www.hebron.k12.ct.us/uploaded/Hebron_Dis...t_Study_-_Part_1.pdf
Not sure if this link will work, but this is a very interesting report that Mombert found while searching the internet. It really made me think about what is going on in our school system. First, I think it might explain why the teachers have refused to give concessions. There seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction in the way things are run, at least at Hebron El. Not that I think that is any excuse--the union should be representing its members in their dissatisfaction in other ways, not by flaying more money out of the taxpayers. I think that Ms. Collins is probably being scapegoated as well, judging by the findings of this report. Sounds like there was some real conflict between her and Ms. Cruz, and in light of recent events it was probably justified.
I totally agree re CMT scores. Too much emphasis, and I believe it comes from the supt. I think she has really, really worked on developing a supportive relationship with the community, and not so much with staff. Another thought I had was, who paid for this study? Probably us. Also, for the past couple of years the school system has begun to feel more and more controlling--the notes home re preparing students for CMT's; the multiple logs sent home that kids are expected to keep up; the frequent notes about the many rules and regulations imposed involving foods that can and cannot come to school, electronic devices, the fact that children cannot wear hats at school, etc. There is more and more control being imposed by the school system, and I had really begun to resent it, even before the beginning of this budget season. My son is feeling it as well. He has been crying for the past couple of years about going to school. He says things like "They don't let us do anything," "They don't really care about us." The tension within the school system is filtering down to the kids. And why not? When there is dissent between parents, no matter how much they might hide it from their children, the children pick up on the tension. We have even been talking about sending him to a magnet school recently. It just doesn't make sense that a child who scores so high on the CMT's, who is in the C and E program, who is a voracious reader and loves to learn, would hate school so much. A light bulb kind of went off in my head when I read this. It sounds like the supt. might be creating a hostile environment that is filtering down to the kids. This makes me angry at the supt., but also at the teachers. Why the silence? Why not get the union involved in some way other than sucking money from the taxpayers in retaliation? Why allow the environment to affect our kids?
In any case, those are my thoughts after reading this report.
