March fourth (March Forth) is approaching and it seemed like little was happening by way of a coordinated action by anyone in our district. The superintendent gave his approval, but told me that the principals had agreed that they didn't like the sound of a "disaster drill" to dramatize the desperate state of schools in California. I recommended a hands around the school approach and our superintendent thought that the administrators might go for all the staff and students holding hands around the school. I asked our principal, Chris, if he would go for some morning time set aside for a school-wide activity. He emphatically said "no". "I do want to use instructional time for a March Forth action." He said that he was afraid of the parents' who would call him and ask why this action interfered with school.
I felt stifled as a leader and sat at my desk trying to figure out what I could plan to have the entire staff and possibly students involved. I looked through the packet sent to me by the California Teachers Association and came across an flier sent to administrators by their association. I was dumb struck. In my email to Chris (and the other principals) I quoted the administrative directive word for word.
"Dear Chris,
I heard that you may be reluctant to plan some action at Laguna on March 4th. You heard Keller give his blessing to actions of March 4th at the school board meeting last night. But also I have right in front of me a flier from your Association, The Association of California Administrators. Perhaps you have a copy. Here is what it says:
On March 4, 2010 ACSA and other members of the Education Coalition of California plan to "Start the Day for Students." We encourage superintendents, principals, and other school administrators to join us and help organize and lead events in school communities on the morning (my underline) of March 4, 2010 to call attention to the devastating cuts to public schools.
Then three paragraphs of facts that you know well.
While "Start the Day for Student" will be a part of the larger day of protests across the state, we encourage ACSA members and other school leaders to plan events in the morning (my underline) to make it easier for educators, parents, students and entire school communities to participate and capitalize on morning news coverage.
For more information about March 4 and "Start the Day for Students," please contact ACSA's Julie White at jwhite@acsa.org
(end of flier)
I am sure that you and your staff can plan a morning activity that is educational and fits the recommendations of both your Administrative Association and the Superintendent. Without your OK our hands are tied. But it looks as if your Association wants you to take a leadership roll in this action. We endorse that recommendation.
Sincerely,
Ed Lynch
President, WSCTA"
I sent pretty much the same letter to all three principals of the schools. Finally Chris said that he would support a symbolic wearing of colors (perhaps pink for "pink slips"), an arrangement of empty chairs outside to point out the issue of lost personnel and a walk to the main square in our town to rally with other schools. Unfortunately I found out yesterday that the other schools have pulled out of the rally. We will do an outside demonstration after school and leaflet parents picking up their children.
Unfortunately I found that one of the other principals was unpleasantly "surprised" by my email. I was emphatically told that she doesn't like surprises. I do admit it was a last minute reaction to a plan that I thought would not happen without administrative support. The fact that administrators had so much time to plan this action and did nothing made me angry. But I thought that my email was straightforward and polite.
So we will move on with March Fourth.
No comments:
Post a Comment