tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post9101385129276400851..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Soppy Story from the SuperMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34511481629954698402010-05-11T06:27:39.094-07:002010-05-11T06:27:39.094-07:00Here's the movie version of the Superintendent...Here's the movie version of the Superintendent's story, complete with tinkling piano and heartwarming string section.<br /><br />http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/FullMovie/<br /><br />Did she actually not know any teachers whose story she could tell in her own huge school district?Eleuteriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06813093648755273494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30038473036650955472010-05-09T09:02:04.575-07:002010-05-09T09:02:04.575-07:00Well, Charlie, it's great to move on because i...Well, Charlie, it's great to move on because it isn't the biggest deal in the world. However, it does add the list of items that point to a serious issue with the Superintendent's ability to relate to other people, whether it is teachers or parents. That time after time she comes up short or stiff or uncaring should tell the Board something.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20124820555948266252010-05-08T10:08:53.464-07:002010-05-08T10:08:53.464-07:00I think I have finally made peace with this.
The ...I think I have finally made peace with this.<br /><br />The superintendent never said that the story was true or new or local, so I guess it isn't that horrible that it isn't. It's a shame that she didn't choose a story that was true, current and local that she found inspiring, motivating, and humbling.<br /><br />She didn't give the author credit, but she may not have known the story's origin. Moreover, it's not all that tragic that she didn't provide proper citation.<br /><br />The superintendent never said that she was going to show the Powerpoint (although the title page was projected on the screen in the room).<br /><br />I don't particularly care for the story, but I not going to judge the superintendent's taste in literature.<br /><br />The story doesn't stand up to much analysis, but neither do many other fables.<br /><br />The moral is perfectly dreadful "<i>Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today is a gift; that's why they call it the present.</i>" What does that even mean? That we should ignore the past and the future? Whatever, I'm letting that go also.<br /><br />She didn't read it very well and she did muff the ending, but she has never demonstrated much skill as a speaker, a storyteller, or even as a reader. So what.<br /><br />Yeah, I think I'm ready to just let this go now. My fixation on it was something that I felt was a flaw in me, but now I'm over it.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71664964001486414722010-05-08T09:10:23.719-07:002010-05-08T09:10:23.719-07:00And, fwiw, it doesn't sound like she had plann...And, fwiw, it doesn't sound like she had planned to present the power point, just direct folks to the website to visit it and learn of the fine work in our district.<br /><br />Probably for the best, we didn't need her to read through a power point too.owlhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01630051682382673928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18671539567257447252010-05-08T09:07:04.987-07:002010-05-08T09:07:04.987-07:00I tried to let this go, thinking maybe this story ...I tried to let this go, thinking maybe this story was chosen to avoid singling out any single teacher here- thus excluding others or getting the story wrong. But then gavroche reminded me of last year's show of appreciation (rifs and the illegal letter) and Maureen made the fairly obvious point, Ms. Thompson is not a good teacher.<br /><br />So for me, the lessen Dr. GJ is sharing is that life is incredibly complex. Children show up to school with complete stories and histories that have and will continue to shape them. There are no safety nets in place to ensure care and stability for children, no communication year-to-year, no carry over or wrap around services. The result is that children who were "bright" and a "joy" become "unpleasant" and "unsuccessful". We need teachers to step into the role of social worker and friend at times. In fact, it's not all about the ABCs. The relationship and personal knowledge of their students, teachers can not teach.<br /><br />Since she has been inspired by this urban tale, perhaps our supe will restore counselors. Maybe she will acknowledge the importance of soft-skills, the human side of education, in considering teacher evaluation tools. <br /><br />On a different note, I can't believe the story opens with the teacher "lying", saying that she'll love all her students equally. Can't believe anyone thinks wearing a bracelet and spot of cologne would take the place of some therapy for boy, parenting assistance/education for his father... <br /><br />The story is inspiring in that it shows we need a more comprehensive type of school, better teachers. Maybe it is just a reform message. It's all very confusing.owlhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01630051682382673928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17400624196972678812010-05-08T08:45:30.879-07:002010-05-08T08:45:30.879-07:00Thanks for the research, Charlie. Here's my fa...Thanks for the research, Charlie. Here's my facebook comment (actual Seattle Schools teacher)<br /><br />This is hilarious. Watch my boss, Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson, honoring teachers by having her staff make a powerpoint (Whoa - thanks, Doc, I never saw a Powerpoint before! Too bad you forgot to present it!), then read through (for what appears to be the very first time), a 40-year old sugary sweet ficticious story about a mythical student. Her contempt for her audience- teachers,parents,humans, all multicellular life forms- will become the stuff of myth & legend.Eric Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17663977355241677800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34767988975404090212010-05-07T22:45:03.253-07:002010-05-07T22:45:03.253-07:00I was speaker #1 at the board meeting. As I waite...I was speaker #1 at the board meeting. As I waited and listened to the story my immediate reaction was "my God these board meetings are long .... now she does this pathetic sham story to make it even longer. I've heard true stories that are worth telling but testimonies should be focused on a relevant topic and limited to three minutes. DeBell made this point right before the start of testimony ....<br /><br />Right after the "Supe" took way more than three minutes to be miles away from any real purpose at all. This story had zero to do with teacher appreciation.<br /><br />Check the SPS data for Black students without home support ... and math achievement ... Odds on high school completion are not great ... Medical School?<br /><br />The obvious moves for teacher appreciation would be transparency and information, which are components of respect. If there is no respect then appreciation is a sham at best.<br /><br />#1 Drop Spector appeal and get high school math process for adoption restarted... She should be fired for dragging this out without any valid reason. <br /><br />#2 Let the community know about current situations under appeal:<br />a. NSAP <br />b. School closures<br />c. NTN contract filed today <br />d. Writ of Mandamas<br /><br />Note the things that the "Supe" was supposed to get done might not go so well as<br /><br />Two cases of "a" and<br />two cases of "b" have been dallied around so long that attorney Stafne has asked for discretionary review by the WA Supreme court.<br /><br />A real need for:<br />Bye-Bye "Broad" + our "Supe"dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45833354367087388722010-05-07T22:15:34.482-07:002010-05-07T22:15:34.482-07:00Here is a power point Teddy Stoddard:
http://www....Here is a power point Teddy Stoddard:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrVg1Y9RKNQJoseph Rocknehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18395780229029985101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67734198653912157122010-05-07T22:12:06.690-07:002010-05-07T22:12:06.690-07:00Here is a link to Dr. Wayne Dyer's reading:
h...Here is a link to Dr. Wayne Dyer's reading:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvmCp_BOeIc<br /><br />Maybe we could have kids do interpretive readings of the Teddy Stoddard story.Joseph Rocknehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18395780229029985101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33265313044707872262010-05-07T20:53:59.433-07:002010-05-07T20:53:59.433-07:00According to LA teachers warehouse's post on t...According to LA teachers warehouse's post on the open thread of this blog, 36 SPS teachers were RIF's this week. RIF'd on teachers appreciation week? I knew MGJ was cold, corporate, and heartless, but geez this take the cake. <br /><br />Teachers should be the very very very last thing to go.<br /><br />This sucks.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20432940548642989302010-05-07T20:52:05.525-07:002010-05-07T20:52:05.525-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87701402224544521642010-05-07T20:38:50.428-07:002010-05-07T20:38:50.428-07:00Charlie: I think you nailed it with the gleeful (...Charlie: I think you nailed it with the gleeful (and thus "bad" - as usual) teacher giving the boy an "F". <br /><br />That's the only part of the story that aligns with MGJ's agenda to scapegoat teachers, weaken the union, intimidate and silence teachers from speaking out, and bring in TFA and other Alternative Certification (& non-union) teachers to weaken and threaten the teaching corps. <br /><br />This was not about little Timmy Stoddard, MD. This was yet another example of anti-teacher propaganda. <br /><br />Shame, and shame again on MGJ and her demonstrably incompetent PR minions.wseadawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750439461734046035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50490221007334422952010-05-07T19:17:12.586-07:002010-05-07T19:17:12.586-07:00I listened to her reading the story (the orbusmax ...I listened to her reading the story (the orbusmax link takes you to it) and it really struck me that this (fictional) Mrs. Thompson was (from what we hear) an <b>awful</b> teacher. She was thrilled to give a struggling 5th grader Fs. She looked down on a 4th grader for his poor hygiene. She did not get around to reviewing her students' past records until December. The sporadic positive response she received from this one child so over shadowed every other thing she had done in her career that it seemed exceptional. (Well, ok, standing in for his mom at his wedding should be exceptional!)<br /><br />Could it have been a deliberate ploy on the Supe's part to downplay the excellence of our teachers? <br /><br />What an odd thing. Maybe one of us should post on a Charleston blog and see if this story is a perennial favorite of MG-J? Or maybe she dusted it off just for our contract negotiation season?<br /><br />In the real world, my kids' K-8 school has a Facebook alumni page where the kids (some are now young adults) talk about what a difference their teachers (many of them still at the school) made in their lives. Too bad MG-J isn't their Friend.<br /><br />(WV is thinking about applying to Cornisph for Art Scphool.)Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70100015902415389022010-05-07T15:00:09.827-07:002010-05-07T15:00:09.827-07:00One local news (aggregation)website has picked thi...One local news (aggregation)website has picked this up. www.orbusmax.comMichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14341427446081103440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90540188673287082202010-05-07T14:33:32.487-07:002010-05-07T14:33:32.487-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.pjmanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16054995603686871751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42836394318896218622010-05-07T14:26:52.880-07:002010-05-07T14:26:52.880-07:00Blogger Lori said...
(...)
Maybe I'm ...<i>Blogger Lori said...<br /><br /> (...)<br /> Maybe I'm just in a weird funky mood today, but I find this story sort of repugnant. All children deserve an attentive teacher, not just those who have endured personal tragedies.</i><br /><br />I agree with Lori. So a truly cynical mind might wonder if the Supt's <i>real</i> intention in telling this somewhat repugnant apocryphal story was to depict teachers in a negative light. <br /><br />But that would be terribly, terribly cynical, wouldn't it?<br /><br />Almost as cynical as RIFing 167 teachers on Teacher Appreciation Week, or sending the district's 3,000 teachers an illegal letter declaring their contract null and void. Who would do such a thing?! Oh, that's right -- Supt. Goodloe-Johnson did that last year!<br /><br />So maybe reading this story on Teacher Appreciation Week this year is her idea of being nicer.gavrochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11336376340965305696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61395832436241427532010-05-07T14:26:27.095-07:002010-05-07T14:26:27.095-07:00First, I just can't let this go yet. It fascin...First, I just can't let this go yet. It fascinates me. I keep turning it over and over in my mind trying to find a perspective that makes sense.<br /><br />The Superintendent said that this story inspires, motivates and humbles her. I'm trying to figure out how it has inspired her. What thoughts of hers could be said to be inspired by this story? Not MAP, not standardized texts, not performance management. What has this story motivated her to do? Did it motivate her to close schools, to withhold Title I and LAP funds, or to dump students with IEPs into classrooms without adequate support? Where is there any sign of humility from her? Not in her unilateral decision-making, not it her appeal of the Spector decision, not in her salary demands.<br /><br />I think the part of the story that inspires, motivates and humbles her must be the part at the beginning when the teacher takes glee from making big, fat red X's on the student's work and marking it with a prominent "F".Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68554185404164920252010-05-07T14:00:51.173-07:002010-05-07T14:00:51.173-07:00In my chosen career, which I retired from at only ...In my chosen career, which I retired from at only 40, we have a saying: Those who can't do, teach.<br />The best thing I ever did not do was go to a single day of high screwel, they teach lies and omissions and indoctrinate our young in a negative, horribly disgusting manner.<br />I'd bet some of my teachers are still doing the daily grind...Not me. And not one shred of thanks goes to a teacher, not one shred.HolmWreckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02103460955722089376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82911147497484487822010-05-07T13:49:45.498-07:002010-05-07T13:49:45.498-07:00the longer this goes on, the more sorry I feel for...the longer this goes on, the more sorry I feel for MGJ...<br /><br />I mean, what kind of an interior life does she have if:<br /><br />she needs to either get this off the net herself or have a staff member do it for her? <br /><br />she believes this fake story - with all of its implications and inconsistencies and contradictions - truly shows something positive?<br /><br />she doesnt seem to recognise all of the dysfunctional aspects of the story?<br /><br />she thinks this story is going to be a credible and sympathetic metaphor for what she's been trying to do in the District?<br /><br />she apparently expects that we will be appreciative of the story?<br /><br />she doesnt understand the very fundamental requirement to attribute the source and own up to it not being her own creation?<br /><br />I mean... really... what does this say about who she really is? <br /><br />If it wasnt so damaging, it would be pitiful, just as it is pitiful that Harium, for example, doesnt see her conflict-of-interest associations with Broad, A4E, NWEA and political fundraisers as problematic...<br /><br />Guess we just are not living in the same reality/universe...Sahilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610179287237833742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52462707060113563952010-05-07T13:15:11.690-07:002010-05-07T13:15:11.690-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.SPS momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07868844486562389924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19647377119960751692010-05-07T13:00:45.756-07:002010-05-07T13:00:45.756-07:00Wow, I've been looking this story up and it...Wow, I've been looking this story up and it's actually *famous* for being fake -- it's even been attributed to Winston Churchill! There's a book called _The principal's companion: strategies and hints to make the job easier_, by Pam Robbins and Harvey B. Alvy, which has the Churchill attribution and suggests telling this story in order to inspire teachers.<br /><br />I must say, the story really makes no sense: why on earth would Teddy give a present to a teacher who'd been so mean to him?<br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85386211820875222912010-05-07T12:47:53.621-07:002010-05-07T12:47:53.621-07:00Pof3,
Of course it's fake, I was merely wonder...Pof3,<br />Of course it's fake, I was merely wondering what the point was, and looking at some of the implications of its message.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42568922783810782242010-05-07T12:38:27.827-07:002010-05-07T12:38:27.827-07:00Seattle Citizen, remember the story is fake don...Seattle Citizen, remember the story is fake don't overthink it too much, it never happened.ParentofThreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853045587227159562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10600474668851238412010-05-07T12:10:03.144-07:002010-05-07T12:10:03.144-07:00Lori, I agree. My first thoughts on hearing and th...Lori, I agree. My first thoughts on hearing and then reading this story were a) why wasn't she working with this kid from the get-go? Was it just the tragedy of the loss of his mother that sparked her maternal instincts or whatever? She literally became his "mother" at the end - did the story have anything to do at all with teaching, or was it that she felt his loss and wanted to be a sort of substitute mom?<br />My other thoughts were also about the other students: Were there other "smelly" students? Did she increase her assistance to THEM?<br />Then there is the comparison between this sort of personalized attention to needs created outside the classroom, and how in a worst-case aligned, MAPped, classroom the teacher would merely have noted the falling RIT score, looked at Descartes and told herself that "these things" (lower-level skill/knowledge remediation) are necessary, started feeding him that, and ignoring the root causes of his trouble...<br /><br />That is why I was confused by the use of this to illustrate "good teaching": It is at odds with the standardized systems currently being set up to monitor and enforce strict classroom regiments.<br /><br />Lastly, IF the teacher in this story HAD had an epiphany, and started giving ALL her students this sort of personal attention and effort, where would she find the time with 32 students, and who would be paying for the extra hours?seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91257070512130407412010-05-07T11:58:48.134-07:002010-05-07T11:58:48.134-07:00Maybe I'm taking this too seriously, but there...Maybe I'm taking this too seriously, but there's a part of the story that really offends me: <br /><br /><i> Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.</i><br /><br />We're supposed to relate to this teacher, who took delight in boldly castigating this child for his work? What if Teddy's mother hadn't died and he just had a hard life? Would she have had this epiphany about her need to teach him? Did she end up being a good teacher to all the other children in the class? What if Teddy had had a learning disability instead of his sad story? Would she have helped him then?<br /><br />Maybe I'm just in a weird funky mood today, but I find this story sort of repugnant. All children deserve an attentive teacher, not just those who have endured personal tragedies.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777580098975083499noreply@blogger.com