tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post4509421021542305542..comments2023-09-29T06:32:16.005-04:00Comments on My School Committee Blog: The rest of the Crocker Farm storyCatherine A. Sandersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-88360029709317164462009-11-19T20:33:31.117-05:002009-11-19T20:33:31.117-05:00Catherine,
You may want to put aside your heady w...Catherine,<br /><br />You may want to put aside your heady ways for a moment, and try to read between the lines. Maybe there are some problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-22197313379642034372009-11-18T01:00:33.459-05:002009-11-18T01:00:33.459-05:00My responses:
Lise - I share your admiration for ...My responses:<br /><br />Lise - I share your admiration for this piece -- and I think it speaks to what a great leader Mike Morris is. <br /><br />Rick - Mike is a great principal -- I agree. However, I share Lise's view that this type of openness to how we might be better is somewhat unusual in our schools. I hope this type of openness can indeed be commonplace in our district.<br /><br />Anonymous 1:52 - I think CF will be a very different school next year, and a school with higher test scores and a larger (and less poor) population. I believe within 2 or 3 years, we will have 3 excellent elementary schools and I'm hopeful that more families will then opt for the public schools.<br /><br />Anonymous 12:02 - let me respond in my typical "heady way" -- the SC supervises the superintendent. We do NOT supervise the principals, nor do we consult with them (this is a violation of the chain of command). The principals share their views with the superintendent, who then forms his own opinion (as occurs each year with the budget process). <br /><br />However, I'm surprised that you are surprised by the silence from the principals -- given the accusations of racism/classism, intense anger, etc., I would have found it surprising for principals to speak out in support of redistricting publicly and risk ire of parents in their school. And although you may see their public silence as worrisome, remember that two of the four principals (Mike Morris, Ray Sharick) were on a committee two years ago that examined issues of equity, and that committee formed the opinion that having such inequity in our schools in terms of income was BAD. <br /><br />Anonymous 12:27 - well said - -thanks! And as a member of SC, I very much believe that things WILL improve at CF over the next 18 months -- you can hold me to that.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-80083298640344406572009-11-18T00:27:44.750-05:002009-11-18T00:27:44.750-05:00My child attends Crocker Farm, and if things don&#...My child attends Crocker Farm, and if things don't improve drastically over the next 18 months, she'll be going elsewhere. I think it is a very positive thing that we haven't heard about how the Principal's are feeling as their feelings are irrelevant to the big picture. Bottom line is that things need to improve drastically at CF. If test scores do not improve, enrollment will continue to decline as parent's seek out alternatives. I'm pleased that the School Committee and Superintendent were able to forge ahead and make many important changes, based on the facts, not on feelings. Bravo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-86337141632559521512009-11-17T12:02:08.439-05:002009-11-17T12:02:08.439-05:00Just out of curiosity - while you all discuss this...Just out of curiosity - while you all discuss this stuff in your heady ways, without actually being in the schools, in the trenches....has anyone on the school committee checked with any of the pricipals to see how they are feeling about all of the changes happening to their schools, and with the new leadership? Were they consulted about the redistricting, the Achievement Academy, the ELL situation? Do we value their education, experience and knowledge? Anyone care whether we keep good people in these positions? If you don't care - you should make that clear. These are the people who are with our kids all day every day. Someone might want to ask them what they think, because other than Mike's letter to the newspaper, I have not seen or heard of a single principal's comment on any of this. I find the silence both interesting and worrisome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-86087088844041738932009-11-17T01:52:14.358-05:002009-11-17T01:52:14.358-05:00Thank you for your article Mike. Crocker Farm is ...Thank you for your article Mike. Crocker Farm is doing some great things, but at the end of the day, many parents will look at test scores to determine whether or not they will send their child to Crocker Farm. There are many families in South Amherst who have opted out of Crocker because of the test scores and the "poor school" reputation that CF has in the community. These families have sought out private schools or Charter Schools as an alternative. Perhaps redistricting will help this situation, but if talk on the playground is any indication, many parents are not convinced that redistricting will help to change CF enough for them to want to send their children their. This is unfortunate as these are the children who would likely help to increase test scores at CF.......Please continue to keep us informed about all of the great things happening at CF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-20858313895412260912009-11-14T10:25:14.337-05:002009-11-14T10:25:14.337-05:00I agree. We have really fantastic and dedicated p...I agree. We have really fantastic and dedicated people in our schools, like Mike Morris. If they can just be open minded to the idea that maybe they can do some things differently/better, as Mike is, all will be well. No matter how good you think you are, you should always be examining how you can be better. <br /><br />I also liked how the discussion is moved to specific areas (<i>”…it is more useful to look at the subgroups and compare their achievement”</i>). Where a school has problems, it’s never across the board; it’s always some specific areas that need improving. That is the way we should be thinking. <br /><br />The Achievement Academy sounds really great – I saw a presentation about it at an SC meeting a while back. I can’t find anything about it on the ARPS website (unless I missed it); I just requested that they post something on it.Rick Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04347110422224233217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-65219385830329983662009-11-13T08:21:02.558-05:002009-11-13T08:21:02.558-05:00I find this letter incredibly reassuring. This is...I find this letter incredibly reassuring. This is the first time in my three years in Amherst that I recall a school teacher or administrator admitting that there may be a need to do things better or differently. Usually the response has been only defense of the current practice, and of a teacher’s right to teach what they personally believe should be taught. That opening admission, followed by a plan that examines and improves curriculum, provides specific assistance to struggling students, and focuses on differentiated learning and alignment of the curriculum. Wow! I am optimistic that these programs will make a tremendous difference at Crocker Farm.lisenoreply@blogger.com