Saturday, August 17, 2013

What's on your mind as you prepare for the new school year?

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking about how Mayor Jon Mitchell continues to screw New Bedford teachers.

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to the sub-standard newspaper being sold and gutted. Can't wait to see unger standing in the unemployment line.

Anonymous said...

Wondering about the next superintendent buyout.

Anonymous said...

Praying for New Bedford teachers. With Pia "the ice pick" Durkin" at the helm you people will need Devine intervention.

Anonymous said...

When did teachers become the enemy?

Anonymous said...

Why does the charter school need to expand when they can't hold on to their students?

Anonymous said...

Will we have a signed contract this year?

Anonymous said...

Why would a city Councillor attend the fund raiser for the Renaissance School when the rest of our schools are down to a skeleton crew and demoralized?

Anonymous said...

Which city councilor attend queen klune's party?

Anonymous said...

At-Large Denis Lawrence, Jr....happily posted about how fabulous it was....Denis Lawrence Jr
17 hours ago via mobile
Incredible night at Renaisance School fundraiser. Destruction Brooks Farm absolutly beautiful. Jen Clune you rock! Long Live the arts!

Anonymous said...

If the previous statement is true then Dennis Lawrence has let down a lot of good people and needs to have his head examined.

Anonymous said...

Clune actions were self-serving. Almost as transparent as master Mitchell, the king of double speak. Shame on Dennis

Anonymous said...

Self-interest due to the fact that he runs The Southcoast Children's Theatre...possible financial gain?

Anonymous said...

Dennis has lost my vote.

Anonymous said...

The Arts didn't help his spelling in the post.

Anonymous said...

I don't agree with the opinions expressed on this blog so I won't post on this blog anymore. I think people should not express their opinions publicly because you never know who's reading this.

Anonymous said...

Controversial issues are key to teaching critical thinking. Research shows that learning and discussing controversial issues in school helps students become more informed and more active citizens, making them more likely to vote in later life, support basic democratic values, have confidence in their ability to influence public policy, do charitable work, and take an interest in the welfare of their community. (FYI people afraid of the comments posted here)

Anonymous said...

Long live the Arts for ALL students, twice a week-for all students not a segment of the student population! How do you spell DISCRIMINATION!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for asking this question, Lou. Where should we express our opinions if not here? I hope that timid person does not impact children with a fear of divergent thinking.

Anonymous said...

Did you ever hear of freedom of speech? That's what these elected official want is to silence our voices. Is this the United States or some communist country where you can't speak out about politicians. Shame on you for trying to silence our voices !!!!!!! Guess what you won't silence me. Let me say I am looking forward to a wonder year with my students all 30 plus. After all I am in it for the children not my own agenda !!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking of a superintendent who thinks she has all the answers and will use her power to intimidate and micromanage those that serve New Bedford students. She has already shown us her true colors. It's no wonder she got run out of town in the last place she worked.

I'm thinking of a rubber stamp school committee run by Marlene pollock and a mayor who has no understanding of the issues we face in our schools. A school committee that was elected to serve but instead serves only thier personal agendas.

I'm thinking of a newspaper that is run by a bunch of people who hide behind their bully pulpit.

Anonymous said...

The SC and mayor will never admit they botched their leadership choice- AGAIN! I think Pia will have full authority to do whatever she wants. The selection committee can't afford another buyout on their watch. Dr. Finnerty is already heaping praise all over her while complimenting himself for being a member of the selection co.

Anonymous said...

Divergent thinking about institutions and policies, practices and trends are one thing. However, the blog comments are uniform, personal attacks that rarely diverge from a core message of spite and innuendo.

Anonymous said...

One man's innuendo is another man's revelation.

Anonymous said...

I am wondering why a friend in Maryland has one week of paid "prep" time before students begin school and we have usually a few hours? More importantly than what I think is what I feel. A sense of dread!

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking about the kids returning from suspension (a little vaca. for them, by the way)accompanied by their parents wearing pajama bottoms! God help us!

Anonymous said...

On the negative side: Larger classes, doing more with less, and Pia Durkin.
On the postive side: the Dingbat is gone!

Anonymous said...

The anti-teacher climate created by the mayor and newspaper are of great concern to me.

Anonymous said...

Let's hope we don't have Dingbat #2 or is it #3?

Anonymous said...

So some people like this blog and others don't . But i think its great, this blog gives people an opportunity to express their thoughts. I love America and the first amendment.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking of how I'll have 30 kids in a class at NBHS, and no administration support when I need it. Another words, just like last year.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking that we are in for a long ride with Pia. She is proving to do what she wants and how she wants to do it. Ask the staff of the Gomes school about their new VP. Nothing personal to the young lady hired but I believe that one of the qualifications for an administrative position is that the candidate must have a minimum of five years teaching experience. I have been told by many that the person hired has never been a teacher. It should also be known that the Gomes school had put an interview committee together and had recommended 2 candidates for the position. To my understanding , those QUALIFIED candidates were overlooked because neither spoke a second language. Is that what Pia is all about? Sounds like a Pollack connection to me? When does the political game in NB end? NBPS will NEVER go forward!! Such a shame.

Anonymous said...

It seems that we'll be stuck with Jon Mitchell for another 2 years. He's already done a great job destroying NBPS, now he'll have another 2 years to destroy the city!

Anonymous said...

Anyone but Mitchell for mayor.

Anonymous said...

I think the school system was well on its path to self destruction before John Mitchell was elected mayor. Let's see how everything plays out. Some things I've liked and some I haven't. The one thing that has to happen is no more school committee interference in day to day operations. If that continues then the state will takeover and then no one will have a say in anything.

Nancy Smith said...

I feel so sorry for those of you who are going to be teaching in New Bedford this year - good luck to all of you and I will be praying for you! The school committee, city council, mayor, and superintendent are not on your side. That means you will have to stick together and be strong. Remember these words ...United we stand, divided we fall." That was the battle cry during the last strike - and I am proud to say that I walked a picket line daily until it was over.

Anonymous said...

My mind is filled with anxiety as most things will probably stay the same or get worse. We need resources to do our jobs, not more cuts and less spending for supplies and materials. My mind is on the textbooks that are outdated or beyond repair, the reduction in faculty and staff, the lack of much needed and essential supplies such as ink and paper, and the lack of parental support across the board. On a positive note, my school has a new principal, which is a breath of fresh air.

Anonymous said...

What about all the electronics that the students are using at the high school during classroom instruction? Cellphones, IPODS, etc. So far, nothing has worked to prevent it, and it is interfering with their learning. Teachers can only do so much and the situation is too overwhelming for administrators. Oh, yeah, I forgot. I need to be more "engaging." That will take their minds off their next text!!!

Anonymous said...

To the person about the Gomes school ..maybe pia saw through the COMMITEE put together to get the friends of friends hired.....







Anonymous said...

Let's not forget who is driving Pia Durkin. If I am allowed to do whatever I want, right or wrong, and know I will be supported, my job would be easy too. I just hope that she can realize the incompetence she is surrounded by at Prab.

Anonymous said...

Heard through grapevine that Pia will be occupying an office at NBHS from time to time to keep her abreast of the goings-on over there. She'll get an eyeful!!!

Anonymous said...

The biggest concern at New Bedford High School are not the budget cuts. It's not the layoffs, the catastrophic class sizes we will all soon have, or the lack of resources. We, the teachers, will rise to the occasion as resilient as we are and will get the job done to the best of our abilities.

The biggest concern at New Bedford High School is the absence of ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP. Where is the site-based engine driving academics in the building? We are not talking about offering AP courses which benefit a small percentage of our students. We are talking about the staff members in charge of identifying struggling learners, such as our minority students and students that come from troubled homes? Where are those responsible for rallying up the students during MCAS? Where are those using MEANINGFUL forms of assessments to improve instruction? And where the heck are those staff members that can support those teachers who need it?

With one less housemaster and no directors, the remaining 3 housemasters will be swamped with evaluations. Teachers will be left to manage large classrooms and have no support with academic content. We will have no one developing effective, efficient and useful forms of assessments. Our curriculum maps will become outdated; if they aren't so already.

If the current leadership team does not develop a plan to improve the high school with academic leadership (whether that be lead teachers or Department chairs), New Bedford High School will take many steps back, it will fail NEASC accreditation and be taken over by the state.

No questions about it.

Anonymous said...

What is on my mind is the multiple job losses that have taken place at the high school, in fact throughout the system....and how none of this would have been necessary if the Innovation School at Gomes hadn't been shoved down everyone's throats by special interest groups.

Anonymous said...

After reading the article in today's paper "Durkin, clergy meet in 'vision' search," we don't need a School Committee as the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford seems to have all the vision and answers. I am sure under their leadership ALL of the students in the district will suddenly become scholars.

Anonymous said...

Two points: 1. The middle schools and high school might enjoy better prepared learners if our elementary teachers were given resources and support. Just saying add "rigor" does nothing but insult us all.

2. Atheism for the win.

Anonymous said...

Teacher layoffs everywhere and I blame the Innovative school being shoved down everyone's throat! Two more years of an incompetent mayor plus the lack of support for the teachers-I try to be positive but it is really hard! Innovative my behind-get your own money and your own school-that's innovative. Sub standard times-shame on you for even publishing stories about the innovative -ha ha school-while teachers are losing their jobs.

Anonymous said...

"We must tell policymakers we are here and will not allow our public schools to be dismantled.
We must advocate vigorously for our kids and public education.
We must become an army of voices. It is not too late to be heard and be saved. There is nothing so wrong with our schools that cannot be fixed by what is right with our schools.
We cannot be silent.
We must save public education." http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Lloyd_Snow_Top_10_reasons_Oklahoma_public_schools_are/20130816_61_a12_cutlin863773?subj=7

Anonymous said...

I agree that Queen Clune and her minions need to go! However, if you don't think that the Esperanza School will be following right behind and worming their way into Gomes school you need to wake up!! Eventually, the Gomes students will be run out of their own school. We need to fight for those kids!!! INNOVATION NEEDS TO GO!!

Anonymous said...

It's time to get over the innovation schools issue. We know the folly of white whale hunts. "He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart's shell upon it."

Anonymous said...

Great advice. "Get Over" the idea of providing a robust learning environment for all our students. Moby Dick is fiction--Jen Clune is all too real.

Anonymous said...

How am I going to be effective with the inhumane conditions that my students and I have to endure everyday.