Everyone who knows me also knows that I am both a critic and advocate for the Dallas Independent School District. As a DISD graduate, I can tell you that I struggled at times to be motivated, productive and successful academically. I had some really bad teachers and some really, really good ones like Michael Terrell and Nina Johnson of Arts Magnet, Marion Deese, Minnie Carter, and Principal Gillum of Boude Story Middle School and Dr. Northouse who got on my ever-loving nerves. They each demanded the best of each of us and were very effective, but they didn't reach everyone despite utilizing a plethora of tools to get the job done; including adjusting grades when they believed it was warranted.
The recent "so called" changes in the DISD's grading policy has gotten a lot of attention lately and in the light of other stories about grades and grade changes being shoved down the throat of teachers I think maybe it is time to take a deep breath and consider that the changes aren't really new. This has been going on in the district since I was a student. The truth is that teachers have always used discretion in grading, especially with students they perceived were trying hard, doing all the work, showing up to class and going to tutoring but somehow just did poorly on tests and with students who would otherwise do well but for changes in their home environment that ultimately negatively impact their ability to come to class, turn in some assignments on time or do well on tests.
The problems in the district, with respect to the drop-out rate and poor test scoring, are a lot more complicated than the recent grading changes. We need to look at a very real problem with pedagogy, the need to lengthen student teaching, adjusting teaching curricula to address conflict resolution, mental health and issues of diversity as it relates to our specific demographic/economic challenges. As for giving a student a 70 when he made a 60; I was a DISD student who benefited from a teacher who made such a change. He also made sure that in a time when he felt my home environment was more of a challenge than I could master that I was cared for by my vocal production teacher, Mrs. Nina Johnson. Today, I hold a Master's Degree in Counseling and am in enrolled in a Doctoral program. Thank God for those teachers who fudged on my behalf. While no student merits this kind of ongoing assistance, teachers do need to have power in discretion with regards to grading. They know their students best.
.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Open rebuke
The bickering between two of this city’s greatest treasures reminds me of story my grandmother used to tell me about a house that burned many years ago in an east Texas town pre-dating the civil rights era. Neighbors, black and white came to try and put out the fire. Inevitably there were people, however, who just stood around watching, and the efforts of a few to put out the fire failed. Their reasons for just standing around, she explained, had more to do with bad relations than a real understanding of what Community really means.
Though the family was saved; everything else was lost. Mrs. Culbreath and Mrs. Foreman, it strikes me that Dallas’ house is on fire and this City still needs both of you to put out the flames. The difference in what is at stake, I believe, is this time there are people still in the house while you bicker and argue; fanning the flames and giving the public a taste of what used to be something that we would handle behind closed doors.
This whole discourse saddens me. When is the last time you heard a child say they wanted to grow up and run for City Council, DART, be a school board Trustee or be the head of DHA? There is so much more work for each of you, starting with taking an honest look at the true impact of this open and unending war of words. What do you say, all hands on deck?
Though the family was saved; everything else was lost. Mrs. Culbreath and Mrs. Foreman, it strikes me that Dallas’ house is on fire and this City still needs both of you to put out the flames. The difference in what is at stake, I believe, is this time there are people still in the house while you bicker and argue; fanning the flames and giving the public a taste of what used to be something that we would handle behind closed doors.
This whole discourse saddens me. When is the last time you heard a child say they wanted to grow up and run for City Council, DART, be a school board Trustee or be the head of DHA? There is so much more work for each of you, starting with taking an honest look at the true impact of this open and unending war of words. What do you say, all hands on deck?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Drinking the Kool-Aid
For the past year in writing on issues related to the Dallas Independent School District I have adamantly called for the community at large to take a long look at the way the district is being run; especially the fact that so many of the schools with unacceptable ratings are in predominately minority communities and regardless of the interventions changes have been minimal if any, with the exception of South Oak Cliff High.
Recently the NAACP met in east Dallas to discuss the potential for more school closings in the coming year, not unlike the current closing of Sunset High (10th and 11th grades). According to Rev. Ronald Wright, Dallas Civil Rights activist, the meeting was rough sailing because those present felt sucker punched by the news the district may well be setting their sights on more schools in predominately minority communities for closing. Wright stated that there are about 11 schools that are in danger of potentially being broken up in the same fashion as was done in the case of Sunset earlier this year. Some parents say that confidence in the district, is low and others admit tensions as being high with less than two weeks before students return for the first day of classes.
At the start of last year superintendent Michael Hinojosa, in a press update, expressed excitement about the changes that were coming down the pike to improve the district's standing. We were told the Road to Broad prize was not just in sight but within our grasp. He shared with us ways that the district planned to help students improve their test scores and stop the massive bleeding emanating from school drop-outs. They changed titles, fired employees, moved teachers, principals and other administrators around and justified the move by touting their overwhelming concern for the children of district and who could believe that they would be motivated by anything else? Unfortunately, now it feels more like when Jim Jones told his followers that they had to drink the Kool-Aid for their own good; because those looking in from the outside will never be able to understand the beauty of what they had developed, why things had to be the way things were--the children were forced to drink first and then there was the massive suicide of the community at large. They watched and supported each other while they did the unthinkable, one confused soul after another.
The closing of Sunset High is indeed a bitter pill to swallow for many in the community, but what is even more difficult is the potential for other schools to be closed and even more students to be bused because of schools that have failed to offer students the excellent education they more than deserve. I am told that Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas does not apply in this case, but this is so confusing to me because the main reason the children were bussed out of their neighborhoods was because of unequal access to adequate learning facilities, books etc., etc. If the children of this district are being bussed to get a more adequate education and they need to be bussed outside their neighborhoods to get the job done, then what is different about this case from Brown?
There are many people who see what is going on and are shouting from the roof-tops, but they feel their cries are falling on deaf ears, that more people should feel as passionately and should be moved to action. Instead, they continue to fight for the children, for parents and for our community. They do this tirelessly, and sometime without notice or praise. They do it out of love, some out of a sense of history and because they care and they do it while watching helplessly as others in our community stand idly by while our kids are forced to "drink the kool-aid."
Recently the NAACP met in east Dallas to discuss the potential for more school closings in the coming year, not unlike the current closing of Sunset High (10th and 11th grades). According to Rev. Ronald Wright, Dallas Civil Rights activist, the meeting was rough sailing because those present felt sucker punched by the news the district may well be setting their sights on more schools in predominately minority communities for closing. Wright stated that there are about 11 schools that are in danger of potentially being broken up in the same fashion as was done in the case of Sunset earlier this year. Some parents say that confidence in the district, is low and others admit tensions as being high with less than two weeks before students return for the first day of classes.
At the start of last year superintendent Michael Hinojosa, in a press update, expressed excitement about the changes that were coming down the pike to improve the district's standing. We were told the Road to Broad prize was not just in sight but within our grasp. He shared with us ways that the district planned to help students improve their test scores and stop the massive bleeding emanating from school drop-outs. They changed titles, fired employees, moved teachers, principals and other administrators around and justified the move by touting their overwhelming concern for the children of district and who could believe that they would be motivated by anything else? Unfortunately, now it feels more like when Jim Jones told his followers that they had to drink the Kool-Aid for their own good; because those looking in from the outside will never be able to understand the beauty of what they had developed, why things had to be the way things were--the children were forced to drink first and then there was the massive suicide of the community at large. They watched and supported each other while they did the unthinkable, one confused soul after another.
The closing of Sunset High is indeed a bitter pill to swallow for many in the community, but what is even more difficult is the potential for other schools to be closed and even more students to be bused because of schools that have failed to offer students the excellent education they more than deserve. I am told that Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas does not apply in this case, but this is so confusing to me because the main reason the children were bussed out of their neighborhoods was because of unequal access to adequate learning facilities, books etc., etc. If the children of this district are being bussed to get a more adequate education and they need to be bussed outside their neighborhoods to get the job done, then what is different about this case from Brown?
There are many people who see what is going on and are shouting from the roof-tops, but they feel their cries are falling on deaf ears, that more people should feel as passionately and should be moved to action. Instead, they continue to fight for the children, for parents and for our community. They do this tirelessly, and sometime without notice or praise. They do it out of love, some out of a sense of history and because they care and they do it while watching helplessly as others in our community stand idly by while our kids are forced to "drink the kool-aid."
Thursday, August 7, 2008
What Does It Matter Anyway?
The Black Coalition to Maximize Education, four students from Maynard Jackson Middle School and a former bond administrator are named as plaintiffs in a suit against the Dallas Independent School District. The suit was filed on July 14 in the North Texas US District court. The filing of this suit is on the heels of school closings in the district which have brought back feelings of Katrina, a time when the home environment of some home schools in Dallas were forced to change because of the new students and what some saw as an inadequate amount of preparation to receive them.
DISD Board Trustee Lew Blackburn surmised last month at the last Board meeting that he feared that the move by the district would be destructive and did take fully into account the needs of students. But this recent suit against the district alleges long time neglect of schools, particularly those located in predominately minority communities. According to the Dallas Examiner, complainants say the buildings their children have attended should have been torn down because of poor conditions. The story goes on to describe janitors having to go in with a line to take care of backed up sewage in some cases. It seems the parents have had enough. But the question is, will this law suit go anywhere or will it just go away? We are all very familiar with the amount of muscle and money the district can apply, especially when what usually happens is that through legal maneuvering and the waiting game they discourage plaintiff's who ultimately just walk away. This law suit, while I am glad to see it happen, is like David fighting Goliath. It is my hope that others will see this and either join in or speak out. No one should except that this is Dallas' best.
There is no amount of new dollars, (i.e. monies from the bond package passed this year) that can change the fact that many of the schools in DISD need to be torn down and are a hazard to the health and students, but the dollars allocated to these schools in this most recent bond package won't be enough to even scratch the surface. The sadder thing is that it took this long for this law suit to come forth. The poor conditions in the district are not new, so where on earth have these folks been while our students suffered through long cold winters and hot summer and fall temperatures, dilapidated bathrooms and falling rafters?
The answer is, IT DOES NOT MATTER! It does not matter that the NAACP, SCLC, Urban League and other organizations based in Dallas have walked away from our students evidenced by their noticeable absence from being named in this suit. IT DOES NOT MATTER that alumni who sometimes have children of their own that attend the failing dilapidated schools have turned a blind eye to what is happening. IT DOES NOT MATTER that stars such as Ms. Badu and Mr. Hargrove return often to support schools like Arts Magnet High School, my own Alma mater, while the rest of the district from which they escaped because of their talent or academic prowess, does the best they can with the scraps and leftovers. WHAT DOES MATTER is that these few people have found the courage to take on Goliath and just maybe if their cause if just, and I believe it is, they too will win the day.
DISD Board Trustee Lew Blackburn surmised last month at the last Board meeting that he feared that the move by the district would be destructive and did take fully into account the needs of students. But this recent suit against the district alleges long time neglect of schools, particularly those located in predominately minority communities. According to the Dallas Examiner, complainants say the buildings their children have attended should have been torn down because of poor conditions. The story goes on to describe janitors having to go in with a line to take care of backed up sewage in some cases. It seems the parents have had enough. But the question is, will this law suit go anywhere or will it just go away? We are all very familiar with the amount of muscle and money the district can apply, especially when what usually happens is that through legal maneuvering and the waiting game they discourage plaintiff's who ultimately just walk away. This law suit, while I am glad to see it happen, is like David fighting Goliath. It is my hope that others will see this and either join in or speak out. No one should except that this is Dallas' best.
There is no amount of new dollars, (i.e. monies from the bond package passed this year) that can change the fact that many of the schools in DISD need to be torn down and are a hazard to the health and students, but the dollars allocated to these schools in this most recent bond package won't be enough to even scratch the surface. The sadder thing is that it took this long for this law suit to come forth. The poor conditions in the district are not new, so where on earth have these folks been while our students suffered through long cold winters and hot summer and fall temperatures, dilapidated bathrooms and falling rafters?
The answer is, IT DOES NOT MATTER! It does not matter that the NAACP, SCLC, Urban League and other organizations based in Dallas have walked away from our students evidenced by their noticeable absence from being named in this suit. IT DOES NOT MATTER that alumni who sometimes have children of their own that attend the failing dilapidated schools have turned a blind eye to what is happening. IT DOES NOT MATTER that stars such as Ms. Badu and Mr. Hargrove return often to support schools like Arts Magnet High School, my own Alma mater, while the rest of the district from which they escaped because of their talent or academic prowess, does the best they can with the scraps and leftovers. WHAT DOES MATTER is that these few people have found the courage to take on Goliath and just maybe if their cause if just, and I believe it is, they too will win the day.
Monday, July 21, 2008
One Huge Victory for Survivors
March 31, 2008--Dallas, Texas
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Lift Every Voice Family and Community Development Project will unveil its newest campaign supporting survivors of sexual violence, The IV Pillars; Help, Hope, Healing and Justice. These are elements all necessary for holistic recovery of the survivor and those that love and support them in every aspect of life. The IV Pillars Campaign is based upon the ecological model by A. Loftquist which shows the nexus between the aspects of sociological involvement and life-long recovery for victims of violence.
The campaign also represents a shift in paradigm. We have traditionally taught our children to be weary of strangers. This method of prevention needs to be turned on its head as research has shown that people are most often victimized by an aquaintance or family member opposed to strangers. 1 in every 100 person victimized is hurt by someone in the family. Join Lift encouraging loved ones to "tell the secrets...Break the cycle...and become the Griot." Your silence doesn't protect you, it more than likely will protect those that hurt you. SPEAK OUT!!!
July 15, 2008
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson will present a panel discussion on WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS and DNA EXHONERATIONS. The panel will feature: U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins and Jeff Blackburn of the Innocence Project of Texas.
Time: The event will be held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Date: July 19, 2008
Place:Cedar Valley College Performance Hall, 3030 North Dallas Ave, Lancaster, TX. 75134.
This event is free and open to the public. For additional information please contact Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's District Office at 214-922-8885.
July 15, 2008
ONE HUGE VICTORY FOR SURVIVORS---The Texas Medical Association has decided they will offer CME training on Sexual and Domestic Violence Screening.
This is medical first for Texas and it has been a long time coming but we are very grateful for the support of all our partners in the fight to bring help, hope, healing and justice to survivors and secondary victims. According to Gayle Love, Media Relations for the Association, they are also recommending to the Editorial Board of the TexMed Journal that they do an article on the importance and benefits of screening. We can look for these new developments to take place the first of next year. Lift submitted numerous examples of universal and global screening assessment tools which we asked the Association to utilize as a guide in the development of assessments used by Health Care Professionals in Texas. In response to the need they will be developing an independent screening tool. According to Mrs. Love, the Texas Medical Association understands the need for the assessments and their actions are in response to that need. This is a big victory! Please call the Texas Medical Association and let them know how much you appreciate their heart and the work of their hands.
Texas Medical Association
Josie R. Williams, MD, President
3833 South Texas Ave., Suite 150Bryan, TX 77802-4016
(979) 862-5005; Fax (979) 862-5015
president@texmed.org
William H. Fleming III, MD, President-Elect
7777 Southwest Freeway, Suite 900Houston 77074-
1-812(713) 772-4600; Fax: (713) 981-4310
whfsail@aol.com
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Lift Every Voice Family and Community Development Project will unveil its newest campaign supporting survivors of sexual violence, The IV Pillars; Help, Hope, Healing and Justice. These are elements all necessary for holistic recovery of the survivor and those that love and support them in every aspect of life. The IV Pillars Campaign is based upon the ecological model by A. Loftquist which shows the nexus between the aspects of sociological involvement and life-long recovery for victims of violence.
The campaign also represents a shift in paradigm. We have traditionally taught our children to be weary of strangers. This method of prevention needs to be turned on its head as research has shown that people are most often victimized by an aquaintance or family member opposed to strangers. 1 in every 100 person victimized is hurt by someone in the family. Join Lift encouraging loved ones to "tell the secrets...Break the cycle...and become the Griot." Your silence doesn't protect you, it more than likely will protect those that hurt you. SPEAK OUT!!!
July 15, 2008
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson will present a panel discussion on WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS and DNA EXHONERATIONS. The panel will feature: U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins and Jeff Blackburn of the Innocence Project of Texas.
Time: The event will be held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Date: July 19, 2008
Place:Cedar Valley College Performance Hall, 3030 North Dallas Ave, Lancaster, TX. 75134.
This event is free and open to the public. For additional information please contact Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's District Office at 214-922-8885.
July 15, 2008
ONE HUGE VICTORY FOR SURVIVORS---The Texas Medical Association has decided they will offer CME training on Sexual and Domestic Violence Screening.
This is medical first for Texas and it has been a long time coming but we are very grateful for the support of all our partners in the fight to bring help, hope, healing and justice to survivors and secondary victims. According to Gayle Love, Media Relations for the Association, they are also recommending to the Editorial Board of the TexMed Journal that they do an article on the importance and benefits of screening. We can look for these new developments to take place the first of next year. Lift submitted numerous examples of universal and global screening assessment tools which we asked the Association to utilize as a guide in the development of assessments used by Health Care Professionals in Texas. In response to the need they will be developing an independent screening tool. According to Mrs. Love, the Texas Medical Association understands the need for the assessments and their actions are in response to that need. This is a big victory! Please call the Texas Medical Association and let them know how much you appreciate their heart and the work of their hands.
Texas Medical Association
Josie R. Williams, MD, President
3833 South Texas Ave., Suite 150Bryan, TX 77802-4016
(979) 862-5005; Fax (979) 862-5015
president@texmed.org
William H. Fleming III, MD, President-Elect
7777 Southwest Freeway, Suite 900Houston 77074-
1-812(713) 772-4600; Fax: (713) 981-4310
whfsail@aol.com
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