The school system has undergone too much upheaval the past few years to undergo another change. What does the mayor want to do that she is not doing now? Is it a matter of city pride? I don't disagree with that, but it is much too much at this point.
By the way, how many schools who made AYP lost good teachers in the latest broom sweep of Alonso's? How many teachers were lost in total? Why didn't the Sun report it? How many teachers who speak English as a second language will be replacing those teachers this fall. I am disappointed that the Sun did not cover this.

The Broom Sweeping of Alonso's? Really this was something different. From what I understand the system finally cracked down on teachers who had not been able to pass the PRAXIS. I realize that this assessment (like all assessments say like the MSA or HSA) doesn't describe the quality of the person taking it, doesn't determine how good a teacher the person is and doesn't tell us much about their ability to motivate and move students forward. I also personally know some teachers who were cut who were great and had already been doing the job well for years. Having said that, there should be some level of quality that we agree that teachers have. I am all for alternative pathways to certification (being the product of such quite a few years back), but that's not what exists. I am not sure why we don't believe that all teachers should be able to pass an assessment. I am also not sure why we don't push, as a profession, for something different if we feel like people are great teachers without being able to pass the test. Instead we complain about how unfair things are when we know good people who got cut because of the test. We also complain about poor quality teachers who stay. It's a tough one. What I do know, is that this isn't Alonso's move, it's a state requirement.

And as for the Mayor taking over the system, I think, for the first time in a generation, there is forward movement and momentum in BCPSS. What I question is why there needs to be this move now. Brian Morris and the rest of the Board gang did something visionary in hiring and then supporting Dr. Alonso. Let the Mayor not screw that up now.

Morris and the Board have their own personal agenda, there are at least 2 members on the Board whose positions should be questioned, they have a conflict of interest that has never been looked into because no one wants to step on toes and continue to keep the can of worms opened until the worms are all gone from the schools. I too wonder exactly what the Mayor has in mind. I am also fed up with the community people being content with what is and has been happening for quite some time just because of the assessments. They still need to be questioned, we will have plenty of students going into their next grade level reading and doing math way below the standards that they should be. Stop being content when you hear assessments are at an all time high and question the Board as to why Kiki stll can't read and Joshua has just given up on school. It has a lot more to do with how children are talked to and mistreated in schools and a lot less to do with parents and children who do not care.

Until the parents of Baltimore City view the school systems as something more than a babysitting service, we are doomed to failure. School programs are dictated by MTA schedules, FARMS qualifications and qualifications for state benefits. The only time we see some parents is when they have to have paperwork signed to keep state/federal benefits coming in to the home. Good schools demand that students/parents/teachers and others all pick up their end of the system and demand the best. Baltimore City does not have equitable distribution of responsibility. Let the Mayor and the School Board address that issue--Oops! I forgot that is a political decision no one wants to confront. Sorry!

No problem speaking in vague generalizations to condemn all BCPSS parents, eh "vetern [sic] teacher"? When you're looking for involved caring parents, perhaps the school system could schedule meetings at times that don't require me missing work. And I too could make sweeping generalizations. I've come across more then a few bad teachers in the last nine years. Then I remember the good, caring teachers would be swept up in that, and so I don't generalize. So, instead of pointing fingers at each other, maybe we should come up with some real plans for improvement. It seems like Alonso's emphasis in community involvement could help. Do you have any ideas?

I must have offended the powers, because my earlier posting is gone.

Dear Parent,

I agree that generalizations are not true; however, at my school, within the past year, we scheduled parent conferences at 4 p.m., 6 p.m, 7:30 p.m. and not just at the school either. We have made effort after effort to get parents to come in--calling them ahead of time, offering giveaways, etc. What was the result? The highest turnout we had was 40 parents for a school of over 1200 students. What does that say? I know bad teachers and good teachers but I have taught in two other systems besides BCPSS and have yet to see the type of parental engagement that betters the schools. The only time parents really get excited about the schools is when their students are suspended or otherwise "dissed" in some way. And I am not just saying that parents of BCPSS students should get involved. Any one who is a parent that lives in the Baltimore City area should demand that the schools improve and take steps to assist in the process. That is how schools get noticed and how schools are changed.

The bigger question seems to be why on Earth the Mayor wants to do what she's doing at this point. Now that test scores seem to be going up, expectations are rising, there is hope in the system for parents, teachers, and students, real change is on the way. If this Mayor believes this is the right course of action at this point she is sadly mistaken. As for her assertion that things are moving too fast, I have asked this before in other posts:

Do people really believe that for the students, parents and community members who are attending some of the worst schools that things are moving too fast? I worked at one of the schools where failure was simply a way of doing business. It was this way in the mid 90's and continues to be this way now. For the students who pass thorough those hallways and classrooms, for the dedicated teachers who try their hardest in the face of an impossible situation and for the parents who send us the best kids they have, there is now way that things are moving too fast. In fact, I would say, years too slow. For the Mayor to fail to recognize this is a shame. And will spell the end to real meaningful reform in the system.

To appoint Giddings and the rest of those who are satisfied with things the way they used to be, with the failure of schools for generations, for the profit that was being made from this failure, to the selection committee for new school board members is almost laughable if it weren't so freaking sad. If this plan goes through and Alonso is really cut off at the knees I will weep for the kids and families who send their kids to City schools and for the families who live in this city. Including my own.

How about Alonso take over City Hall? I'm thinking that might work better than Dixon taking control of North Avenue...