would you explain Arlington's (and IPS's) low graduation rate? A few years ago we were number three in the country for young black men dropping out, and a stellar number one for young white men. We've allegedly fixed this problem, but the fix looks like a new way of manipulating the numbers not bigger graduating classes.
"Your "they're animals" excuse....."
ReplyDeleteSay what??? No one called them animals. It sounds more like you're getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions. The only thing remotely linking animals here was the comment "You have obviously never been to Arlington, when the wolf packs of 35 kids run the hall, looking for a target to beat." That describes the behavior of gang mentality and is apt for the situation. You want to know why a large number fail? Check to see who holds their feet to the fire to do some serious work; that'll be the one with the high failure rate. When we've got less than 15% of the graduating students not college ready, and a lot more than that passing the course work, something doesn't smell right.
13% pass the GQE, not one kid took and passed an advanced level class, but 66% graduate...fishy smell alright.
ReplyDeletehttp://compass.doe.in.gov/Dashboard.aspx?view=SCHOOL&val=5465&desc=Arlington%20Community%20High%20School
I don't think the kids are animals, but have worked for a fair share of administrators who are asses.
ReplyDelete"You want to know why a large number fail? Check to see who holds their feet to the fire to do some serious work; that'll be the one with the high failure rate."
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!
6.7% Pass both exams, 57% graduate.
ReplyDeletehttp://compass.doe.in.gov/Dashboard.aspx?view=SCHOOL&val=5483&desc=Northwest High School
Heh, good job Larry(aka George Jefferson) Yarrell. Your lying, back stabbing, and yelling did a lot of good, didn't it? And just think folks, for that success, he gets a pay raise and a larger school to screw up. And more teachers to screw over.
This is getting old. Many teachers at Arlington do just fine with the pack of wolves or whatever you want to call children to dehumanize so you don't feel guilty for robbing them of an education with your inadequacy. The fact that you don't do fine with them says more about you than the students. A handful of teachers like you results in students with fragmented educations, which is why they end up ill-prepared to graduate. You have to remember, I'm an IPS teacher too. Do you ever wonder what the other teachers are doing? The teachers who seem to like working at Arlington and seem to have a knack for getting kids to behave and enjoy learning. Or do you refuse to acknowledge that such classrooms exist in IPS?
ReplyDelete@ This is getting old.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew which post you're responding to, but it looks like no one is calling the "children" wolves, someone said they roam the hallways like a pack of wolves. I hesitate to call them children, as they're past that stage and becoming young adults.
Maybe there are some good things happening there, but the overall outlook seems to be dismal given the standardized exams there. Roughly 1 out of 8 pass the GQE, and 2 out of 3 graduate? That sounds like more than fragmented education, it sounds like lack of it. Are you saying the reports of widespread discipline issues at Arlington are bogus? That only a handful of teachers are having trouble getting students to comply? It would look like the only teachers having trouble there are the math and LA teachers, and everyone else is doing just fine, thank you very much.
http://youtu.be/FxZcM3I3l-0
ReplyDelete4 minutes 38 seconds of "Chillin in the Hallway During Class" and if you check out the video directors collection you will see what goes on in the classrooms...and it is Arlington High School Indianapolis.
Dear Administrator...Why don't you watch Dr. Phil, he has some Life Laws Number 4: You cannot change what you do not acknowledge. Just because there isn't a discipline problem in your office and teachers have become so used to the wild out of control behavior in the halls doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Here is a hint, wait until a bell rings, go out in the hall, stay out there until a second bell rings, about five minutes, then stay until all the kids finally exit the hall and go to class.
ReplyDeleteI didn't say there wasn't a discipline problem at Arlington. I said good teachers can and do overcome that. You're saying there are only a few good teachers at Arlington that are capable of doing that; I think the number is higher than that, but regardless, I think the root of the discipline problem is the adversarial dynamic between the students/parents/community and the teachers. That has always caused and will always cause discipline problems in the school, regardless of the "sides" (suburban/urban/rural, affluent/poor, white/black, secular/religious, old/young, tradition/modern, etc.)
ReplyDelete"adversarial dynamic"
ReplyDeleteThat's a good descriptor :-) Too many students don't want to be there and they want to drag everyone else down to their level. It's too bad it'll take them twenty years to figure out what they did wrong, and in the mean time everyone has to suffer for their ill-considered behaviors.
I certainly hope you're wrong. Hopefully we get more teachers in there who are better with city kids. Between the takeover and the expanded school choice, I really hope the kids are able to escape the damage done by adults who are supposed to know better. Why bother with education programs in colleges if we allow teachers to ignore the things proven to work in favor of things proven not to work. It's just such a tragic, heartbreaking waste of resources. How do teachers who think like you ever get hired in the first place?! Surely you weren't honest about your opinions, which makes me think you know how wrong you are!
ReplyDeleteShe probably was honest. She posts to the Star and has a Facebook page complaining about how bad IPS kids are. I disagree, I don't think she knows how wrong or dangerous she is. But regardless, I agree that some of the reforms will weed out her and teachers like her and get some competent people in these schools. I know they exist because I've seen them and talked to them. But they're outnumbered by bitter, ineffective teachers. I agree it's both tragic and heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteHow many good teachers were laid off this year so that teachers like this can keep their jobs? Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteJust saw that our weenie board turned down the opportunity to merge our police force with IMPD. Too bad. Indianapolis is short of officers, and we've lost too many of our best and brightest. I'm concerned for all involved. Our children need the positive protection provided by a visible and proactive law enforcement community, both while in and out of school.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking about the 'weenie' IPS Board, did you ever think about our Board president? Here's a nice enough lady who likely has good intentions, but her sole business experience comes from being an airline reservationist. IPS has a 1/2 billion dollar budget ($.5 billion) and the president of our Board is a retired airline reservation clerk! And, we wonder why the Board defers to the Superintendent. The Board is clueless and doesn't have an iota of experience in managing a mega budget for an organization.
ReplyDeleteCan't we all just get along?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rodney King.
ReplyDelete"I certainly hope you're wrong."
ReplyDeleteWould you mind doing everyone a favor and referencing your remarks so we can follow what you're saying and who you are referring to. I can ofer this suggestion to one of your questions, "How do teachers who think like you ever get hired in the first place?!" It was probably under the reign of Queen Carole Craig when she was in charge of HR and responsible for the hiring decisions. It made a lot of sense for an incompetent racist administrator to be placed in a position of far sweeping responsibility. Even though she is gone, her toxins live on, and it concerns me that she is still active in and around the system.
It's obvious it was a reply to the post directly above it. I have a hard time believing Carole Craig would be responsible for hiring a racist white lady to teach inner city kids, but I suppose stranger things have happened.
ReplyDeleteI'm none of the above. I must be out of the loop here or missing something bigtime. The post with "I certainly hope you're wrong" doesn't look like it's answer to the one above it. One is talking about students and the other is about teachers. I'm lost about the part of Carole Craig hiring a racist white lady. I've heard various stories over the years about her favoritisms and lack of control at Marshall, and general cluelessness in HR. BTW, she had a federal EEOE discrimination complaint filed against her by a subordinate a few years ago but I don't know how that was resolved. This blog needs a better way to track replies.
ReplyDeleteRead the lightening bolt..... we may have no increment raises next year.
ReplyDeleteOMG, that means I will have to cancel the order for the new BMW and the purchase of my small villa in Naples. Life is so unfair.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in facts, read SB 575
ReplyDeleteIndiana state bill #575
I was under the impression from reading the bills current contracts were suppose to still be inforced until they expire or renegotiated. That increments could not be negotiated into new contracts.
ReplyDeleteCurrent ones in effect were to be inforced. IPS though does not pay attention to law or and apparently is hoping our union and staff role over for this one. Instead of negotiating a new one (as they should have been doing all year) they are going to do what they want!
inforced? No, possibly, in force, the first time, then enforced the second.
ReplyDeleteI bet you pay auto and home ensurance.
Looks like our students aren't the only IPS population suffering from Summer Learning Slump.
@If you are interested in facts, read SB 575
ReplyDeleteIndiana state bill #575
If you were truly concerned, you would have attended the IEA meetings to become forewarned.
I am sure glad the gram and spelling police are here!
ReplyDeleteOtherwise I would not have known that my cell phone (when doing from there) does i and e wrong.
Thank you! What would the world do without people like you constantly correcting us low life individuals!
You know individuals like JFK and Einstein would have gotten no where with people like you. They had learning disabilities and were able to have knowledge that furthered others. In your world they would have been trash collectors because of poor writing skills.
This was a typo on my cell phones fault but just wanted to make a point. Oops! Might have done it again!
I attended IEA meetings (with the AR at my school) and they said current laws and contracts would be first. Until new contracts were signed. Guess, the home office should have made them more aware!
The post above is correct, that is why IEA has put the matter in the hands of the attorney to file the correct legal against IPS. Thank God for IEA holding IPS's feet to the fire, Dr. White needs to retire.
ReplyDeleteDon't you mean EIA?
ReplyDeleteIndianapolis Education Association which is the union for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS).
ReplyDeleteRemember IPS does not play fair and has no sense of honor or morals. That is why DOE will take IPS apart until nothing is left, and the "Bobble Heads" will just keep on bobbing to running twenty schools, nope they will be outsourced to the townships schools
ReplyDeleteInteresting piece on corruption in charter schools on NPR...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/2011/06/27/137444337/what-happens-when-charter-schools-fail
listen and see how much also applies to IPS, nepotism...unqualified people in charge...money diverted to benefit adults not kids.... corruption...kids who don't do well.
"Thank you Linda Davis! Very smart woman who surrounds herself with professionals who do their jobs plus! Now, all you haters of BRMHS, keep on hating as WE are only going to get better!"
ReplyDeleteI agree! Linda Davis does surround herself with professionals who do their jobs plus. The majority of the faculty members are wonderful, professional, caring, and intelligent. BUT she also surrounds herself with people who are seasoned hind-end kissers. And that, indeed, is also smart as they help her keep her position on the throne.
The biggest problem at your school sits in the main office. I won't stoop to the name calling. It isn't necessary. The truth tells the tale. The climate at Broad Ripple is very negative. The students feel that the administrators are out to get them, and that is the reality. The kids are not wrong. It is not "children first" at Broad Ripple. It is "Make us LOOK good" at Broad Ripple. And THAT is harming children.
Broad Ripple parents: Your children deserve to be served by ALL of the adults in that building. And the service should be from not only the teachers and support staff, but from the administrative leaders as well. Right now, to administration, your children are nothing but State ID numbers and ISTEP scores. Get some administrators who care as much about the students in the school as the teachers do, and your children will excel and the school will become the world class school it was supposed to be!
Me taking courses at Americann National University to be made a teacher in english, their I will show you older donnot careless teachers how to helped the childes. I have applyied to be a teacher with Doctore Bennett in turened arounded schools. You shoulded be ashamed of yur unloved of the childes.
ReplyDeleteWho are you even mocking? American National University? Dr. Bennett? I've seen you do this before to make fun of IPS students and charter school teachers. Why play silly games? We git it. You're against reform. But you don't make Bennett look bad when you post stuff like this. You make IPS teachers look bad. I wish you'd stop.
ReplyDelete"you make IPS teachers look bad."
ReplyDeleteI think that's probably the point. I know it's a dead horse trying to figure out who posts these things. But I disagree with those who think it's a teacher or an ex-principal. I think it's someone from a charter school or private school who posts these things to try to "prove" how pathetic IPS teachers are and how insecure they are about reform.
Maybe the poster who wrote "me taking courses" wasn't a real IPS teacher, but many "pathetic" comments are indeed from real IPS teachers. Some post the same types of comments under their real names on Facebook and send letters to the Star. They really don't seem to know they're pathetic.
ReplyDelete"We git it."
ReplyDeleteGet?
Why play silly games?
FYI, the new No-Texting-While-Driving law will be enforced beginning Friday, July 1. Fines can range up to $500.
"You're against reform. But you don't make Bennett look bad when you post stuff like this."
ReplyDeleteHere's some reform for you. Has anyone heard that there will be NO teacher incremental pay after this year? All raises will be based on "evaluations." They always tell you not to get your masters early because the pay won't kick in till about 15 years of service. Let's say you have 12 years in... you may never get compensated for your masters degree. I could see the district/corporate HQ just saying, "You meet all criteria based on your evaluation but we just don't have the money for it....too bad" Too bad for y'all with less than 25 years.
I don't understand how without a new contract IPS can refuse to pay the Step increment. I have been teaching too long to get one for about 7 years now. But I understand how that helps the younger teachers out since we get a pittance of a raise, if any at all. I was really looking forward to completing my 20th year of teaching and getting that increment.
ReplyDeleteI guess my "lavish" benefits will have to cover for me. Oh yeah, since I have a pension I won't get my Social Security benefits...gotta love this state.
Who told you that you don't get Social Security benefits. the earliest that you can get them is 62, but each paycheck you pay into Social Security. You need to go online and request a current statement, that will show you what you should be getting. Who told you that you will not get Social Security?
ReplyDeleteThe union may have let the contract lapse leaving the school corporation an opportunity to take advantage of a loophole in the law,
ReplyDeleteI'm not a teacher, but in other professions with pensions, if you pay into the pension, you don't pay into Social Security, and therefore, you're not eligible for Social Security. But if you're paying into Social Security, you should be eligible to collect it.
ReplyDeleteAlso to the person above claiming that there will be no teacher incremental pay raises, can you cite a source or provide a link?
@ I'm not a teacher, I believe you are mistaken. Social Security isn't a retire program, it's more of a public insurance program, to cover you if you need it. Very few people are exempt from paying Social Security tax and paying SS taxes doesn't guarantee you'll be eligible for SS benefits. It depends on how much you you get from your pension.
ReplyDeleteI also haven't heard anything about changes to incremental pay raises in this district or any other district. The merit legislation that went through only took away step increases for teachers who were evaluated as "improvement necessary" or "ineffective."
The union may have let the contract lapse leaving the school corporation an opportunity to take advantage of a loophole in the law
ReplyDeleteWTF...it wasn't the union...it was IPS, If they don't reach an agreement the union has nothing to take to the membership for ratification...no agreement no ratification.
Also in some states teachers do not pay into social security, so they are not eligible, for teachers in Indiana there is some cut in social security based on teacher retirement payments.
"to the person above claiming that there will be no teacher incremental pay raises, can you cite a source or provide a link?"
ReplyDeleteI hate to be the bearer of bad news... we've had enough, but that was one of the laws passed. There will be no pay raises without yearly evaluations. My principal will be evaluating all day while the kids run the building I guess.Or maybe a "weed checker" will do the evals for her. Principals were told that this was the last year for incremental pay and that further pay increases would be based on some evaluation procedures. Being strapped for cash I could see a district evaluation saying, "passed all requirements...if we were giving out a raise...you would qualify, but we don't have the money honey." Bet teachers and working people vote differently next election.
The above poster is simply fearmongering. Check the legislation yourself. Incremental pay raises are not being abolished unless you get a bad evaluation. If you don't have a bad evaluation, you still get a raise. Regardless of who you vote for.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that the district will determine how much money is in the pot for pay raises and tell administrators how many raises they can give, they will put everyone on a continuum and decide the cut off for raises....at most schools the principal's friends will get raises... everyone else forget it...we have seen this type of favoritism in the past, what makes anyone think this won't happen with this system.
ReplyDeleteSince the new teacher evaluation was "borrowed" from DC's impact system...perhaps they should adopt DC's plan of independent evaluators.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/education/28evals.html?_r=1
Of one thing I feel sure—history will not be kind to those who gleefully attacked teachers, sought to fire them based on inaccurate measures, and worked zealously to reduce their status and compensation. It will not admire the effort to insert business values into the work of educating children and shaping their minds, dreams, and character. It will not forgive those who forgot the civic, democratic purposes of our schools nor those who chipped away at the public square. Nor will it speak well of those who put the quest for gain over the needs of children. Nor will it lionize those who worshipped data and believed passionately in carrots and sticks. Those who will live forever in the minds of future generations are the ones who stood up against the powerful on behalf of children, who demanded that every child receive the best possible education, the education that the most fortunate parents would want for their own children.
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/2011/06/reasons_for_hope.html#recommend
I disagree. I teach both history and economics, and I think the future will be baffled that we ever had the current system in the first place. It defies both history and economics. A government run education monopoly contracted with unionized teachers was destined for failure. There are no incentives to serve the clients, whether you view the clients as children, parents, or taxpayers. I know change is scary, but I predict the advances in education in the next 20 years will be drastic and rapid, similar to advances in other competitive industries (technology, medicine, marketing, etc.)
ReplyDeleteIt's called Windfall Elimination Program or something like that. WEP. People with pensions even though they have paid their money into Social Security don't get either any or as much due to WEP. KY has it too. Of course by the time we get to retire at 67 there probably won't even be Social Security.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the current Lightning Bolt on your Groupwise e-mail it talks about how IPS won't be honoring our contract and giving us the steps.
Pensions will only affect your SS benefits if you draw SS early. If you wait until your full retirement age, you will not notice the change. Pensions are handle like you are working and are considered income, so it only affects SS if you draw early.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't even affect SS as a pension is unearned income and the limit on SS is only earned income.
ReplyDeleteIndiana is not a GPO (government pension offset) or WEP (winfall elimination) state. That is a relief!
ReplyDeleteBut go to :
www.nea.org/home/17760.htm
to read some stories of people who are losing 2/3 of their SS benefits.
Let's hope Mitch and Tony don't find a way to cheat us too.
"A government run education monopoly contracted with unionized teachers was destined for failure."
ReplyDeleteOur police force is run by the government and they are a union. Do you think that system has failed us? What I see is a government that cannot fix the ills of society that educators face so they then in turn create a diversion by condemning the teachers, thus handing over public dollars to corporate special interests. They also will not be able to solve these ills, but if they pick and choose the students who will pass and scale back salaries like any corporation they will call what they do successful. Look what Mitch has done to Indiana. I would hardly call what he has done an economic boom but he HAS cut state wages. However even privatization of welfare services backfired on the state.I think in the future we'll look at this bubble- sheet testing craze, where we send dollars to test makers and we number crunch all day and realize, "What were they thinking back then about servicing kids and learning?"
There are no incentives to serve the clients, whether you view the clients as children, parents, or taxpayers. I know change is scary, but I predict the advances in education in the next 20 years will be drastic and rapid, similar to advances in other competitive industries (technology, medicine, marketing, etc.)
ReplyDeleteYou know so little about what motivates people...read Drive (Daniel Pink), there are so many motivational factors besides MONEY AND PROFIT.
If you feel this way perhaps you should get out of teaching and go visit the Watts Towers.
police, military, firemen, etc. are skilled tradespeople, not professionals. If you watch 100 fireman handle the same type of fire, they will do things almost identically. If you watch a 100 professionals (teachers, lawyers, doctors, marketing execs, investors, etc.) handle the same case, they will do things differently and have completely varying results. Unions keep us from being able to learn from the experts in the field. Instead, we treat teaching like a trade, like there is no difference between them, like they are interchangeable because they all perform the same task in the same way, like an electrician or a fireman. This hurts the teaching profession as well as severely limits the potential of education. Competition spurs innovation and advancement. Lack of competition inhibits innovation or advancement. If you can tell me one major advancement or invitation in any unionized industry, I'd love to hear it.
ReplyDelete"Competition spurs innovation and advancement."
ReplyDeleteThen explain to me why Direct TV, Dish Network, Brighthouse, AT&T and Comcast have the worst consumer complaints of any industry? They are all over priced, deliver an awful product and have the worst customer service anywhere. They practice collusion and have everyone over a barrel. We pay MORE for less. I get so tired of hearing this talk radio tripe about "competition." There is no competition, it's just a facade created to look like you are getting your money's worth. The little guy pays for the big guy's mistakes.
"If you can tell me one major advancement or invitation in any unionized industry, I'd love to hear it."
ReplyDeleteIrsay, Manning and the Colts. I'd trade places with any of them as would most. It's obviously a pretty good deal for all of them. Plus the NFL owners practice shared revenue which is basically socialism and goes against the corporate hoo-ha we get from the usual "experts" in the field of what makes America tick.
I believe that the decline of unions is why so many are on welfare. Good jobs at fair wages don't exist. They try to pay you Mexico wages while you owe Meridian-Kessler utility bills.
I don't think you understood the question. The Colts haven't advanced the profession of football or innovated sports in any way. They also make money based on a value established by the private market. Nobody is forced to buy tickets and if enough people stopped attending games, the state would stop subsidizing the Colts. And your comment about unions and welfare shows that you don't understand economics. Until small businesses are allowed to collectively bargain (that's called a cartel or monopoly and its completely illegal), then unions will hurt the economy because they favor large corporations over small businesses and entrepreneurs.
ReplyDeleteUnions are in bed with the government and corporations, but they're losing popularity. The Internet has really helped reveal a lot of the waste and corruption in this unholy trinity. I think the unions and liberalism peaked in the mid 20th century, but I think it's been on the decline. I think capitalism, individualism, and libertarianism will continue to trend in the next several decades, as much out of necessity as anything else. As the economy becomes more global, it's unsustainable for the U.S. to keep inflating our economy. We have to drastically cut spending. Everybody knows this -- Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle belongs to a union and he isn't allowed to work too hard or too fast. He takes books to read and crossword puzzles to work because he meets the goal in only a few hours and has nothing to do the rest of his shift. He's not lazy. He'd gladly do twice the work, but he's not a allowed in a union job and a non-union job would pay half. That's great for him (to do half the work for twice the pay) but as someone whose taxes pay for government contracts with unions, I think it's awful. Most occupations can't unionize, so why should those people have to pay for unions.
ReplyDelete