These "conversations" are a complete waste of time. The solution is so simple. The violent/insubordinate students need to be isolated from the rest of the general population. If consequences were given for displaying poor behavior then at least 95% of school violence would end. Why are we still having this discussion?

Thank you for posting this. I have just checked in the school office, on Blackboard and on the bcps.k12 site and there is no information about these forums. If they really want us to attend, they need to do a better job publicizing such events.

Speaking of forums - I've yet to hear anything about anything that has happened as a result of the forum we had on April 21st. I understand that it's too soon to have any definitive plan mapped out, but it would be nice to hear about what may be in the works.

I'd just like to add that it's a shame that MSDE has scheduled the forum on school safety on a day when schools are in session and teachers, who are on the front lines, will be unable to attend. Clearly our input/enlightenment is not a priority.

Dear Avalon,

You think that it is too soon to have a plan developed from April 21st? Not so. If this had to do with something that North Avenue initiated, the plan would have been in place within a week. Additionally, do you really think that MSDE wants teachers there?

Avalon- The info. is, in fact, on the BCPSS website. Try using this link: http://www.bcpss.org/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_157562_1

The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...

My first thoughts PRECISELY, Avalon: a forum on school safety when teachers can't attend. Why not wait two simple weeks to hold the forum when teachers could attend?!?! Ooops -- I forgot -- school violence is probably the teachers' fault, anyways -- using trigger words, not planning well enough, etc.

And if a teacher wanted to possibly use a personal day to attend the forum, it's too late to submit the request for a personal day which has to be submitted at least 2 days in advance, and guess what?!?! BCPSS teachers haven't been told about this yet -- Avalon is correct: no notices in teachers' mailboxes, no notice on Blackboard...

HMMMMM... teachers sure are valued...

Ooops -- I just visited the website for the forum -- it's an "invitational" event... Even nicer and more exclusive -- not open to anyone, I assume?!?! So OPEN to dialogue and feedback... Who's paying for this?!?!

It's being facilitated by 2 national experts on urban teens and violence -- WELL, that's probably the most insulting thing I have read lately -- apparently, BCPSS teachers are not experts on urban teens or teen violence.

Have these experts TAUGHT in a public school for a few years?!?! Come ON!

Ya'll need to calm down. First of all, the "summit" is an MSDE event, so don't blame the BCPSS AGAIN for this one. You want to moan that it's invitation only, yap at Ms. Nancy. And again, for those of you who are complaining that the forums are not being advertised, they are in fact on the BCPSS website. Go to the home page and at the top, in the middle in living color, is a box of changing info...one of them is about the forums.

SJR, your patronizing tone is rather insulting and not at all helpful. We don't need to calm down, we're not moaning and we have already noted that the summit is an MSDE event. As for the advertising - if it's difficult to find when you're specifically looking for it, imagine how difficult it is to notice when you know nothing about it to begin with.

Guess what, SJR? That BCPSS homepage you talk about shows up in two different versions: one for those NOT on the BCPSS network (the general public), and one for BCPSS employees inside the network.

ALSO, no one is blaming "just" the BCPSS -- guess what? At this point, I'll blame anyone who breathes when I see how teachers and students in the BCPSS are constantly ignored and disrespected.

I will never "calm down" until kids in Baltimore City have the same opportunities in their public education as kids in Montgomery County. Both populations are innocent -- they can't help how much money their parents make -- and that shouldn't determine the quality of a public education in this country, but we all, for some reason, accept it. YOU should get more angry about it...

Hi All,

I hope that someone from the Sun(maybe Sara) can attend and ask questions.

1. If it is geared toward telling educators how to "create a better learning environment" why weren't we invited.

2. What first hand experience do these men have in working with urban teens?

3. What about urban young children and preteens because they pose threats as well?

4. Why is everything always the teachers fault?

It amazes me the level of disrespect that our elected and unelected officials have for teachers, I dare say particularly those in Baltimore City. If you read the press release, there are several things that strike you as inconsistant with the open, inclusive, engaging philosphy that our leaders claim they imbrace.

1. Why is it invitational? The people who will have the most impact on the discussion and the results are probably not invited.

2. The people involved in the discussion are (from the website) elected officials (who ALWAYS have their own agenda), law enforcement, parents (who, in many cases where students misbehave, are the problem)and students (who are not often raised to take responsibility but project blame onto others.

3. The goal is to tell us (educators) how to strengten safety (with what resources) and create a better learning environment (half the issue is the physical enviroment, facilities, etc over which we have no control).

Again, teacher have so little control yet nearly everything is placed at our feet with few people (unions, adminstratiors, ourselves) defending us.

Nothing will change as long as we continue to live in a world where parents are seen as victims. We exist in a system where "blaming the victim" is unacceptable so we will never demand that parents take responsibility.

Schools however, are under the domain of the government and the least bureaucratic position is that of teacher. We become the easy scapegoats of reform.

This is a political stunt for Cummings, Brown and Grasmick to say (to those for whom they think it counts) 'look what we did'. Nothing more.

Teachers would tell it like it is and they don't really want that. That is why we were not invited.

I'm not sure what flyer most of you are reading, but the one on the BCPSS website states that not only is the forum in the evening and on a Saturday, but it is open to all stakeholders.

Additionally, let's be reminded that while teachers are vital elements in keeping our schools safe, so are the parents. As a district, we have to better engage them so that they will help our students take more responsibility for their action.

Teachers had an opportunity to share insight about school safey at a forum held at PDC this spring. This is now the parents' opportunity to get involved.

Everything in BCPSS is not perfect, but leveling the blame the way some in this forum have is really an unrealistic way to even think about solving the problem. Rather than condeming the decision makers in this district for attempting to find solutions, I dare you to show up at the forum and give your input. I'm sure you'll have insight - you seem to think you have all of the answers in this forum.

Sorry -- I used "summit" and "forums" incorrectly. They are separate events.

The 3 FORUMS are in the evening and on the weekend.

The SUMMIT at UMBC (of which I spoke) is an invitational event, and I have quoted the website here:

"WHAT: The Summit on School Safety Solutions, an invitational event designed to help educators develop strategies that will allow their schools to be safe havens for learning. Elected officials, law enforcement representatives, parents, and students will join in the discussion.

National experts will join local leaders to discuss violence in the schools, and help craft ideas to strengthen safety and create better learning environments. They are: Ivan Juzang, a national expert on urban teens and youth violence (9:30 a.m.), and Dr. Sam Goldstein, a psychologist and national authority on effective responses to teen violence (11:45 a.m.).

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2008"

NO TEACHERS, baltimoremom...

And YES, I will place a good portion of blame for the BCPSS' problems on administrators who fail to follow through on their own rules with consistent consequences; who expect teachers to follow procedures but who don't follow procedures themselves; and for lacking the courage to stand up for the kids in front of government and demand the only thing that will make a difference for kids in the city: equitable funding.

Actually, I take that back: we don't need equitable funding -- kids in poverty need 3 to 5 times more money than their affluent peers so that all the hell they have been put through by life can be remediated...

In my 12 years of teaching in the city, I have met 2 or 3 administrators who "walk their talk," and 10 times that many teachers who do so.

I understand that the summit is invitational, but it seems to me that the forum offered by BCPSS is open to all - as it should be. I can only comment on the BCPSS forum, as that is the only one I've seen.

I hold firm, though, to the fact that it should be parents attending these meetings. Who else, really, is responsible for the students. Parents have to step up and say enough is enough - I want my child to have a safe and nurturing enviroment for the 6 and a half hours they are in school each day. They need to admit that their involvment in Johnny's education has been lax but they are going to do better - and they need to mean it.

I too am a city educator who had more than one child with disruptive behavior problems. Sadly, more often than not it was the child whose parents were either lacking in education, very young, involved in drugs, didn't care or any combination of these things.

The teachers are working so hard - no one that I know disputes that. But my colleagues and I recognize that we are facing insurmountable odds that can only be remedied by the realization by politicos and decision makers that the social issues are the root of the problem and that these social issues must be addressed and that the community must be engaged as a part of the solution.

I expect that these forums (tonight, Thursday night, and Saturday morning) will be more than empty talk. One of the issues being discussed will be the new Student Code of Conduct, which has been developed over the past year to reflect a commitment to correcting misbehaviors and teaching appropriate behavior within classrooms and schools in a way that is fair and consistent throughout BCPSS. It really does represent a significant and positive change in BCPSS's Code of Coduct.

With a new Code, there will be much to discuss, particularly how BCPSS will ensure that every school has the staff, programs, and services that will be needed to support the Code.

I hope folks who read this blog will try to make it to one of the sessions and help to strengthen the Code and its implementation.

I am a student here in a Baltimore City High School. I had went to one of the school safety summits on yesterday at my school. I now clearly know that the proposal for next year would be better off cracking down on students that are very violent. The student that had assaulted Berry at another school in this city should have been expelled. Principals feel that if they are not reporting these incidents, they will not be on the dangerous schools list.