Check out Ken Otero on The Gradebook blog.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
This blog has been designed to give the teachers and employees of the Hillsborough County School District an outlet to vent, rant, and most importantly share information and suggestions about Superintendent Elia's plan to increase the number of teaching periods from 5 to 6 periods a day while reducing the planning periods from 2 to 1.
Link Floyd - Linka Wray
- Common Core Watch
- ReELECT No One
- education for the aughts w/Matthew Tabor
- Education Lessons We Left Behind
- Hats Off To Larry
- LOOK OUT FOR: The Delphi Technique
- CandyKellyMaryEllie
- Right On The Left Coast
- The Gradebook
- The old Gradebook
- Board Meetings - Stream 'n' Scream!
- Ask To BE a Teamster! NOW!!!
- CTA: Duties - Memo of Understanding
- Superintendent Elia's 2008 Evaluation
- Superintendent Elia's 2007 Evaluation
- Teacher Contract
- 2009-2010 Contract
- Trib Aug 22nd Elia Raise Article
- Trib June 7th Elia Article
Posts
8 comments:
I am so disgusted by these people that it is making me physically sick. I can't go on teaching much longer... They care about appearances... which is what the school wide average does. What about that poor English teacher who is teaching 6 classes of over 25, while the elective teacher is well below 20 per class? The school wide average says things are good, right? Well, not for the English teacher or science teacher with 175 students and 50 minutes to plan, grade, contact, train... I hate this...
Not to mention an even bigger problem... parents call and expect to be called back within 24-48 hours. They fail to see that you have 149 other student and all of their parents. I will always have dozens of phone calls and emails to make, so get in line. These parents, who have no patience, then go to administration... before you know it, you, the teacher, are being called down to the office and scolded for your "poor" communication skills. As if I had time to be called down to have a discussion about how I can work on calling parents back quicker... I am going as quickly as I can...
GET IN LINE!!!!!!!!
For all of the parents who read the above post, the next time a teacher calls you and expects a call back within 24-48 hours, just tell the teacher to "get in line".
It appears that parents are ridiculed for not being involved with their children's education and parents are ridiculed when they are involved in their children's education.
As long as the wall between teachers and parents is reinforced, the administration will foster that conflict all day long.
But if a teacher tells a parent the truth about how bad things are, we can be assured that that teacher will not be seen in a good light. But it makes teachers look better if we can blame the kids and the parents for the system we work in.
5:33
You are NOT alone. The numbers game is their usual tactic. As much as I hate to admit it we are nothing but numbers. At some point this post-office management model will collapse upon them.
If I were "scolded" for "poor" communications skills I would ask for "direct support" and "modeling".
("yes, sir. I agree there is room for improvement but quite frankly I am at a loss as to how to address it. I am requesting your specific direction for remediation, in writing of course. Would you like my schedule and my time management priorities or would you prefer to start with a blank slate? I sincerely appreciate your help.")
Watch the red face that follows the blank stare. Priceless.
Follow up you conference with a written request and document, document, document because you really want to see them squirm. Remember to follow any directions and communicate any obstacles that you encounter.
Also remember to take the time off when you need it.
I have to agree with the first post... It is very upsetting when a parent calls you, and then goes directly to administration the very next day because you did not call them. Rather, they should be patient and then try again. Perhaps try another communication method or call again in two days. Going directly to administration for something like this is silly and time wasting...
I am a teacher, and I have never expected a parent to call me back in 24-48 hours. They have 3 maybe 5 kids, but I have 150 to care for and manage through the day. Parents must be aware that teachers are spread very, very thin and that going to adminstrators on them immediately only makes the situation more frustrating...
I had a parent I was trying to get a hold of for three weeks. When they finally called back, they left an angry message. The next day I received an email from my administator scolding me for not getting back to them quickly enough...
It is a horrible situation all around. People need to be patient and understanding...
I read in the paper where they expelled a kid when the parent does not return calls or when "bad notes" were given to the kid with the expectation that a "bad kid" is going to go home and give a "bad note" to the parent.
Or are those just convenient set ups? For an ESE student.
We all have to face the fact that "the system" deals with students, parents and teachers in the same underhanded manner that ultimately gives control to "the system".
This is another comment from a poster on "The Gradebook" under "A Week End Interview" with Ken Otero:
"Considering that Hillsborough County Schools use smoke-and-mirrors to hide how many administrators are actually on the payroll, it is a wonder that anyone can get a true picture of how many students are in a given class with averages being taken at the school level. Counting students in each class gives a true picture. ART's (Administrative Resource Teachers)are at every school and district level. They show up as teachers on paper, but may never set foot in a classroom! If ART's were counted as part of the administration (as they should be), the percentage of administrators would be much higher...
Posted by: Auditor | December 19, 2007 at 11:57 AM"
Until the Administration is honest with themselves, the students, teachers, parents and public will be deceived by design.
This is a must read for how school systems rationalize their actions.
it is not just about math
it is about their misguided concepts of themselves
http://www.weaponsofmathdestruction.com/index.cfm
"AMENDMENT" not "AMMENDMENT"
thanks
Post a Comment