Bullying
Bullying. I’m beginning to think I’m seeing some form of it in response to venividiscripto’s reporting on parents and teachers unhappy with the school situation in the Henry Hudson and Atlantic Highlands elementary schools, and a little bit, but not much, in the Highlands elementary school.
I think I see bullying in the lack of reaction to stories which are literally read by thousands. Yet there are few responses, emoji’s and no criticism or defense of the facts the column presents. Since that is a far cry from the norm, something far distant from a “feel good” story that draws hundreds or comments or like emoji’s, or every other news story that always prompts comments and reactions, it seems like readers are being bullied.
Fear
I know from parents, teachers, employees and local residents to whom I’ve spoken, there is a real fear out there. A fear of retaliation in some way. A fear of bullying. If you talk against the superintendent, are you going to lose your job? If you leave and try to get another job someplace else in the same field, are you going to be able to get a recommendation or a good reference? Is your youngster going to be chastised or teased in the classroom because his mom or dad wrote a letter questioning what’s going on in the schools?
Silence
Also strange, the blog stories on the school district are not getting any defense, praise, or words of support for the superintendent. There are no remarks on Facebook asking board members why they are seemingly ignoring letters from concerned parents. There are no remarks on Facebook in support of the parents who are standing up for their children.
I cannot believe it is because parents do not care. Nor can I believe parents are content with the changes in curriculum and class size and structure that has been changing for the past two years. I’m receiving too many phone calls, too many letters to think parents and taxpayers are not interested. My only conclusion at this point is that people are afraid for whatever reason. And that is bullying.
The letter
The letter from the four parents with nine children in the system also pointed out that if the story is true, test scores have been down for the past two years. Is anybody asking that question? Is it true? If it is not true, why isn’t anyone bringing that out and condemning any inaccuracy that may have been written? If it is true, are people still chalking it up to Covid and school closures due to it? Are they not looking any closer at the situation?
Covid
Covid and the new superintendent arrived around the same time. The Covid situation in the school makeup is over. But the superintendent remains and numerous changes have been made in her tenure. Is anyone considering that might be a factor? According to the letter writers, “aside from the way they have been asked to teach, the teachers themselves have remained mostly consistent. “ They asked the boards of education members, none of whom has yet responded, “Why are we introducing programs like “Feel Good Friday” that have no supported curriculum and reduce time spent learning in the classroom by two days a month? “
Is that really true? Is that what is happening in the schools in these two towns? If there are fewer class hours in the past two years, might that be a reason for declining test scores?
The parents pointed out to the board members in their individual e-mails, “surrounding school districts are focused on increasing academic rigor to get test scores up.” But, they said, “it seems we are making changes that lower the level of in-class instruction.”
Attrition
Their letter also brought up the number of teachers and other employees who have left their positions in the past two years, estimating it represents between 20 and 25 percent of the total employees in the district. Have the boards of education addressed that either?
The parents have received no answer.
They point out that only five of the 34 departures tin the past two years, were retirement-bound, the rest were seeking positions outside the district.
“The rest quit, plain and simple,” they wrote. Then they added “And of the administrators that held positions across our three schools when Dr. Beams started, only ONE remains.”
“Teachers are the lifeblood of successful schools. Providing a quality education depends on having great teachers that are invested in and supported by their district,” the parents wrote to the board members. So they asked if exit interviews have been conducted to “understand why we are experiencing an exodus?”
Another question that has not been answered to concerned parents.
Questions
“Has the Board reviewed the changes in staffing to ensure teachers are utilized to their fullest potential? Does the remaining staff feel like they have a collaborative Superintendent who receives feedback and ideas in a positive manner? Is the Board doing everything they can to ensure top talent remains in our district? “
Clearly, these are the questions of concerned parents who were not afraid to sign their names to their letters to each board member and to forward a copy to VeniVidiScripto when they did not even receive an acknowledgement from any one of the members of any of the three boards acknowledging receipt of the letter and their concerns.
The end of the letter shows the parents’ mixture of feelings at the “losses our school has endured the past few years….frustration knowing most was avoidable.”
Representation
We “entrusted you to represent the taxpayers of Atlantic Highlands.” In asking board members to look deeply before renewing the superintendent’s contract. Compare test scores from the past two years to years prior. Conduct a climate survey to gauge employee morale in our schools. Speak to and survey parents to get feedback on the changes made over the past few years. Consider the educational opportunities currently being offered to our children and ask yourselves what are we giving back to our children?
It is not because of less money, the parents say, pointing out “taxes aren’t going down so why are our children being offered less and less in terms of academics?”
In their final plea, the parents once again careful consideration of all the points they raised, and urged their elected officials, when thinking about a new contract for the superintendent “make a decision that is beneficial for the greater good of our school and community.
It may not be bullying … but it seems that something is off at our schools.
It’s been almost two weeks since board members received their e-mails from these parents of nine children in two of the three schools in the district.
They are still waiting for some sign their letter was received.
