Well I learned a new MCPS acronym this evening: PIA, otherwise known as Pain in the Ass (Hmm, do I need to add it to my Acronyms & Jargon tab?) Such was the term used by Board of Education member Patricia O’Neill at this evening’s meeting to describe parents who can in good conscience be excluded from School Improvement Teams. Under consideration by the board were proposed language changes to ensure that School Improvement Teams (SITs) are representational of the school community, and that the resulting School Improvement Plans (SIPs) be made publicly available. (Kudos to the Parent Coalition for the speedy posting of the video clip embedded below and prompt reporting.)
Sad to say Chris Barclay‘s comments weren’t much better, as he talked about looking for “team players” rather than parents “who aren’t necessarily being cooperative” (see minute 3:12 onward), in the process tying himself into veritable knots in an effort not outright impugn the GT parent advocate who had weighed in in favor of the proposed changes. Only Laura Berthiaume (minute 4:19 onward) made the excellent point (one this blog has made before) that most parents don’t even know that the SIT/SIP exists, and therefore don’t even know that they are potentially being excluded. She went on to note that when these teams are comprised solely of people whose viewpoints agree with the principal’s “you get Iraq”–in other words, an echo chamber.
You’ll recall that I participated on a SIT last fall. You can read about my experience here and here. Particularly laughable was Ms. O’Neill’s comment that, like the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the SIP is written by “a small group and communicated to a large group” (minute 8:05) As if. Ms. Berthiaume’s experience at various schools is akin to my own. You were lucky if you even knew that a SIT existed and who the reps were, let alone seeing the SIP itself or any information gathering or reporting by the SIP reps (and here I am guilty as well.) The SIP was predetermined. No meaningful changes were allowed or expected. Ms. O’Neill went on to say that it will “never be a town hall meeting.”
Which is all quite interesting in light of the fact that the board recently held a retreat where one of its agenda items was to “Acknowledge the importance of principled debate in the application of our core values and equity in our work.” One of the questions to be answered? “How can ‘reframing the terms of engagement’ with our community, including both our vocal critics and our “silent” constituents, help us to move from where we are now, to where we want to be, in a way that is aligned with (“stays true to”) our core values?” (See .pdf of agenda here.)
I appreciate plain talk from the BOE like “Pain In the Ass” parents. Even when we don’t agree with the idea behind it, we should not discourage the language. Private code like “boutique programs” muddy public meetings.
Here’s part of an article on creativity
“Embrace your inner grouch”,
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227072.500-embrace-your-inner-grouch.html
“Surprisingly, people who were dissatisfied and willing to pipe up were found to be the most creative (Academy of Management Journal, vol 44, p 682). “It was very striking,” says Zhou, “and counter-intuitive.”"
“She points out that disgruntled employees are often discouraged from voicing complaints, so their valuable insights are stifled. The study found that the creativity of whiners could only be harnessed with the help of supportive colleagues who listened to and channelled their discontent. “Top managers really need to rethink how to do things,” she says.”
You can read the seven other suggestions for being more creative at
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227072.400-eight-ways-to-boost-your-creativity.html
“we should not discourage the language”
Well then you would LOVE our Superintendent! He calls our kids “cream of the crap”!
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0708/536671.html
Sorry, we don’t talk to each other this way in our house, and I don’t want my children being spoken to this way by the adults in charge of their education. The Board of Education and Superintendent model the behavior that they expect from MCPS school staff. And thanks to their lead, parents get excluded from participation and shut out of their local schools with the blessing of the Board and Superintendent.
“Sorry, we don’t talk to each other this way in our house, and I don’t want my children being spoken to this way by the adults in charge of their education.”
Oh please! Take the sick out of your as…oh wait, your rear end. Don’t want to offend you.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2009/05/does_montgomery_discriminate_a.html?wprss=annapolis
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? Better late than never, Dan.
EMV
Feel free to raise your children as you like. Feel free to cuss all you want.
In our home we have made a different choice.
Our elected leaders should be setting the example that reflects how our local school administrators behave.
Board members telling principals it is OK to discriminate gives principals permission to exclude parents for any reason – any reason.
I don’t support that type of school system.
You are free to disagree and support a school system where principals can bully and exclude parents – and flat out ignore the “seven keys”.
From our local paper, the Gazette: http://www.gazette.net/stories/05152009/polinew220610_32527.shtml
[...] 20, 2009 by SwitchedOnMom Looks like the latest addition to the MCPS lexicon isn’t going to go away. A local television news station has just done a story on the PIA [...]