I'm surprised there wasn't a link to Gina Davis' article yesterday on Randallstown High School Principal Cheryl Pasteur. Here's an excerpt:

With strict enforcement of the tardiness policy, the hallways are generally clear of students. Anyone who is more than 10 minutes late to class is suspended for a day. Students found in the hallway between classes without a hall pass also are suspended. No questions asked; no excuses accepted.

I wonder how this policy would apply in Baltimore City.

Sara-

In response to both your January 8 article and this particualr blog, I commend you for questioning Ms. Kanter and the role she has played with Maritime and the allegations against Dr. Clark. Based on Ms. Kanter's response, I wasn't suprised to hear that she was "unable to substantiate" the allegations by Mr. Bernard and Ms. Evans. Moreover, I'm very familiar with JROTC progams within various high school's around the country and most 3-4 year cadets in the program are required to take leadership positions as squad leaders for younger cadets(9th-10th grade) as an opportunity to streghthen their leadership skills. If you look at the curricullium at other JROTC programs at other high school's, it's commom across the board. Here's a breif description of a JROTC program I am familiar with in the state of Washington:

"Gaining experience is where the learning really takes place. Our second year cadets are typically the squad leaders or fill the mid-level supervision positions within the staff sections. These positions are the beginning leadership spots where the cadet will train, supervise, and motivate 4 to 7 other cadets. From there more responsibility is laid on the cadets as they gain experience and confidence. Third year cadets are usually platoon and company leadership or filling the primary staff NCO or assistant officer positions within the staff sections"

Here's the link: http://lakeshsjrotc.org/aboutjrotc.html

Based on this description of this particular JROTC program, I can see how other students and their parents can misintepret how it may appear that another student was in charge when they were completing the JROTC's academic requirements.

Also, according to my few sources, Cammeron Evans was not enrolled in Mr. Bernard's according to the dates provided in previous articles. The class was set strictly for 9th graders, at the time Mr. Evans was an 11th grader and was often home schooled prior and during these allegations made by Ms. Evans. So how can she claim that this is now "unacceptable". Like I said in my previous post, Dr. Clark deserves Due Process from North Avenue.

ConcernedCitizen,

While having high expectations and stiff consequences is a good policy, it takes a special person to enforce. Cheryl Pasteur is one of those people. However, I know many schools (thinking of one in particular) where they brought in an authoritarian principal that never gained the respect of the children, and her hard style backfired. To be fair this is partially because of the ineffective staff and culture of failure. Regardless the school is an absolute mess.

My point is the answer isn't as easy as strict policy and enforcement. School's are big complex organisms with their own unique makeups and therefore problems and potential solutions.

Just a thought,

-Corey

A few of the big questions left are... Did the student who is in the article get marked present while he was home taking care of his children? Did the student have grades for the time he was out of class, teaching another class? i.e. supposed to be in Art, but teaching ROTC.

Mrs. Kanter isn't the one who is wrong here. I don't think she should be getting attacked for not catching Marco earlier or punishing him then. If I remember Marco had a 10 day suspension last year...

Corey,

I should have clarified my post. With respect to Pasteur, would a person like her be able to succeed in Baltimore City. Let's be honest, current policy from North Avenue discourages principals from suspending students. Everyone wants to make the numbers look good. Would a person like Pasteur be able to succeed? I recall reading another post about the high turnover of administrators in Baltimore City.

CC,

My answer would be absolutely, but I'm thinking of success in matters of degree. Like I said before one's ability to succeed would largely be dependent on the inherited teachers, facilities, and culture. Keeping kids out of the hallways is a huge part of classroom management. You can't teach if the kids aren't in the classroom or are out of control inside the classroom. If they're behaved and in the classroom attendance rates and test scores go up. North Ave likes these things.

However if she strictly enforced her suspension policy there might be no kids left at school to teach!

I don't know Pasteur beyond that article but I'd be willing to bet that sort of dedication would improve any school in Baltimore City.

TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF MARITIME ACADEMY. DON'T BLAME MY SON FOR YOUR PRINCIPAL LEAVING. YOU ARE OWED THE TRUTH. WE WERE ONLY BEING CONCERN PARENTS WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE RESULT OF WRITING A LETTER TO THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO OUR SON'S EDUCATION WOULD LEAD TO SUCH KAOS AS THIS. OUR CHILD CAME TO MARITIME FROM A DISTINGUISH UNIT WITH RANK ALREADY. WE THOUGHT THAT MARITIME WAS AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL. WE LEARNED SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT WAS NOT. IF YOU HAVE DONE YOUR HOMEWORK IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND YOU CAN ONLY GET INTO A SCHOOL OF CHOICE IN THE 9TH GRADE. MY SON ENTERED IN THE IITH GRADE. DR. CLARK MADE PROMISE TO OUR CHILD AND NOT SOLELY HIS FAULT HE COULD NOT LIVE UP TO THEM. MY SON IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT AND IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO DISCRIMINATE, CHALLENGE AND OR DEMAND A SERVICE TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU. THAT IS WHAT ASST. KEVIN BROOK TRY TO DO TO MY SON. IT WAS THE LETTER AND THIS INCIDENT THAT RETALIATION OCCUR ON MY SON. IT WAS STATED TO ME THE MY SON PROMOTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO BE TAKEN FROM HIM. THAT HE CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL BUT HE COULD NOT WEAR THE UNIFORM. WE WAS BANNED FROM THE SCHOOL AND BOTH PRINCIPAL TOLD STAFF THAT IF I CALL REFER ME BACK TO NORTH AVE. HIS GRADES WAS CHANGED 3 TIMES, YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS WHO WORK IN THE OFFICE REPORTED THAT WHILE MY SON WAS ON HOME TEACHING THEY WAS TOLD TO MARK HIM ABSENT WHEN THE ADMINISTRATORS KNEW THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THIS AND THAT OUR SON WAS ON HOME TEACHING. AND EVEN AFTER CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS TOLD DR. CLARK TO PUT MY SON BACK INTO THE NJROTC PROGRAM AND AN FULL RANK COMMANDING OFFICER RETALIATION STILL OCCUR. MISS BULTER WAS TOLD BY PRINCIPAL CLARK AND BROOK TO HAVE MY SON ESCORTED OUT OF THE BUILDING EVERYDAY WHILE EVERYONE ELSE WAS IN FORMATION IN THE CAFETERIA AND TO ANSWER SOME OF THE STUDENTS QUESTIONS WHY WASN'T HE ALLOWED IN THESE FORMATION IS A QUESTION YOU NEED TO ASK THE TWO ADMINISTRATOR. SO BLAME US IF YOU MUST. BUT OUR SON DO NOT DESERVE THIS. WE DID NOT BLOW ANY WHISTLE ON ANYONE. THE WHISTLE WAS BLOW BY THE STUDENT AND BY THE INVESTIGATION THAT WAS ON GOING BEFORE OUR SON STARTED ATTENDING THERE. YOU DON'T WANT HIM IN YOUR SCHOOL FINE AND WELL HE WILL BE ATTENDING AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL. I PRAY THAT YOUR SCHOOL WILL BECOME AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL. I WANT ALL OF YOU TO GET WHAT YOU CAME THERE FOR. I HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY AND HAVE THE NECESSARY 3 YEARS OF NJROTC BUT IF YOUR SCHOOL DOESN'T GIVE YOU THAT THAN DON'T WAIT FOR NORTH AVENUE TO MAKE ANY DECISION GET OUT AND FIND WHAT YOU NEED IN ANOTHER SCHOOL. AFTER ALL THIS IS YOUR CAREER. KEEP ON YOUR SCHOOL AND KEEP PROTESTING. YOU AND YOUR PARENTS ARE THE POWER AT THIS SCHOOL YOU MAKE THE OVERALL DECISIONS AT YOUR SCHOOL. TO DR. CLARK AND MR. BROOKS SINCE YOU COULD NOT APOLOGIZE TO US FOR WHAT YOU DONE. I WILL SAY THIS. I FORGIVE YOU. I PRAY THAT YOU WILL NEVER DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO OUR CHILD. NOT ONCE DID YOU CALL WHILE HE WAS HOME AND ASK HOW WAS HE DOING OR EVEN HOW CAN I GET YOU BACK IN SCHOOL. HE LOOK UP TO YOU ALSO JUST LIKE THE OTHER STUDENTS AT MARITIME BUT YOU DISAPPOINT HIM. HE WAS LOYAL TO YOU AND THE SCHOOL BUT YOU HURT HIM. WE DID NOT BLOW THE WHISTLE ON YOU. BUT WE DID ASK THAT MR. BROOK BE FIRED!!

Corey,

One question, how do you enforce rules and maintain order if you there are no consequences?

Mrs. Evans,

It is a shame that you went through this. It is unacceptable in every way and your son deserves to be at another school so he can finish school in a safe and productive environment.

Question: Students working in the office were entering attendance information? I have a big problem with that. Students should not be marking attendance, thats a legal document.

CC,

You don't. Have I ever claimed otherwise?

Corey,

Just checking, I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

CC