Where has common sense gone? Am I to believe that firing 50% of New Bedford educators is the solution to improving our schools? If the bottom line is improving students education to better prepare them for college, what message is being sent?Stay in school, get a good education, go to college and earn a degree. Isn't that what New Bedford teachers did? Just how important are their degrees now?
Mayor Mitchell said not less than three times, " It's gonna be hard." What he didn't say is it's gonna be cruel, unethical, and senseless. Adding insult to injury, he also didn't say the message will be delivered at the most inappropriate time possible. Was that really necessary? The teachers, however, are portrayed as less than compassionate because they decided to choose a different charity to contribute to. A charity that supports them as they once supported the United Way. I guess compassion is in the eye of the beholder.
Let's be honest, the teachers are being sacrificed for money. This city sold them out. As of today, noone has been able to account for last years shortage of funds. Not to worry, slashing teaching positions took care of that. Firing someone and asking them to reapply makes no sense. You aren't good enough right now, but maybe you will be later.
Dr. Durking may be a bright woman with a great plan.....that is yet to be proven. She does however lack common sense. You don't bite the hand that feeds you and then cry out about how hungry you are.
I will not stand behind MY city school teachers. I WILL STAND BESIDE THEM!!!! Stay strong!
8 comments:
Well said!
We are staying strong, but what are we really doing? People are afraid of "call out" days, ruffling any feathers, etc. I understand we are all in fear for our jobs, but we need to look at our past history in this country. How well did it go when the Air Traffic Controllers walked out? Wasn't long before they were heard. Teachers are not taken seriously and until we do something, we will be seen as all talk, complainers, and useless. Truth is, we are the very ones who are worried about the education of the youth in this city. WE are the ones that care. Let's make a plan!!
Resolution=Fight to end the WoE.....War on Educators.
Very well said! Bravo!
The story of Pia Durkin and the New Bedford school system is like one of those low budget made for television movies known for their shallow characters, poor dialog, and predictable plot. Anyone who wants to predict the outcome of the Pia Durkin story need only follow the money.
Pia Durkin is not stupid. She certainly knows that low student performance and violent behavior are the product of parenting that can best be described as criminally incompetent, a problem she has no power to correct. In order to appear that she's doing something she'll fire a bunch of teachers who are paid relatively well and replace them with kids just out of college who will work for much less. This will produce a short term up front savings that Pia Durkin and her peanut gallery of supporters can crow about but obviously won't solve any real problems. When her bold and ambitious plan fails to make anyone smarter, she'll blame the teachers union, the tight fisted state bureaucracy, or some other convenient scapegoat.
Then she'll move on and play the same stupid game in another community, or she'll retire.
The elephant has spoken...
Dear Bloggers,
How do our students feel about this? I know they have many questions. Wouldn't they be outraged to lose their teachers who care deeply about their academic success? Who knows them better than we do? If we give them a voice and ask them to support us, they would not let us down. If the quality of teaching is the issue, allow the students to rate teacher performance. Maybe a handful would not make the grade, but students are wise enough to distinguish good teaching from the bad. They know who genuinely cares about them and who is invested and who is not.
What will be the repercussions of the sports programs? I wouldn't be surprised if all the coaches were rehired. I can't believe I've thought to state this. I used to coach in CT. and MA. but I don't qualify to coach here. I was told I'd have to volunteer several years before I could coach. People will be judged by those who are not interested in the people they affect only the numbers.
On April 15, 2013 - we remember the Marathon tragedy and how we joined together to become Boston Strong, a tragedy has hit New Bedford and it is time for us to become New Bedford Strong! Let's stick together fellow colleagues, together we will make a difference!
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