Many are saying that the SMUHSD is a wonderful "teaching opportunity" for our kids and a way for them to learn "real life lessons". But what is being taught and what are the lessons?
– Written by Joanne
Dedicated to Empowering and Informing the Burlingame Community
Posted in Schools
76 responses to “A Teaching Moment….”
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Here’s my thoughts for ASE and other students who are reading this blog:
Demand that your teachers develop your analytical thinking skills. Be slow to reach conclusions on important policy matters. Resist the temptation to make hasty conclusions based on sound bytes or “half-truths” or from hearing one side of the story. Ask the hard questions. Do the hard research. Request that uour teachers teach you how to read financial statements and understand numbers. Question all the expenses and income, not just select line items. Read the book “How to Lie with Statistics.” If someone tells you “x”, then make it a point to go and find someone with the opposite point of view, find out what they have to say and LISTEN to them. Then go back and challenge “x” with what you have learned. Keep doing this until you reach a thoughtful, reasoned conclusion.
Use the adversarial process to find the truth and convince others of the truth. Resist the temptation to “win” by humiliation and bullying. Humiliation and bullying demean us all; they also produce the least thoughtful results and discourage others from wanting to volunteer for public service. Encourage lively, but respectful, dialogues. Support your thoughts with facts; be leery of too much emotion.
Lastly, “be the change you want to be.” Encourage your teachers to participate in the policy-making of the school district by running for school board. When you are of age, run for school board yourself.
Many of you will go off to college next year. Consider this scenario: Your parents have always said “get in first, we’ll worry about finances later.” You are thrilled to hear that you’ve been accepted to a private $50,000 per year college. You have two younger siblings, but so far they haven’t required much from the family budget. Now, as you approach your first day of college, you find out that your younger brother needs a tutor and your sister needs surgery that isn’t covered by your family’s insurance. On top of that, your mother was recently demoted and suffered a pay-cut. Your parents ask you to consider going to a state university, so that they can afford to pay for your brother’s tuto. “Absolutely not,” you rply. “Then we’ll have to let your brother’s tutor go.” This upsets your brother, not to mention his tutor — who had declined another student to take your brother…she is in danger of missing her mortage payment. You turn on your mother. “How could you be so stupid as to not know you were in trouble at work?” She replied that she had asked her boss about her status and the boss had said she was “fine” but neither of them knew that the boss’ boss was going to insist on a demotion. You are so furious that you decide to protest your awful parents by getting a T-shirt that says “get in first, we’ll worry about the finances later.”
Sometimes “stuff happens”; sometimes it can be prevented. Develop the wisdom to know the difference. -
For example:
1) This is what happens when Board of Trustee members run uncontested for several years. These are the people make decisions and who appoint the Superintendent. If you don’t like what they are doing or whom they appoint, then you better make sure that others are interested enough in the District’s well-being to run against them.
2) This is what happens when you spend money you don’t (really) have. Never mind that somebody else tells you that you will (probably) receive a rebate (someday).
3) In a public school, the public ultimately has little or no choice about how a school district is run, EXCEPT to elect Trustees who have the devotion, talent and ability to make responsible choices for their respective Districts.
4) (and most importantly) TO VOTE
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1. Do your research. “Encourage your teachers to participate in the policy-making of the school district by running for school board.”
Teachers are prohibited from serving on the school board.
ASE’s shirt proposal is simply putting a public comment by Sam Johnson on a T-Shirt. In a public release by the group SM Teachers for Financial Responsiblity, Sam Johnson told a group of Capuchino teachers and parents, my style is to “Shoot First, and Aim Later!” Johnson stuck his foot in his mouth. It is not a personal attack but in fact is a very clever criticism of this major screw-up.
How is ASE making personal attack if s/he is simply restating Mr. Johnson’s own words?
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KRN, are you 100% positive that teachers can’t serve on school boards? CEO’s sit on their boards and they are employees. I’m not so certain that you are correct.
“It is not a personal attack but in fact is a very clever criticism”. I am so dumbfounded by that statement I don’t know how to respond…..except, perhaps, that you just confirmed that this disrespect, public humiliation and bullying is being condoned and encourged by the teachers. -
CEO’s are not only employees of corporations but also owners of the corporation via stock ownership. The conflict of interrest over the direction of their salaries is mitigated via the right of ownership.
Call the SM County Elections Clerk for confirmation. I made this call the last time we faced this problem.
“I am so dumbfounded by that statement I don’t know how to respond…..except, perhaps, that you just confirmed that this disrespect, public humiliation and bullying is being condoned and encourged by the teachers.” That is your point of view and you have a right to it.
I suspect that your job and/or salary are not at risk so it is easy to offer an opinion that will not cost you any money.
If you want a great example of disrespect and bullying, pay attention to how the current situation is being handled by the district.
Why is it that only one district office job (and a lower level job at that) is on the cut list? Because the Sup and the Cabinet made up the cut list and kept ALL of their subordinates off!
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You’ve decided that your tactics are clever. I suppose the next queston you might want to ask yourself is whether they are effective.
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These are not my tactics. I just stated that the T-Shirt that ASE wants to promote is not offensive but is holding a public official up to scrutiny. Thomas Jefferson promoted that idea. Remember, Mr. Johnson has his job because a Board that was elected by the public put him there. He needs to answer to the public for his actions.
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I think Mr.Johnson’s “Aim/Shoot” remark was not the brightest thing he could have said. But perhaps the students should bring the attention back to how bad management/whatever-words-you-want-to-call it will hurt THEM. There seems enough blame to go around – Mr. Johnson being top of the list – but what ticks off most of us is that our students will be impacted by the District’s bad decisions.
ASE, keep speaking up because that is important. Speak Up, speak Up and speak UP!
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The severe lack of management in the district scares me. I think everyone has a right to be angry with the board and Mr. Johnson because as KRN stated Johnson was appointed by elected officials therefore he owes his job to the tax payers and voters of this district. Why shouldn’t he have to answer for all of his not so bright mistakes? Has anyone been reading the newspaper? Johnson has stated that the only reason he would step down is if the board asks him to. The board was elected by us, the people of the district, who seem to overwhelmingly desire the resignation of Johnson (baring Joanne of coarse). There are plenty of able minded men and women in this area who could step up and take over his position. What’s the problem?
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As I recall, before my eyes glazed over,during the financial report last week in the San Mateo Gym, the district was in the midst of turning this leaking ship around but their bosses said they had to do it more quickly.
How about if we simply ignore the bosse’s-bosses and let our board continue the turn-around into the next several years until we’re back on track?
No immediate lay-offs or firings. Calm, resolute decisions made in reasonable time- with no surprises.
(What’s the higher-ups gonna do? Send in the National Guard and close the schools?)
Vive la revolution! Tous ensemble mes enfants!
Pierre
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It would be nice if some of the board members could read and understand a projected budget deficit.
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“baring Joanne of course.” RCC, under her real name, Joanne has simply and clearly presented another side of many issues, and urged others to be educated, to avoid the emotion and look at all facts in order to make a good decision. We can not know from her input here whether she supports Mr. Johnson, or not.
What are your stats to determine “overwhelming desire?” There is some desire from some of the teachers at one high school. I have heard from teachers from other schools that do not neccesarily support this desire, and some that do. Clearly, there are complicated issues that deserve more time and thought than anonymous blogs. I have heard from a BHS student that teachers are taking (shortened class time) to talk about the current district issues. I have heard from a BHS senior that her “econ teacher will not consider a streamlined process for recommendation letters.” It looks to me like emotion has taken over efficiency and productivity.
The very same teachers that have concerns over reduced class minutes to teach the subjects, as well as no sufficient time to grant recommendation letters to seniors, are the same teachers that find time to blog fluently here throughout the academic day utilizing the district computer system. There are some ethical questions that need to be addressed here.
The faculty will need to remind the blogging students utilizing the district computer system of the policies, so that they can continue to watch the issues and give input, at the appropriate time/place.
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What is a streamlined process?
Are teachers required to write letters of recommendation?“I have heard from a BHS senior that her “econ teacher will not consider a streamlined process for recommendation letters.” It looks to me like emotion has taken over efficiency and productivity. “
Please explain.
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“JD”, as a teacher you know the answer to your question, that it is not a requirement, but something that some teachers take great pride in writing for select students. From what you have posted previously, it must be a terribly burdensome process to have threatened to stop the process. Any process that is such a burden can be streamlined, and I offered the student two ideas. The students need to know there is more than one way to accomplish their goals.
Interesting that’s the only part of my blog you care to comment on.
jean.
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Thanks for the support, Jean. Simply put, I don’t believe in lynch mobs. We have the greatest democracy on earth. We get the government we deserve. If you don’t like what an elected official is doing, then vote him or her out of office. Work to get your candidate in office. If your side loses, then be gracious enough to concede defeat. Between elections work like heck (without personalized attacks) to convince others of your side the next time around. Let’s leave the chanting in the streets, the burning effigies and the anonymous personal attacks to the countries that don’t have freedom of speech and the right to vote. We’re losing civility in our county and it’s not attractive.
PS….Can you imagine how many teachers would equal the severance pay that SMUHSD would have to pay Johnson if the board fires him for a budget that they unanimously approved? -
as a student at BHS who sits in these classes and is applying to many private colleges that require letters of recommendation, almost nothing makes me more angry than when a selfish peer of mine starts whining about the letters. 1st off- its happening to all of us. Secondly- that same econ teacher, along with the counselors, have assured that all will be well, with or without letters. the colleges will be alerted if it gets to that point. Thirdly- do we have no respect what so ever for our teachers? is all we think about ourselves when every teacher is going through this horrible ordeal together? if i were a teacher writing for a student who is continually complaining during this stretch, i would say that they lack compassion and can’t see them as a team player.
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You are correct Student X, and that is part of what I am trying to convey. You can accomplish your goal (private college?) with or without the threat of “not writing rec letters” looming over your head. It’s great to hear you have that confidence. Good for you.
It’s the teachers that brought up that issue, not me, Mr. Johnson or the parents. The teachers made that threat in some misguided way to gain parent support (the parent may worry their kid won’t get into private school without it?) It didn’t work.
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Student X: You are the victim of boundary violations. It is not the job of the student to provide a shoulder for the teacher to cry on (literally or figuratively). It is not your job to help teachers through “this horrible ordeal”, nor do you have to worry about “not being a team player” if you don’t protest with them. Your job is to show up, ready and willing to learn. The teacher’s job is to teach. A teacher (with proper boundaries) gets his or her moral support from fellow teachers, families or other adults.
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This might be useful to the students who are now reading this blog. There are four common ways parents (or teachers) “use” kids: 1) Expecting the child to take care of the parent, 2) Asking the child to make adult decisions, 3) Enmeshing with the child – either living life vicariously by becoming too involved with the child’s thoughts, interests and activities or making the child into a clone of the parent, and 4) misusing the child in order to feel powerful or to express anger. From “Boundaries; Where you End and I Begin” by Anne Ktherine. If an adult is violating these boundaries with you, get help.
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i find your opinion to be the same selfish one that i find in some of my classmates. i am not the world. teachers not writing me a letter and having the school fill its void with an explanation letter is not the end of the world. i am not being used. no teacher has said anything to me save apologies for not being able to have club meetings. in return i give them no moral support except not complaining and trying my best to understand. why is that not only so impossible but unreasonable? does no one have a heart? do we constantly have to put ourselves in front of others? if you want to deny that the teachers have an issue to deal with right now, then thats your choice. one i don’t think you will make. and people have said that their methods are mean, irresponsible, and useless. they’ve obviously made their point if we’re talking about it. also, the colleges i’ve looked at are interested in admitting good people who are good students-ie have compassion. along with that, being a team player is essential to the majority of jobs out there. so i’d like to think that admission officers consider it when a red flag is thrown up in a letter.
i’ll try and read the book
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Joanne, first I would like to point out the difference between the students who are organizing and a lynch mob. We don’t plan on “chanting in the streets, the burning effigies and anonymous personal attacks,” in fact I can call myself personally responsible for talking some of my peers out of such actions (like keying Mr. Johnson’s car, throwing eggs at him, or posting flyers of Mr. Johnson with a gun). That’s one of the wonderful things about the dictrict that we come from, actually, that we have been raised and taught to be civilized. In other parts of the country, students as offended as we are would be vandalizing public or private property, becoming violent, or making physical attacks. Instead of scolding us for our desire to be politically involved or to make a difference in the community by salvagin our education, perhaps something should be said about our quite yet passionate campaign. You also said that we should leave these mob-like actions to those without freedom of spech, implying that we do have the right to freedom of speech, therefore what I am doing with these t-shirts is completely condonable, so I cannot see your disapproval of them. The way I see it, I’m only voicing my opinion in a manner that you, yourself said was acceptable. Finally I would like to address your comment about teachers blogging here throughout the day. If your job was on the chopping block, I can only assume you would be very insistant on knowing every detail about about the conditions that might make you unemployed. Speaking of assuming, you made that comment, seemingly without thinking about when teachers have breaks between classes, or free prep periods, or the recently free lunch periods that they are taking to “discuss ways to ensure that the District negotiates in good faith and that teachers are treated fairly.” (according to the signs posted in their doors) In fact, I find your comment quite hypocritical seeing as you blog multiple times trhoughout the work day.
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It seems that the adults here are repeatedly insulting me by assuming that I’m too incompetent to participate in such discussions, that I’m too young to be involved and informed and that my passion for this topic is not genuine and self inspired. I now no longer question why the stereotypes surrounding teenagers exist. You have proven to me that you daily support and believe in the things stereotypes tell you about people my age.
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You are not hearing what I am saying (and you are also confusing me with others that are posting on this blog). I think it’s great that students are participating in the political process. I don’t like your chosen method of expressing your views: The idea of selling t-shirts, which are clearly designed to get a laugh at someone else’s expense and to ridicule that person at a meeting attended by several hundred jeering people is not the type of civilized debate I think our community deserves. We should demand better. If you were my kid I would advise you to write a letter to the Board of Trustees instead or write a letter to the editor or write your views in this blog.
I don’t mind teachers having a point of view. I do mind that some teachers are apparently advocating the same ridicule tactics that you intend to use. I also mind that some teachers have threatened to hurt students by withholding letters of recommendation. I also mind that some are trying to influence students by indoctrinating them on what their views should be. All of these behaviors violate your boundaries and your rights as a student. You should talk with your own parents about this, read the newspapers, read this blog. It is simply not appropriate for your teachers to be crying on your shoulder and pouring out their hearts to you. I do care deeply about this issue (which is why I have taken so much of my time today to post about it….contrary to your assumption, however, I am not doing it on my employer’s paid time). -
Hey, wait a minute, ASE. Please don’t paint us all with the same brush!
I happen to think your motives are good, though I don’t like the gun analogy for the t-shirt even though it is a direct quote.
It has been v. interesting to get a student’s perspective – something we all need to open our more jaded eyes. Your passion is commendable and something we need more of!
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Fiona, re-read what the student said: “Is that all we think about is ourselves when the teacher is going through this terrible ordeal?” “If I were a teacher…I would say [that a student who wants a letter of recommendation] lacks compassion and isn’t a team player.” This is a kid whose boundaries are being violated, whether she knows it or not. She is more worried about the teacher’s emotional well-being than her own.
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I find it hard to believe that anyone can have any idea what was going through my mind when I designed these shirts. I’m not looking for a laugh, mainly because I don’t think that this is a laughing matter. I would also like to correct you, for you have obviously recieved wrong information. There is one, I repeat, ONE teacher that I have heard of in one school that is openly talking to their students about this issue. In fact I heard that s/he made it a mandatory class discussion. In my case, I have sought out my teachers to get their professional opinions, as people who are paid to teach us things that are very much involved with this, such as history, finances, and business. Contrary to popular belief, I, and the majority of the students that I go to school with have not been “indoctrined” by any teachers. And to Fiona, it is not a gun analogy, it is a direct quote. I regret that it must include a reference to firearms, but I can’t help the fact that Mr. Johnson said it.
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Joanne, I welcome a student’s empathy towards his/her teachers and I do not believe that a boundary is being violated here. Plus these students will be impacted by these budget decisions which might/could hurt their education. There does not seem to be a more royal cause than that one!
I would hope my children would care – over and above letters of recommendation issues – that their teachers are going through this budget debacle.
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joanne, please listen to my point, as i have seen your frustration about people not seeing mine. it is a fallacy to think that no college recommendation letters will hurt us. believe it or not, our’s isn’t the only district in the world-others have gone through contract/budget negotiations before and teachers have with held their services. i tell you the same thing i tell my friends- RELAX. colleges will not hold it against us that our teachers (keep in mind that admission officers are often teachers) are not writing letters. if teachers were writing letters and a student just didn’t submit one, that’s a different story.
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ASE, just to clear any confusion: I am Jean, and the blogger that referred to teachers/students using the district computers during academic time. Thanks for confirming that it happens.
I do understand breaks, prep time, etc. And that is what these breaks are designed for. Utilizeing that time and resources (district computers)for something other than a personal lunch break or prep time(as required by law and contract) is not acceptable. The “job on the chopping block” is not going to go away in the matter of minutes or hours a teacher spends blogging. It is not an effective, efficient or proper use of district time. That fact has been confirmed by the district human resource department. Prep time is for the teachers to prepare their lessons for you. Breaks are their personal time. If they need to utilize a personal notebook or other system to get updated information, they certainly can. But, blogging here does not accomplish that.
Everyone has the opportunity to voice/blog at the appropriate time and place. Hope you continue to do so.
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Jean, you don’t seem to see my point. Many teachers use computers that they have bought themselves, because the district can’t afford to update their outdated machines. As far as students, the district provides computers in libraries and labs to help us to learn, and participating in this blog and this community issue is probably the most beneficial learning experience of my high school career so far, therefore I feel completely justified in using school computers. As far as time, I couldn’t disagree with you more. Teachers in this whole situation have ceased to be human. They aren’t using “district time” they’re living beings therefore whatever they do they use their OWN time, regardless of pay. And if you think pay is an issue, their contract states that they legally get a 30 minute lunch free of teacher responsibility. This means they can eat, talk, socialize, or blog if the like. In the case of Burlingame teachers, they may spend a few minutes to blog here or there, but every lunch period is spent with the rest of the faculty meeting daily to discuss and brainstorm solutions for the budget crisis, in order to contibute at this week’s meeting. I used to think teachers advising clubs and making their classrooms available during lunch was going above and beyond on their part, but looking at how they spend their legal 30 minutes for lunch now, I’m all the more impressed. As for me, I take every possible opportunity to check up on this blog: in the morning before school, during brunch, during my free 4th period, during lunch, after school, and throughout the afternoon and evening. I don’t however let it interupt my school work, and I never blog during class. That would show disrespect to the teachers who I’m advocating for and who have earned my genuine respect. To clarify for those who were wondering out loud and to themselves, I don’t blog under my full name not because I don’t stand behind what I say or because I’m ashamed of my opinion, but because I don’t think that I should be treated differently if you can associate what I say with what anyone might know of me outside this forum. I also don’t think that it would be fair for anyone to hold a grudge based on my opinions if I were to meet them outside of cyber space.
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This blogg has gotten quite heated. Joanne I apologize for what came off as an attack to your opinion I meant it in no such fashion, but I really must say I think you are taking this all to far telling student’s their boundaries have been violated. It is hardly that dramatic. I think it is a cheap shot to be angry with anyone for using an alliance in a public blogg such as this regarding such a public matter for some situations it is necessary. Let’s try to tone it down; everyone is on the same side.
I stand by my belief that quite a few people want to start over with a new superintendent. This is my belief because I’ve talked to parents, students, and teachers and almost all of them said they wanted Johnson out. Earlier in this blogg someone brought up a good point, severance pay and how much that would cost the district. Do the ends justify the means? -
Thanks, RCC. I’m a big girl or I wouldn’t be posting here. I mentioned above the four commonly-understood boundary violations for children because I think it might be helpful for anyone to pause to reflect whether they are engaging in healthy relationships. Again, those four are 1) expecting the child to take care of the adult, 2) requesting that the child make adult decisions, 3) enmeshing with the child – living through them or trying to make them into a clone, and 4) misusing a child to feel powerful or to express anger. If any adult (whether a parent or teacher) is doing any of these things to a kid, they ARE violating the child’s right to have a healthy relationship with an adult. I’m sorry if you feel that I have “gone a bit too far” with these comments but the hair on the back of my neck started to raise when I heard the girl say that the other kids were “being selfish” for worrying about their college admission process and that they ought to be more concerned about the problems of the teachers and standing as a team player with the teachers. If you read carefully what I’ve said, I am not at all against the teachers….I’ve been very critical of the district too. I am against anyone on this blog who twists the facts and states half-truths and I am against teachers trying to use the kids for emotional support or to wield power.
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What would be the cost to the Tax Payers, if Johnson were to be fired?
What are the current benefits being affored to the Members of the SMUHSD ?
Are the SMUHSD members an (active or inactive) member of a teacher’s union.
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The Board just renewed Johnson’s contract and I’m not sure how many years it has left to run. Typically, an employer would be on the hook for the entire contract amount unless the employee is fired for “just cause.” In this case, Johnson would argue that there is no “just cause” because the Board approved the budget, so he could hardly be fired for following a board-approved budget. His lawyer would argue for the full contract benefit plus possibly some damages for other types of claims. Bottom line, the figure could easily be 500,000 to a million. (180 salary x 2 or 3 years left, plus 8% retirement, plus 15,000 per year health (assuming his health is like the teachers) plus any executive perks he might have had like car, phone, bonus, etc.
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RCC-i agree in the sense that this discussion has gotten a little heated. and last night after i spent all dinner talking about it and then rushed to the computer to see any post, i began to think-why am i even doing this? why is Joanne? Jean, Jen, Pete, KRN, ASE-why are we all doing this? it’s because we care-so much it’s frustrating. and when we care that much, it has to get this intense. i made Joanne’s neck hair stand…she has to care a lot for that to happen. while we both can’t seem to see the other side’s pov and it’s more frustrating than anything-we’re both still here, we both care, and then that’s better than us giving up our causes because it got heated
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ASE, the district office of Human Resources and the Principal see things different than you concerning the computers in the library/labs for blogging. Since this blog discussion is the most beneficial of your career, may I suggest you share that with the Principal and get his permission up front so that there is no confusion as to the proper use. Or, blog on in the mornings/evenings or whenever utilizing your own equipment. Please know that I am not trying to discourage your participation.
If a teacher has told you that they are using their own computer, that is not the truth. Computer identity can be tracked. This has nothing to do with affordability, so careful mixing issues. Concerning their lunch break your correct, it is their “teacher free” time. If they wish to blog they certainly can on their own equipment. The district provides computers for district use. If a teacher is indeed lacking a district computer, I suppose they could use one in the library/labs for district work.
Hey, this issue of computer use is not the main issue, so don’t make it one. Follow the guidelines, be ethical. Share your learning experience with the Principal and get approval. Same goes for the teachers. Then, it becomes a dead issue, and you can focus on learning, and the teachers can teach. Simple, huh?
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Student X, I am pleased to see you getting involved in grown up Civics 101. Your opinions and view are just as important as the next person’s. You are correct in pointing out, NOTHING gets done if NOBODY is talking; views can differ, but dialog is important.
Jean’s advise about playing buy the rules and being honest are words to live by. So far, you are getting an “A” in Civic Participation!!
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What confuses me, Jean, is why you’re so concerned about me and they way I blog or participate. Can I ask what it is to you? As long as I’m not offending you, or harming you why do you care so much if I used district computers for my “learning experience?”
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joanne- since you seem to be a victim of the rat race that is the college admission process, and can’t seem to understand my perspective of the rec letters-why don’t you come to letter workshop for students tom morning. or just give the counseling office a call. maybe hearing it from people who are legal will help you accept what i’ve said
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Dear Student X,
I haven’t a clue what you are talking about. -
Joanne, let me clarify for student X. Since you don’t seem to want to take any information given to you by any of the minors on this blog, maybe it would help for you to hear the same information from a legal and professionally trained adult. ie: high school counselors. The BHS counselors will be holding a workshop on letters of recomendation tomorrow morning at 8 am. If you would like to be truly informed in order to better participate in this discussion, maybe you should go.
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Dear ASE,
I’m still clueless. What info have you been trying to give me that I won’t accept? What info am I not truly informed about? I simply don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you saying that letters of recommendation aren’t necessary for college? If so, then why are you going to a seminar about them? Help me out ASE and Student X. J. -
The recommendations letters are important, but have nothing to do with current budget issues or union negotiations, as I understand from the union, and the administration.
The meeting sounds neat. Enjoy!
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As I understand the treads regarding the Letters of Recommendations, the teachers feel the Letters of Recommendation are not part of their job description and as a demonstration of their protest towards what is going on they are not doing the Letters of Recommendations on their own time. It has been suggested they are not important for college enrollment, but the students and some bloggers feel just the opposite.
This workshop sounds beneficial for the students. Maybe some of the teachers, who are Blogging should attend and find out what is the correct information.
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ok, ok. letters of recommendation are almost either required or refuse-usually no gray. but in our case, if the teacher’s protest goes past application due dates (which stretch from Nov 1 to feb 1) the colleges/universities will be alerted about our situation and the absense of “teacher” recommendation will not hurt our application. it will be replaced by a counselor letter and an explanation of the union’s decision. Joanne-the reason i posted to you was i continued to see references to my not worrying about my own good and getting into college and whatnot. in my opinion, i’m taken care of. i hope i’ve explained what i know well enough.
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The students on this blog are trying to defend the teachers in their decision to refuse to write letters of recomendation (which by the way they do as a courtesy, no one has ever said that they are required to write them). Someone accused the teachers of being selfish and hurting students in their attempts to protest. This is not true and the majority of the student body understands this. Teachers have always had our best interests at heart, hence their career. The meeting tomorrow is to explain how this lack of letters of rec will not affect students’ college admissions. They will be told, as student X has tried to tell you, that if no solution is found to the budget issue, and teachers are still not writing letters, then the administration will write to the universities. These letters will explain that the students who are applying don’t have letters because they were not available bacause of union issues due to district discourse, not because they were lazy or incapable of finding a teacher to vouch for them. One on my teachers said “The admissions officers are professors, they will understand the view point of the teachers.” And what exactly is that view point? To get the leverage of parents. We live in such a wealthy influential community, that when a situation arises that may keep their student from being the most eligable for any given school (God forbid, we be on semi-even footing w/ the rest of he applicants of the country) they will jump down the throats of anybody with the power to give the teachers what they want (their jobs, how demanding of them) in order to get what they want (letters of rec).
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I found this stream of ‘blogs’ fascinating and enlightening.
It is refreshing to read comments from jean…and hear a different perspective on complaints and concerns by teachers, parents and students.
I am still concerned that our students are stuck in the middle of a financial fiasco – and I do not see a pleasant short term solution.Indeed, this is a civics lesson!
One more thing to think about
“Nothing gets done when everybody is talking and nobody is listening.” -
on one more note, ASE and bloggers, i relatively sure that, aside from early admission, the teachers will be writing in time for private school’s deadlines. this meeting is also to talk about the complex process that is attaining good letters-its something they do every year. so, our world may be upside down, but its not yet inside out as well.
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Gads, ASE. What you just said is that the purpose of the teachers is to blackmail the parents because “when a situation arises that keeps their child from being the most eligible…they will jump down the throats of anybody…in order to get what they want.” Isn’t this a case of what I was saying about #4 above: Misusing the child in order to feel powerful or express anger.
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it is my belief (a spontaneous pop in my head, nothing i’ve been thinking about) that the teachers are protesting in a way that should be accepted. they are refusing to do more than their contract says they must. if they were in another profession, they would not recieve this scrutiny. ASE merely put the pieces together-the nature of the parents in Burlingame allows for the reaction she described. no teacher is in this for the money. not a one. they’re not here for the parents or anyone else. they’re here for the students. i’m pretty sure their intentions are not to violate and hurt the students. in ANY way. but maybe this summer we’ll asign that book for the teachers
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