The education WCBOE has provided me with:
The district uses propaganda to create an image that they have the best interests of the children as their goals. Administrators keep parents from figuring out their agenda by diverting them with positions on committees and creating issues to redirect their energy. They involve parents in meaningless activities and debates to make them feel important and keep them from looking beyond the surface. Such an example is the most recent attempted show of community by providing a large amount of time and attention to an event of very little impact on children’s education compared to the bigger issues that are not being properly addressed.
Administrators have so much power that they can make almost anyone believe that each teacher is worthy of the abuse they used against him/her.
The people in such positions are attracted to the excessive power it provides because teachers are naturally trusting and normally pledge to be caring of children and work together as part of a team. That is their most dominant weapon used against us and is our biggest obstacle to overcome.
The politics in education are no different than the politics of government. I had always assumed educators operated on a higher level. Unfortunately, I have discovered that the system I had so much faith in and thought I was part of something positive has depressingly showed me how corrupt it is being run and I am embarrassed to be a part of it anymore. I have learned that the handling of education by WCBOE is not about doing what is right for children; it is about playing the political game, period, and those of us with integrity, who will not sell out children are the teachers who will be pushed out of the system and destroyed.
It appears there is no remedy available for any type of systemic change to occur. Who is the county or state has the authority to create the change? It is not going to come from within the school system, because anyone who even tries for a positive change will be slaughtered in a matter of time. How many educators have to sacrifice themselves before the officials in the state rally together as a political, public entity to force the corruption to end?
Under attack,
A Jaded Soul
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
3 comments:
I am glad you get it. I have to shake my head at the people who think their children are getting a good education at public school. It's more like good indoctrination.
It is sad that an organization designed to educate our children place their actual education at the bottom of their priority list.
It has to be depressing for a person who has invested their time and energy into making a career in the educational field only to discover down the road that their honorable intentions may be the reason they lose their career.
Sure must be frustrating for the family who doesn't have the income to afford a private education, yet work for a living so the home school option is out also. They are forced by law to send their children to a school system that does not have their welfare, education, or quality of life placed as a priority of the program. The children are forced to endure whatever the school allows (bullying) or doesn't provide (special education services that actually improve the student's ability to positively contribute to society and have a positive self esteem), or pretends to provide (magnet for the high achievers when the magnet program is not even run like a true magnet program) or provides too much of (Title I monies that provide everything to the child that the parent should which allows the parent to never even have to be involved-so how does that improve parental participation?).
How are the parents ever going to be able to trust that their children are safe during the day and being properly educated with the funds we all work so hard to provide the school with for the educational system?
The elected officials of the county need to rally together and demand transparency from the BOE and provide an outside investigation unit to discover how the teachers have been treated-maybe allow teachers to share their story while granting anonymity and if they find a reoccurring trend or if an individual had evidence then the investigators can pursue individual cases, who the corrupt staff are, and how are the funds truly being spent to benefit the students and serve their educational needs!
Dear Jaded Soul,
I am sorry to say that you are absolutely correct in your assessment of the school system, and the school administrators specifically. It is true, and unfortunate, that the majority of the current school administrations are quite adept in their roles of spin doctors, clouding the truth which I noted in detail in a previous post. The role of a school administrator should be that of an advocate for children, but also a strong supporter of the profession at large. Unfortunatey, these individuals are nothing more than the unsavory mouthpieces of their central office handlers. This is plainly evident in the corruption displayed in regards to the current reporting (or lack thereof) to the state of disciplinary matters. Having experienced this first hand, it is beyond disheartening to see the best of our profession threatened, cajoled and coerced all in the name of what is best for children. Certainly, there are those administrators that support their teachers as fellow professionals, but they are few, and are pressured themselves to sacrifice teachers and their careers/reputations all in the name of the company line. To this end, Joe can verify the letter I sent to him a few weeks back regarding the the travesty of the disciplinary reporting attended to by the central office staff. In addition to that, administrators were told in a January meeting to "clean up your collective homes" by the omnipowerful Dr. Handy. By this, there was no doubt what so ever in regards to the expectations held by senior management. Given that statement and countless others, school administrators who use their integrity and honor to support their staff are run aground and left in indefensible positions. Thus, they are ostrisized and shunned, leaving them helpless and exposed. I can tell you that staying off the radar is nearly impossible in this atmosphere of retribution and retaliation. A popular quote states, "...what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular...". We are seeing this in the now exposed actions of the Superintendent and the Board as they slaughter those who use right to make what little stand they can against these issues. I can, however, also offer this. This blog post is having an effect on the inner circles as pressure is being brought to bear. Those school administrators who engage in the unprofessional actions promoted by their handlers are feeling the stress, as are the likes of senior management. Indeed, the pen is far mightier than the sword.
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