Comments on: Idle Threats http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/ Superintendent of Schools writes about learning and school management in rural Western New York. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:30:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Jake Savage http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-2692 Jake Savage Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:35:16 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/#comment-2692 Re: The main post I'm glad that you feel responsible to all of those 3500+ community members and that you don't need additional motivation/accountability to pursue your job to the utmost. Unfortunately, not all principals are as competent or as intrinsically motivated. Surely you understand that the same public to which you feel beholden might want to put measures in place to make sure that the principals in all public schools measure up to some basic standards. If you disagree with the types of standards that are established, perhaps it would be better to have a school choice system that would allow parents to decide whether the school is meeting their child's needs. Such a system would provide a much more robust method of accountability without requiring the same blanket standards for every principal or teacher. Re: Michelle-"I personally believe every politician ought to have to spend time teaching before they pass legislation regarding education." This seems like an unreasonable requirement, don't you think? Following the same logic, would a politician have to have worked as a coal miner, soldier, financial analyst, pilot, telephone operator, astronaut, firefighter, police officer, etc. if she wanted to pass legislation dealing with any of those jobs/industries? If not, why should education be the sole industry worthy of such a restriction? If anything, most people have more familiarity with teaching than with other fields. Re: The main post

I’m glad that you feel responsible to all of those 3500+ community members and that you don’t need additional motivation/accountability to pursue your job to the utmost. Unfortunately, not all principals are as competent or as intrinsically motivated. Surely you understand that the same public to which you feel beholden might want to put measures in place to make sure that the principals in all public schools measure up to some basic standards.

If you disagree with the types of standards that are established, perhaps it would be better to have a school choice system that would allow parents to decide whether the school is meeting their child’s needs. Such a system would provide a much more robust method of accountability without requiring the same blanket standards for every principal or teacher.

Re: Michelle-”I personally believe every politician ought to have to spend time teaching before they pass legislation regarding education.”

This seems like an unreasonable requirement, don’t you think? Following the same logic, would a politician have to have worked as a coal miner, soldier, financial analyst, pilot, telephone operator, astronaut, firefighter, police officer, etc. if she wanted to pass legislation dealing with any of those jobs/industries? If not, why should education be the sole industry worthy of such a restriction? If anything, most people have more familiarity with teaching than with other fields.

]]> By: G-Town Talks » The 111th Carnival of Education http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-2688 G-Town Talks » The 111th Carnival of Education Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:57:29 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/#comment-2688 [...] Thanks to The Education Wonks for recognizing a G-Town Talks post in the 111th Carnival of Education! High school principal Kimberly Moritz gives us a reminder that classroom teachers aren’t the only ones being held “accountable” in this New Age Of Standardized Testing and Accountability. [...] [...] Thanks to The Education Wonks for recognizing a G-Town Talks post in the 111th Carnival of Education! High school principal Kimberly Moritz gives us a reminder that classroom teachers aren’t the only ones being held “accountable” in this New Age Of Standardized Testing and Accountability. [...]

]]> By: Rick http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-2592 Rick Sun, 18 Mar 2007 03:57:34 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/#comment-2592 Well said, Kimberly. For some reason, state- and federal-level politicians forget about that little accountability tool we've been using for a couple of centuries now, called the school board. They make policies that reflect local community expectations and hire the appropriate people to follow through with those policies. Somebody say amen. Well said, Kimberly. For some reason, state- and federal-level politicians forget about that little accountability tool we’ve been using for a couple of centuries now, called the school board. They make policies that reflect local community expectations and hire the appropriate people to follow through with those policies.

Somebody say amen.

]]> By: bsnaxton http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-2564 bsnaxton Sat, 17 Mar 2007 04:03:13 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/#comment-2564 Kim, You are right on. I have never thought of being held accountable in those terms but it makes sense. Who better to hold us accountable than the people that we serve. Also, I noticed that on your list you were last. Good leaders always put everyone else first (hows that for a contridactory statement). I assume that was intentional? Brian Kim,
You are right on. I have never thought of being held accountable in those terms but it makes sense. Who better to hold us accountable than the people that we serve.
Also, I noticed that on your list you were last. Good leaders always put everyone else first (hows that for a contridactory statement). I assume that was intentional?

Brian

]]> By: Michelle http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-2545 Michelle Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:42:31 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/#comment-2545 I agree whole heartedly. They are driving excellent people such as yourself away due to these "toxic" plans. I personally believe every politician ought to have to spend time teaching before they pass legislation regarding education. I agree whole heartedly. They are driving excellent people such as yourself away due to these “toxic” plans. I personally believe every politician ought to have to spend time teaching before they pass legislation regarding education.

]]> By: Chris Lehmann http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-2536 Chris Lehmann Fri, 16 Mar 2007 02:45:17 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/#comment-2536 What I wonder -- as this accountability movement continues, and the atmosphere for teachers and principals becomes more and more toxic -- who do all these politicians think will want to teach? Will want to be principals? What I wonder — as this accountability movement continues, and the atmosphere for teachers and principals becomes more and more toxic — who do all these politicians think will want to teach? Will want to be principals?

]]> By: Tim McKeever http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-2532 Tim McKeever Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:36:42 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/15/idle-threats/#comment-2532 Perfectly said! I couldn't agree more. You're an asset to the Gowanda schools and community and we appreciate all you're doing to make a positive difference in our schools. Tim Perfectly said! I couldn’t agree more.
You’re an asset to the Gowanda schools and community and we appreciate all you’re doing to make a positive difference in our schools.
Tim

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