Two years ago Vitti wanted to get rid of the popular new
principal at John E. Ford. The data after her first year had slipped but the
parents didn’t care, they liked her and thought she did a good job. They wrote
letters and had community meetings that Vitti even attended but in the end he
removed her anyways.
Then at the beginning of this year Vitti wanted to force
several schools to have an extra hour of reading. Now he was required by state
law to have some schools have an extra hour but he wanted to go above and beyond.
Parents complained, wrote letters and had community meetings and Vitti went
ahead and did it anyways. This story takes a twist because Vitti recently wrote
a letter to the state legislature asking them to do away with the extra hour requirement.
Then there is the use of the third grade FSA to determine promotion
for third graders and this despite the test hasn’t been validated yet. Nobody
has said third graders not ready or who wouldn’t benefit from it shouldn’t be
retained. Just universally they have agreed that this test should not be used. Despite
the state saying they don’t have to the district has said it will use a list
generated form the results of the FSA to determine which kids will be retained.
Now it is true there will be many good cause exemptions given out but the test
is still the starting point.
The brings us to First Coast, despite the mass exodus of
teachers, the spike in violence, the drop in school grades and the community
demanding a change, Vitti has the chutzpah to say Brennan is one of the best we
have and should remain as principal. Nothing backs this up. Once again he has
gone with his gut.
Now the city's elites they get their calls returned, I will do some examples of that later in the week.
Time and time again Vitti has ignored the city’s parents.
Who has had enough?
While I dislike the fact that Vitti doesn't listen, I don't think parents should be in charge. In fact, I think that's why schools suck now. Parents can't even parent, so why should they run the schools?
ReplyDeleteI call parents about their kid's cellphone, only to have them walk into class with it the next day. Call about behavior only to have the student come in and announce the phone call to his peers during class. I could write them up, but who am I kidding? What is a teacher to do? Back in my day I would've had to apologize to the teacher and the cellphone would have been taken. There are some great parents and some not so great parents of rotten kids.
ReplyDeleteParents are not fit to run our schools. Unfortunately, neither is Vitti. We need real leadership.
ReplyDeleteI dosagree. Parents are our stakeholders. The childten are our clients. Itis unfortunate that we cannot teach or children have time to play. I found out today i have really high vam scores for five years. Yet i do not have eveneveirty minutes fuday to show children to have fun while they learn and choose a lesson that activates schema and meets common core standards and models critical thinking. I surely hope that the school boad. Et alwill take the time to work cooperatively before every high performing teacher leaves the district . it will be a masss exodus with parents being able to choose whichever public school they want to take their child to -providing there is room. I would strongly hope that teachers will be acknowledged and gicen leeway to teach that truly enjoyed teaching until all autonomy was taken away. Every child deserves a quality education and a quality teacher. The district. And leaders appears to be tajing sides instead of working together . It is possible disagree and still maintain a professional demesible and work together as a community and effect positive change without demeaning others. Someone once said, If we do not hang together we most assuredly will hang separately. It os time for thrafult people to come together and work through differences. We are adults. Who all want the same thing in the end , growing happy children who get a sound education. Parents want teachers who care about their child. Everyone regardless of age (even children) wants respect and act out when they are beibg disrespected and feel there is no way out but to do something to be heard. Think about it--it was and still is about having
ReplyDeleteHappy learning children that are able to compete with others . Choice and voice was never taken off tme table for parents and teachers and children at any time. Duval County and Jax could lose millions this coming fall as parents can choose whatever public school tbey would like to go to ( keepi g in mind Clay. And Nasssau arr in thr top ofthe heap as far as student acacademics Jobs would be lost too at the District level as well as schools closing . Local businesses could suffer and housing values also go down in thosr areas. Teachers could lose their jobe too.
So , it is a really good time for everyone to work together to mend the rifts where possible and work for the good of the children and comminities of Duval County.
and
Duval citizens officials , employees and leaders are chosen /hired with an exoectation to represent and serve with respect and professionalism.
We.-I have always have a voice as resident amd stakeholders, as do so many. We , as in thr big "WE"have choice. We can build a better school comminity .
People will sene their choldren to the best school theu can. People will generally take thr job that provides the greater income which they like all opportinities being equal. It is tine to choice go or atay soon for many parentw and teachers juat choice it's more benificial.
Sometimes, ya just gottq tqke a step back and look at the big picture.
No "few" can make "we" sit at the back of the bus unless we like the view.
WE own that bus and WE can choose to disemploy thwt driver becauwe he works FOR US.
(We aleo night want to revisit our vetting process when we hire the ne next driver and get a different driver referral service?)
Word and analogy complete. I'm getting off this bus ride and going to bed.