1:45 PM
Hmm...so this is a public Facebook post brought to you by an Amherst Middle School teacher (you know, somebody vested in the status quo); and normally I would say 'who cares' as she is one in a hundred or so and certainly entitled to her opinion under the First Amendment.
But what is particularly scarier is she is also part of that elite insider group known as the Middle School Principal School Search Committee. You know, that secretive little group outspoken, overly-public School Committee member (and blogger) Catherine Sanderson was recently purged from.
An anonymous letter-snail mailed to me last week from a school insider indicated great concern about not hiring an "insider" for that ultra-important position of Middle School Principal. Double Hmm...
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1135648190>
These are turbulent times on the Amherst School Committee, made worse by
poor conduct on the part of Committee members associated with ACE. I've been
to several meetings of the Regional School Committee and watched, appalled,
at how Sanderson and Rivkin display open contempt and mistrust of Educators
and Aministrators, attempt to undermine the Committee chair, and are hostile
toward Committee members who don't share their views. They vote as a block,
work together to get their motions forwarded, and communicate behind other
Committee member's backs in open meeting. Adding Spence into this mix would
create an even larger "block" of these like minded folk, who really don't
represent a majority view in Amherst, and choose divisiveness over true
leadership. We need diverse views that represent the community on the
Committee, and there are several candidates that will do this. Read and
learn about all of the candidates and vote!
My Anonymous Snail Mail Letter post
An "insider"? No, I call it hiring local so they actually know our students and teachers.
ReplyDeleteAnd they will flee, and they will scatter and they will run to the fox caves and the tunnels that snakes call paradise...
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why such a liberal community continues to use defensive, and might I add, divisive tactics upon hearing opposing views. Ms. Wilson's note weighs particularly heavy, because instead of using a cogent and compelling argument for her rationale, she employs anger and negatively. Wilson is exhibiting the same behavior that she faults in others. I. Margolin
ReplyDeleteBecause THEY have had it soooooo good over these past 25 years or so.
ReplyDeleteAnd they HATE IT when reality intrudes.
This is from Ms. Wilson facebook page. Does she even live and pay taxes here in Amherst? I would just like to know, how many of our teachers live in town?
ReplyDeleteSex: Female
Current City: Springfield, MA
-Ryan
"Sex: Female
ReplyDeleteCurrent City: Springfield, MA"
Good looks.
NAILED
Negative, negative post on f.b. This is someone we have chosen to be a search committee member? for a leadership position? She's writing as if she's in sixth grade and combatting another sixth grade clique.
ReplyDeleteHarry T.
I'm really shocked that you Larry, such a proponent of free speech, would do something like this. Either you've got too much time on your hands trying to make trouble, or you really believe that taking personal opinions and sharing them in ways that people obviously chose NOT to do is somehow your calling.
ReplyDeletepretty sad and pathetic.
can't you come up with real sources for meaningful information?
I don't know this person, and I don't care what she or he says on their facebook page. And unless it's threatening bodily harm or inappropriate/illegal behavior, no one else should care either.
please share why you thought this was in any way appropriate or remotely important? 'cause I don't get it.it's looking more and more like a witch hunt 'round here.
Hmm.. you just posted that on my VERY public blog so obviously you know a little bit about the Web.
ReplyDeleteFacebook is probably a tad bigger than Blogger (although Blogger is owned by Google who changed the world but can't change China.)
So as far as I'm concerned if you post something on Facebook, it is as public as standing out in Amherst town center at High Noon with a message tattooed to your bare ass in neon ink.
Nitwit.
All local facebook users are described as being from Springfield- Amherst isn't a choice of location
ReplyDelete"An anonymous letter-snail mailed to me last week from a school insider indicated great concern about not hiring an "insider" for that ultra-important position of Middle School Principal. Double Hmm..."
ReplyDeleteOh, suddenly the anonymous are credible sources. You have gone past the piece of work stage mr. kelly and are now into the pathetic.
Frankly, I don't see what is wrong with her letter. She has strong opinions about two strong arming school committee members. Their tactics are obvious. Many people like that they are pushy and insulting to educators. So be it, but as you have noticed, people aren't going to sit back and take their shit without some push back.
Christ, you're one of the pushiest people in this little town. Why are you fretting over others getting pushy.
By the way, every single time a school looks for a principal a scary insider group called the search committee is formed. These dark figures slinking around school hallways are typically representing teachers, students, parents and the administration.
Watch out!
They might be right behind you.
Phew! That was close.
"I met with Mike Hayes (a meeting we had set up in my role as "parent in the district" -- not SC member -- prior to my being asked to serve on the MS search committee, but AFTER I had signed a confidentiality agreement as part of the search committee)"
ReplyDeleteWrite Ms. Sanderson.
Seems like a very legitimate reason to ask her to step down. Ms Sanderson's thoughts about Mr. Hayes are well known on her blog, so she is obviously biased in this search anyway, another very good reason for her to step away from the table.
Actually there Cowardly Anon Nitwit, it's Kelley (with 2 e's).
ReplyDeleteCowardly Anon Nitwit 6:51 PM
ReplyDeleteI don't believe Catherine Sanderson stepped "away from the table."
I believe she was pushed.
So, Catherine was pushed out because a meeting with Mike Hayes, a teacher member of the search committee wants Mike and writes it on facebook, the super is Mike's close friend and Mike is being mentored by Mark Jackson. Hoe many things can be wrong with this picture before we put a stop to it? Who can do something about it?
ReplyDeleteSo with Mr. Spence's election, perhaps we can have this out:
ReplyDeleteAre we running the schools or are the schools running us?
To Anon 8:31pm,
ReplyDeleteHow can you possibly win in this town? Now you criticize Mike Hayes because he has friends and colleagues who support him? I have heard Catherine compliment Mike Hayes many times on her blog. He has done a great job this year. Don't you want the best person as MS Principal?
It is outrageous that there is no Amherst School Committee member on the Middle School principal search committee. Students from Amherst represent 80% of the Middle School student body! The Chair of the Regional SC could have simply appointed another Amherst School Committee member to this search committee.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, there is nothing new at the middle school since Mike Hayes has been in charge. Same old, same old, for anyone who was there at the parent orientation night. (Except no more PE for everyone next year--is that a good choice for fidgety seventh graders?!!)
At least Glenda Cresto had starting talking about revising the English Curriculum. No hope of that now.
You have got to be kidding me even suggesting that Cresto was effective. She was a wishy-washy empty promise. The communication with parents is ten times better this year. This year the school has direction and a focus on education. The PE cut was due to budget, not the MS vision. The Middle School is really good, it just needs a permanent leader.
ReplyDeleteAnon. 10:31:"The Middle School is really good."
ReplyDeleteWhat? Have you read the Beers report? Little to no differentiation? Hardly any posted goals, lesson plans...
The English Curriculum--students read 5 books in 7th grade. That's "really good"? There are some good teachers, if your kids are lucky enough to get them, but the school needs a lot of work. After all, it could be "great." I guess what you're saying is, why bother?
My guess is that you don't have a child at the middle school.
I watched Dr Beers at the SC meeting and he seemed really positive about the MS. He actually said surprisingly good things. It was a report to identify the needs of the school. Nobody asked him to find all the good parts, he was looking for ways to improve. Posting a goal seems like a really minor fix that needs to be made. The MS is a good school - Dr Beers said that too. With a few improvements it will be a great school!
ReplyDelete