By Antonio D. French
Filed Saturday, September 2 at 11:56 AM
This letter was submitted to the Post-Dispatch by school board members Veronica O'Brien, Bill Purdy, Donna Jones, and Peter Downs in hopes it would be considered for publication on Sunday, September 3. They requested the editors give it prominence equal to that of their editorial "Children!" published on August 27.
While the Post-Dispatch editors were composing a demeaning editorial on the performance of the new majority that gained control of the St. Louis School Board in April from a former majority which was strongly influenced by the Black Leadership Roundtable and financially backed by Mayor Francis Slay, a true turnaround was taking place in the schools. It is one that is being designed to bring lasting and broadening reform, stability and academic gains for children.
A seasoned and experienced professional team of former Missouri Superintendents and former supervisors from the Missouri State Department of Education was assembled in late July after the full extent became known of the emergency created by the former majority and a succession of four superintendents it had hired starting in June of 2003 The prospects for the year starting August 28 were bleak.
Schools scheduled for reconstitution and reconfiguration had not been finally designed and checked for suitability in terms of capacity and conditions. The credentials had not been reviewed of many of the 1,000 teachers who were being considered for qualification under the former superintendent's criteria. Thousands of teachers had not been assigned to schools.
Several thousands of students did not know where they would be going to school, who their classmates would be or who will be their teachers. There was no plan to cut back reliance on unqualified substitute teachers and several principalships were open. Textbooks and supplies had not been ordered. Transportation schedules did not exist.
Professional development activities for all teachers scheduled to begin on August 16 had not been planned. The new small high school of the future at Carnahan existed only on paper. Property from Cleveland High School had not been moved to the new home at Pruitt.
Working on a crash basis, the new administration, supported by a majority of the school board accomplished these and many other tasks helped greatly by many former employees who returned to the system after having taken early retirement.
Hundreds of staffs and parents volunteered their time at three back to school rallies' and pitched in to help increase third day student attendance to a recent record high of 87 percent and schools were clean and functional.
We want to thank community members, some in the media, the parents, students and professional staff of the school district for the warm and friendly display of confidence being shown in the St. Louis School District. We especially want to thank Famous Barr Macy's, our newest partner for working with the district by taking kids on field trips, planting trees and much more.
The education of children must always be the focus of all of us. It is not about the adults. It is all about children!
School Board President Veronica O'Brien
School Board Vice-Pres. Bill Purdy
School Board Member Donna Jones
School Board Member Peter Downs
41 Comments:
Here's to a monumental job well done! Our schools haven't looked this clean and ready for students in years. Had Williams not resigned, there would have been the same chaos we had in summer school facing us for the regular school year. We would also have had another year of our students losing ground academically. This Board and Administration is our ACTUAL last best hope, not the IMAGE of our last best hope which just left town with Mr. Glad Hander.
Saturday, September 02, 2006 12:50:00 PM
I would be surprised, even shocked, if the pd does not print the letter tomorrow.
But it is hard to underestimate just how poorly the media response and coverage will be.
I am a nobody, with no axe to grind---just a former teacher from an outer district observing. Some unanswered questions:
1.Whatever happened to the lawsuit to remove Purdy---oh yeah---several hours after it was posted here, there was a 4 a.m. report on kmox, and a small article in the 3rd page of the metro section of the pd.
2.Did Floyd Irons experience a significant medical problem, or is he teaching history? It was a big deal a month ago about whether he had been fired from the classroom.Zero follow-up.
3.According to a board member, this was the first time in three years that 1st day attendance was reported, and the media clobbered the schools with it. Second day was 84, 3rd day was 87, what about days 4 and 5 and what was the week's average---compared to a year ago?
4.I have been wondering what the status of the Timothy Bacon execution investigation was, and why O'Brien and Bourisaw are taking such hits for the immediate vote of 20,000 dollars for security. Helen Louise posted something which made me wonder if Bourisaw decided it was better to say little in explanation of the security vote,just to help defuse the issue.
5.Another issue--it is for another day, and maybe I am in no way qualified to ask it---but I have wondered about the effect of replacing a black man with a white woman. I am starting to get vibes along the lines of the nitty gritty daily work of education is done in a very large part by women. I wonder if there is a widespread hope of better understanding of some problems on the part of the female portion of the workforce.
Saturday, September 02, 2006 1:46:00 PM
Number 5 is the most bizarre statement that I have heard in a long time. If you are saying that black men cannot educate children as well as white women or any color woman... then where is the outrage? Come on people! This is insane.
Saturday, September 02, 2006 3:48:00 PM
I should have known better.
I actually thank you for your outraged reaction. It tells me to try to think more clearly.
My original thought about Bourisaw's hiring was----won't there be a lot of hostile reaction?
I have not seen it from teachers. Maybe it exists. What I was trying to say, was that---let's just say I meant well---there are so many legendary black men and women educators that it would be inconceivable to assert that "that black men cannot educate children as well as white women or any color woman"..... that is not what I meant, and I apologize.
Saturday, September 02, 2006 4:53:00 PM
OK, that is not what you meant. What did you mean? It sure sounds like an outrageous idea. But, what I find more outrageous is that no one else is outraged. Obviously I misunderstand.
If you have answers to the other questions in your post, please let me know. There has been too much rhetoric. Someone has to say enough!
By the way, I am outraged at myself for forgetting to sign the first post-
TimR
Saturday, September 02, 2006 8:05:00 PM
Spiro, the word is Irons is ill from the fact that his wrong doing has caught up with him. As we all have noticed he went away after someone executed Bacon who was badly beaten by Irons and picked on by Irons brother, the one that set up Father Nutt. Sad it runs in the family. People are saying no one wants him at their school and parents don't want him around their kids. It seems the security issue was addressed due to threats to O'Brien. Lot of whispers about the stir Irons and friend Dj are causing. Some say Irons is getting his gang friends to do the dirty work.
Saturday, September 02, 2006 11:00:00 PM
Thought I'd chime in...I am a 5th year teacher in the district. I am a white male. I supported the Williams regime and was upset by his ouster. HOWEVER-- when O'Brien made the comment that the reasons for Williams' departure would be clear soon enough, I think I'm seeing it after the first week.
There was SERIOUS mad scramble to get things done and in place for Week 1. The PD Letter was right on in everything it said and THAT might have been the reason why Williams was asked to leave. There are still things that they are working on....still getting in place. However, as a teacher, if I am prepared for DAY #1 the way I know I should be prepared for Day #1, my students will not necessarily see the difference (therefore PARENTS you have NO reason not to have your kid in school on the first day!).
As for spiro's #5, we ALL need to leave race & sex out of it! In the first week, I feel I connnected best with my students because I showed them that I cared, that I related....but, yet, I made it clear in no-uncertain terms that I was going to hold them accountable. You don't have to be a black female to do that...you don't have to be BLACK. You have to be a person with a compassionate soul and a strong will--nothing more.
Success will only happen if everyone gets off their asses and laces up the boot strings and gets the job done. I see it as simply as that.
Saturday, September 02, 2006 11:17:00 PM
I certainly agree with that last statement. Anon at the STROKE of midnight- I would say something about you putting information into your patented "Peter Downs Fact Checker" and all of the poop that spews out from the other end of it... But, we are all trying to be grownups here, so I will not say that. Try out the truth. It will set you free.
TimR
Sunday, September 03, 2006 6:40:00 AM
TimR, well stated, "Try out the truth and it will set you free." Now why not practice it by recognizing people who work in the district are trying to get the truth out and people like you often ignore it or deny it.
Sunday, September 03, 2006 7:56:00 AM
Reread 12:00's post and tell me what it spurious conjecture and what is fact. If you know the facts, by all means, let them be known. Also, since so many nonfacts are thrown about, sources please. All that I am asking is that someone start acting like a grown up. Has to start somewhere.
TimR
Sunday, September 03, 2006 9:50:00 AM
"I would be surprised, even shocked, if the pd does not print the letter tomorrow"
Wow. I am shocked.
I am going to try explaining my unfortunate number five again.
A lot of people note that Jose Oquendo is an important figure on the Cardinals, because he
is a coach who relates well to the latin players.
Some would say, it does not matter what the ethnic background of the players are, or the coaches, they are just people who want to win ball games. Leave that ethnic and racial stuff out.
I don't know what the exact percentages are of the slps staff regarding race and ethnicity. I assumed, maybe incorrectly, that it has been important to have a black superintendent because he would have a deeper understanding and empathy for the people he is serving, or supervising on a daily basis.
When he was replaced by Bourisaw, I thought there would be a negative reaction because of this no longer being the case.
"As for spiro's #5, we ALL need to leave race & sex out of it! In the first week, I feel I connnected best with my students because I showed them that I cared"
This is great---the way it should be. And it is the attitude I have seen from teachers---whose viewpoints are not widely reported in the media.
I was speculating that the kind of extra sensitivity I spoke of regarding Oquendo, or black superintendants might be a factor with regard to the very substantial female percentage of the staff----they have never had a female superintendent. I did not say it was so, I just wondered.
For what it is worth, I think these kind of issues and considerations will be present as we choose a new president, at least in the nominating process of the democratic party. I have a feeling the republicans will stick with the traditional white male. I kind of like Obama.
Sunday, September 03, 2006 9:53:00 AM
Inspecteur Clouseau ici: Et moi, I like Condoleeza Rice. Eh bien! Let the games begin.
Sunday, September 03, 2006 11:36:00 AM
Is Giegerich on Slay's payroll?
Sunday, September 03, 2006 12:32:00 PM
TimR states, "I would say something about you putting information into your patented "Peter Downs Fact Checker" and all of the poop that spews out from the other end of it... But, we are all trying to be grownups here, so I will not say that. Try out the truth. It will set you free."
What grownup speaks of "poop" like Mr. TimR? Evidently, he prefers the "poop" coming out of City Hall and its supporters. With grownups like this, might as well shut down Internet blogs. Here's a guy who never gives any facts but just criticizes those who attempt to get a wee bit of the truth out there.
Surely, he understands politics and the games people play. Or perhaps he doesn't.
Sunday, September 03, 2006 1:01:00 PM
How odd that responses to a letter - stating the good done for the children - should become grist for some adults writing as though they themselves were children.
Let me move on: Cleveland moved into Pruitt with precious little 801 intervention. Programs were ready, classes began on time, the cadets were in uniform, the first week has been a success. Dr. Bourisaw, Mrs. O'Brien, Mr. Prudy, Mrs. Jones and Mr. Downs actively support the efforts of parents, students and teachers.
Dr Bourisaw, student-centerd members of the Board, parents and students - all deserve a pat on the back for a year well begun. Let it end on such a up-beat note.
After 35+ years teaching for SLPS, the new spirit, committment and direction clearly show.
Sunday, September 03, 2006 2:19:00 PM
Philos, let me get this straight. You are offended by my lack of a potty mouth? Wow, how jaded have you become? Truth be known, I can curse with the worst of them. I have a three year old and am actively trying to control my language. You might want to try it. It is refreshing.
Spiro, Jose has worked harder than any man in baseball and your analogy still does not work... for me at least. Everyone else is giving you a pass on the sexist comment.
Anon 3:19PM you are right and I am sorry that I was wallowing in the muck. My apologies.
Anon 12:17am Thank you for teaching.
Inspector, you want to rent a set and talk about foul language?
TimR
Sunday, September 03, 2006 7:04:00 PM
Spiro, I heard whispers about possible backlash against Bourisaw and racist implications (not so much sexist) when her appointment was first announced. I am glad those never really panned out. Ironically, I think it was the O'Brien/Irons thing that overshadowed it.
Monday, September 04, 2006 5:05:00 AM
Oh yeah, TimR is right. While there are more women than men in the SLPS, I would not say that one group does more work than the other. The amount of work performed varies widely by individual, but not along gender lines.
Monday, September 04, 2006 5:09:00 AM
Anon (9/3@3:19):
Now, let's get the Castle back in shape so the cadets can come home.
Monday, September 04, 2006 2:10:00 PM
'the nitty gritty daily work of education is done in a very large part by women."
uh, oh. that does sound bad. Maybe I am getting a clue.
jim h. said...
Oh yeah, TimR is right. While there are more women than men in the SLPS, I would not say that one group does more work than the other. The amount of work performed varies widely by individual, but not along gender lines.
ok. I will try it this way. Suppose there are 10,000 educational tasks to be completed by 100 teachers. Everyone carries the load equally. There are 65 female teachers, and 35 male teachers. The women would complete 6500 tasks, and the men would complete 3500. Individuals vary, but I believe the genders do an equally effective job.
100 tasks each---on a good day, that might take you all the way to lunch.
Monday, September 04, 2006 2:37:00 PM
I was writing a letter to Steve Giegerich---I thought some of his reporting had been good---I thought I noticed a change in tone and direction---I stopped in the middle of a sentence to look up something in which I thought he had been more responsible than others-------everything in the pd archives written by Giegerich between July 12 and August 27th was gone.
I did a search for Timothy Bacon. no results.
No stories remain between August 16 and August 28 regarding Veronica O'Brien.
Monday, September 04, 2006 2:52:00 PM
Here are two Giegerich articles missing from the archives:
Election led to downfall in city schools
By Steve Giegerich
part of this article:
The new board setup spelled trouble almost immediately for Williams, who did little to conceal his support for the two incumbents who lost their seats.
The incumbents' $173,000 war chest - seven times that of their opponents - furthered the notion that Williams had sided with the city's business and political establishment rather than rank-and-file teachers. Clinkscale and Buford also had the backing of Mayor Francis Slay.
Byron Clemens, vice president of the teachers' union, which backed the challengers, was surprised that Williams didn't distance himself from the election.
"I had not seen anyone politicize the office like that before," Clemens said.
On Friday, the clash that started to build months ago came to a head. Four of the seven board members forced Williams' resignation.
Afterward, the district's attorney told the board not to discuss the circumstances that led to the resignation.
Two of Williams' supporters, Ron Jackson and Robert Archibald, say they have no problem obeying the order because they've yet to be informed why Williams was pushed out.
Others - notably O'Brien and William Purdy, the board's vice president - have offered few details. O'Brien has said only that several factors contributed to Williams' resignation, including data uncovered in an audit by a team assembled by the woman named as Williams' successor, Diana Bourisaw.
Williams has not commented since Friday night, when he said: "The board's changed. When the board changes, you change leadership. That's the way it works in this industry."
But this much is clear: there is no single smoking gunbehind his ouster. And Williams may have inflicted many of the wounds himself.
Despite repeated pledges to work with those who publicly questioned his leadership, Williams resisted entreaties to provide pertinent or promised material to board members. For Purdy, that meant repeated requests for line items detailing the 2007 budget - requests that went unanswered.
and this:
By Steve Giegerich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/19/2006
Police are searching for three men who witnesses said fired at least 12 shots at a 21-year-old St. Louis man, killing him after he walked to a service station to buy cigarettes early Friday.
After felling Timothy Bacon with a barrage of 10 shots in the 1400 block of Madison Street, one of the gunmen fired two more shots into Bacon's body, police said.
Bacon, of the 1400 block of East Obear, was the subject of a news article earlier this month citing a state Division of Family Services report stating that he had been struck repeatedly by former Vashon High School basketball coach Floyd Irons six years ago.
this one by Bill Bryan is gone:
By Bill Bryan
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/18/2006
St. Louis police said a 21-year-old man who was gunned down on the street in the 1400 block of Madison Street about 1:45 a.m. Friday appeared to have been shot about a dozen times.
Timothy Bacon, 21, of the 1400 block of East Obear Avenue, was killed by three gunmen after leaving his cousin's house on an errand for cigarettes, police said. As the attackers walked away, one was seen returning to the victim to fire more shots, police said.
Advertisement
Detectives said they know of no motive and have no suspects.
Bacon was in the news 10 days ago. On Aug. 8, St. Louis School Board President Veronica O'Brien, who has been at odds with fired Vashon High School basketball coach Floyd Irons, called for a federal investigation of whether Irons used excessive force to subdue Bacon, then a student, in a school confrontation in 2000.
Federal officials said there is nothing to investigate since the statute of limitations on any charges that might have applied then has run out.
The Missouri Division of Family Services had recommended prosecution of Irons after its investigation of the incident, saying he struck Bacon about a half dozen times after Bacon shoved him. But in 2002, a judge found "insufficient probable cause of abuse or neglect" to proceed with any prosecution.
this one is gone-----
Man, 21, slain in barrage of shots on city street
By Steve Giegerich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/19/2006
Police are searching for three men who witnesses said fired at least 12 shots at a 21-year-old St. Louis man, killing him after he walked to a service station to buy cigarettes early Friday.
After felling Timothy Bacon with a barrage of 10 shots in the 1400 block of Madison Street, one of the gunmen fired two more shots into Bacon's body, police said.
Bacon, of the 1400 block of East Obear, was the subject of a news article earlier this month citing a state Division of Family Services report stating that he had been struck repeatedly by former Vashon High School basketball coach Floyd Irons six years ago.
School officials said Bacon, a special education student, had failed to follow school policy when he arrived late for classes on Feb. 16, 2000. Bacon suffered a broken nose, a scratched cornea and abrasions, the report said.Advertisement
He was charged with assault for allegedly scuffling with school security officers.
Irons successfully appealed the agency's recommendation that assault charges be filed against him.
In July, the St. Louis School Board removed Irons from his coaching duties and his position as district athletics director.
Bacon complained in an Aug. 8 interview that he still suffered from migraine headaches as a result of the fracas.
Irons' attorney, Jerome Dobson of St. Louis, said his client was "very upset" by the killing. "We deplore this senseless loss of his life and express our deepest sympathy to his family," Dobson said Friday.
Dobson said Irons had no knowledge of a civil suit that St. Louis lawyer Anthony Bruning intended to file on Bacon's behalf next week.
Bruning said the suit would have sought damages from the School Board and Irons, in connection with the alleged assault.
Bacon was killed at 1:45 a.m. His father, Roger Bacon, believes the slaying was an execution.
Timothy Bacon's parents and Bruning acknowledge Bacon had a problem with authority.
Court records show Bacon was cited for resisting arrest last April after violating a restraining order filed by the mother of one of his two children.
There are probably more---I need a comment---please.
Monday, September 04, 2006 3:19:00 PM
Spiro:
Are you "kjoe" in the forums over at the Post's website (stltoday.com?) There's a similar post about this topic in Current Affairs.
I posted about the PD's blatant journalistic prejudices--including the refusal to give the board majority equal time in the paper.
It's scary to think how easily the media can be manipulated...
Monday, September 04, 2006 4:54:00 PM
"It's scary to think how easily the media can be manipulated..."
Yes, I am kjoe. I am not sure what you mean---do you think I am being successful in manipulating them?
I am thinking you mean it is scary how easily the media can manipulate a situation---but maybe you do not mean that.
Or maybe you are talking about the reporters I referred to.
Monday, September 04, 2006 5:31:00 PM
spiro/kjoe:
I was referring to the media's non-reporting of this story, not your post.
Both of our threads are dropping like rocks over at Current Affairs--perhaps we're the only ones who care about the truth? Here's hoping that's NOT the case!
Monday, September 04, 2006 6:51:00 PM
This has been interesting because I read the whole "woman as superintendent" thing completely differently. I thought spiro was referring to the fact that teachers, especially in the younger grades, do tend to be women. At our elementary school every teacher is a woman; there are two male aides and that's it. So if mostly women do the "front lines" work and yet men are always at the "top," that lends an interesting view on the status and respect offered to women in the workforce. Men can educate, I have had wonderful male teachers as well as female, but if the majority of teachers are women then it is about time we had a female superintendent. The superintendent does not educate anyway, the teachers do that. The supe is an administrator.
Monday, September 04, 2006 7:37:00 PM
We have had a female superintendant. Ms. Pamela Randell Hughes was super in between Crues and Williams. How soon we forget.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006 1:41:00 PM
Dont shoot the messenger. I really wanted to know who was right on the issue of how attendance has been reported. I wrote Giegerich--he replied. This is a quote from Downs and Sanders:
"It's not clear where Giegerich gets that number from. According to Downs and SLPS spokesman Tony Sanders, SLPS hasn't reported attendance numbers on the first day of school in three years.
"The last time the district reported attendance on the first day of school was in 2003 when, after delaying the start of school by two weeks, Interim Superintendent William Roberti reported that 76% of students attended school on opening day," wrote Downs."
here is what Giegerich wrote to me---
"Please allow me to respond to your question.
At a 4 p.m. press conference on Aug. 28, the interim superintendent
announced that 72 percent of the expected enrollment turned out for the
first day of classes in the St. Louis Public Schools. She then proclaimed
that she was "pleased with that figure." I reported the percentage
along with her quote in a story published on Aug. 29. As part of my
reporting, I also checked the P-D archives to determine the attendance rate on
the first day of school in previous years. I looked at stories going
back five years. In each of those years, the P-D reported first day
attendance figures. A local television reporter - whose integrity was also
questioned by elected and appointed school officials who said the first
day figures are never reported - even produced past SLPS press releases
announcing first day attendance rates. To set the record straight, she
said she brought them to the district's attention. I am not sure why
the person in question would allege I fabricated the figure of 72
percent. You would have to ask him or her. Incidentally, I wrote the initial
story about Timothy Bacon based on official documents prepared in the
immediate aftermath of the incident at Vashon High School in 2000. I also
reported on his death. Thanks for writing."
Steve Giegerich
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
I tried checking the archives---I can't---but I do believe Giegerich on this point.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006 3:06:00 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Thursday, September 07, 2006 12:20:00 AM
If you think he is lying, and he did not look up the first day's attendance in the pd archives, say so.
If I think he is providing something pointing in the direction of the truth on issues which are not very clear, I will post it.
You can call it names, or you can say what is wrong with it and how you know it is wrong.
Thursday, September 07, 2006 12:36:00 AM
The letter finally was printed.
While the Post-Dispatch editors were composing a demeaning editorial on the performance of the new majority that gained control of the St. Louis School Board in April from a former majority which was strongly influenced by the Black Leadership Roundtable and financially backed by Mayor Francis Slay, a true turnaround was taking place in the schools. It is one that is being designed to bring lasting and broadening reform, stability and academic gains for children.
these words were removed--
editors --------performance of the new majority that gained control of-------in April from a former majority which was strongly influenced by the Black Leadership Roundtable and financially backed by Mayor Francis Slay
Not much editing---just the first paragraph---might have made it better? Made the cut Thursday morning.
Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:49:00 PM
Spiro, If I am reading your e-mail correctly...the editing by the PD may have shortened a run-on sentence, but more importantly for the PD, it took out the responsibility for poor decision making and misguided politics by the Mayor and the Black Leadership Roundtable. This editing simply reaffirms the Post's commitment to being a soundboard for the Mayor, his appointees, and their failure to grasp what is really needed in the SLPS. It also reaffirms how dangerous and damaging it is for non-educators to be making decisions about education. Haven't we learned this lesson yet? For how long will the Post be allowed to get away with this and still be allowed to call itself a newspaper and not a tabloid?
Thursday, September 07, 2006 7:29:00 PM
Did I say e-mail? I meant blog. Sorry.
Thursday, September 07, 2006 7:30:00 PM
I realize three in a row qualifies me as a blog hog, but...what the hell?...I'm on a roll.
Before someone says, "How can the Post be a soundboard for the Mayor, when they are printing a letter from the New Majority?" I would like to clarify.
Through selected omission of key statements in the very first (most important) paragraph of the letter, the Post has fundamentally changed the very tone of it, and omitted a key belief of the authors. This is a no-no in journalism. This is a letter to the editor. They do not have the right to change (omit) meanings.
If the Post does not want to print a key point of a letter...(in this case the belief that the mayor's and black leadership roundtable's decisions are directly responsible for many of the back-slides in the district for the last three years)...then they should not print the letter at all.
A journalistic institution with any kind of integrity is prohibited by professional ethics to change the meaning of a submission. By editing that out the Post has brought itself down another notch. They haven't got many notches left in many readers' opinions.
Thursday, September 07, 2006 10:08:00 PM
The Post Dispatch has been the messenger or the puppet master(s) for some time for the powers in this city. Before Steve G, it was another reporter who delivered the same type messages. I believe his name was Wagner. When the PD and the local media reports on other schools, we often see an impartial balanced discussion, the tone changes when the discussion is about SLPS schools. Note the impartial reporting of the threatened or potential strikes in the surrounding districts. The PD only shows this tone with our district.
Regarding the PD archives and the SLPS, I have noticed that the Post habitually removes articles about the school district. This goes all the way back to Roberti when I first noticed this cleansing and I still don't know why. I wonder if because the articles are in such violations of journalism ethics. Something for this group of bloggers to THINK ABOUT
Friday, September 08, 2006 11:19:00 PM
"It also reaffirms how dangerous and damaging it is for non-educators to be making decisions about education. Haven't we learned this lesson yet?" Jim H has reitterated my point from the very beginning. That there should be 1 or maybe 2 lay people on the BOE to perhaps keep it grounded. Simply being a parent does not qualify a person and it is this muddled up system that has been created that allows this.
TimR
Friday, September 08, 2006 11:31:00 PM
Anon 12:19 Saturday. If there was such a scandal. Don't you think that the original stories would be squashed? Not just the archives?
TimR
Friday, September 08, 2006 11:35:00 PM
The original stories are not exactly squashed (although some may have been), they are presented in such a way that favors one side or the other. In the case of the SLPS they have, more often than not, been slanted to favor the opinions of the Mayor and his former majority. There are lots of ways to manipulate words to accomplish this so that the average reader (who may not be attending board meetings, talking to those truly involved, looking at the facts and figures, etc.) forms an opinion that may be based upon misinformation. Many feel the Post and others are guilty of this.
As far as having 1 or 2 lay people on the board to "keep it grounded"...the fact is, (as has been beautifully illustrated over the past few months) you need 4 people to make a difference on the BOE. Having 1 or 2 doesn't mean squat when it comes to voting, but they can sure spread a lot of misinformation and damage to the general public if they have newspapers and other prints sources willing to slop it around for them.
TimR, I should qualify my statement about non-educators. Let me say that having non-educators who simply vote in lock-step with the wishes of a third, manipulative entity are the worst. (puppet) Having non-educators who choose to educate themselves about what is truly needed and works in the schools can certainly make wise choices.
Saturday, September 09, 2006 10:20:00 AM
Everyone, take heed to what Jim H. is saying. He is speaking as an educator and a vested stakeholder in public school education. He is not coming from far left or right field; he is coming from the center and where it matters.
Many of us believe there are at least four people on the Board of Education who care about St. Louis' children and integrity of the system. They deserve our support.
So much damage took place in the past 3-4 years and previously. We need a new day and an aim to do what's best for the children and what is honest and true.
Saturday, September 09, 2006 3:39:00 PM
I want to emphasize how much I appreciate reading what others have to say who are closer to the scene than I am. That is why I tried to point out the differences in what was in the PD and what was in the original letter. jim h., for one, came through.
I am going to speculate---and I would welcome being corrected or simply having people disagree.
I have a relatively high opinion of Bourisaw. I think she blundered from a public relations point of view on what she said about the first day's attendance, but has been really good for the most part.
I wonder how much of a hand she had in writing the board letter, and I wonder who did the editing---could they have talked to Bourisaw about it? (I do not have a journalism degree).
I wondered a lot about the lack of connection (by the media)of the Bacon execution to the 20,000 voted for O'Brien's protection. (Giegerich was better on this than the rest of the media).
I wondered if Bourisaw calculated that she could take the hit and it would be worth it---if it helped put the whole mess behind. I am wondering if the 9-12 agenda in closed session will be dealing with Irons. (In an e-mail, Giegerich told me he tried to find out where Irons was teaching and could not get an answer.)
Finally, I am wondering if Bourisaw is focused on going forward in a positive manner---which---thanks to the incredibly quiet report in the media of the Purdy suit being dismissed---is much more possible. I wonder if she is trying to repair some fences in some places---like city hall.
All right. I have teed it up for you--go ahead.
Sunday, September 10, 2006 10:01:00 AM
Spiro, (and Travis on another thread), the relative calm and silence that we are experiencing might just be a result of focusing the energy on the needs of our children. Let's all hope that it continues.
Also, in my opinion, the fact that Irons found a lawyer to sue to remove Purdy, but hasn't sued to regain his old job speaks volumes about the evidence against him, without the Board having to reveal a thing.
Sunday, September 10, 2006 12:12:00 PM
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