76 responses to “A Teaching Moment….”

1. jean

   September 27, 2006

   I’m quite sure the schools and district will support you in regards to the recommendation letters. They indeed want you to succeed. We all do!

   I must say again, writing recommendation letters has nothing to do with “union issues due to district discourse.” This activity is a teacher choice, and one that some take great pride in. It is something that they do voluntarily on their own time, and thank goodness. As you said a “courtesy”, exactly the point that it has nothing to do with the current budget crisis or union issues. Those teachers that wish to refrain from the task may do so, and that’s ok.

   The “budget issue” has nothing to do with teachers writing recommendation letters, as I have been told by both parties. But, I’m ok if you correct me!

   I can not attend the meeting, so please do let us know how it goes, and correct me if I have been inaccurate. I will support all efforts to assist student efforts in the application process.

2. ASE

   September 27, 2006

   Correct me if I’m wrong, but nobody said that letters of rec are directly connected to the budget crisis. Teachers are trying to show that for all that they do above and beyond the last thing they deserve is a pay cut. Now seeing what students are left with without teachers “courtesy” efforts makes students and parents (and hopefully board members) that teacher pay cuts and lay offs should be our last resort. For all that they do they are severely underpaid and we should not be considering taking away from their already insufficiant salary.

3. Joanne

   September 27, 2006

   ASE, once again you’re right. Nobody likes a pay cut. But if the old teachers don’t cut their pay, then several new teachers and several classified staff will get laid off. So it’s a crummy choice, but there it is.

4. jean

   September 27, 2006

   “they are refusing to do more than their contracts say they must.” Yep, that’s their perogative.

   The good news is that through these discussions, and hopefully the meeting tomorrow, that you all realize that there are other options…that the teacher letters are not your only ticket to college. The most important ticket is you, the student, your character, your grades, your achievements.

   It is not a union issue. It’s easy to confuse all the current issues because it’s all very complicated, but this one is clear.

5. jean

   September 27, 2006

   ASE, above you linked the recommendation letter issue to the budget crisis. You wrote “if no solution is found to the budget issue, and teachers are still not writing letters..”, and “letters…not available due to union issues and district discourse.”

   The students I have spoken with in person have said that teachers are making that link very clear. I agree with you, ASE, that it a way to get to the leverage of parents.

   Thanks for the discussion tonight. Good luck tomorrow.

   Jean

6. Kevin

   September 27, 2006

   I think it is a dangerous fallacy to think that the pay cut or job cut is a true choice for the teachers to make. The job cuts proposed are all from a category of contracts known as temporary contracts. These are contracts to cover classroom teaching positions that are temporary because they replace a certified teacher who is on leave of absence (often meaning they left the district but have kept their options open) or a certified teacher who is employed in a non-classroom position. This last option includes deans, release periods for administrative duties and (I believe) librarians. An unfortunate clause in the temporary contract is that it is revokable by the district without recourse. In other words, temporary teachers are always on the block.

   At this point the lack of other options given leads me to believe that temporary contract layoffs are on the table regardless of the “option” that is accepted by the unions.

7. ASE

   September 27, 2006

   I don’t mean to disapoint you, but I’m not done for the night. 1st I’d like to say that I completely understand that letters of rec aren’t my only ticket. I have never considered them to be so. In fact I have decided that I am going to write about my involvement in this issue in my college essay to show what I can contribute when I am passionate. 2nd this very much is a union issue. Individual teachers are not appealing to the board to find other options then pay cuts. They are appealing as a union, not to do so would be foolish considering they have a predetermined alliance with one another. Teachers closed their doors at lunch and have been to meetings almost every evening to figure out how to present to the board AS A GROUP other options for budget recovery. 3rd I don’t at all believe that the “crumby choice” mentioned above even exists. It’s not simply one or the other. What about the dozens and dozens of other cuts proposed by the board last week? And if we’re so set of salary slashing, then why not start at the top? Why do district employees get paid so much more than teachers? I refuse to believe it’s because they do more work. Different work yes, but more, absolutely not. And if anybody even mentions the cost of living in comparison to district salaries I will send you straight on down to KRN, steve, kevin, even ExSMUHSDteacher and they will fully explain to you that teacher salary is insufficiant for the cost of living in this area. And with that I resign for the evening.

8. RCC

   September 27, 2006

   ASE I’m afraid the teachers are actually in this for the money; having said that, it is money that they work incredibly hard for and deserve. We can’t kid ourselves that the teachers only care about the students and none of this has to do with money. Teachers have families and lives and need the money to support those things that is the reason they are so angry. After looking over the proposed budget cuts and the papers available at the last meeting it is obvious that it would be possible not to fire anyone or take away any of the teachers pay and still make a good head way in replenishing the budget, it would just take longer than a year to fix. What’s wrong with a little time? This is this senior class’s last year, why make them suffer incredible costs and never see the benefits. What it looks like to me and I could be wrong is that the reason the board is in such a hurry to get a plan in order to have the reserves full by the end of the year is if they don’t a higher power may step in and then they will have lost control completely. Then again that’s just my opinion.

   P.S. Regarding the comment about selfish students. Students are selfish regarding college acceptance and they have every right to be.

9. student X

   September 27, 2006

   my favorite part about this blog is how we’re starting to see that each of us students is an entirely different person with a different perspective. and we’re not afraid to disagree with each other anymore than anyone else. this is good.

10. KRN

    September 27, 2006

    What do you think about bloggers contacting the students at their homes and taunting them? ASE and Student X have identified themselves as students. Since they have given their status as students, they should get some respect and not be bullied.

    A blog is a tool used to stimulate discussion and generate information. Bloggers need not identify themselves as to feel free to discuss issues and raise questions. Other bloggers need to respect the decisions of others to remain anonymous.

11. jean

    September 27, 2006

    KRN, what do I think about bloggers contacting students? I don’t think it happens. Unless it is you and you know who they are from school. How would anyone know how to contact them?

12. jean

    September 27, 2006

    ASE, most of the issues in your last blog involve union/district issues, but not writing the recommendations letters. It is a personal “courtesy” (I think you used that word?) outside of the work day, union contract or district budget crisis.

    Agree with you on the cost of living around here. It’s hard for non-teachers too!

13. ASE

    September 28, 2006

    I happen to think that bloggers are absolutly contacting students. As a matter of fact, I find it ironic that you don’t think it happens becuase I recieved this e-mail on Monday:

    From: “Jean”
    Subject: blog
    Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:34:10 -0700

    ASE,

    It’s been interesting reading your blogs. Why do you feel the need to by anonymous? Is it ok to us school computers/time to blog? You seem very concerned, and I would like to no more. Is there something you are afraid of that prevents you from using your name. I wonder, because other peoples names are printed.

    Jean

    So tell me Jean, can you explain why you continue to think that adult bloggers are not contacting students? taunting students?

14. Anonymous

    September 28, 2006

    I am wondering when Jean Holbrooke, whose office has mandated this “immediate timeline” to fully fund several years’ worth of reserves in one fiscal year, is going to explain to the public why there is a September 30th deadline. She is appointed to her post by the County Board of Education, who is elected by us. If we were given more than a year to re-establish our reserves, it could be done in a thougtful manner rather than decimating people’s lives. I believe if intermediate cuts were made along with adoption of a Plan for Recovery (appointment of a Blue Ribbon Task force, etc…) the reserve requirement could be met over time.

15. Rich Grogan

    September 28, 2006

    Student X, I am sure your intentions are golden in supporting the teachers and believing they are not in it for the money, but I must disagree with your position and here are the reasons why.

    In my opinion the Teaching Profession is one of the most important professions around. Knowledge is only good if you share it with others, but over time this system has eroded away to less than the desirable. It is, also, my opinion parents would be will to pay more, if they saw the District, School, and Teachers were succeeding in providing a first rate education to the students. Unfortunately, there are some REALLY GREAT teachers, but they cannot not benefit from the skills and ability because the Union holds the top back to support the bottm rung of the teachers.

    Good Teachers do not need unions, their abilities will garner them their rewards and parent support.

    Some things to think about:

    When the Union/Teachers do not start school on time because of a lack on consensious on a labor issue, is it for you or them?

    When the Union/Teachers refuse to eliminate tenure from their contract language is it for you or them?

    When the Union/Teachers form a picket line, use bullhorns, and wave picket signs, is it for you or them?

    When the Union/Teachers continually refuse to support merit pay for those teachers, who excell in their job. Is is for you or them?

16. RCC

    September 28, 2006

    ASE,
    I’m appaled. Students shouldn’t be messeged on thier pirvate e-mails about what goe on here. Let’s keep this public forum public especially regarding minors. I too recieved an e-mail from this person. It feels a little like what Joanne was talking about with violation of minors rights.

    In response to Jean I really don’t know how my e-mail address was aquired. I thought that was private from public eye on this site.

17. Anonymous

    September 28, 2006

    It’s strange about the e-mail contacts. It is no longer possible on this site (as far as I know) to be contacted from other bloggers. It used to be (maybe 2 years ago) that if you posted something and somebody responded as a comment, it would show both here, and on your personal e-mail. That way, IF somebody wanted to converse in private, he/she’d have all the necessary info. I don’t think that is possible anymore, at least I wouldn’t know how……

18. student X

    September 28, 2006

    Mr. Grogan-i see what you are getting at but lets put ourselves in the place of the teacher. Are they suppose to settle and not fight for their own livelyhood just because they are serving the greater good. what i’m saying is that no teacher chooses the teaching profession based on the money, while people in other professions may do so (say an attorney who hates his job, but enjoys the perk of a big salary). maybe they base it on the work free summers…i don’t know, but it’s not for the money. Money is a nessicity. Can you expect any of our teachers to actually teach with out an income. and a volunteer teaching staff doesn’t seem very realistic in this day in age, in this area. teachers have every right to be mad right now. we can not expect them to let the district walk all over them. this blog will probably reinflame joanne about my need to see a pschyologist about being violated, but i believe in what i’m saying. it is kind of a help me help you situation. if the teachers aren’t treated fairly, can they perform so we get the maximum benefit? i bring up again that if they were in any other union profession, who would question their tactics. i may not be able to express myself and my feelings well enough for you to understand, but i try.

19. RCC

    September 28, 2006

    But back to the subject at hand and correct spelling that was terrible I apologize. This decision seems to be a very rushed one. Why does it need to be immediate budget for the entire year? It seems like this deadline became the root of a lot of the panic in this district.

20. ASE

    September 28, 2006

    Let’s face it student X, free summers aren’t exactly a perk for teachers. Most teachers in the district have to teach summer school, just to stay financially on their feet. And Joanne, while we understand that you care about our emotional well being, we students, or at least I, have thought about what you said about violation of boundaries, and I have come to the conclusion that all my opinions are self-inspired and that I’m not being violated. student X, RCC, do you agree? So let’s get back to the real discussion and not over do the violation topic, we’re fine thanks.

21. Anonymous

    September 28, 2006

    Folks,

    Anyone logging in as a member can view the blog in a mode that shows you the IP address of each person who posts a comment. You can also see the poster’s email address if they entered one.

    That’s also how you can tell when people are blogging from the school – look up the IP address and see that it’s assigned to the SMUHSD.

    See this thread for more info: http://burlingamevoice.com/blogs/index.php?title=ip_visibility_on_the_voice&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#comments

22. ASE

    September 28, 2006

    Ok, makes sense, that clears a lot up for me. But why does does it say visitor next to Jean’s name? And just because it’s available, does that merit contacting students? Adults maybe, but it seems to me that adults and students have different “bounderies.” And unless the school administration tells me to stop blogging at school, I will continue to do so. How that involves anyone else I’m not sure, it’s my independent decision. Jean, you’ve been awfully quiet lately, but it seems to me that you might be able to answer my questions best. Care to shed some light on your reasoning?

23. Anonymous

    September 28, 2006

    My advice – if you really want to remain completely anonomous and not be contacted, don’t put your real email address in when you enter your post. It’s quite possible that Jean is not a member, but that someone else contacted you using her name. Signing up as a member is free, so anyone can do it, and you never even have to post to be able to view the enhanced mode. It’s pretty cliche to warn minors about the fact that there are people out here on the web that are using it for their own purposes – please take suitable precautions.

24. ASE

    September 28, 2006

    Thanks Ian. I’d like to point out that whether or not “Jean” realizes it, she e-mailed me with an address that suspiciously looks like it contains a last name. Now it looks like she’s quieted down, but this means that if she were to taunt or “harrass” me again, I could take the necessary actions…

25. Ed Larios

    September 28, 2006

    I hope that students will continue to express their views and feelings. These young people have a unique insight to these and many other issues and as adults we should encourage and respect their participation in this discussion.

26. Anonymous

    September 28, 2006

    Please allow the Editors to remind everyone about the Terms of Use for any Burlingame Voice bloggers.

    Specifically, the Terms of Use state:

    Note that it is impossible for us to confirm the validity of posts on this forum. Please remember that we do not actively monitor the posted messages and are not responsible for their content. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information presented.

    When applied to this thread, this excerpt should be interpreted to mean that the Editors will not be attempting to verify who is or is not a student, a teacher, an adult or any other participant in the topic discussed on this blog. Identity assumptions may be made based on the Internet Protocol (IP) information that is generally provided by the Blog software package, but the Editors will not confirm or deny those assumptions.

    Lastly, the print editions of the Burlingame Voice are provided to Burlingame High School as they are published and it is our understanding that past editions have been filed in the BHS library as reference material. One might say that student participation on the Voice blog is equivalent to reading the print editions and should be viewed as such regardless of what computer or Internet connection is used to blog.