This week on the Toledo View:
Judge Tim Kuhlman talks about crime in Toledo, Stryker Corrections Center, racism within the justice system, and so much more!
Also controversial editorials entitled:
"Toledo, A City With a Lust For Titles and Accolades"
"Why I Hate Black People"
"God Damn America, The Truth"
"The Media Is Full Of Dirty Tricks"
Also on the Religious View a sermon entitled:
The Preacher And The Prostitute
Note: The interview with Superintendent of TPS, John Foley will air again this week for those who did not hear it last week, due to technical difficulties.
You may view the website at:
My Thoughts on the John Foley Interview
Submitted by purnhrt on Sun, 2008-04-27 20:35.
What a Love Fest! The man who has significantly diminished the futures of thousands of students in TPS with his actions and lack of actions was given a pass by the interviewer.
John Foley’s statement that “our staff reflects the diversity of our community,” is a misrepresentation of the facts, in other words a lie. I don’t know what world Mr. Foley lives in but the one I live in recognizes the link between academically underperforming schools and discipline occurrences. The world I live in sees the disparities that exist in TPS between hiring practices, discipline practices, academic delivery, the teacher expectations of different students and low versus high standards in inner city schools.
Mr. Foley lives in the Scott community where his children never attended Glenwood, Fulton, Cherry, Scott or Old West End Junior High school. He sent his children to schools that promised a future for them, something that is sadly missing in Toledo’s inner city schools, such as Pickett where the expectation is if you wash clothes in the school, have affluent visitors donate books and clothing that somehow these actions will turn this school and others around academically,
without doing the hard work of setting a doable action plan (and doing it) to address “Why Tameaka and Tyrone can’t read.”
He is the head of a district where he has made decisions that do not award achievement but maintains the status quo that has been a deterrent to any type of progress in hiring practices and student achievement. Mr. Foley had a once in a lifetime chance to turn the district around by hiring new blood, with a new culture of ideas and a more diverse staff, when becoming superintendent, by default. But what does Mr. Foley choose to do? He chose to hire retirees, people who have the same culture of ideas that have held this district back for at least 15 years that I know about. An unforgiving culture that denies students the chance to achieve and refuses to put into place even modest remedies and interventions that will keep our children who are plugged into the chain of hopeless and helplessness, hopeless and helpless for years to come.
The parking lot of the Thurgood Marshall Building is filled with cars of employees on any given day who in no way “reflect the diversity of our community,” as stated by Mr Foley during the interview.
Thurgood Marshall was the champion of the masses of people who demanded change in America during the Civil Rights Movement with his bold remedies of social empowerment to black children in education and others in housing, transportation and voting rights. Thurgood Marshall was a revolutionary who changed the face of America with his boldness in advancing the educational opportunities of black children with his winning of the most important legal case of the 20th century. This case, titled Brown V Board of Education ended the legal separation of black and white children in public schools. How appalled he would be today to see the return of segregation in Toledo, Ohio in the school system and the return of the disenfranchisement of segments of the Toledo community in hiring practices being nurtured in a building named for him.
In August 2006, shortly after Mr. Foley became the superintendent, AAPA met with him to let him know what we expected of him when it came to black students and achievement. We told him that he had an opportunity to make significant changes in the landscape of TPS. He chose to ignore our entreaties and proceeded to staff his cabinet and schools with retirees, status quo employees devoid of qualities needed to turn the TPS ship around. and very, very few people of color, when the TPS population is 47% black.
A case in point is Woodward High School. Black female acting principal, knows the climate of the school, off the hook resume, has been at the school for nearly 10 years in authority positions, able to command the respect of the students and the parents, interviews for the job of Principal. Principalship given to a male with no connection to the school, no experience, poor student and parent skills and in one school year has practically bankrupted the school of students, academics, cleanliness of the building, student morale, all because Mr. Foley refuses to listen to a segment of the community who is instrumental in getting the bills paid. In other words if 47% of the students are black and each student is worth $11, 202 sitting in a seat, that amounts to over $152 million dollars, surely some of that money should flow back into the black community. And not for incarceration but education.
The next time Toledo View interviews someone with their hands on hearts of our children, ask the hard questions, not just the questions that can be answered with platitudes.
Children of all races need to see people who look like them, in positions of power. The tablet of a child’s heart should be inscribed with attainable images that will sustain them and their children for years to come. Mr. Foley has not allowed that to even be a dream.
Twila:
You are entitled to your opinion. As you listened to the interview, you will find that I was not the one who interviewed Foley.
However, the staff of the Toledo View feel that the questions asked were suitable questions. We believe that Mr. Foley answered them with clarity.
We realize the situation with the disparities that exist within TPS. We also realize there are organizations that will never be pleased with TPS.
We have received many responses about Foley's interview, these responses come from many organizations and people crossing all gender and racial lines. Some people love the interview, and some people don't.
If your organization has a problem with Foley, don't criticize the Toledo View for how you feel about Foley or TPS....send a letter or request a meeting with Foley. This way you can ask him the questions you feel are necessary, and address any issues with him that you have.
However, while your organization is concerned about TPS...I see a pattern with your organization. My question is, why does your organization always focus on the negatives of TPS, and never mention the positives...as well as attack any person or organization that tries to work with TPS? I could be wrong...but that is my observation.
www.ToledoView.com
I gave my opinion about the John Foley Interview because it was solicited by your post.
You posted, "Any thoughts on the interview with John Foley on the Toledo View?
Those that heard it, what are your thoughts????"
I heard it and I simply gave you my thoughts.
Our organization will be pleased to a point if even one of the issues we have been advocating for is given any credence by TPS and an action plan is created and implemented in good faith by all involved without repercussion for anyone.
Where did I ever criticize the Toledo View? I have always said that it is a viable form of media that is much needed in Toledo, Ohio, even when most others have denigrated you and the View. So I am not sure where you are coming from.
As stated in my solicited response we had a meeting with Mr. Foley to address issues that we had/have with TPS.
Where did you see "our organization" attack any person or organization that tries to work with TPS? An attack is defined on the dictionary.com as "to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; " I didn't even attack Mr. Foley, I just presented facts as I see them. If you consider that an attack, so be it.
If anyone can work with TPS, be it individual or organization I commend them and pray that they are working for the good of all children, especially the children who are failing in the failing schools. I find that the people or organizations who work "with" TPS are usually people or organizations who are looking out for their own children or their own interest without the greater good of all children involved.
If you didn't want an answer to your post you should not have asked for anyones' opinion.
Twila....no harm intended. Most of what was said was actually in response to emails that the Toledo View received from Steven Flagg.
Twila, what prompted the emails from Steven Flagg, was an email that you sent to the Toledo View as well as 17 other people. One of those people being Rev. Floyd Rose, who is not even a Toledo resident.
Twila, I do have to question your intent in regard to the email...why didn't you send it to just the Toledo View? Why didn't you send it to John Foley? After all, the way he answered the questions is what you have issues with. What was the purpose of sending it to the other 17 people, who do not even work for the Toledo View? What are you trying to accomplish with this?
As Dwayne Morehead stated to you when he called you, as well as what I stated to Steven Flagg in response to his emails....
Foley has his viewpoints, as well as do you and Steven Flagg.
Twila, the Toledo View invites you as well as Steven Flagg to interview with us. This will give both you and Steven Flagg an opportunity to speak your minds in regard to TPS, as well as how you feel about how John Foley answered the questions in his interview with the Toledo View.
Again, the invitation is there....
We invite you to interview concerning your opinions in regard to the Toledo Public School system.
b/c I don't want to get blasted also. Did you really want feedback or just to post the link here? And how do you know business about people's email to be posting here - am I missing something?
Not intending to antagonize you Bishop but hey - that was pretty harsh. And I don't want to be next.....y'know?
Kateb....you are missing something. In response to your questions.
The Toledo View staff welcomes feed back.
In regard to your question about "knowing business about people's email"....you are misinformed.
Let me fill you in. After Twila posted a response on SwampBubbles...
She also sent an email to 17 other people stating how she felt about the interview with John Foley. Now, out of those 17 people, none of them are staff of the Toledo View...in fact she even sent it to Bob Stiegel of the Toledo Journal, and even Rev. Floyd Rose all the way in Valdosta, GA!
The Toledo View found out about the email, through another email that I received from Steven Flagg. This email also had the email that Twila sent out along with the other 17 email addresses as well.
That is the part that you are missing Kateb.
It is one thing to offer someone feedback. But...what I didn't understand, is that why didn't Twila just send an email to myself, Dwayne Morehead, or any member of the Toledo View Staff. After all...that is who she was directing her email too.
Instead, she chose to send it to 17 other people...but yet the feedback was suppose to be towards the Toledo View??????
Then I received an email from Steven Flagg. I do appreciate and respect the fact that at least Steven Flagg sent his comments directly to the Toledo View, instead of sending it to others, who the email doesn't even concern.
It was not until AFTER Dwayne Morehead called Twila about her email and thoughts, that she then sent an email to the Toledo View.
Furthermore, the emails that she and Steven Flagg sent were making reference to the interview the Toledo View had with John Foley....but they did not send the emails to John.
Why Twila sent the email to 17 people who are not even involved with the Toledo View is beyond me. Why she or Steven Flagg did not send their questions to John Foley, I don't know.
Nevertheless, the emails received by both Twila and Steven Flagg were forwarded to John Foley, by the Toledo View.
I don't want to blow this thing out of proportion, as it is already getting out of hand.
The bottom line is this....
The Toledo View interviewed John Foley. Dwayne Morehead was the one that interviewed him, and the Toledo View staff decided on the questions to ask Mr. Foley.
Both Twila and Steven Flagg were not happy with either the questions asked to Foley, as well as his responses.
The Toledo View has extended the opportunity to both Steven Flagg as well as Twila, inviting them to interview with the Toledo View. They both have concerns in regard to TPS, as well as how John Foley answered the questions....
So, if Twila & Steven Flagg are so concerned with TPS and how John Foley answered the questions during his interview...they now have a chance to "set the record straight about TPS" and offer a response to John Foley's interview.
The Toledo View even received an email from Darlene Fisher in which she also thinks it would be a good idea to use the Toledo View as a platform for Twila & Steven Flagg to voice their concerns about TPS. She realizes that they have their views, and John Foley has his. Darlene also sent the email not only to the Toledo View, but also to Steven Flagg and Twila.
As of this post...neither Twila or Steven Flagg has agreed to be interviewed by the Toledo View.
That is their choice....but the offer still stands.
The Toledo View feels that if Twila, Steven Flagg or any person is in disagreement with what John Foley said during his interview...they are more than welcome to come contact the Toledo View for an interview.
This will give them a chance to voice their concerns and opinions....and best of all, they can really say what is on their mind about TPS, or any other matter. And they don't have to worry about the interview being edited in any way.
The Toledo View serves as a platform for those within the community to have a voice in regard to issues.
Most media outlets will not offer the community a voice, or they will take what they say and edit it etc. But at the Toledo View we will not do that.
No matter how raw it is, we will let your voice be heard! We strive to be controversial, yet relevant, uncensored, yet factual.
www.ToledoView.com
I have no problem being interviewed. I said as much in an email to the Bishop. I did suggest that Ms. Page be given the opportunity first as she addressed the concerns first. That I was working on something that I wanted to talk about and deferred to a latter date.
I do appreciate the offer, but I don't understand why it was made to appear from my perspective to be some kind of "challenge". I think it is well known that I don't shrink from a debate.
Kate - as you know it is not uncommon for those involved in education reform and others to comment on items such as the interview of John Foley. You have on occasion been included on emails of this nature.
Both Ms. Page and I frequently send our concerns or questions to Foley and others at TPS. I met with John Foley shortly after he became superintendent and suggested that with a new superintendent and virtually a new staff it was a great time to start fresh. Foley has not changed the "Sanders approach" to the public - brush them off, be defensive and maintain the status quo of failure.
As to the Bishop's remarks about criticism of the Toledo View - my main concerns were the questions were softballs. I suggested in an email to the Bishop that it "...reminded me of the recent Obama-Clinton debate where real issues were not addressed until 45 minutes into the interview."
I did feel as though the feedback was not wanted even though it was solicited. There were some other comments made in the email that I believed were defensive and unwarranted.
I stated further in my email, "I also respect your right to ask whatever questions you like, it is your journalistic prerogative. However, we can criticize the questions asked. "
The Toledo View is in the public domain and certainly we have the right to criticize the questions. Further I forwarded Ms. Page's email on to the Bishop with a few of my own comments. I did so out of respect for the Bishop and so that he was aware of the concerns of others. I believed I was doing that as a service to him.
I am disappointed that this has become such an issue to the Bishop, but having been publicly criticized on many occasions, I certainly can understand his response even if I believe it was somewhat "over the top".
I was disappointed to a some extent with the Bishop's response as it suggested he would not continue in the debate as he did not want to get involved in an "email blast". He seems concerned that these questions were not forwarded to Foley. That can certainly be arranged, but would have no impact based upon my experience. Further, he seems even more concerned that comments about an interview that would criticize the Toledo View would be sent to 17 people. Why should it matter?
Bishop - I had no intention of sharing these comments publicly. However, both sides need to be addressed and explained and you precipitated a response with your comments. Further, I still have great respect for you and the positions you have taken in articles in The Truth. However, I don't understand your sensitivity on many of the issues you discuss.
It's always a benefit to be on the outside looking in - and some are willing to listen to that vantage point. Others are not. A wise man once said, if they have ears let them hear. :-)
I think that Bishop - it is of concern that you feel you should be in control or that you are an authority of some kind to be able to dictate what emails other people send, to whom they are sent or what they contain. This is highly inappropriate and if you have been sent a communication that caused you concern, the acceptable manner is to take your issue to that person first. But then again, I do not know how you were raised, but that's a Christian concept and the first step in problem resolution. In the Christian way - of course. I hope that doesn't offend you but it works very well in the secular world as well.
As a matter of fact many of the business classes I have taken advocate this approach to avoid unnecessary escalation of issues.
On an overview I will say to you that a new paper in town has the potential to address some issues, and we do have some serious issues - that are just so simple in nature that basic discussion would create solutions. It's frustrating to see things that would be so simple to resolve not addressed.
But what we do not need, sir, is more drama. We do not need more divisive people with a newspaper.
Do you understand what I am saying to you? You have to decide whether you are going to be a part of the problem or a part of a solution. You cannot serve both positions.
Kate - see my response to the Bishop just below.
The email sent to 17 people was the text posted by Ms. Page below titled "My thoughts on the John Foley Interview" on this past Sunday. The email sent by Ms. Page was sent to all of us on Monday after her post on Sunday. So 17 people got to read what was posted on this blog.
I forwarded on the email to the Bishop with the following comment: "Stephen, on most points I agree with Ms. Page. I'm not sure why the hard questions were not asked. Perhaps you can explain why Foley got lobbed softball after softball in the interview."
While the comments by Ms. Page may not have been sent to Foley (I don't know), they were posted publicly for him to view and respond to if he so wished.
I suppose I could have just posted here instead of forwarding an email to the Bishop with my comments.
I listened to the foley interview and I thought it was good I also listened to judge kulhman interview and I thought that was better. Bishop I will say this Twila and Steve, have a right to have there own opinion as well as every body else if they choose to criticize the Toledo View,Toledo Journal,Toledo Blade, or any other media outlet Bishop ask yourself the question, do you feel that John Block of the toledo blade would be taking this much time responding back to citizens complaints-opinions concerning a interview? I think not! because he understands the business that he is in and if he took the time out to respond to every citizen that criticize's the blade, he would be responding for years and years to come.So in closing Know the business your in and dont be so sensitive. I enjoy reading the toledo view its a very good news sight and I Believe in time it will only get better.
Let me set the record straight, since I seem to have once again inadvertently started a firestorm.
On April 3, 2008 I was sent an e-mail by Pastor Ward stating, “
*****For the upcoming edition of the Toledo View.
Do you have a nomination for the Toledo View of Shame page?*****
I responded with the name of John Foley who is one of the people, I feel, does not have the interests of black people at the front of his agenda, in hiring practices and in supplying the needs of black and minority children in the inner city schools.
I never received a response. Then the next week an interview was posted featuring none other than John Foley. After listening to the interview I thought, wow what an easy interview for the person, I feel, is now, after two years as superintendent, 6 months as interim superintendent, years as a highly paid administrator, once head of schools in the Rogers feeder pattern, living blocks from the now destabilized Scott high school and the person most able at this point to make changes to the lives of 29,000 children, being given a pass.
I never intended to address the interview just was a little disappointed in this interview. Then Pastor Ward asked for comments about the interview.
I took the “bait” and responded and did as I usually do. If I have spent any amount of time on writing, I send the comment to whoever or whatever entity I am writing to and then I send it to other people whether it is 17 or 117, whether the recipients live in Toledo or out of Toledo, media people or relatives. I have the right in America to e-mail who I want, when I want, what I want.
I am able to do this because I can read, I can spell (without spellcheck) I can write, I can compose a complete sentence and a complete thought. I can also conjugate verbs. I am lucky to be able to communicate with words when so many young people can’t, because of grossly inferior and unfair educations, low expectations in schools and what amounts to the educational abuse and neglect of students in the inner city schools.
To correct some points there were made by Bishop:
1.I have NEVER sent an e-mail to the Toledo View, I don’t know where you got that information from. I did send you a private e-mail (private meaning originally sent only to you) explaining and asking about some of your comments. This was done BEFORE Dwayne CALLED ME. I did this privately so as to keep the noise down, but for some reason you are so angry that you have lost all reason. I just wonder where that anger comes from.
2.I was asked by you through an e-mail for the name of a candidate for the View of Shame but I have never been asked to do an interview by you other than what has been posted on this thread. Where you say that the offer “still stands,” I say where is the offer? You know my e-mail address and the View has my telephone number.
3.Your sending the post to John Foley seemed like a threat from you. I didn’t send the e-mail to John Foley not because of any fear of Mr. Foley but because 1.It never crossed my mind and 2. Because it would have served no purpose, as he has ignored the issues that we have presented to him for a long, long time.
Know this, I am not a liar, cheat or a thief, I won’t sell out my people or my people’s children and I don’t front my friends. I don’t bait and switch. I say what I say and I mean what I say. I don’t back down and I won’t back up. Take it or leave it. Don’t ask, if you don’t want to know.
Oh, and you might want to start calling me Ms. Page.
Twila....
Again, you ignore the issue. The issue is the fact that instead of sending your concerns directly to the Toledo View....you chose to send it to 17 other people....
The Toledo View found out about this, by and email from Steven Flagg.
Again, you ignore the question of what was your intent, by sending the email to the 17 people, including Rev. Floyd Rose in Valdosta, Ga.
What were you trying to accomplish by this????????
Twila, yes you are right....the Toledo View does have your email as well as your phone number....
You also have ours. And this is why we don't understand, if you had issues with how we did the John Foley interview...why didn't you just contact us, instead of doing it by way of 17 other people?
Twila, again...you are right we do have your email address as well as your phone number....
But what you fail to say is that we did contact you....
Twila, you said in your above post....
"I was asked by you through an e-mail for the name of a candidate for the View of Shame but I have never been asked to do an interview by you other than what has been posted on this thread. Where you say that the offer “still stands,” I say where is the offer? You know my e-mail address and the View has my telephone number."
Twila, this is a blatant lie. In the emails that I sent you in response to the email that you sent to the 17 people, I asked you to do an interview with the Toledo View. And then the other owner of the Toledo View, Dwayne Morehead, also called you and told you the same thing I said in the email, as well as welcomed you to do an interview with the Toledo View.
Lastly Twila...You are right, this is America. You have the right to email who you want, when you want, and how you want. But one would think as a matter of integrity, if you have an issue with a person, why email other people, instead of confronting the issue with the person you have?
Twila you said, "I am able to do this because I can read, I can spell (without spell check) I can write, I can compose a complete sentence and a complete thought. I can also conjugate verbs."
Actually Twila, this is America as you said. Therefore you can send out any email you choose freely....
Twila, you could do this regardless, whether you can spell or not.
Twila, no one is questioning if you can read, write, or spell. That's great! Many people can.
I can myself, I have 2 degrees from reputable universities...but I don't boast on those things, every time someone challenges me on an issue here on SwampBubbles.
Twila, why do you feel the need to boast on being able to read or write????? That is evident Twila, you read and write on SwampBubbles.
Oh I forgot...this is America, you can boast about what you want, when you want....and because this is America I can continue to call you Twila if I choose. And because this is America, you also have the right not to answer.
Twila, I am done with this issue...it is out of hand. I have other things to do, so this will be my last response in regard to this issue....and I can do that Twila, this is America.
don't know, Pastor Ward and Bishop are the same people. For clarity I should have used only one name.
And that must have made my profession of Christian problem resolution seem insulting - and that wasn't the intention. But it is confusing on this end now.
Why would a Pastor air a dispute of this nature, in this manner? The directions for dispute resolution could not be clearer. Yet we have not see that here.
a problem with sending an email to 17 people after it was posted on Swampbubbles. Ms. Page's original post below was on Sunday 4/27 at 11 pm. The email I received from Ms. Page was on Monday 4/28 at 8:30 am.
Obviously a post on Swampbubbles is a post to all whether they live in Toledo or not. So, alerting 17 people, some had already read the post, does not seem to be an especially egregious breach of appropriate etiquette, if it is at all.
The original post on April 23rd entitled "Foley" posted by Bishop on Swampbubbles said the following:
Any thoughts on the interview with John Foley on the Toledo View?
Those that heard it, what are your thoughts????
The question was asked and Ms. Page answered. I forwarded an email which was already posted with some additional comments. I'm at a loss to understand the issue here.
It appears there's either a real possibility to get slammed if you do post your 'thoughts' or there are some kind of hard feelings toward Twila and it was handled in a public manner. And that Bishop is obviously upset.
The post did in fact, when I first read it say 'what are your thoughts'. Where did that go?
I can tell you one thing for sure, that after the public flogging dished out to the sole person offering their thoughts, and the fact that after offering such thoughts, Bishop thought they became his sole property somehow - is a dang sure skippy guarantee I will never give my 'thoughts'.. I get into enough trouble all on my own, thank you very much.
But I am disappointed that this new paper is generating unnecessary drama and talking about disputes publicly - in my opinion, that's the same behavior of the Blade to go after people they don't like to shut them up.
Also the intent control of the flow of information among other parties is very problematic.
These are behaviors I have observed from the Blade, my opinion only, has not lead to success as their readership is down.