By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 8:39 AM
Several dozen or more people are expected to stage a protest in the rotunda of City Hall at noon on Friday in opposition to the planned takeover of St. Louis Public Schools. Labels: Schools
Organizers, which include parents, activists and members of the teachers' union, are calling the event a "teach-in". Click here to view their flier.
40 Comments:
If our teachers would actually TEACH IN our schools, we wouldn't need a takeover.
2/27/2007 9:40 AM
Since when is Shrewsbury responsible for the state's actions? Will this be made into an issue by the Reed campaign?
2/27/2007 9:43 AM
A protest now...seems like someone is too late. Stop fighting and start teaching and maybe, just maybe the test scores would be better, our kids would be able to read, and the state wouldn't need to takeover.
2/27/2007 11:15 AM
If the teachers union worked half as hard at actually doing their job, rather than keeping their power - they wouldn't be in this mess.
2/27/2007 11:57 AM
I'm sick to death of all the teacher-bashing going around here. If you knew a 10th of the things our teachers have to face in the course of a typical day, you would shut your glib mouths. 90% of the problems facing our schools are societal ones. We aren't willing to make the hard choices to fix the social ills of our city, so teachers make a convenient target. Much better to find a scapegoat than to accept your own role in society and maybe have to make some sacrifices to fix things huh?
As for teachers opposing this takeover to preserve their jobs, if they see a thinly-disguised attempt to assert rural control over urban areas, to bust unions and privatize schools, incidently causing them to lose their jobs, are they supposed to just sit back and say nothing? Would you, if it was your job, in fact, your very profession, on the chopping block?
2/27/2007 12:35 PM
I passionately oppose the takeover.
I think the teach-in is ill advised.
Slay's puppy dog media will have a field day with this.
2/27/2007 12:46 PM
Teachers as scapegoats? Did you see their flier portraying the takeover as the work of Blunt/Slay/Shrewsbury?
2/27/2007 1:29 PM
The teacher's union has nothing to do with this. It's Eric Vickers' baby.
2/27/2007 1:43 PM
Ok, teachers, remember you are trained and STATE certified professionals (like doctors, and lawyers, CPA's and so on.) These professions face dire consequences for not doing their job correctly. What are we suppose to do about STATE Certified teachers? Let them get away with things like social promotions. How long has this been going on? How many "good" teachers know about it and have not made compliants to the state? Passing a CHILD when they are not ready is CRIMINAL. There are lots of problems in our society that have had a negative impact on our schools. I also know there are alot of college educated adults that can do something about it. Why arent they doing this?
2/27/2007 2:00 PM
Passing a CHILD when they are not ready is CRIMINAL.
Maybe it is. What if the CHILD has figured out that if he does nothing, just causes trouble and interruptions in class and is retained, (especially for the second time), then he can look forward to a year where he can be a big shot---physically and sexually intimidating to his classmates.
The easiest answer would be to send him to the open arms of a private school---they would be glad to fix his problems.
2/27/2007 4:26 PM
Well the pdf pretty much says it all. It is no wonder the schools are in the condition they are in. The teachers seemed to spell school wrong in the pdf as scool. Yep, that pretty much says it all. Either they couldn't spell or they couldn't proof read their work. They have only succeeded in making fools of themselves and giving more reason to take over the schools.
2/27/2007 5:06 PM
I agree that this is a bigger issue than teachers doing their job, but the state takeover is contingent on failing accreditation. This means that all the teachers have to do to stop the state from coming in is make sure the students are learning! No "sit-in" needed.
2/27/2007 5:17 PM
Once again, this is not the doing of the union! Where on that flyer do you see that--nowhere.
2/27/2007 5:42 PM
What POWER is being stripped form the board. Im sure its not the power to educate our children successfully. Who put the school district in bad shape? Roberti? Slay? Prove it! I graduated from Soldan in 1982. Back then there were several people who couldnt read but play some type of sport. None of those cats on the flier were even around.
What happens we give the SLPS another chance. Whats the deal with all the "new" initatives. It seems to me that the system knows it has a problem but is in denial that they don't have the expertise to teach today's children.
If Diane Bourisaw (sp?) is supposed to be "qualified to handle the issue, then hell, some good ol gals and guys from rual Missouri can.
The bottom line people is this,Its about bringing people (money) to this city. Its about our property values going up and money in our pockets.The city is trying to be business like instead of some damn social club for a change, so give them a chance. No smart tax paying parent is going to move to city. We dont have time to experiment with our precious children just to be politically correct. Are people in the city not interested in pulling together to make some money? Dont we want our children to qualify for the great jobs that many powerful people are trying to attract to our great city.
All I'm asking is that we try something different for a change and not try to hold on to something that hasnt changed.
2/27/2007 10:48 PM
The union and Bourisaw are behind this. Don't blame in on Vickers. Get this lady out and her few trouble making board members and then the those that want to help will have a starting people. Bourisaw is worst than the board. She has caused trouble everywhere she has worked.
2/27/2007 11:43 PM
social promotion by teachers?
teachers are powerless to retain students who don't perform
i have not promoted students, only to return to work in the fall and see them assigned to the next grade
blame principals who override teachers recommendations and the board for reprimanding principals who have the courage to retain non performing students
2/28/2007 8:50 AM
Just get Bourisaw and her four goofy board members which include Fowler out.
2/28/2007 9:50 AM
Maybe they should learn to spell?
SCOOL?
Lord have mercy. Typo or not, what a symbolic statement.
2/28/2007 10:07 AM
I'm not blaming it on Vickers, I'm just stating the truth. He's pulling this together. He's the one who was on Fox 2 calling for this. You obviously have no actual connections to the Board, Bourisaw, or the community, which supports Bourisaw handily as the Harris Stowe meeting and all parent input has shown. If Bourisaw had anything to do with it, she would have spelled "school" correctly.
2/28/2007 10:27 AM
SCOOL?
Lord have mercy. Typo or not, what a symbolic statement.
II cannot disagree. I also noticed a legislator who offered a bill in which she says she cannot in good conscious support the takeover. With the stupidity of the takeover farce, maybe conscious is just as appropriate as conscience.
But there are symbolic statements and there are symbolic statements.
We have the haughty Post Dispatch editorial page making fun of Governor Blunt for his bungling of the Agriculture sexual harrassment matter, complete with a cover-up from of where the funds were acquired for a payoff, and the illegal use of the state patrol.
Yet, this same editorial group has no problem giving Governor Blunt the power to appoint the ceo of slps, a person answerable to no one, whether they misspell a word, order classes in the scientific basis or creationism, or just have a little fun grabbing Dr. Bourisaw's ass before they fire her.
2/28/2007 11:49 AM
The teachers union have had their priorities mixed up for quite some time. They have defended their own selfish interest over the children's in order to keep their money and influence. What they are really afraid of is that the state will come in and take the 1 billion dollar pot they have and use it to eliminate the debt of St. Louis public schools. They yell that they need more money, but don't like to bring up how much they have. They blame everyone else for the failure yet deny their part. The more they yell and scream, the more it becomes obvious as to what part they played in the failure of the schools. It is time to hang it up and find a new approach. How about focusing on the children?
2/28/2007 12:00 PM
It is a shame. Back in the day, teachers had 45 students in a classroom and seemed to manage them just fine. Teachers had less money, less technology, less convienences and were able to motivate children, manage their numbers, and get them to learn. They would go to their homes and stay late after school. Why, because they loved them. Now many are lazy, apathetic, cynical, judgmental, angry, and think very poorly of the children. They have referred to them as terroist, hellions, thugs, not to mention the academic labels of learning disabled. The children will only achieve the highest level expected of them. If the teachers expectations are low, the childern's performanace will only follow suit. They need to be focusing on reaching children rather than blaming everyone and fighting for the very low status quo.
2/28/2007 12:08 PM
Bourisaw is encouraging a lot of this trouble. She continues to tell the staff that she has an in with the state. This lady has a history of trouble. Some think she just want to see her wrinkles on TV. Send her back to the steel town she came from. She is a racist along with Purdy and Downs. Face it it is no way the state will let two dumbs like Purdy and Downs run the district.
2/28/2007 1:59 PM
I knew that Bourisaw was trouble when she lied about her job in Sacremento schools. She said that she was superintendent of over 40,000 students when it was more like 10,000 and a small portion of the Sacremento school district. It was a bold face lie made in front of everyone when she became the new superintendent. What is really revealing is that the state of California took over several of the schools she was in charge of right after she left. She seems to have a history of schools and state takeovers.
I also understand that they don't have the records to show the college placement of graduates. So much for that. More lies.
2/28/2007 3:39 PM
If they don't have the records its because Williams and his predecessors didn't keep them.
2/28/2007 3:47 PM
Where the hell did you go to school
to trash teachers with such bile?
The interests taking over the
St. Louis Public Schools are associated with the extreme right wing. Check out "All Children Matter" and how they buy influence.
Something different -like spending taxpayer dollars on private and parochial schools? The teacher's union had nothing to do with the flier. Why are Blunt, Slay, Hubbard
and Cunningham all lined up together? Follow the $
2/28/2007 4:07 PM
Veronica, the woman who doesn't even take care of her own children, her imprint is on some of these postings.
Lord have mercy and deliver us all from a sick woman's influence.
2/28/2007 4:45 PM
Give Veronica credit----no one put 12 bullets into them like they did Timothy Bacon.
She did what she had to do.
2/28/2007 7:30 PM
Follow the $
There is a billion dollar teacher fund that has just as much money to follow as anyone else. Frankly, the teachers union has the most to loose. Maybe that is why they are fighting the hardest. The hundreds or even thousands the other groups may have are nominal compared to millions and billions. The union contributes monies to their favorite politicians just like All Children Matter. They threaten them into doing what they want like so many others. That is why some politicians will do the unions bidding regardless of if it truly is in the best interest of the children.
2/28/2007 11:20 PM
Those lousy, lazy, stupid, good-for-nothing fuc---g teachers! Thank God you all are here to put the blame where it belongs...on those worthless, piece of crap teachers.
And while we are at it...how about those crappy fire fighters? If they would just learn to fight fires instead of worrying about their HUGE salaries, we wouldn't have any fires!
And if those damn policemen would learn to police, we wouldn't have any crime!
And those damn garbagemen...if they would learn to pick up our garbage correctly, we wouldn't have any pollution or litter!
Fire all of them!
2/28/2007 11:24 PM
Jim I think this is a little extreme. I dont think anybody thinks that about the teachers. I think people are tired. Hell teachers are blaming principals so something is wrong, really wrong. Teachers of urban schools know what they will have to face it was taught to them in college. Just like fireman and police have been prepared to work in an urban setting.
We can see the work the fire department is doing. And could you imagine what North St. Louis would really be like if police really werent doing their job.
Loosen up! There has been alot of changes to all the professions you listed but the school situation has not.
3/01/2007 7:34 AM
Three letters in the New York Times:
The issues and problems replicate themselves across the nation. Pay particular attention to the problems facing teachers that teachers years ago didn't have to deal with.
"To the Editor:
Your suggested remedies for educational deficiencies in our 12th graders are characterized as “far-reaching structural changes.” They include better standards, higher teacher qualifications and better financing for teacher colleges.
But what if a large part of the problem has nothing to do with teachers? Have you considered distraction and exhaustion?
Here are some trends in today’s youth and education when compared with kids of an earlier, higher-achieving age: less discipline in the classroom; more sexual activity with predictable drama; easy availability of street drugs; exploding increases in communications (cellphones, e-mail, chat rooms, YouTube); lack of free time (overscheduled extracurricular activities, too much homework); reduced family time and influence, along with bad parental example (who has time to read?); and tension from religious, cultural, ethnic and racial differences.
Do any of these play a role in reducing performance? Or will you still blame the teachers?
Lon Nesseler
San Diego, Feb. 27, 2007
•
To the Editor:
I am in full agreement that the state of public education in our country needs to change, and the most recent national report card on literacy and math skills is evidence of this need.
But I am not in full agreement with your suggested solution. You imply that the reason students aren’t doing well is that teachers are doing a poor job of teaching.
Over all, teachers do the best job they can given the circumstances. This reality is a symptom of a system that has few incentives to bring in the best and the brightest people to prepare our youth.
It has become increasingly difficult to teach because of the growing number of special-needs students in mainstream classes even as class resources are shrinking and class sizes are growing.
It is quite simple: if we want test scores to improve, we need to make class sizes smaller, invest more money in education (including lengthening the school year and student time in class), and provide more resources to teachers to help with increasingly diverse populations of students of various abilities and learning needs.
William Bucknum
Prineville, Ore., Feb. 27, 2007
The writer is a social studies teacher.
•
To the Editor:
Your editorial about the deplorable lack of reading and math skills among this nation’s 12th graders could not come at a better time.
You decry the “odious practice of supplying the neediest students with the least qualified teachers.” Usually, the neediest students are in inner-city schools. Most teachers avoid these schools for fear of their own safety.
Why would any teacher want to be in a dangerous environment?
Parents and students bear some responsibility for scaring away some of the best qualified and caring teachers.
Jennifer Bommentre
Minneapolis, Feb. 27, 2007"
3/01/2007 8:57 AM
I acknowledge that in previous years teachers visited student's homes, and remained many hours after school. It's true, there were 45-55 students in a class. What this person has omitted is the fact that these same overcrowded classes led to a natural attrition of students otherwise known as 'dropping out.' The difference for 'dropouts' then from now--is back then there were jobs in factories paying good UNION WAGES. SUCH JOBS HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCED OVERSEAS PAYING WORKERS PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR. The students who remained were academically or financially able to remain and graduate. Many factors were involved in this poster's overly simplistic diatribe.
As a teacher; I too have spent hours after school, visited student's homes and worked on weekends for school/neighborhood based events. I did so without any pay, but because I felt this helped my students. I resent the statement that teachers who have remained do so because of laziness and not because of dedication.
Times have changed, and so have the communities. We live in a coarse and vulgar time where education is mocked--not valued. I have witnessed teachers refusing to promote students who did not earn promotion only to have parents pressure Principals to overturn the teacher's recommendation. Perhaps if the poster complaining actually KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT THE SCHOOLS, THEY COULD COMMENT WITH SOME INTELLIGENCE. Instead of students reading literature--they instant message their friends or listen to an i-pod. Instead of studying--these students e-mail friends about social life. Instead of instilling patience in children--parents expect instant progress without their darling having to commit to the hard work of studying. How is it that cultures producing stronger students also demand hard work, concentrated study, and courteous behavior from their youth are not held up as examples to be emulated. Instead we bash and scapegoat teachers instead of demanding that parents and our society push our children to exhibit the same hard work, concnetrated study and courteous behavior. If our students and their families committed to these principles--this discussion would be moot.
The politicians at local and state levels know this. Civic progress knows this. If you are serious about 'fixing the schools,' then these are the qualities that must be expected as routine. Imagine. All this from a 'lazy, greedy teacher.' Keep in mind--teachers don't make some 85,000. a year for one day of work a week. Shrewsbury does. Just a thought.
Gadfly
PS: Nobody is fooled by you Veronica. We know you're one of the ruder posters.
3/01/2007 11:31 AM
Nobody scapegoats teachers. I am sure that everyone that reads this knows that there are great teachers out there. I am sure we also know that there are some really poor ones too. What the public has been seeing lately is that teachers are blaming everyone and everything else with the exception of themselves. They are picketing folks, blocking appointments, getting rid of superintendents, principles,school board members,blocking legislation, complaining about this, that, and them all while protecting their personal pot. They blame the mayor, the governor, charter schools, school choice, parents, principals, Veronica, legislators,etc. All of these activities take up a great deal of time and energy that could better be spent on the children. Sure all of these things contribute to the problem. But ignoring the impact of teachers on this issue is hypocritical. It is also hypocritical because most people recognize that over 50% of the teachers don't even live in the district nor do they send their children to SLPS. I think people are just saying stop pointing out the splinters in others eye and take out the log in your own.
To jump up and say " oh!, you are against teachers!" when someone points out these observations is simply a diversion tactic to get you away from the issue.
3/01/2007 1:22 PM
"They are picketing folks, blocking appointments, getting rid of superintendents, principles,school board members,blocking legislation, complaining....."
I am glad you are not scapegoating them.
So---when the promise of a united school board clobbers them with the fiasco that was Roberti----when they help elect members of the board who are unwilling to let a superintendent protect one of their colleagues who stealing from the school, (not to mention beating up special ed students), when the try their darndest to support the one superintendent not chosen by Clay who seems to have a plan and a clue------they are being irresponsible?
By the way---are they getting rid of principals or principles?
3/01/2007 1:45 PM
"They are picketing folks, blocking appointments, getting rid of superintendents, principles,school board members,blocking legislation, complaining....."
I am glad you are not scapegoating them.
So---when the promise of a united school board clobbers them with the fiasco that was Roberti----when they help elect members of the board who are unwilling to let a superintendent protect one of their colleagues who stealing from the school, (not to mention beating up special ed students), when the try their darndest to support the one superintendent not chosen by Clay who seems to have a plan and a clue------they are being irresponsible?
By the way---are they getting rid of principals or principles?
3/01/2007 1:46 PM
slay, not clay.
3/01/2007 1:49 PM
Looks like SLPS wasn't able to show documentation of grads entering college. That was their last shot. They can protest all they want. They haven't got a chance.
3/01/2007 6:34 PM
Will the usual same posters ever stop talking about O'Brien and Slay. You all can't say or do anything without talking about the two of them. You blame postings on them. Come on folks we all know that the owner and school board friends have the ability to check the identity of the posters so it's no secret. Move on folks you didn't make the grade let the children have a chance.
3/01/2007 10:33 PM
Amen- Amen about the Teacher's Union. That president Mary Armstrong seems to be missing in action. I hear she's going to run for president of the union again. WHY?? Why?? Why?? Could it be that $90,000 I hear she makes?
What has she done for any of us lately, meaning the slps community. She should have been protesting way back when Roberti took that 6 million dollars & closed all those schools in north St. Louis. That meant that the kids in North St. Louis had to go further to school,but nothing from the union president. Roberti took away the employees sick days, Ms Mary never said a word. Then he paid all those consultants excessive amounts of taxpayer dollarss and they laid off l500 plus employees. Meanwhile the teachers hadn't gotten a raise in five years. All was quiet from her. Sometimes she gets on the bandwagon when she has to save face. I keep reading attacks on the teachers union but the union et.al are not doing much or even demanding much.
When they first started talking about a state take over, she never said much. Isn't that odd? Would the UAW or other unions be this quiet? Absolutely Not. Even other surrounding teachers unions have wondered what's up with this situation in slps.
All food for thought. Maybe we need to wonder why is this situation this way?
3/01/2007 11:40 PM
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