Jun
30
The 6/7 Instructional Plan Continued
Filed Under Blogroll | 9 Comments
The previous post, Remember the 6/7 Instructional Plan?, has elicited a healthy discourse of ideas into why secondary level school grades are lower statewide. Familiarity with the previous commentary will only enhance an understanding of the commentary presented below.
Chances are different reasons for different districts are the cause of the decrease in school grades statewide. Even within individual districts, there could be more than a single cause.
Since no one has disputed that placing the burden of an additional instructional period upon secondary teachers in some districts could be the reason for lower school grades in those districts, the premise stands in full force as a possible cause. We seem to all agree on that.
Sphere: Related ContentJun
21
Remember the 6/7 Instructional Plan?
Filed Under Blogroll | 15 Comments
Grades for high schools were down overall this year across the state. The number of “A” schools decreased, The number of schools that dropped a grade increased, and, in Hillsborough County, a couple of high schools dropped two whole grades, from “A”s to “C”s and one of these schools has an IB program.
Sphere: Related ContentJun
18
Teacher Full Brunt: Admin Not So Much
Filed Under Blogroll | 11 Comments
John_D— wrote about a misunderstanding he had concerning an admission that he thought I made that I had abused a student. When I asked where he got such a notion he said, “I got it from what you have written.”
My answer to him was show me a single quotation from what I have written that would have given you the impression that I admitted to having abused a student.
He then went on to say something about Lee Drury De Cesare and that I should clarify for her, as I had done for him that no abuse occurred.
Sphere: Related ContentJun
16
Thrown Under the Bus
Filed Under Blogroll | 25 Comments
The following quote comes from The Kemp Case on The Abyss:
(if the) administration accused Steve Kemp of child abuse, (and) the administrators were actually the abusers because they put mentally retarded children in a room filled with junk… was Kemp not complicit in the abuse as well? … Kemp justifies his actions by saying that the administrators were “highly trained” and that he was not. This claim has no standing whatsoever. One does not need “training” to recognize child abuse. If a situation with a child in it looks dangerous, then one uses common sense to deduce what is happening. For instance, a parent cannot abuse a child and then defend themselves by saying that they had no training in child-rearing. It doesn’t work that way… [K]emp spent the six days trying to prevent the children from pulling down the junk. If that is true, then that proves that he was cognizant of the fact that the children were in danger. And if he knew that they were in danger, then that proves that one need not training to recognize such things. Thus, Kemp was complicit in the crime… the case is a stalemate. Neither side can report the other because both have wrongdoings.
Unfortunately, the case was far from a stalemate. Read more
Sphere: Related ContentJun
15
Enigma Lady: Lee Drury De Cesare
Filed Under Blogroll | 3 Comments
I remember the first time I saw her address the school board a couple of years ago. I wasn’t sure what to make of her. Here was a well-dressed aged woman spouting off at the board members about the things that were wrong with the district. She spoke with such irreverence it was hard not to notice her.
She was so small and dainty for someone speaking in such haughty tones. She seemed to have little regard for school board members and even less regard for administrators. She spoke a bit haltingly, each word taking another chunk of flesh from the subject of her demise. Who was this delicate grandmotherly soul who could chew up and spit the gruffest opponent?
Sphere: Related ContentJun
14
Shock and Ambivalence
Filed Under Blogroll | 4 Comments
The following was from an email I received. I’ve left out most of it except for this:
[I] am not sure if Steve wants us to keep it up. I don’t know. I sense he may be ambivalent about it. Steve, let us know how you are feeling about all this.
This is how I am feeling about all this.
Sphere: Related ContentJun
13
Big Ideas for Anti-Bullying
Filed Under Blogroll | 3 Comments
Is anybody reading? This is some Big Ass thinking. I am serious about the campaign although to what degree and how to get there, I’m less confident. It will need significant help from the community. What do you say?
We have the opportunity make a difference in the world. With the spotlight on bullying and a major case of it right here in our county, let’s not squander this once in a lifetime opportunity at changing the world.
It will take a concerted, district-wide effort involving every school, teacher, administrator and most of all student. Lots of talent resides here in the Hillsborough County public school system—talent in the form of graphic artists, musicians, actors, poets, painters, and every other artistic endeavor. There are many talented students throughout the school system. They could be called on to provide this great public service. Some students might excel in planning or creating the ideas to use.
Sphere: Related ContentJun
11
Bullying From the Top Down
Filed Under Blogroll | 7 Comments
Do most teachers feel safe in making public critical statements about the Hillsborough County School District? Can they say something critical of the district or administrators without the fear of retaliation?
Until the advent of blogs, one probably could not have known the answers to these questions. Until blogging came along the average person had no public outlet for critical thoughts. Blogs allow anyone to have a public voice through there reply function. Most commentaries allow people to reply with their own comments. Do most teachers feel secure in identifying themselves for their replies? Will they attach their real names?
Sphere: Related ContentJun
5
In the District’s Own Words
Filed Under Blogroll | 10 Comments
Here is a quote from Lee De Cesare’s blog, Casting-Room Couch, where it appears someone from the Hillsborough County Public School’s upper administration is responding to Mrs. De Cesare’s attempt to file charges against three individuals that had principal roles in my case before Professional Standards. You can read all about it here.
Sphere: Related ContentDistrict: You have no standing to file charges.
Lee: Hold on. I want to see the Professional Standards literature that I have asked for three times before I accede to this claim.
District: An email from you with allegations about employees would not generate a Professional Standards investigation. Certainly, the superintendent had no involvement and undoubtedly had no idea who Steve Kemp was, let alone that he has a blog.
May
31
So Long: Felony Pt17 (The End)
Filed Under Blogroll | 8 Comments
Pt1 Pt2 Pt3 Pt4 Pt5 Pt6 Pt7 Pt8 Pt9 Pt10 Pt11 Pt12 Pt13 Pt14 Pt15 Pt16
It has been an entire academic year plus the better part of last summer that I have been in limbo wondering what was next. It was July 2 of last year that I was abruptly ordered to go home banned from any public school campus. It was a long drive home as it always had been—35 miles one-way.
I had been home for an hour or so when the deputy sheriff investigating the case called me on my cell phone. He told me the district attorney was not going to file any charges against me. Even though I was sure no crime had been committed, it was a relief anyway to here the news. It was potentially a serious charge: felony child abuse.
Sphere: Related Content-
EsKay Net