As expected Karen Francisco made race the issue in her endorsement of Steve Corona. No, not the dismal failure of the district to narrow the achievement gap under Corona's sorry leadership, but the fact that I talked about my observations on the issue. In Gary for example, the majority of the teachers are black (my point that teaching qualifications were more important than ethnic background was conveniently omitted). But Gary has the worst academic record in Indiana. It has lost half its school population in the last 20 years and is now closing half its schools. More ominous, however, is that FWCS passing rates for black students on the ISTEP are no better than Gary's, despite the $100 million dollars we have poured into the "effective" Racial Balance Fund. The black students I've tutored in FWCS are weak (that's putting it diplomatically) in math. They will not be able to survive in a high tech curriculum or compete for high tech jobs. They won't become chemical or mechanical engineers. The achievement gap is an ongoing disaster for black kids. If you think Corona is going to change that, think again because his blather and platitudes won't fix it.
As she was during the remonstrance, Karen Francisco is a clueless, unquestioning cheerleader for the school district and the entrenched establishment it supports. During the remonstrance, the JG and Francisco's inane editorials, especially the one that came out on the front page, were the biggest boost we had for signatures on blue petitions. They echoed the lies and hypocrisy coming from the FWCS administration. At least the taxpayers can thank her for that. Let's hope she hasn't lost her touch.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
I think this is exactly why so little improvement has been made in FWCS.
If any blame for "the gap" is put on parents, students, or many instructors, the race card is played.
Maybe this is why the Wayne principal is allowed to continue working for FWCS, even though he doesn't appear to have a valid administration license.
If anyone brings it up, they will be called a racist.
Evert,
I know I'm not telling you anything that you don't know however, perhaps Karen Francisco will read this and become a little bit more educated.
1) The state (from an educational perspective) mandates the measurements of different groups. I may not be all inclusive, but I believe those include male, female, special education, free lunch, regular lunch, black, white, and hispanic. If you go to the state's education site, you'll see that each group's statistics have been tracked for years.
2) For a candidate NOT to talk about the gains or losses in each of these categories (as tracked by the state) would be laughable. After all, board members are diverting funds from one area to another based upon these group's labels.
3) I've not read the editorial yet and am not sure that I will, given that I already know the answer to the question. JG and Karen don't actually evaluate candidates based upon their records and their promises and then offer up endorsements. They already know who they want to endorse - based upon emotional factors only - and then, they write their copy around it.
Also - for the record - I find pulling the race card to be the lowest level of desperation that a person can exist at. I will pray for Karen.
good comments kristina and I agree.
Until there is some accountability nothing will change. Social promotion helps no one nor does playing the race card. Instead of throwing out excuses, how about coming up w a plan w parents of these kids. That is where it all originates, at the home.
The good teachers can't do it all. The ones who don't perform well need to be replaced w ones who do.
These people claim they are concerned about the students but they really aren't. If they were they would be discussing how to fix the problem instead of denying there is one
The Wayne High School principal's license is in good standing. It expires Oct. 20, 2011. The state's web site is in error, and we have tried to correct it several times, including another call to the state today. Hopefully this puts to rest any questions about his qualilfications.
All I can say is that there will be interesting board meetings if you win, considering you just called the FWCS administrators liars and hypocrites! I will be voting for John Pierce thanks to this blog!
I am confused why the Wayne principal's administrative license has anything to do with an article in the JG that had nothing to do with Wayne High School? (after rereading that last statement you may need a road map to follow along)
Back to the issue at hand, student achievement. I have read a lot of blogs on this site about how everyone seems to care about the education of our students, yet I have yet to have anyone blogging on this site to attend just ONE principal forum to see exactly what is going on to improve student achievement and to offer any suggestions to help Maplewood students achieve at higher levels.
I am beginning to believe that we have people that are more interested in throwing stones instead of laying a solid foundation for student success.
PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG!!
Frank Kline
Maplewood
Frank's right. Political campaigns always seem to sink to the lowest level. But after spending five years tutoring all kinds of kids twice a week, all day for no pay I don't appreciate being painted as a racist. I shouldn't even have interviewed with the JG because I knew it was coming and anything I said would be taken in that vein. My mistake. They trashed me four years ago so I should have known better.
On the other hand, Jules, let's take the case the administration gave for closing Elmhurst. They (Steve Parker on Ch 15) said foundation was cracking from blasting at the gravel pit, the boilers were shot, the roof was shot, the building was a basket case not worth saving. When parents and some teachers objected a couple of board members took the time to go over and look they (Pamela Martin Diaz) said they couldn't believe this was the building they had been hearing about. Nothing they had been told was true. The building was immaculate. So the board voted to keep it open after Wendy had already gone there and announced to the staff it was going to be closed and told them she didn't want to see their names on a remonstrance petition.
That's pretty much the story of the whole building project ("this is not a wish list", "the buildings deteriorated on my watch", etc. etc.) So your point is that they weren't lying or your point is that I shouldn't have said they were lying?
My take ---
Wendy Robinson is gone. She may have given FWCS everything she has but it just is not working.
Steve Corona is retired. For all the problems he claims FWCS faces he has been there to fix and failed. He failed to put money aside for school building repair and then wants to spend $500 million to fix his neglect. Student achievement as continued to slide. No program he has supported or fought for has worked. Now he says there is some hope. For me the final buzzer has gone off and the game is over. Corona should be retired.
I think every child, parent, and taxpayer would be better served with Mr. Oligner, Mr. Mol and Mr. Schaab.
Just maybe we can turn the corner and start providing the education opportunities to every child to excel. That we build a smart rehab plan for our school buildings and priority list to complete such. This may require an outside company so internal and local turf battles do not become involved in setting priorities
what a buncha crap. i said it b4, and i'll say it again. if u care about students, vote for mol,olinger,schaab. if u want the staus quo, vote for wendy's buttt kisser. frank k. be damned
OK Clara, let me get this straight. Doing my job well and discussing issues makes me a butt-kisser? If that is so, I accept your compliment and say thank you.
Evert, I do not believe you to be a racist. We may agree on some issues, and disagree on others, but I cannot believe that anyone with racist attitudes can come into our schools year in and year out and work with our kids with racist attitudes.
Wow, after reading that last paragraph Clara you may be right. I am a butt-kisser. I should be damned!!
Frank
Frank-
Your comment was greatly appreciated. I have not seen the principal's forums advertised as public events, but if I'm elected to the board you will certainly see me there.
Evert
I have not posted the forums on the Green Sheets as we did last year, but the dates are on the calendar on our Edline page. Those dates are public access.
Wow I was impressed how they managed a news story about starting the boilders today. That they had to start them becuase of the poor windows and insulation....
Well if Steveo had spent money over the years on fixing them then we would not be where we are today.
What is this the first time he has ran for FWCS School Board?
Post a Comment