From the Syracuse City School District Interim Student Code of Conduct, which is to be voted on December 11, 2013.
"The Syracuse City School District Board of Education ("Board")
is committed to providing a safe, civil, and orderly school environment
where students may receive and district personnel may deliver
quality educational services without disruption or interference.
Responsible behavior by students, teacher, other district personnel,
parents and visitors is essential to achieving this goal."
is committed to providing a safe, civil, and orderly school environment
where students may receive and district personnel may deliver
quality educational services without disruption or interference.
Responsible behavior by students, teacher, other district personnel,
parents and visitors is essential to achieving this goal."
It has quickly become apparent that this is not happening now. The safety issues that parents at H.W. Smith have brought to the forefront are not isolated to that school, but exist in EVERY school. We want our children and school personnel to be safe at school, which cannot happen in a climate that many of our teachers feel is hostile, lawless and downright dangerous.
The time has come to demand change from our Board of Education.
Not lip service, but real substantive change.
The Board of Education is responsible not just for fiscal governance, but also for oversight of the Superintendent. We ask that the Board step in and do the following:
- Investigate the root cause for the reports of a culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation directed at teachers and building administration by the central office.
- Create a code of conduct that imposes real consequences for disruptiveness, disrespect, misbehavior and criminal conduct, not slaps on the wrist and excuses, while still complying with our kids' New York state constitutional right to receive an education.
- Create a distance between yourselves and the Superintendent and The Broad Academy, in order to facilitate objectivity in your oversight.
- And last, but not least, keep in mind that in spite of what some people may believe...
Civility, respect, citizenship, character, tolerance,
honesty and integrity ARE NOT just middle-class values.
honesty and integrity ARE NOT just middle-class values.
Why are we asking for this? Because every student is entitled to a safe, orderly school, free of bullying and harassment, where they can learn. Because the only way teachers can be effective at their job is to know that the highest levels of their management support them and will do everything possible to ensure that they are safe.
Now the hard part... We believe that the only way we can force the Board of Education to take action is to provide concrete examples of the violence and disrespect that is taking place in our schools. So many examples that they are unable to look away. We need parents, teachers and students to report - in detail, but without names or confidential information - incidents that they are aware of.
If you fear reprisal, your post may remain anonymous. And, for those of you who have expressed concern that we are district or Broad Academy administrators trying to "trap" you, carefully evaluate whether we would be asking for this information in such a public way.
We need your help!
Last week a Nottingham student stated there were approx four fights in one day and that police took one student away in handcuffs.
ReplyDeleteWe simply do not have enough assistants and security guards...that is the only way to control these children,who are disruptive...I worked as an assistant for 18 years......I really do understand your frustration!
ReplyDeleteWell when we work for morons whst do we expect.... We are told at our school to chase kids when they leave our room .... Have another adult watch my class while I play chase..... Then the child is caught and what.... They get rewarded with a snack from all the running
ReplyDeleteAt Dr. Weeks when the principal brought up the "insane" idea of teachers leave classrooms to chase students - the staff said "NO WAY"…..I was pleasantly surprised at the resolve, but no one is leaving a classroom to chase students!!! You should ask your principal "What what you like me to tell parents when they hear that the learning stops for their child while I go chasing students who run out of the classroom?" What do I tell parents when they ask why the learning not only stops for the 25 in your room, but also the 25 in the other room of the other adult who "watches your class"? It is the most insane idea I have ever heard. The public should hear about that one!!!
DeleteHow about when an administrator bullies a student for exercising his/her rights by contacting t superintendents office him/herself!
ReplyDeleteIt's time for us to rally together and show up @ BOE meetings - parents, be our VOICE, SCSD staff - SHOW UP IN LARGE NUMBERS. Next meeting 12/11 @ 5:30 alert the media to be there….we have to keep this pressure on until SOMEONE helps or our schools are doomed….an inevitable SERIOUS incident is looming in our schools.
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