A sacred ritual performed at every Passover Seder for the last few millennia involves the youngest member of the family asking the 4 questions. The answers are intended to teach the members of the Seder why Passover is different from any other time of the year.
I too have 4 Questions that I would like answered with the purpose of understanding why New Bedford has to be different from every other city or town in the United States.
To that end, here are my 4 Questions:
1.
Why does the New Bedford Public School Department have to be different than any other organization in the world? In any other organization in dire straits, the spot falls upon leadership, not the workers in the trenches. Why has the School Committee not borne the ultimate responsibility? They are elected to lead the district. What about the former Superintendents? No one seems to mention their part in reaching our current Level 4 Status? How about the principals? Don’t they share part of the blame as well?
2.
Why is Dr. Durkin’s messianic approach to school reform so universally accepted without consideration of any other possibilities? If Dr. Durkin was so successful, why was she offered only a temporary contract in Attleboro after performing such a miraculous turn-around of their schools? Does it have to be her way or the highway? When did compromise die? And let us ask her how, in such a short time after her tenure began, did NBHS be designated a Level 4 school?
3.
Why are the local news outlets so condescending when it comes to the teachers of the New Bedford Public School system? Recently, it has been implied in the Standard Times that we are obstructionists and are resistant to change. How has that been arrived at? Calls for complete cooperation by the Mayor and newspapers negates the fact that Dr. Durkin is at fault for any perceived hostility. What management theory supports a new Leader addressing her working staff for the first time stating that she expected everyone to give 110% as she does or perhaps seek another career job. To date, she has never asked the teaching staff for cooperation. Theory X has long been discredited in most organizations.
4.
Why is everyone afraid to identify contributing problems to the difficulty in the NBPS system? Are the teachers really the root cause of all the ills besetting the NBPS’s? How about the School Committee who appear to be unable to be able to approve alternate settings that would meet the diverse needs of the student population? How about the Central Administration? Are more Chiefs really necessary when money is so tight? Do not the parents bear some of the blame? More involvement might result in more achievement.How about our students? So many of them do not own up to their own education. So many of them appear to be set up for failure because they lack the skill set to accomplish rigorous education at their attended grade level.
In closing let me ask all the stake-holders in New Bedford to sheath their swords and come to the table and discuss how we can improve the NBPS’s. Mutual respect and cooperation line the road to improvement, not recriminations, stereotyping or hostility.
Respectfully,
A New Bedford High School Teacher
6 comments:
Perfect! Honored to work with intelligent, reasonable, logical teachers
The Heavy Handed ways of our demi-god at DESE promote this Mission. It is not about the students. It is scape-Unioning.
What's DESE?
Couldn't have said it better! I would like to add to your question number 3 statement regarding obstructionists. I think it ironic that teachers are referred to as obstructionists when our community leaders have refused to change. There is a small group of powerful people in New Bedford who persist in making decisions not beneficial to all of the citizens. They promote themselves and readily point fingers when they fail. You are right. The leaders being the school committee, Mayor, and Principals need to take ownership of this problem. I have watched these self-affected people make statements that are ridiculous while curtly cutting off others who are trying to help create solutions to the problem. You are also correct in saying we don't need more supervisors in central administration - especially the ones who are sitting there due to favor and not merit.
Very well said! I am proud to be working with such dedicated and fine educators. The powers that be in this city ought to be ashamed of themselves. What ever happened to
"the buck stops here?" The article and advertisement in the ST rag today should enrage us all as professionals in this city. Please show up Friday and do not allow the bullies to prevail.
Very well said! I am proud to be working with such dedicated and fine educators. The powers that be in this city ought to be ashamed of themselves. What ever happened to
"the buck stops here?" The article and advertisement in the ST rag today should enrage us all as professionals in this city. Please show up Friday and do not allow the bullies to prevail.
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