Could the flap about “honors robes” be the spark that finally gets us talking? Perhaps, but only if district dynamics change. Is that likely? Well, for one thing, whoever becomes 9-R Superintendent July 1 will be charged with opening up some doors. "How would you go about restoring trust?" has been the central question posed to every candidate.
What if we were to step back, hold our thoughts, and give Principal Lashinsky a decent chance to be heard? While she is almost certain to reinstate the honor robes, let's not miss an opportunity to get to the heart of a larger picture. This is an opening to hear more about the paths of all our children on their way to graduation.
First, let's agree: Principal Lashinsky has inherited a challenging civic environment, not of her own making.
Second, let's catch our breath, hold our thoughts, and give her a chance! Rushing to judgment before she makes her case is hardly fair. She will address voices of disappointment and frustration. She has to, because she needs our support for the full plate we've given her. Implementing DHS's small learning communities next year is not going to be a piece of cake.
With letters from more than just the parents of honor students, clearly, Lashinsky's decision has hit a nerve. This is about more than graduation traditions for top academic achievers. This is our town's take on the larger question of an American culture becoming increasingly anti-intellectual.
What do we have to lose? We can always go back to being really mad, but alternatively, we might end up with a much clearer picture of who we are and what we are willing to contribute.
Links:
April 24, 2008 9-R Looks at Grading System
April 17, 2008 Honor robes out for graduation
Students with perfect GPAs protest principal’s decision
12 comments:
I guess it's because I've worked in the Top Ten Advertising Agencies in the world since 1989, that I don't understand the "wait".
It would serve our principal, Diane Lashinksy, our High School, our students, our School District, our parents, our School Board, and our community a whole lot more, if Diane just spoke up now.
Either she is going to realize how important the white robes are to the people of Durango, and do the right thing and say: "Wear them!" or she is not. If it is the latter, then I can understand her waiting out the week. If it is the former, then for the sake of good press, she needs to speak up today.
Another administrator said that "the district gets to make some decisions you know" -- as if to say that we the parents, students, community don't have a say in public education. My advise is: Don't be Old School. Bite the bullet, get the community support.
I have NEVER seen this many letters on a topic that is without doubt not important on many levels. As I type, men, women, and children are dying by the minute in Iraq or other war torn countries and we are in a flap over the color of a robe for graduation? On the home front, our children cannot read to grade level, and there's only ever one or two of us writing our boring monthly letters over that little topic, and yet it is more important than a white robe.
I say, let the students shine on graduation day. Let them wear their white robes for now and forever more, unless the students and faculty come up with another idea in future years. But, let's get on with the job in hand. Teaching.
Reading the NY Times article "...nearly half of 18- to 24-year-olds don’t think it necessary or important to know where countries in the news are located. More than three years into the Iraq war, only 23 percent of those with some college could locate Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel on a map."
Kudos to DHS's El Diablo reporters for giving our staff, teachers and students the same test. El Diablo happens because of one of our many exemplary teachers, Barbara McLachlan. Someday soon, I hope you start a blog in praise of great teachers - you're right that change is coming. If Dr. Owen accepts, I predict more real names and fewer anonymous tags. Pay him whatever he asks. Well, within reason, if you think he can get "the job" done. Make sure this time and ask everything. And someone should add up the costs of the past few years of dysfunction. Can we afford not changing?
OH! Hats off to Diane Lashinsky. I just read the press release, and white robes it is. I am so happy that Diane did the right thing. Congratulations to Diane Lashinsky for being probably the one and only 9R administrator to say: "Oooppps!"
I love her for turning around and saying: Oooopps! She makes me feel good about DHS all over again! Progress never smelt so sweet.
Bravo Diane!
Diane Lashinsky retracted her decision. Three cheers!
Welcome to Durango, Diane. Having experienced our communications challenges, I bet we can count on you to advocate for improving feedback loops between community members, 9-R administrators, and Board. What would a long range strategy for 9-R look like if citizens were included as full partners in the public schools? Could happen, starting in July. Pretty exciting.
If you'll hang in with this vocal, caring community, you will find we are not exactly the "naysayers" that 9-R PR claims.
Could one of our first conversations acknowledge where the "Nays" have originated? A little local history could help you understand why so many private alternatives have recently been created. People with good ideas for addressing complex, tough issues have repeatedly been told "Nope, we've got that covered." Or "No, not something you get to comment on." "Leave it to us, we're the professionals."
Today’s decision distinguishes you from your predecessors. Please understand that we also want more than just better channels for you to tell us what you are thinking. Information flows in all directions. People who want to be part of the process could use some formal and informal ways to discover common ground. Not the most difficult thing in the world - it’s natural that people love their children and want the best possible support for them. They shouldn’t have to be labeled “special interests” for doing so - especially when their efforts have led to changes now helping all the children.
Bringing people back in may mean having to say that you're sorry for things that happened long before you arrived - decisions and attitudes that caused people to leave the system.
The choices you've made show that you see the big picture for all students. You seem willing to do what it takes to work with parents for the sake of all the students. Sad that we had to go to this extreme, but under Policy Governance 9R Style, letters to the editor have become the only space for talking about education. When things boil over, that's where we show up. We can do better.
Does anyone have any views as to why the Reading CSAP scores dropped significantly? I wonder what Riverview's scores were like without Jean Thweat? Early identification and remediation isn't that good, so that probably doesn't help. I'm sorry that things are not getting any better, but they soon will, if we are lucky enough to get Dr Owens.
CSAP scores go up and down with each passing year as the cohort changes. There may be more ESL learners in this year's third grade classes or maybe the makers of CSAP, McMillian/Mcgraw-Hill, changed the "cut scores." These are the scores which determine proficiency or nonproficiency...the "cut" between the two. There are so many variables affecting scores that the reliability of any data CSAP produces is questionable.
It's all a bunch of malarky anyway, CSAP reading scores mean nothing...and pinning hopes on Mr. Owens to raise them is a frightening thought indeed.
The only true and valid evaluation of a child's reading ability comes from a series of Individual Reading Inventories, or IRI's, given throughout the year by classroom teachers. Raising reading scores and narrowing the achievement gap are merely illusions. Administrators collect data on the "bubble children"...those who are hovering at near proficency and just above proficency. The attention these children recieve in reading goes beyond what everyone else gets. These are the kids who stay in from recess or are planted in front of a computer for hours so they can practice "test-taking" skills, or are not allowed to go to science so they can have small group reading practice.
The sky is not falling when reading scores go down...just wait until 2009 when Governor Owens' new CAP4K tests kick in ...then you'll really see scores drop...and we'll have another round of teacher and school bashing, administrators will pressure principals to raise scores, principals will pressure teachers to raise scores, teachers will intensify their reading (or math, or science) instruction to put pressure on kids, and the kids will go home, kick the dog, and tell everyone they hate school because it's not fun anymore. Elementary schools in Colorado have already eliminated recess so they can boost test scores. It's madness.
Judging from the Best-sellers list, the tripe available in the supermarket checkout line, and the popularity of America's #1 newspaper, USA Today, it's obvious one can get by quite nicely with about a fifth-grade reading level. Stop paying attention to test scores and go read a book with a child.
Ignorance, intolerance, and bullying are all still alive and well at DHS. When will our kids be able to attend school in a conducive environment that doesn't mock and ridicule them for their beliefs? How can kids learn and do well on tests when they are constantly verbally assaulted by their peers? And, where do these kids learn to persecute others?
We all want to pat ourselves on the back for being so tolerant of some things, yet the intolerance is sickening. We will never have a successful learning environment until we teach our kids to respect each other so that all kids can feel comfortable at DHS.
Kids should not be coming home each day begging to not have to return to DHS because the environment is so poor. That says a lot about DHS to me.
I've read to my son since he was born. He had a private education for 11 years. 9-R kept him at an elementary reading age for 4 years. Over 40% of this country are illiterate. Does a 5th grade reading age count as illiteracy, or are they not counting that?
I hear you Bill. My son was always pulled out of an elective to have more of the same bad teaching in English in the hope he would learn to read, but it didn't do any good. One day I realized and refused to allow him to be "punished" for being dyslexic to have more of the same old, same old.
We need to employ experts with a scientifically proven method of teaching to get the job done. I believe Dr. Owens will get us the training and teachers we need. Bottom line, if you don't have a vision in reading and deliver it to the classroom, then we will continue to produce students who are illiterate and the whole country will go to pot. It's bad enough in today's climate trying to employ people with half an ounce of intelligence, let alone receive good service and commonsense in retail. Imagine another twenty years of rotten education.
I know you hate teaching to the test, so do I. I think if you are teaching well, then your students will pass. They don't teach to the test in England, I'm not sure how they do it, they just teach I think. I can't speak about public education though, just private. Perhaps state education over there, is the same mess as over here.
I'm sorry to hear that DHS is still suffering. Go and talk to Diane about your concerns.
Unfortunately, television and computer games do not make for a great member of the human race. Parents need to be parents and not use computers/television to educate their children.
Yes the school has to clean up the environment, but parents need to instill a sense of respect in their children too. It's a two way street.
Dr. Owens is the new superintendent. I look forward to seeing a change from the top down.
I absolutely agree that parents need to teach kids respect and when I hear about the treatment of students at DHS, I'm pretty sure in most caes, not all, I need look no further than their parents.
Wouldn't it be nice if our kids could attend school and not feel bullied or persecuted? Wouldn't it be nice if DHS offered a valuable education to all students? Wouldn't it be nice if we could trust 9-R?
I guess we can keep hoping for better.
To "anonymous" #1 and #2:
In addition to hoping, I think you've raised several distinct points - all of them could come under the umbrella called... "let's talk about this."
As a parent myself I can't imagine other parents not wanting to share their concerns and see how widespread this sort of problem may be... and include teachers and others (especially students!) - who all have pieces of this puzzle that has been around for generations, but today has some new dimensions that are fairly scary.
I don't think happy people bully other people. But I am not underestimating the magnitude of the problem - just hoping that when Dr. Owen assumes our top education job here, the board will join him and the rest of us in some good old fashioned, open dialogue. That may not help a child right now, this summer, but there's no excuse to postpone finding out what's up,and what could be done. I think most of our young people could be engaged to address this and make a big difference. Thanks for writing.
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