The surveys have now been taken down. They were up long enough for readers to guage teacher morale.
Anonymous commented:
"You can try and win the teachers over but they still aren't voting to elect the four of you. Everyone cares about them and their opinion but why would they put themselves in that position?"
Really? If everyone cared about the teachers and their opinion, why weren't they allowed to attend the candidates' forum? Furthermore, what "position" are you speaking of them being put in?
These were just some of the many, many pages of the survey teachers filled out last May.
The school board saw these surveys regarding the low teacher morale and do you want to know what they did about it? NOTHING!
As Patti Essig said at the forum, "If you want change, don't vote for me." Obviously, she is perfectly happy with the low teacher morale.
We think it is high time for change. It's time to show our staff a little respect!
Editor's note:
Anonymous asked: How do you as Board members plan to raise morale?
First of all, we would start by treating the teachers and staff with respect. We would open the lines of communication and encourage constructive dialogue between administration and staff. We would promote training and support not only in regard to curriculum, but in the rapidly changing world of technology as well. We would recognize and praise the good job our teachers are doing everyday. We would review the budget to ensure that adequate funds reach the classroom. We would loosen the reigns on the "dress code." We would value their opinions and passion for teaching. We would encourage creativity and support their decisions. We could go on and on. The bottom line is we would treat them as we would like to be treated. These are a few of the many things we would like to accomplish to raise teacher morale.
16 comments:
Wow!
I think it is horrible that you are dragging the teachers into this. There was never anything said that they could not attend the forum. Also, the survey was from last May, there have been numerous meetings with administration to discuss some of the concerns. Have you discussed this with anyone regarding the outcomes of the meetings. The opinions of some staff members are not all the teachers as a whole.
Pleasantdale is a great place to work. If the teachers didn't want to be there, they wouldn't.
How do you as Board members plan to raise morale?
First of all, the teachers were not dragged into this by the challenging candidates. They were dragged into it by the superintendent himself. Regardless of the notice forwarded to all the candidates regarding policy for district employees under the Ethics Act and the Political Rights Act, many of the teachers have been the victims of intimidation, and scare tactics throughout this campaign by the superintendent. Getting any of them to come forward and admit this however is doubtful since they are paid very well and value their jobs. For the benefit of any teacher reading this, and contrary to the threats made, let me clarify that teachers cannot be fired by the board of education directly. Only the superintendent can be removed by the board. The challenging candidates have nothing but respect, admiration and empathy for our wonderful teachers. Anonymous states that there have been numerous meetings to discuss 'some' of the concerns. That is probably true considering the board and the superintendent routinely respond to some of the community's concerns. Ask a board meeting attendee who requested a written response to their inquiry if they received a complete answer or a vague response to some of their question. Granted the opinions of some do not reflect the whole. However, the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few or the one. Interpret that however you like. However, if one teacher is as unhappy as these survey comments reflect, that translates to how many children coming in contact with that teacher that feels disrespected and unappreciated? Is it worth even one teacher feeling this way? If the exisitng surveys are from last May, and there were so many negative comments by teachers, then certainly there must be a followup survey coming very shortly. The teachers and community as a whole will want to know that these complaints have been resolved. Keep in mind that any survey sent to teachers following these months of campaign activity is suspect to be unreliable. If I were a teacher in 107, that valued my job, I would seriously hesitate to say anything but positive things about my working conditions.
First of all, regarding anonymous' comment that if teachers didn't want to be there, they wouldn't. Is it really that easy for a tenured teacher to leave a school district? Don't you lose your tenured status when you move to another district?
That goes to my second point - which is off topic - but I think it would be phenomenal if this district, actually the entire country, got rid of tenure and moved to merit based pay for teachers. How does the entire concept of tenure benefit our kids, which is the most important thing?
Of course, this is an entirely separate issue from what is being discussed here on this blog, but I think the positive effects that would have on our education system as a whole would be countless!
Anonymous said...
I think it is horrible that you are dragging the teachers into this. There was never anything said that they could not attend the forum. Also, the survey was from last May, there have been numerous meetings with administration to discuss some of the concerns. Have you discussed this with anyone regarding the outcomes of the meetings. The opinions of some staff members are not all the teachers as a whole.
Dear Anonymous.
How do you know that there have been numerous meetings about this problem when most people in the community had no idea that a survey was even done, or that a problem existed. Who do I talk to in order to find out how these problems were solved? Please let me know where you get all your information, I would really like to receive it as well. I really hope all these problems are taken care of soon, so all in the district can work together to educate our children. Feel free to call me, my number is in the school directory.
I am in total agreement about getting rid of tenure and go to merit based pay for teachers. Sometimes we have to pay a teacher that is not doing their job. And that is not fair to our children. And I think that would give some of the teachers a little more incentive to maybe do a better job. Because honestly there are a few teachers that don't belong here.
I found the comment that "teachers are afraid to fill out the survey becuase they are afraid of what will happen to them" a bit disturbing. I also notice that most people including myself, are afraid to put their names on these comments. Why? I can't speak for the other people, but I am concerned about repercussions against my child.
Is there a similar survey available to see how the elementary teachers are feeling?
Yes, there was. We will work on getting some of them posted. Thanks for your question.
Anonymous asked on April 2nd, 2009 at 10:42
"Is it really that easy for a tenured teacher to leave a school district?"
The answer to that is, yes, you simply quit. Very similar to that of a normal job. Why aren't more quitting? Hmmmm, perhaps things are not that bad!
Michael Rak stated on April 2nd, 2009 at 11:12: "How do you know that there have been numerous meetings about this problem when most people in the community had no idea that a survey was even done, or that a problem existed. Who do I talk to in order to find out how these problems were solved?"
How do you know that there have not been? Who have you talked to in order to validate the legitimacy of the survey and that in all actuality it is not just one teacher who may not have had things go their way? As to checking into "who to talk to in order to see if the problems were resolved," as you are a candidate for BOE, I would hope that you would know that answer.
Anonymous said, "I am in total agreement about getting rid of tenure and go to merit based pay for teachers."
That is a fine thought. What would you, or more importantly, these 4 candidates utilize as a measurement tool? They seem to want to get rid of homework, tests and standardized testing.
Why were the surveys removed? Is there a way I can get a copy? Were they part of the online surveys from last spring? I never got one so I was wondering when or how they were sent out and if I could still get one??
Dear Anonymous on April 9, 3:10 pm.,
Thank you for your question.
The surveys were removed because we were asked to take the down and we promptly obliged.
As far as we know, they were not part of the online surveys from last spring. They were shared with us in June at a cookout and came from a former parent who received them from another parent in Countryside. We do know that they were circulated most of the summer but did not know that they were confidential.
If you would like more information, please email us at pleasantdaleschoolblog@gmail.com.
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