By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, June 16, 2006 at 6:00 AM
Legendary activist Percy Green has for decades been at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights and equality for African-Americans, a goal that over the years has found Green dangling from the Gateway Arch, sitting in numerous jail cells, standing before the Supreme Court, and all points in between. Labels: Interviews, Schools, Video_Reports
In November 2003, Green found himself again in handcuffs. This time after being dragged from a meeting of the St. Louis Board of Education after a member of the school district's security team claimed he was trying to incite a riot. Green denied that charge and after hearing testimony from three witnesses, including school board member Bill Purdy, and judge agreed, finding Green not guilty Wednesday of all charges.
Green sat down with PUB DEF the day after his acquittal at a southside café to talk about the incident that led to his arrest and his recent open letter to the members of the school board asking them not to renew the contract of Superintendent Creg Williams.
Click here to download the video "Percy Green on his Arrest" (8MB). Click here to download the video "Percy Green on Creg Williams and SLPS" (12MB).
36 Comments:
It is right that Percy Green was acquitted. His actions at the school board meeting were completely constitutional.
Numerous Supreme Court Cases show that unless speech directly results in an actual riot, this test being the imminent lawless action test, then the speech is Constitutional. Basically political speech is protected unless a riot immediately brakes out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imminent_lawless_action
See Rankin v. McPherson, Connick v. Myers, Texas v. Johnson, and Brandenburg v. Ohio.
In Cohen v California, a protester was allowed to wear a T-Shirt saying "Fuck the Draft, Stop the War," since according to Harlan one mans vulgarity is another's lyric. Harlan also reasoned that these words do not compel viewers of the shirt to commit violence. Finally Harlan noted that the words on the shirt could be simply ignored.
Antonio, please post Percy's letter about Craig Williams!
6/16/2006 8:04 AM
Antonio, for the love of the language, do NOT post Percy Green's misinformed, semi-literate tirade against Craig Williams. Anyone who thinks Percy is a hero will be embarassed by his pigeon-English ramblings. Maybe this guy is most effective when he's dressed in fatigues and chanting slogans; his letter is silly and just mean-spirited, jealous, raving.
6/16/2006 8:17 AM
The only problem I have with black activist is that they will confront issues with whites wronging blacks but no blacks get respect when they confront black on black issues, Blacks have wronged blacks over the last 30yrs far more than any whites have! the NAACP should address issues like drug dealers, gangs, crackheads stealing stuff, acting stupid as a youth, auto theif, etc. I live in north stlouis, grew up in north stl and Im black but I cant understand why blacks say the "white man" is the problem, Whites aint done nothin to me, but blacks have put guns to my head, stole my car, shot across my lawn, spray painted my house, tore up my beautiful neighborhood - "if you lived on the northside longer than 25yrs your neighborhood was tore up too, most likely" I saw an ad once in the post that showed the contrast between 1960 and 1990, for 1960 it had the kkk attacking blacks, in 1990 it had the kkk with some gang members and the kkk had their hoods up on their heads showing their faces and they were smiling saying "this homeboy here will help up now, the old ways over" the gang member had a gun in his hand, I would bet in the past ten years blacks have killed more blacks then whites did in the last 200yrs!!! and no one wants to face this problem! but good ole bill cosby does and look how blacks treat him! But to keep it politics here I just find it very interesting that a person holding office: state rep, senator, etc. would allow drug dealers to sell that stuff two doors over from your own office, and let it happen for years!!! And then want a larger position in this town, what are they really in office for?
6/16/2006 9:01 AM
Brian, I would have to agree with some of your points, however I believe the root cause of the African situation is the power elite using race to divide working class whites, and blacks, thus pushing them against each other. This creates racism, then white flight, and then decreased services to predominantly African American areas. Once this happens, the neighborhood declines; schools stop educating individuals, and even the lower paying jobs leave to the county, or rural areas. The result of which is welfare dependent individuals, and drug dealers fighting over drug turf.
African American violence is a problem, however it has been created by the elites.
The current situation is one of some African Americans fighting for what litte resources are left. The ones that work hard and try to make a difference are stifled by either the elites, or their defunct community.
Some African American politicians in North St. Louis are fighting for what little power they have.
Politics is about control of resources.
Whites and Blacks need to unite, and clean up this city. There is no difference between working class Blacks and Whites, or even the middle to upper middle class. They have more in common with a poor black person, than a rich white landowner in the Central West End.
The stark contrast is apparent in the upper crust of society.
Historically it has always been easier to divide the under classes, thus weakening their power, and making them easier to control.
Divide and Conquer.
6/16/2006 10:35 AM
Are you saying that those individuals who roam the city selling drugs, stealing, and vandalizing are really urban Robin Hoods who have been victimized by the elite power structure? Gosh, I always thought they were just thugs who prefer to victimize hard-working folks just to make a quick buck.
6/16/2006 10:51 AM
To Anon #2:
You are right that it is the power elite, like Rep. El-Amin Rep. Boykins' supporters, pitting black St. Louisans against white St. Louisans and vice versa, in hopes that those fears and that animousity can over-power unity and will obscure the real issues facing St. Louis. We have serious issues in St. Louis, and we need serious solutions to those issues, not more racial rhetoric.
6/16/2006 11:25 AM
THEY ARE THUGS! I know plenty of them and they feel like they cant go get a job and they have to take care of their "many kids" and lifes hard blah blah blah, But let me tell you, Ive tried it all, I used to take some of these guys to colleges to get enrolled, to them to visit some of my big dollar buddies to get some jobs, took them out of town to see that life is bigger than the northside, but guess what, if all you like is the streetlife than thats what your going to gravitate toward. These guys will show up to work late, not pay bills, hang out all night, have bad credit, be irresponsible and then blame white people for their problems IF YOU CANT SEE THIS PROBLEM IS THE BLACKS FAULT YOUR BLIND!!! I know some of my friends who are out of the ghetto who do very fine and guess what, they dont even help their own families who are poor and strugglin out!!! and BLACKS BLAME WHITES FOR THEIR PROBLEMS, just because I have and you dont, doenst mean I stopped you or I am in the continual process of stopping you from getting ahead. I have two business and what I learned is that blacks dont like seeing blacks get ahead, most black own business "not all" wont do business with another one because they dont even trust each other, ANY BLACK BUSINESS OWNER CAN RELATE, JUST ASK ONE. blacks will use a white business fast, because the the lack of quality of most other black businesses. But guess what its the white peoples fault, GIVE ME A BREAK. If you like the hood "not you personally but the people who choose to dwell their" then stay their, if you dont then act responsible and get a job, stop selling crack and killing your neighbors mother, teach your kids to do homework and go beyond what the teachers require and stand up and be a man, not a thug that this music has people believing. WHAT OTHER RACE ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH MAKES MUSIC THAT MORE THAN 80% OF THE RACE LISTENS TO DO YOU KNOW OF THAT HAS KILLING, DISRESPECT FOR WOMEN AND DRUG DEALERS AS ROLL MODELS AS THE BLACK RACE??? Ask any black youth in your neighborhood what they want to be when they grow up: ask them, heres what you'll hear: rapper, stripper, football, basketball player, police, fireman, then 1%-3% lawyer, doctor, business man, etc. While the parents are out smoking crack the kids are not being raised and the parents blame everybody else, the schools, the whites, life, situations, etc. EVERYBODYS GOT IT HARD AT SOME POINT, BUT MOVE FOWARD, blacks dont move foward as a whole because the wont identify the problems as being there own, they BLAME THE WHITE MAN, its like a drunk who always blames someone or something else for his problems. AND IM SAYING THIS BECAUSE I CARE AND I AM MAKING MOVES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IN MY CIRCLES AND ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO THE SAME. I HAVE WONDERFUL WHITE FRIENDS AND SOME BLACKS, "BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HAVE BEEN RAISED" THINK MOST WHITES ARE THE DEVIL. NOT-TRUE! MR. GREEN NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, IF HE CARES SOME MUCH ABOUT BLACK PROBLEMS AND SUFFERINGS HE NEEDS TO WALK OUT HIS FRONT DOOR AND TALK TO THE DOPEMAN WHOS DESTROYING HIS NEIGHBORHOOD!!!
6/16/2006 11:37 AM
THEY ARE THUGS! I know plenty of them and they feel like they cant go get a job and they have to take care of their "many kids" and lifes hard blah blah blah, But let me tell you, Ive tried it all, I used to take some of these guys to colleges to get enrolled, to them to visit some of my big dollar buddies to get some jobs, took them out of town to see that life is bigger than the northside, but guess what, if all you like is the streetlife than thats what your going to gravitate toward. These guys will show up to work late, not pay bills, hang out all night, have bad credit, be irresponsible and then blame white people for their problems IF YOU CANT SEE THIS PROBLEM IS THE BLACKS FAULT YOUR BLIND!!! I know some of my friends who are out of the ghetto who do very fine and guess what, they dont even help their own families who are poor and strugglin out!!! and BLACKS BLAME WHITES FOR THEIR PROBLEMS, just because I have and you dont, doenst mean I stopped you or I am in the continual process of stopping you from getting ahead. I have two business and what I learned is that blacks dont like seeing blacks get ahead, most black own business "not all" wont do business with another one because they dont even trust each other, ANY BLACK BUSINESS OWNER CAN RELATE, JUST ASK ONE. blacks will use a white business fast, because the the lack of quality of most other black businesses. But guess what its the white peoples fault, GIVE ME A BREAK. If you like the hood "not you personally but the people who choose to dwell their" then stay their, if you dont then act responsible and get a job, stop selling crack and killing your neighbors mother, teach your kids to do homework and go beyond what the teachers require and stand up and be a man, not a thug that this music has people believing. WHAT OTHER RACE ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH MAKES MUSIC THAT MORE THAN 80% OF THE RACE LISTENS TO DO YOU KNOW OF THAT HAS KILLING, DISRESPECT FOR WOMEN AND DRUG DEALERS AS ROLL MODELS AS THE BLACK RACE??? Ask any black youth in your neighborhood what they want to be when they grow up: ask them, heres what you'll hear: rapper, stripper, football, basketball player, police, fireman, then 1%-3% lawyer, doctor, business man, etc. While the parents are out smoking crack the kids are not being raised and the parents blame everybody else, the schools, the whites, life, situations, etc. EVERYBODYS GOT IT HARD AT SOME POINT, BUT MOVE FOWARD, blacks dont move foward as a whole because the wont identify the problems as being there own, they BLAME THE WHITE MAN, its like a drunk who always blames someone or something else for his problems. AND IM SAYING THIS BECAUSE I CARE AND I AM MAKING MOVES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IN MY CIRCLES AND ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO THE SAME. I HAVE WONDERFUL WHITE FRIENDS AND SOME BLACKS, "BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HAVE BEEN RAISED" THINK MOST WHITES ARE THE DEVIL. NOT-TRUE! MR. GREEN NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT OTHER ISSUES, IF HE CARES SOME MUCH ABOUT BLACK PROBLEMS AND SUFFERINGS HE NEEDS TO WALK OUT HIS FRONT DOOR AND TALK TO THE DOPEMAN WHOS DESTROYING HIS NEIGHBORHOOD!!!
6/16/2006 11:38 AM
The rich will always get richer but can lose everyting and the poor will always get poorer but can be rich, Im sure many on this blog know some people who make good money and still struggle at some point. Its not in how much you make, its where you put what comes in, I live in north stl. people dont have much because they buy worthless stuff like 25" wheels, where as I would have taken that 10k invested it at 10% and made 800k plus over some many years. People become poor because they buy liabilities, and the Rich become rich because they put their income into assests! As long as you borrow money, buy 24's, shop on fads, blow money on crap, buy video games when they first come out, buy new cars with borrowed money you will always be broke! Find a math guy and have him run the numbers if you dont believe me! So blacks shouldnt blame whites for financial struggles. when YOur kids have $100 shoes on and you dont have food, dont come crying to me about how the white man got over!!!
6/16/2006 11:46 AM
Okay...back to the subject at hand...Antonio, I to admire Percy Green especially for his groundbreaking stand at McDonnell Douglas which benchmarked the famous case he initiated. If it were not for Mr. Green the African-Americans at the now Boeing Company, may not have seen the justice and good faith they see today. However, I also ask that you not post his open letter about Dr. Williams. Dr. Williams is not the bad guy and it does leave a lot to be desired about Mr. Green's current position as anti-Slay. Dr. Williams however, has never projected pro or anti-Slay (ALL Superintendents have to have some sort of 'working' relationship with the Mayor in any state)...but Dr. Williams has ALWAYS advocated for the children from the beginning...and I know that this may not be the case, but it seems that Mr. Green has forgotten that. The only political game Dr. Williams has to play now involves finding the funding and qualified people to educate and help our SLPS students. Dr. Williams has always been upfront about his mission. I was a bit embarassed as well when I read Mr. Green's words. But, I still hold him in high regard.
6/16/2006 12:05 PM
Brian,
I agree with you, however I believe this culture of racism, self-loathing, consumerism, and lack of responsibility, was created, or directed, by the power elites. If anything, they are doing nothing to change the current state of Black America. Your view of Black America is probably correct, however I believe the cause of the current situation is nefarious political and community leaders.
Black communities used to be strong. The reason they were strong is because they had advocates fighting for them, their jobs, and their community. There are a few leaders in St. Louis, however they are in the minority, and they are not vocal enough.
Regardless of the situation, we all need to set examples in our community, and only elect individuals who seek to make improvements in our communities. We cannot afford to elect officials who seek to divide, rather than unite.
I think you will agree that the situation you describe, Mr. Harris, will never change if the same old style of political leaders retains power.
Furthermore, I believe that African American communities do not have the unifying role models of the past. There is no Malcolm X or Dr. King. Clay Jr. said that these figures are no longer needed, since African Americans are so different, however until a strong unifying leader appears, the only role model for Black youths will be Ludacris, Lil-Kim and Ole' Dirty Bastard.
The only contemporary musical artist I can think of who stood for something significant was Bob Marley.
Needless to say these rappers are only concerned with hedonistic subject matter. Our kids deserve more.
6/16/2006 12:08 PM
Yea, Percy sounding just like Bill Cosby now in his old age. He can't just attack Creg Williams like Williams is not good for nothing! That was not fair. Just like Bill Cosby ranting at the already poor African-Americans who already are beaten up by society. Basically those are just easy targets at the end of the day. But, Creg Williams is not even from here and sometimes I wonder do we St. Louisans have the same heart and diligence that he has when it comes to the SLPS. I mean I did not even really get involved with the SLPS until Williams showed up. And, I know plenty of other people who did the same thing. I mean Williams has gotten me back interested and actually WANTING TO HELP. I don't know what Percy was thinking by attacking the one person who it seems cares, whether he qualified or not...he's here and he got me here, my wife and like I said a lot of other St. Louisans who were born and raised in the SLPS like myself but we out in North County now. We are refreshed and energized about saving our former school district. Its a beautiful thing and so I say shame on Percy. But, that blogger is right, Percy is still a good man and he legacy deeds do speak for him. I just have to disagree on this one.
6/16/2006 12:18 PM
People have been saying that Creg Williams is going to leave. Well, if he does...it will be because of US St. Louisans...with our mean, sometimes jealous, non-progressive thinking. WE are going to push him out. And that blogger was right, a man that seems to care sometimes more than us. Percy was wrong for picking on get this...another 'black man' for trying to help and Percy don't even want him to stay. We need to come up on our thinking and help the man, not put him down and tell him to leave. We just need to come up and I guess I just thought more of Percy.
6/16/2006 12:23 PM
Dr. Williams wont leave, he's got alot on his plate but he's a fighter, he'll fight, and most of his problems are not with people like us but with that board who wont let him live out his agenda.
6/16/2006 12:31 PM
Since Creg Williams arrived here, there has been nothing but attention on the SLPS...and not all of it bad for a change. It seems that I am able to see the more positive things that the students and even teachers and administrators are doing, and for some reason that was not higlighted in the past like it is today. I do believe that although Mr. Williams has not had Superintendent prior experience I surely don't think that his performance has been so terrible that Percy can resort to calling Creg some sort of 'grease ball' or something un-called for like that. I too have become inspired to help and be apart of what seems to be a vision that just might work with the proper support, funding and qualified staff. I do understand Percy's position on Slay, but I think to target Mr. Williams and call for the Board to not renew his contact was way out of scope and after that open letter if Mr. Williams hears or reads it, my heart hopes that he does not think that Percy's word represents all the concerned citizens.
6/16/2006 12:38 PM
Well let's not forget the ever-agreeable African-American female (most of the inept Local 420...it's an insult to the AFL-CIO, that call themselves union workers...you do actually have to work, rather than complain endlessly) finding every excuse to disagree with Superintendent Williams.
Mr. Williams, unlike 420's lapdog Cleveland Hammonds, is more than talk. He actually has a plan. Does the teacher's union have anything to say, other than "we want bigger paychecks, and do less than we are?" No wonder we have 37,000 students that disinterested in learning. Heck, the teachers can't be bothered to do it. Creg needs to fire all 3000+ teachers, and start from scratch. Preferably, but on the records of those teachers that are insubordinate, to ensure that don't ruin anymore school districts.
I wasn't wild about the Management team, or "Mayor" Slay's "slate" of board members, but I realised it's not the parents (parent involvment needs to be mandatory, not voluntary like it is) or the school board, or the community as much as we have too many inept, lazy, incompetent teachers in the classroom that need to go.
Don't blame it Creg that students aren't achieving. Look whose teaching them.
6/16/2006 12:39 PM
Dr. williams should fire 80% of the nucklehead teachers, QUESTION: has anyone in the last 3yrs seen a stlp student come home with homework from anyschool??? Has anyone heard of any highschool student from slps do a book report in the past 5 yrs. just look around.
6/16/2006 12:43 PM
Thanks to the blogger for the information about Percy being the "Green" in "Green v. McDonnel" I did not know 'he' was the one. WOW! What an accomplishment! Well, I too saw the open letter and have to say that I disagree as well. I feel good about supporting Williams. To my knowlege he tries to be as honest, open and upfront as possible in such a polital position. Its rare to find a person like that obviously. Its unfortunate that Green feels the way he does. But, if I were him...I would be more cautious in any reproach against Williams. There are many people in St. Louis who do feel that William's plan can work and finally turn a district around that has needed it for some time.
6/16/2006 12:51 PM
Creg Williams has always been the man for the job in my book. Whether he had the work experience or not...The moment I read his plan and saw the consistant determination he has for my child's education, I knew the Lord must have made him qualified to turn the SLPS into something wonderful. I thank God for Creg Williams...he gives me a glimmer of hope when there was none. Now use THAT in your next letter Percy!
6/16/2006 12:57 PM
Yea, he should just gone ahead and fire all these teachers for real. I wish it was something he could do about that Board too. It don't make no sense the way the Board be acting with him. Can't even approve a budget. The man told them that SLPS was broke, now why would the Board not want to adopt a plan to at least tightly manage the little money that is there? Its crazy. I agree with the one blogger...we just gone run the man out of St. Louis...cause we crazy.
6/16/2006 1:01 PM
All I know is Dr. Williams said he wanted the Teachers to keep their classrooms clean and they STILL complained about that. Thats all they seem to do and this man was still willing to give them a raise in the newly rejected budget. I would not have given them nothing. Mary Armstrong wants to know about 'mixed signals' and 'what is meant by the word performance?' What do you think it means? It means grade improvements, it means student accomplishments, it means did you meet your goals for the year. Until there are records of massive improvements throughout the SLPS (I'm not talking about just Metro) I'm not interested in hearing a word the Teachers Union has to say and Creg should take a moment and explain what the word 'performance' is to Mary Armstrong, because I'm afraid if she does not know the meaning by now, how can we expect that her school year was truly a 'high peforming one?'
6/16/2006 1:17 PM
I am a teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools. I agree that many teachers need to improve or be fired. It is extremely frustrating to be one of a few teachers that do the majority of the work in a school. The real issue that I have with SLPS is that the building administrators need to document low performing/ incompetent teachers and give them needed assistance to improve or remove them from our district. If there are high standards then many people will meet those standards. The problem that SLPS faces is the horrible choice of keeping an ineffective teacher or not filling the position at all. Another issue is that historically the majority of teachers hired for the elementary level have graduated from the same college which does not produce particularly competent professionals in my opinion. I am a member of the union mainly for the liability insurance and am becoming extremely agitated with the recent decisions of the union. I agree that I am concerned with my salary not so that I can be rich but so I can survive. I have two masters degrees and could make 15,000-20,000 more in the county. When you have children and will eventually need to pay for college you tend to look at your long-term financial situation. I have only taught in the city schools by choice and am happy to see that the salaries are competitive so that we can retain effective teachers. I do not worry about the extra time that I am required to work as I normally work at least 20-30 hours per week more than I am required. In addition to the many incompetent teachers in the district, there are many dedicated, wonderful teachers. The real issue is how will the district differentiate between the two groups? This task must fall on the building level leadership. My opinion is that the district must ensure that competent leaders are in place in every building and they are held accountable for guaranteeing an excellent education in every classroom. I have worked under principals who couldn't even write a grammatically correct sentence. How can you be inspired by a principal that doesn't even have basic language skills? My hope is that Dr. Williams will continue to bring accountability to the district and I hope that the days of hiring and promoting friends/ relatives will end. The purpose of the schools is to education ALL students and they should be our only focus.
6/16/2006 1:36 PM
I think the general public does not understand the teachers pointing out the cleanliness of the school. I have always swept my own room and cleaned boards as needed. The real issue is that since the Sodexo contract many buildings are not being kept clean at all. I work in a high school and the bathrooms smell so bad that they make me physically gag walking past them. Some floors are not mopped for a month until the principal complains. I don't think most teachers expect perfect rooms but want a school that is conducive to learning. Children should not be subjected to unsanitary restrooms and I don't think any teachers or certified staff members have the time or authority to clean restrooms or the cafeteria floor.
6/16/2006 1:44 PM
PUB DEF IS HOT THIS AFTERNOON!
6/16/2006 2:27 PM
That new camera looks great Antonio, but lay off the goofy iMovie effects from now on, ok?
6/16/2006 3:10 PM
Why is it that when ever some one starts talking about why St. Louis cant get over skin color people change the subject.
Percy is the ultimate warrior when it comes to standing up for equality in the work place.
This thread was talking about race until about 1:00pm.
Now it has turned into CRAIGS LIST, as in pro-Williams/anti teacher.
Did Craig call his friends so they could post?
The odd part is that the arguments are so parallel
White folks are not oppressing black folks any more - black folks are killing each other
Craig is not preventing kids from getting an education – Teachers are sabotaging the system.
Ultimately the people that are in power will always work to destabilize organized opposition.
People making money off of folks with little money want the status quo.
Craig making money off of “fixing” the school district wants the status quo.
If you look at the pool of people that get hired as inner city school superintendents you will notice that they all come in with PLANS FOR CHANGE then after 3-6 years of last minute proposals and releasing bad news, usually months after a decent solution could have been found, they leave for another school district.
BACK PARENTS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD… they will be around for the long haul.
6/16/2006 3:34 PM
I saw teachers emailing porn to each other all year long when I worked in the district
6/16/2006 3:41 PM
Ben Smith said... "That new camera looks great Antonio, but lay off the goofy iMovie effects from now on, ok?"
Jeez, everybody's a critic. Can't a brotha have some fun with a new toy? I chopped that video at 3 in the morning. I had to do *something* to keep it interesting.
Okay, no more goofy effects. But I didn't even get to use the kaleidoscope one yet! :(
6/16/2006 3:45 PM
It is easy to talk about firing incompetent teachers, but where do you propose to get their replacements? There were openings all year during 2005-2006 that were never filled, and many, many continuing substitute teachers every year. Until this country begins to value teaching as much as other professions, it will remain difficult to attract the best and brightest to educate our children. As long as there are not enough teachers, the ones we do have will get their choice of working in the districts with the fewest problems and the most support for their efforts. They need to send kids to college and save for retirement, too, you know.
6/16/2006 6:02 PM
Anony... The gov of MO just past law this week making online school legal. Hopefully this will lead to the closing of the city schools
6/16/2006 11:36 PM
Mr. French keep playing with your toys i think your videos are great, and add a nice touch. Thanks
6/17/2006 12:37 AM
Antonio, your site, your videos, your call--play all you want!
6/17/2006 10:20 AM
Percy Green is correct. The superintendent needs to go. He has shown no management skills in terms of collaborating with the teachers. Although he claims he met and collaborated with teachers in the reconstituted school, he did not. He is the only superintendent? in the metropolitan area who "fires" teachers in the media. Lately, we have seen some pretty heinous acts committed by local teachers, e.g, the teacher in Bellevelle? who attacked his student. That district has never announced that this individual is fired because the normal professional decision is to announce such to be a "personnel matter" Not Dr. Williams. Let's not forget that he sent termination notices to 1000 teachers, without determining whether all of these employees were due such awful treatment. He talked to the media about this, I believe before he talked to the teachers. Most school districts, even police departments announce that questionable employee behavior is a personnel matter first, and until the official decision is made, the media is not contacted. THIS IS POOR PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THIS SUPERINTENDENT!!! In fact it's unusually immature and shows almost inhumane insensitivity. No, he shouldn't go on. He needs to be required to take some courses in human relations, management skills, etc. before he goes to torture another school district. Unhappy, anxious employees cannot possibly attend to the many needs of our students nor give their best with such an indivual at the top, for fear that they may be arbitrarily fired at anytime.
A victimized teacher
6/19/2006 5:12 PM
I supported the election of Downs and Jones and the transfer of board power that it created. But the superintendent was hired with the affirmative votes of both board factions, and he should be accorded the opportunity to carry out his program. While both the board and the superintendent should remember that the elected board, not the appointed superintendent, is ultimately responsible to the people and has the final say, the board should refrain from micro-managing. The board must also do what boards for the past several years have not, and that is put the education of our children first, ahead of the agenda of whatever special interests (mayor, contrators, Local 420, whatever) they credit with putting them there.
Bottom line: Percy's criticisms are off the mark. Creg Williams deserves a chance to put his vision in place to save our schools.
6/19/2006 8:10 PM
creg does have a good plan, just takes time.
6/20/2006 10:44 PM
Dr. Williams is a good man and deserves a chance and that letter from Mr.. Green was bougus and wrong.
6/22/2006 5:43 AM
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