Educ for Life-long Learning LO4924

Michel, Christopher J (michec@uh2297p01.daytonoh.attgis.com)
Tue, 16 Jan 1996 08:53:00 -0500 (EST)

Replying to LO4892 --

Joe DiVincenzo wrote:
>I have also found lots of anger in the 'system'. The anger seems to flow
>both ways. Parents/taxpayers/community members vs the schools (maybe
>taxes, maybe attitudes ....) and most definitely the school employees
>towards all and more of the above(maybe degradation of their worth,
>attacks on schools in general...)

As a taxpayer and parent with 5 children in school, grades 10,9,7,7, and
4, spread across three levels of schools, high, middle, and elementary, I
have observed a variety of school settings. Each, as with other
organizations, is a reflection of the leadership. The best example, IMHO,
is our middle school setting. If you were to walk in the front door, you
are welcomed and asked, as if you were a customer, what part of the school
you wish to observe today. No areas are "off limits." In the monthly
newsletter are reminders of the principal, parent coffee meeting scheduled
every month.

In this public school, the principal doesn't get any more funding per
student than any other public school, but he makes the best of it. Does
the anger exist is this setting? It probably does. Some teachers
probably don't like being on display. Some parents don't think tax funds
should be spent on principal, parent coffee meetings.

But the biggest reason for the anger -- has its roots in the system. The
federal and state mandates continue to pile up year after year, demanding
greater administrative non-productive activity. Funding from the federal
and state level continues to diminish. Local tax increases continue to
appear on the voting ballots with each election. How do we begin to deal
with these systemic issues?

Chris

--
Chris Michel
Business Systems Consultant
NCR Corporation
chris.michel@ncr.com