So, this will be my final post on my blog. The goal of my blog was to help me communicate my thoughts/reasoning to my constituents and to hear thoughts/questions/suggestions from my constituents, and therefore it doesn't make any sense for me to continue with my blog since I am no longer a member of the School Committee. I am going to keep my blog up - as requested by several readers who appreciated the research/facts now available on this blog - but I won't have any new posts, nor will I allow any comments to be posted (as of midnight tonight).
I want to thank all of the people who have expressed support for my efforts on the SC over the last three years. I have been truly touched by the emails and calls and letters I've received over the last few weeks, since announcing my decision not to run, and I thank all of those who have expressed such support. I was extremely touched by the lovely words from Marylou Theilman, former SC member, at last night's Regional SC meeting - and by the letters she had sought from Senators Kerry and Brown congratulating me on my service!
I congratulate Katherine Appy on her election to the SC, and hope that members of both the Amherst and Regional SCs will work on making the types of changes in our schools that many people in this town still want (even though they may be even more silent now). In particular, we need to improve elementary math, understand why our per pupil costs are so much higher than those in other districts, objectively evaluate the effectiveness of our programs/policies/curricula, and use effective (proven) strategies for raising achievement in struggling students (from all backgrounds).
Our schools have great potential - which is why I, and many others, moved to Amherst and have chosen to put our kids in the public schools. And although many students do in fact have good experiences in some (or even all) aspects of our schools, others have less consistently positive experiences - and we need to recognize this dissatisfaction and try whenever possible to solve the problems that still do exist in our schools (instead of pretending they don't exist and derogating those who raise them -- which doesn't make our schools better -- it just silences those voices). I hope that all SC members and the superintendent will acknowledge that some parents have real and legitimate concerns about particular aspects of our schools, and will focus on developing and implementing specific strategies for actually solving these problems. All kids in Amherst deserve excellent public schools ... and I hope all members of the SC and the superintendent will focus on helping our schools reach their full potential, not just in words, but in reality.
The commentary here reflects entirely my own views about policies and discussions occurring at the Amherst and Regional School Committees Meetings -- it does not represent the view of the Committees, District, or the Superintendent.
Upcoming Meetings
- Regional SC Meeting, Tuesday, March 29, 6:30 pm, Town Hall
Additional Information/Contacts
My Policy on Posting
I allow anonymous posts because I believe it is important to hear as many voices as possible, and I understand that sometimes parents, teachers, and/or community members do not feel comfortable identifying themselves. I do not censor posts, and I do not promise to respond to everything written by others. I do read all posts prior to posting them to avoid inappropriate language. I also will not post any entry identifying district staff/teachers by name. District employees may not feel comfortable responding to these types of comments on a public blog, and it is therefore not fair to comment on individuals. However, I do allow posters to identify and respond to other posters on this blog, even if they are teachers or staff. In order for us all to have a productive and constructive conversation I ask that all participants refrain from making any comments they would not feel comfortable saying face to face. Please consider this request before posting. Thanks much.
School Committee Broadcasts
You can watch the meetings live (as long as they are at Town Hall) on Channel 15 (ACTV).
You can watch meetings anytime on demand: http://www.actvamherst.com/Site/Meetings_on_Demand.html.
Contacting the School Committee/Superintendent
This blog is designed just to share thoughts/ideas with me ... so if you want to share any thoughts/ideas about our schools with all members of the School Committee and/or the superintendent, please come to a meeting (each meeting starts with time for public comments) and/or send an email to the entire School Committee (schoolcommittee@arps.org) and/or the superintendent (gerykm@arps.org).
I allow anonymous posts because I believe it is important to hear as many voices as possible, and I understand that sometimes parents, teachers, and/or community members do not feel comfortable identifying themselves. I do not censor posts, and I do not promise to respond to everything written by others. I do read all posts prior to posting them to avoid inappropriate language. I also will not post any entry identifying district staff/teachers by name. District employees may not feel comfortable responding to these types of comments on a public blog, and it is therefore not fair to comment on individuals. However, I do allow posters to identify and respond to other posters on this blog, even if they are teachers or staff. In order for us all to have a productive and constructive conversation I ask that all participants refrain from making any comments they would not feel comfortable saying face to face. Please consider this request before posting. Thanks much.
School Committee Broadcasts
You can watch the meetings live (as long as they are at Town Hall) on Channel 15 (ACTV).
You can watch meetings anytime on demand: http://www.actvamherst.com/Site/Meetings_on_Demand.html.
Contacting the School Committee/Superintendent
This blog is designed just to share thoughts/ideas with me ... so if you want to share any thoughts/ideas about our schools with all members of the School Committee and/or the superintendent, please come to a meeting (each meeting starts with time for public comments) and/or send an email to the entire School Committee (schoolcommittee@arps.org) and/or the superintendent (gerykm@arps.org).
About Me
- Catherine A. Sanderson
- Amherst, MA
- I'm a psychology professor at Amherst College, and a mother with three kids in our public schools (ages 12, 10, and 6). But most importantly for this blog, I'm a member of the Amherst and Regional School Committees (as of April 1, 2008).
14 comments:
Somehow I can't picture you becoming one with the Borg Collective, a Stepford Wife or that perfect physical replica minus any personality that hatches from an alien pod.
Hold your head high, for you have accomplished more in your three years on School Committee than an entire generation of previous members.
Thank your for your service to Amherst, Catherine.
I think that anyone with a desire for progress in Amherst should find what happened here over the past three years a little bit disturbing. The range of acceptable opinion, i.e. opinion that is not shouted down in a rain of theatre criticism about tone and demeanor, continues to narrow.
Count me among the disillusioned.
Richard Morse
I know that this is an unpopular opinion on this blog...but tone does matter. These last three years have been among the most damaging to our schools in recent memory largely because of the combat zone and false dichotomies created by Catherine Sanderson.
Catherine,
Your worthwhile service has been a lesson in commitment, perseverance, and grace. A lesson no doubt lost on some (ref. Anon 1:32), but inspiring to those of us who demand excellence and expect results.
Many of us give a great deal to the regional public school system - we give our considerable property tax contributions to the town, and we give our children to the machine - and for some, the payback is currently inadequate.
You have personally given so much more. Thank you, Thank you!
I wonder what role that lack of confidence and/or competence plays in the strong response to your criticisms, ideas and data? It seems to me that people who are confidenct and competent don't have to attack people or deny problems or avoid issues. They listen, think and respond calmly, even when disagreeing. I think how you were treated reflects on the insecurities and weaknesses of administrators, some teachers and school committee members.
It has been embarrassing to see how they have treated ideas by outside experts, outside job candidates -- or anyone offering a view that differs from their own. There is little or no debate involving data or outside experiences or even consdieratoin of other options.
You have tried to open up a closed, insular system that seems insecure and afraid even to even discuss issues. What a poor example for the children.
Catherine,
A very large number of us are extremely appreciative of the contributions you have made to our schools. I have watched most of the School Committee meetings over the last few years. Your clear and informed contributions to the discussion were always made politely and respectfully. Unfortunately, some Amherst citizens view any disagreement or suggestion for change as disruption. Your courage and perseverance are amazing.
Best wishes for the future.
Jim
Thanks Catherine. Hopefully, in the future, excellent candidates for administrative positions who are familiar with Amherst will not say "no way" when asked to consider applying for a job here!
Catherine-
Along with 1:32 PM, count me among those that think that while you did have some good goals and ideas, the way you went about things ended up working against reaching those very goals.
I also don't feel this was because you are a woman and a man would have been allowed to do the same things you were (rightfully) criticized for. I know you have recently made that assertion.
Thanks for trying, though, and for working hard at it. Enjoy your family time!
Catherine,
You have done such a beautiful job raising and framing issues, and grounding them in facts and data. Mille grazie.
After all you've seen, would you identify what you think are the 6-8 key metrics that indicate the health and progress of the school system? I recognize that tracking these metrics is not something the school system or the SC is going to do regularly and publicly, but nevertheless I'd like to follow the progress.
So if the ARPS system were to get a top-level report card, and it could only be 8 items long, what would these metrics be - and what is the baseline today?
Maybe a topic for a future post. I'll miss being able to comment, but won't miss the trolls....
Bravo CS,
If we get to the point where any new Hampshire College, Amherst College, and UMass professors are routinely told upon arrival by their new colleagues that they are best-advised to send their kids to private schools, then that will be a loss to our schools. It appears that we are already at or near that point. I know that some do not think that would be a problem, that it simply means more school resources for their child.
can you direct us to some data which supports this statement that "we are already at or near the point" where "any new hampshire college, amherst college, or umass professors are routinely told upon their arrival by their new colleagues that they are best-advised to send their kids to private schools"?
You were not criticized because you are a woman. You were criticized because of your tone. I agreed with nearly all of your positions -- but your strident tone and refusal to admit to even the smallest misstep lost me along the way.
Good luck.
The President of Amherst College sends his kid to Deerfield Academy. At least one of the professors sends his kid to Bement. You think the professors don't talk to each other???? Of course new profs will ask, "where do you send your kids?", and when people start listing private schools, that's where the new profs will want to send their kid. It's not rocket surgery.
Only in provincial New England would people comment on someone's tone. You gotta love it. Some things never change.
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