What would you say if the principal wasn't listening?
Mayor Dixon and Dr. Alonso are hosting a forum this afternoon for city teachers to voice their concerns about school safety and suggest solutions -- no administrators allowed. Fliers for the session stress that it will be confidential, an apparent recognition of the culture of fear of retaliation that pervades the city school system. The forum comes after two weeks of repeated incidents of violence in and around Baltimore's schools.
UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: By my count, about 300 teachers attended. I spoke to Dr. Alonso after the forum (which went until 7:30, an hour and a half past the time advertised), and he said he wants to start meeting with teachers on a monthly basis, like he does with principals. The purpose will be to get feedback on the system in general, not only on the issue of school violence. So to those of you who didn't know about this meeting or weren't able to attend, maybe there will be other opportunities.
Categories: Baltimore City, School Safety (Or Lack Thereof)
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
i'd be interested to hear how many teachers saw the flyer.
i found announcements sometimes, but not always, got through. also, not all the teachers in my building knew about all the things that were going on (e.g. available classe).
Posted by: jim | April 21, 2008 1:05 PM
This is definitely the first time I have heard about the forum, and I check my system email every day. No fliers or anything else were distributed at my school.
Posted by: A teacher | April 21, 2008 2:51 PM
I saw it. Hard to say how many will show, but whatever is said, I would hope the Sun or City will publish a transcript.
Posted by: VoiceForSchoolTruth | April 21, 2008 4:45 PM
I attended the meeting last night and was greatful for the opportunity to hear Dr. Alonso. The best part of the meeting to me was when Dr. Alonso and Mayor Dixon answered live questions from teachers in the meeting. He spoke earnestly and forthright about the discipline issues and other problems facing us (the teachers) on a daily basis. In my 12 years in Baltimore City schools this is the first time a CEO has every cared about what we have to say. And for that I am truly greatful
Posted by: Natalie | April 22, 2008 9:13 AM
I was at the meeting. It was a start in the right direction but there is so much that needs to be done. Our building is in chaos (weed smoking in the stairwell, books being thrown out of windows and damaging teacher's cars, non-stop fighting in the hallways, classrooms and restrooms being trashed, etc)
I agree with Dr. Alonzo's statements about kids having a right to an education but I wonder who will speak for the rights of the kids who are trying to learn in the midst of all of this chaos?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 22, 2008 4:54 PM
The Principal is always listening. It's whether he cares that matters.....
Posted by: Mary | April 22, 2008 8:19 PM
This is NOT the first time CEOs have held forums to listen to teachers: Dr Bonnie Copeland held an EXTENSIVE, planned, well-publicized SERIES of forums, inviting teachers to participate.
Posted by: M. | April 23, 2008 8:03 PM
M. is correct in that respect; I assisted with a forum that Dr. Copeland held at the former Southwestern High School at Senator Jones' request. It was not even Dr. Copeland's only forum of that day.
I did see a flyer about this week's forum but was unable to attend. Dr. Alonso sent an email to the entire BCPSS system yesterday, indicating that he'd like to do these meetings on a regular basis, (the phrasing mentioned "institutionaliz[ing] these forums") but there were no other details in that regard.
Posted by: Claude | April 23, 2008 10:29 PM