3/28/2008 OPINION GUEST COLUMN
Is It the Schools That Are Failing?
By Peggie Cypher
Special to Toledo Free Press
http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=7501
A must read..........something I have been trying to say here, that many deny. and continue to blame our school district. Also, remember 5 out of 7 Libbey graduating basketball seniors are going off to college this fall! Way to go.......
I could have not said it better.
Do you have a response Twila or Steve?
I'll post in more detail in a day or two about the content of the article as I intend to write a short response.
But let me put this much up at this time.
I fear that Peggie's article focused on the microcosm. I fear that it will provide an excuse to many that children that are poor and face issues at home are not worth the effort and that mediocrity or failure can be accepted and tolerated.
As I said, I'll post more detail as the article is not without merit (and I have consistently been concerned about how the schools and community interact and have said as much), but it does assume that my recent NO article in the Free Press was my sum contribution to the debate, which of course it was not.
I was wondering how long it would take you to "needle" those of us who realize that problem identification and problem solving are the only ways to improve the situation.
If all we did was talk about the positives, the selflessness of teachers, that poor kids suffer disadvantages to shift the debate from the role of schools and their part in the problem, would that stimulate or assure better performance?
Sandy just how do you improve performance if you run off the "nattering nabobs of negativity" (squelch dissent, dialogue and debate) that are the only people who challenge the status quo? How do you improve performance if you don't address the problems and replicate the successes? Is your skin and those in the administration and teaching ranks at TPS so thin that pointing out the problems and offering constructive criticism must be squelched instead of responded to with action aimed at solving the problem?
And while I am at it, Foley's Yes piece was disingenuous as it presumed accomplishments like "pacing guides" which are more PR than fact. They are little better than the TPS 2 inch by 2 inch lesson plans negotiated in the collective bargaining agreements. Pacing guide examples are posted at tpsinfo.com.
Steve said: "Is your skin and those in the administration and teaching ranks at TPS so thin that pointing out the problems and offering constructive criticism must be squelched instead of responded to with action aimed at solving the problem?"
I totally agree with you, problems need to be addresses and solved. As a volunteer, I feel that they are addressing issues and finding resolutions.
Steve said, "I fear that it will provide an excuse to many that children that are poor and face issues at home are not worth the effort and that mediocrity or failure can be accepted and tolerated".
I feel this article enlightens the need to focus on these areas and provide additional teaching resources. I am an advocate to not disadvantage the disadvantage, for I am living in the disadvantaged area and represent the Parent Congress for the Libbey learning community. I have been the only representative for 5 years and this area has been without a Parent Coordinator. I AM IN THESE SCHOOLS and see the struggles, obstacles and rewards our teachers are facing. Constructive criticism is wonderful, humanity can only benefit. I also think it provides change, which is positive many times. However, I do not believe you and others provide constructive criticism. I am not sure what I would call it. Maybe just CRITICISM?
Constructive criticism is different than criticism or destructive criticism.
I have always offered suggestions for problems that are identified. If I can not offer suggestions, I suggest a process to discover solutions.
What you focus on is the criticism and you dwell on ignoring the suggestions and as such are as negative as those you accuse. It reminds me of the pot calling the kettle black.
When we give people excuses, they frequently fail to address the problems within their control. I have heard this argument about poor kids and the statistical correlation to poor academic performance constantly from those who fail to improve student performance. I understand that this relationship is statistically valid. However, I am also aware of examples of successes in the US where such obstacles have been overcome.
So, what is in the control of school leadership is tailoring programs to mitigate and overcome the problems. They can not affect the student's home life. However, if TPS leadership would work more effectively with community organizations more could be accomplished. I can relate many stories - one of my goals is to have the schools and community organizations work more effectively together, but TPS leadership is concerned about losing jobs, not keeping the dollars in the employee's hands, etc. So they don't seem concerned with establishing a support structure and programs that could be put in place to ameliorate the conditions and improve student success.
My concern has primarily been with leadership. Good principals learn how to work the system, fly under the radar and get things accomplished despite the obstacles placed before them by the bureaucracy.
Call the criticism whatever you want - but don't neglect the entire picture because it fits your perception of reality or supports your point of view.
As just one more example, one area that I called problems with way back in 2003-04 was the construction program including the overcrowding. Had the administration and board looked at the analysis and asked the questions, they too could have foreseen the problems and a better outcome would have resulted. Now why do suppose they ignored the information that they provided me for review and analysis through open records requests?
Most of the analysis and reports are available at tpsinfo.com.
Some time in the future we should sit down together. I can give you a history of suggestions made with some implemented - most very poorly. Negative people just criticize. People interested in problem solving identify the problems and offer suggestions (at a minimum to start dialogue and debate) or a way to get at the problems. That is not indicative of anything but a person with hope for the future.
For this reply, I completely agree with you.........I am glad you admit the correlation with poverty and school performance challenges. Now, together, we can create solutions........
Sandy, I don't understand you. I have been doing research on education matters for almost 13 years ago. I have been aware of the studies linking poverty and performance since the very beginning of my research so why do say that "I admit" - I never, ever said anything to the opposite in any of my writings. But just because I am aware of the research and the correlation does not mean I will allow this to be an "excuse".
Do you think how about how your words can be interpreted before you post? You make it sound like I have been denying facts when that is so far from reality. Now do you understand that there are examples all over the country where this is not used as an excuse and poor students do in fact succeed!
We can't create solutions until you can see how TPS leadership including union leadership has avoided, undermined, acted unilaterally, and utterly failed to address problems that have in fact been identified over and over.
to busy throwing my guts up.
you say, *****For this reply, I completely agree with you.........I am glad you admit the correlation with poverty and school performance challenges. Now, together, we can create solutions........****
Check out this school, 98% African American, 50% economically disadvantaged and 15% Special Education students. Now how do you account for these poor black student's success. Let me give you a clue. Read the mission statement:
http://withrowuniversityhs.cps-k12.org/
Mission
We will empower students to be life-long learners by
promoting high expectations, rigorous instruction, Cincinnati
Public Schools academic standards, community service, and family support within a safe and disciplined environment.
No excuses.
It can be done as was done in the past, TPS just doesn't want to do it for whatever reason.
for clarifying what Miss Obtuse put in your mouth!
Sandy - Here is my response as posted on the Toledo Free Press web site on 4/4/08.
http://toledofreepress.com/?id=7537