There are two certain ways to kill something in this world. The first is the most obvious, as well as easily traceable, choice. Our newspapers and electronic media splash the stories of individuals, with lowered intellect, brandishing firearms, blunt objects, vehicles and bare hands to achieve a moment of mayhem. We shake our heads and murmur something about the decay of society and struggle to finish our day, knowing full well that another such episode will yet again numb us in the future. Abel had his Cain. Caesar had his Brutus. It is a dark alley in our world.
Not all things deadly are delivered quickly, however.
Some require time to become achieve infamy. The Acushnet River didn’t become polluted overnight. Drop by drop. Fish by fish. Child by child that riverway held the secret beneath its glistening surface. And when the hotspots of PCB’s were discovered, those who were responsible for their development were long gone. You see, death sometimes takes time to realize its full potential.
Rarely does death come announced. Often it labors under the guise of something benevolent. Kindly. Knowledgeable. Sometimes it comes softly, borne with promises, smiles, outstretched hands of unity.
The result is the same.
There is this moment of understanding. Knowing. Shock, trauma, distress. People who have had near-death experiences report a wide range of images, feelings, visions. One unifying, disturbing action unites those people who were not ready to pass from this world into the next. The desire to fight for their life existence here. People will flail, lashing out against whatever, or whoever, seeks to separate them from what they find sacred. The liberty that is their life.
Over the course of three nights our sitting school committee will meet to discuss a budget problem that will spell the very death of the system you and I have labored for. It is a death that has come slowly, softly and they will ask you to believe it is not of their doing.
It is…
Months ago when the battle against Innovation Schools was in its most heated controversy, I stood before the school committee and cited Massachusetts General Law that specifically states the two prime objectives of every elected and governing school board in our Commonwealth. Those two prime objectives are the creation of systemwide policy and the fiscal oversight of the system they have sworn to serve.
In creating a single Innovation School and allowing a multi-million dollar shortfall to occur, they have failed at both prime objectives. And they did so drop by drop, child by child. In the end, it will bring a death to our system. We, who daily struggle to do more with less, will be left hundreds of colleagues short. Because of this sitting body we will experience loss, sorrow, pain and grieving.
And they, are counting on you to accept this without flailing.
And honestly, I’m concerned you might just do that…
14 comments:
Might I suggest a change in elected leadership?
I would vote for Scooby Doo before voting for most of them!!!
I'll start practicing my "ruh roh" then.
I will not be one of those people losing my job but I am so pissed at the fact that they don't have a clue as to how to run a school department!!!! They don't care about kids or teachers!!!! Political posturing makes me sick!!!!! Other districts are laughing at our upper leadership and crying for our kids
Amen Sara. My position is being eliminated and I will have to bump someone in another building. Social Studies at Roosevelt is going to become a Unified Arts class. Sorry Mr. Jefferson. The ideas espoused by you and your contemporaries are not as important as math intervention.
Question, the high school curriculum is based on the premise that the kids have completed the topics assigned in the 8th grade. What happens if they haven't completed an 8th grade curriculum? History is still GRADUATION requirement.
Unified Arts have taken a beating in the last seventeen years thst I have been in the system . When Pollack states that enrollment is down, ask yourselves why... students choose to enroll in schools that have offerings they want to take. Many of our Unified Arts subjects kept kids in school, gave them a reason to get up each morning and plow through the general academics so they could be in a class they enjoy. Many students, especially at the Middle School level learn their core academics through the active participation and life connection through Unified Arts. As I don't wish to see anyone lose their job, especially at the hands of a school department who has mismanaged money long before I entered the system, at least history will still be offered in some form at Roosevelt. Tone in some statements does exactly what the school committee wants- pits us against each other. EVERY SUBJECT/ COURSE OF INSTRUCTION is of equal importance. To suggest otherwise would be ignorant and insulting to others as well as feed into the hands of those who want to divide us.
"EVERY SUBJECT/ COURSE OF INSTITUTION is of equal importance." Thank you for the saying what needs to be said! While I am a content area teacher, I am a firm believer that students need ALL courses to be well-rounded individuals! It also gives students a chance to excell in an area that may not be a content area...they are all important and necessary. Too bad the principals don't see it this way. I know that one of the middle school principals actually tells the student body that only the content classes matter...really? Maybe that explains the horrific behavior in the unified arts classes. What is wrong with the people in "charge?"
I guess more Elmo projectors and colored pencils will put kids first in their new classes with 30+ students each. And while we continue to look for classroom teachers to cut, we must be sure to save jobs for retired educators that are now consultants in the district, and keep the academic coaches that were slated for elimination several years ago.............ahhhhhhh "the superintendent buyout is a drop in the bucket" -Mitchell
If we are discussing wasted money...too many Assistant Superintendents and assistants for them, each with hefty paychecks! Let's talk about paper waste...benchmarks of course but how about the need for paper copies of lesson plans, memos that are emailed AND then placed in our mailboxes. Buses in some schools, Normandin has buses come three times, 2:30, 2:45, and 3:15, some buses are almost empty but they don't charge per student do they? Yes...useless consultants to tell us what we already know and do! The IPS program is a joke as well. There is definitely wasted money in the district but it is not wasted on teachers! Taking away teachers and enlarging class size is certainly NOT going to bring our students any closer to proficient.
Guess what....who is going to be cut at NBHS is the best kept secret since Mittens Romney's tax returns. Methinks they are afraid of people taking the rest of their sick days before 6/26!!
Hey! Looks like they're hiring at the Renaissance. Will these new hires all be from out of town? Shouldn't there be a residency requirement to show commitment to the diversity, innovation, and pride of NB? I did not notice the principal's job posted. Done Deal?
The principal position job was posted a few weeks ago. I think I saw it in my email.
I wonder if any adminstrator has ever asked staff to suggest cuts, if they are in fact necessary. i bet they'd be suprised how objective and thoughtful we can be. Overpriced consultants and mindless PD is where I'd begin. I could go on.
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