The editor of the Times Union wrote when talking about Forrest high school’s graduation rate: Yet the school, through the leadership of Principal Alvin Brennan, racked up a remarkable increase in the graduation rate of 18.7 percentage points.
Let’s examine this and hopefully you can see how people can misuse statistics to frame a narrative.
Florida determines its graduation rates by looking at a group over four years. Principal Brennan was there for only one year, don’t the prior two principals deserve some recognition too?
From 09-10 Forrest’s enrollment dropped by several hundred as the administration weeded out struggling (either with discipline or academics) kids. This happened again last year as several hundred students took advantage of opportunity scholarships. Do they know something the Times Union doesn’t? The school’s enrollment went from nearly 1700 in 09-10 to 1225 this year.
Schools aren’t operated by just one man. I hope the Times Union doesn’t think Brennan is alone responsible for the graduation rate increase. I would think the teachers deserve some credit too. Mr. Brennan might disagree as he replaced (surplussed, non-reappointed or cajoled out) over a third of the staff (20 plus teachers), a friend of mine there described it as a blood bath.
Ed Whites graduation rate went up over ten percent and its former principal was sent to principal purgatory Grand Park alternative school.
Then there is grade recovery which many believe has helped increase the graduation rate but diminished the prepared for life rate and the graduation formula itself which many believe inflates the graduation rate
I understand we are so desperate for hope that we want to look at any positive sign and rejoice but we do ourselves, our children and our community a disservice when we don’t look beyond the numbers.
Hey, the graduation rate is still sad. So sad. What can we do to change this around and get parents and others to care? It seems people in the higher up positions in the school system play politics. It's like -once you move up in the system you lose touch with what is really going on in the classroom. What is worse is some people can be in positions that have never taught a day in their life...Just sayin
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiosity, what did Dr Brennan or Forrest ever do to you to incur the wrath you seem to bear them? You seem to think the editorial staff of the Times Union was in cahoots with Dr Brennan to make himself look like superman? NOthing could be further from the truth. Dr Brennan thanked the staff NUMEROUS times for their work in increasing the graduation rate. He even acknowledged the work of prior principals.
ReplyDeleteNo one person can turn around a school. It takes a staff who are willing to buy in to the vision of the principal and administration to really turn around a school. It doesn't mean coming in and keeping with the status quo when the status quo obviously wasn't working. Changing the direction of a school isn't easy work and it isn't pretty work. In my opinion, Dr Brennan is only looking to have a staff willing to do the work they are being paid a salary to do. I'm sorry if your friends seem to think this is unfair, or a "blood bath" but the work of turnaround isn't to make best friends and pretend all is great when it truly isn't.
I also don't understand why you are so light on teachers when they don't make the grade, but aren't willing to accept grade recovery as an option for some students. So adults shouldn't be held accountable for not being good educators but students get one shot and that is it?
You seem to spend a lot of time harping on administrators not doing anything about the discipline problems in schools, turning a blind eye to problems in order to keep their numbers good. If Forrest offered options to students who were discipline problems wouldn't that be more in the spirit of creating a school environment that was conducive to educating and learning? Not every student can excel in a traditional school environment. Not every teacher is cut out for the turnaround environment. Those are the real cold hard facts of education these days.
Forrest High School is a great place to work. Students are in class learning, teachers are in class teaching, and our administration is making sure both take place. I'm sorry you have such a bone to pick with Forrest because if you really supported and understood the work taking place in Turnaround schools you would see it takes a leader like Dr Brennan to build a team who can move the school in the right direction. I say this and I am SURE there are MANY other teachers in the school who would agree.
You write, "I understand we are so desperate for hope that we want to look at any positive sign and rejoice but we do ourselves, our children and our community a disservice when we don’t look beyond the numbers." I have to say that YOU do our children, our teachers, and our community a disservice when you refuse to look beyond your own feelings and predjudice and discount the hard work a WHOLE school community is doing to get results.
My e-mail is cpgbonjovi@gmail.com
ReplyDeletesend me the same question there and I will be glad to answer it. In the meantime tell me what I got wrong....