Category: Behavior/Discipline

Behavior/Discipline, Vision: 2020

Getting Out Saved Who I Am

jcpswatch

This letter was submitted via our open letter form. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Dear JCPS.

Dear JCPS,

My life was saved on January 11, 2008 when my mother suggested leaving the public school system. This was days after two girls stole my purse, my money, and my ipod and the Louisville Male staff looked at me and said “oh well, you shouldn’t have that at school.” This was not my first time in the office, I’d been there on several accounts. Why you may ask. Well once it was for the boy that made sexual threats to me and another time it was for the girl that used to pull my hair on the bus. And there were times when I should’ve gone to the office and didn’t, maybe the time my soccer coach told me I looked like a slut because I rolled my soccer shorts like the other girls did. I’d been in the office at my previous schools as well, for the girl who slapped me at JCTMS and for the for the boy who told the teacher I was cursing in sixth grade, in which she called my mother. But for all the times I’d been in the office I’d never once seen anything done about it. No consequence. No punishment. They told me to suck it up or to just stay away from those kids. I was obviously a tattle tale and was doing it all for attention. I’m 23 now and all I hear is that it’s worse, everyone I know with children are wanting to switch their children to private schools. They need to.

I left Male and made my way into the private school system and it was a shock. No one disrupted class. I was in disbelief that these girls had never seen fights in school hallways before. I was far behind when I attended private school. I recall one particular moment when a teacher at my private school assured me that my teachers at Male had taught me MLA format, that they had to, but I was never taught anything like that. The girls at my new school craved education, they loved it while I learned that school was a terrible place.

It’s still hard for me to pass Louisville Male High School, it hurts to know that teachers there try their hardest and can do nothing. It’s hard to think that while I attended it was known as the best school in Louisville. How bad could the other schools be if Male was awful?

That school made me feel stupid and like a victim, I could do nothing to save myself. I reached out for help and no one was there. The administrative offices never helped me and my teachers did everything they could.
If I would’ve stayed at LMHS I wouldn’t have survived. I wouldn’t have gone to college, no one ever let me think I was capable. The damage done to me by that school has left a lasting imprint like it has to so many others. I am one girl with one voice but I know this isn’t just one circumstance. These students need a chance to feel smart and to survive.

Take the students into consideration.

Sincerely,

Public to Private

NOTE: While the author’s identity is protected here, they are not anonymous to Dear JCPS. Any board member wishing to address the concerns shared here can contact our administrators to make a connection.

Behavior/Discipline

Discipline: A matter of funding?

jcpswatch

This letter was submitted via our open letter form. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Dear JCPS.

Dear Mr. Jones,

I worked for your father for many years and well I know he is an honest man and I am sure he instilled so many great values in you as well. My letter is to inform you and the school board that discipline is not something you take away so you can get more funding from the state, but needs to be harsher. An example of the lack of discipline is as follows: Friends from Brasil came to live here and work. They brought their two young children and sent them to school. One went to Ballard and was very active in school and one day as she was talking to a friend a girl didn’t like what she was saying came up on her and beat her till she was black and blue. The school policy was suspension for both if they both fought. She didn’t touch the girl as she was beaten and being video taped by the classmates. The teacher did nothing and the Principal suspended the girl who beat her up. That young girl has since dropped out of school and moved back to Brasil with her brother and mother. Her father is still here working until he can go back. I believe charges should have been brought against the teenage girl so this is not allowed to happen again. Children are taught there are no strict consequences for their actions, so who cares if I do anything wrong they need me to be in school so the Board can get funding. Is this is the message we send out to our children. I believe if we disciplined more then the hate crimes would decrease, shootings and killing would decrease and maybe the children that are in our schools to get an education could do so.

Sara Pires

Behavior/Discipline, Standardized Testing, Teacher Shortage

High Expectations or Not?

jcpswatch

This letter was submitted via our open letter form. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Dear JCPS.

Dear JCPS,

I find it very interesting that teachers are constantly reminded that we should have high expectations of all of our students.

Students will rise to your expectations.
Accept nothing less than a student’s best effort.
Students need to know that you believe in them.

So DOES all of JCPS have high expectations of students? It appears that our school board does not. Is it reasonable to expect high achievement and gains in the classroom even while we lower our expectations for behavior? Can children learn in a chaotic environment? Will our all-important accountability scores go up after we lower our expectations of students? Am I the only one confused by this double standard?

It is time for reasonable citizens of this community to speak out. Parents, taxpayers, teachers, voters. Let your voices be heard!

NOTE: While the author’s identity is protected here, they are not anonymous to Dear JCPS. Any board member wishing to address the concerns shared here can contact our administrators to make a connection.

Behavior/Discipline, Budget, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

A Warning to JCPS

jcpswatch

This letter was submitted via our open letter form. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Dear JCPS.

Dear JCPS,

I am not a teacher. I am not a parent. I’m a former student and a teacher candidate at Eastern Kentucky University. My classmates and I have closely followed the news recently regarding the rubbish that Dr. Donna Hargens and her crew of non-school working advisors have been saying. I am writing this letter on behalf of all teacher candidates at every college in Kentucky, much less America. We WILL NOT be looking for a job in your district once we graduate.

The most disturbing thing about your district is the disconnect that your teachers feel to their support staff. Upon reading on Dear JCPS, talking to teachers in your district and reading the comments from educators and parents on your Facebook I have noticed a trend. You do not support your teachers. You are quick to blame them if at all possible, you are quick to write off a teacher being ASSAULTED in your schools, and you are quick to lie to parents about what is really going on your schools. I’m not sure if you’re scared of Dr. Hargans, scared of parents or scared because you don’t want teachers telling people how horribly they are treated in your district. The problem isn’t the teachers; they are doing their job. The problem is YOU, the central office- the people who think that students can do whatever they want and not get a real punishment for it. It’s time to own up to the madness you have created in your schools. It’s time to reform your district, and time to listen to your teachers.

I was reminded of a story before I wrote this letter, a teacher that is dear to me was struck by a student. Not on accident, this student flat out assaulted this teacher, punched her in the face. To the existent of if it were to happen on the street, the student would have been arrested and charged with assault. This teacher had to explain to her administrators why she didn’t want the student back in class. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! You have a discipline problem, STOP DENYING IT. As a student I was bullied, when I finally said something to my administrators they couldn’t even suspend the kid for harassing and bullying me because he was on some sort of plan that apparently bars the school from disciplining students the way he should. IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO QUIT BEING SCARED. Stop being scared of parents and backlash. YOU are the school board, you are supposed to have the backs of your students and teachers. Instead you are scared to do your duties because you don’t want to piss anyone off.

Recently, it has come to light that Dr. Hargens and her crew believe it is for the better if we revise the student code of conduct to make it even more lenient. The backlash is astonishing. Every single post about it has 200+ comments about how infuriating it is to not be able to discipline kids in schools anymore. Have we forgotten about the students who go school and do everything they are expected, and never cause a problem? Are we going to interrupt their learning because we have a belligerent student in the class that the school can’t do anything with because it goes against the code of conduct? Not to mention, it already puts teachers that are fighting to maintain order in their classroom even more against the wall. When did we as a district become so concerned with the money we get by having a student in school every day that we don’t teach discipline? When I was a student was I only worth $118 a day to you? That’s what it’s starting to look like. You aren’t doing the city any favors by teaching kids that there are no repercussion for their actions. Stand up for your teachers, LET THEM TEACH.

All I have to say is, it’s time for reform in your district. You already face a teacher shortage. Why do you think that is? No really, answer that. It’s not because there aren’t teachers looking for a job. It’s because you don’t support your teachers and a teacher would have to be crazy to deal with the things this district makes them go through on a daily basis. FIX YOUR DISTRICT. Your teachers are running out of ways to tell you. Listen to them, they know what is going on in the schools- unlike you. You visit schools and the teachers tell students to be on their best behavior. You don’t see what really goes on in your schools. Go sub a day at any high school, you will see the real JCPS. The JCPS you deny is truly there. FIX YOUR SYSTEM, and maybe you can attract some teachers. If you don’t, good luck because your teachers are looking for the first opportunity to exit stage left. Future educators don’t want to work for a district that doesn’t support their teachers, neither do your teachers. FIX IT.

BR

NOTE: While the author’s identity is protected here, they are not anonymous to Dear JCPS. Any board member wishing to address the concerns shared here can contact our administrators to make a connection.

Behavior/Discipline, Budget, Teacher Shortage

Inequitable Committee Make-Up Leads to Wrong Conclusions

jcpswatch

Dear JCPS,

No doubt you are receiving a flood of comments today following yesterday’s work sessions, as are we. I wanted to share with you several concerns/observations that have been posed to our group regarding “project equity” and the code of conduct committees and would appreciate your response.

circlesCatFirst, the Project Equity’s Community Advisory Team (CAT) is a misnomer. Only a speck of actual “community” members who are actively engaged in public primary and secondary education (vs. private sector or university) are on the committee. And not a single teacher is part of the employee component, yet JCPS has 6 district-level employees represented. And is there a parent on the committee who is tasked with ensuring the students’ interests are protected over those of the employees? I don’t see one. I’m sorry, but this committee seems to be out of proportion for a group that truly wants to reach an equitable solution for all three groups represented in your graphic during yesterday’s presentation. This feels more like the fox guarding the hen house.

edelenSecond, you’ll recall, the original audit from Adam Edelen came with the observation that administrative salaries were too high, not teachers. So I’m not sure how this discussion led to the talking point that teachers are “overpaid.” I’m guessing the committee mix above could have had something to do with it. Our teachers are paid a premium, yes, but overpaid? That’s a leap, made by the wrong people. Our teachers endure a lot more than the average district. Dear JCPS feels that pitching an idea of effectively reducing teacher pay (through no COLA and step) should come AFTER the district addresses some of the “incentives,” discipline issues, low teacher morale and high turnover that have been identified. This is terrible timing! Not to mention, the cost to bring in and train new teachers comes at the expense of our students, especially in priority schools. Has anyone taken that into account? Again, we feel that the make-up of this committee has led to some very short-sighted conclusions, and seems to have missed the point entirely.

codeThird, the district is also catching some flak regarding the make-up of its Code of Conduct committee. I’m sure you’re aware of the message circulating (see attached). Other feedback we’ve received is that until there are more alternative school seats, as well as funding and training to support better implementation of restorative practices, further relaxing the code of conduct will do more harm than good. Once again, the cart is before the horse, and it sends the wrong message to the teachers and staff who are entrusted to care for our children. They need to feel valued and supported. These work session discussions have done neither of those things. And this reckless maneuvering continues to undermine our ability to meet our Vision 2020 goals.

Please read this open letter from a teacher. I’ve also attached an image of a private comment shared by a teacher this morning, which echoes teacher sentiments district-wide today.blood

Parents, community members, teachers, students all need district leaders who will do better than this. We ask that JCPS go back to the drawing board to make sure these decisions are being influenced by committees made up of people who bring balanced and “tuned-in” perspectives, who will work together to find equitable and sustainable solutions, and provide our school board with proposals that are likely to result in the best results — the first time! Our kids’ futures are at stake. We don’t get do-overs.

Thank you,
Gay Adelmann
Dear JCPS

Behavior/Discipline, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

Widening the gap between school and reality

jcpswatch

DearJCPS,

Upon reading WDRB’s article “JCPS student discipline policies may ease,” I have concluded that I will have no choice but to seek employment elsewhere. This further confirms the suspicion that Dr. Hargens does not actually care about improving the situation in JCPS; rather, she cares about the public’s perception of improvement.

I normally tell my students that numbers don’t lie but in this case they do. According to the numbers, JCPS suspensions are down this year, however, that data has been purposefully reduced. School administrators are facing pressure at the district level to decrease discipline numbers; in turn, school administrators are not responding to the behavior issues that are present in their schools. Students who curse at staff and other students receive one period of ISAP and are right back in the classroom the next day. Students who refuse to step out of the classroom for a hallway conference (a piece of the restorative practices that JCPS claims are working so very well) are right back in the classroom the next day. Students who threaten to kill staff members are placed in a different classroom instead of being referred to an alternative school setting.

How am I supposed to protect my students’ right to learn when misbehavior is continuously met with no consequences? How am I supposed to create a safe learning environment when students can be met with sexual misconduct, profanity, and constant disruptions from students who fail to follow the rules…and receive no consequences? There is a quote from an earlier article on WDRB from Mike Raisor which states “…I wouldn’t want something I did as a prank when I was 15-years-old to determine the rest of my life.” This statement indicates youthful innocence and lack of foresight is behind the behaviors, however, a large number of students who misbehave consistently do so out of the clear understanding that there are few consequences for them. To quote one such young person, “Go ahead and send me to the AP office—they’re not going to do anything to me.”

While it is my responsibility to educate my students in my subject matter, it is the overall school experience’s responsibility to educate students in the ways of the world. We need to stop thinking of students as these “other entities” who need coddling and remind ourselves of what will occur once students turn 18 and enter into the “real world”—very real consequences for things that would have resulted in a conference and a “don’t do it again” at school. A police officer, a supervisor, a college professor, etc. is not going to care that an adult “has anger issues” or “was just playing around.” By easing discipline policies, we are widening the gap between school and reality, to the detriment of those people that Dr. Hargens claims to have the best intentions for—the students.

Sincerely,
Fed up teacher

Behavior/Discipline, Standardized Testing, Teacher Shortage, Vision: 2020

JCPS’s Invitation to Participate in Panel Regarding High-Stakes Testing

jcpswatch

This email was sent to Allison Martin, Director of Communications for JCPS:fish

Greetings Allison,

I hope this message finds you well. I also hope that you are the best person to direct our invitation and questions to, but if not, please let us know.

In addition to several prompts from JCPS BOE members in recent months for JCPS to determine the best ways to reduce the emphasis on high-stakes testing, JCPS’s Vision 2020, Strategy 1.1.4, also commits to “Reduce, revise, and refine assessments: Develop a balanced district and school-level assessment system in collaboration with teachers that is grounded in the broader definition of student learning that: mandates fewer and broader assessments; builds teacher capacity in assessment literacy including the development and use of formative, authentic, project- and performance-based assessments; and reduces reliance on standardized, multiple-choice tests.”

Dear JCPS parents and teachers have become highly cognizant of the opt-out movement that is taking place nationwide. As a result, we have been receiving a large number of questions specific to parents’ rights regarding refusing or opting-out of high-stakes, standardized testing. We want to be sure that the information our members are receiving is accurate. Therefore, Dear JCPS will be hosting a forum on Thursday, April 28 at 6:00 pm to help answer these questions. We are calling the event “The NEW 3 R’s of Public Education: A parent’s guide to the Rights, Responsibilities and Repercussions of refusing high-stakes tests.” Dear JCPS’s position is that the emphasis the state places on standardized test scores has reached detrimental levels, especially with our most vulnerable populations, and undermines success of many other important goals our district has ahead of it. Because parents have every right to advocate for their children, and can be instrumental in leading the change our district needs, we would like to assist in creating an informed and empowered parental base that can help our district reach these important goals as soon as possible.

The event location is still pending, but it will be live-streamed and questions will be taken from the audience as well as from social media. Panel invitees thus far include JCTA, PTA, U of L, NAACP and CLOUT, as well as a teacher and parent panelist. We are hoping we can also count on JCPS to participate in the panel to ensure the most accurate information is provided. Also, if you wish to recommend another group to participate in the panel for a more robust discussion, we are receptive to that as well.

In addition, some questions we have received that we are hoping you might provide district responses to so that we can share them with stakeholders ahead of the event are:

We are familiar with the concept of “refusing” state tests:

  • Is it possible to “opt out”? What is the process? Some parents have shared with us that a process exists, yet others have had this information withheld from them. JCPS should provide clear step-by-step instructions on their website.
  • If we opt out (or refuse), will my child still receive a score? Zero? Novice? Please explain both scenarios, if different.
  • If we know we will be opting out of KPREP, is it possible to also opt our student out of test prep? What will my child do during this time instead?
  • How can test prep even be happening if it is forbidden by statute? (KRS 158.6453)

What are the potential repercussions for opting out or refusing the KPREP (possibly defined as not putting forth a good-faith effort)? I.e.,

  • Are the KPREP scores used to determine entry into a magnet, traditional or other program? Would an opportunity to appeal or provide alternative score be provided?
  • Will my child be left out of “motivational” rewards programs?
  • Could there be any discipline under school or district policies including the code of conduct or behavior?

Parents tell us they are not opposed to testing, just the excessive number of tests that do not guide instruction, and/or are not teacher led.

  • How many tests per year/per grade are there that are not used to guide instruction?
  • Are teachers prohibited from speaking up against which of these tests are unnecessary? Or which test prep they feel is ineffective or unnecessary? Is their input being sought to accomplish the Vision 2020 goal sooner rather than later?
  • How is KPREP used to guide instruction if scores are not received until following school year?

Also:

  • Do you have data on the number of students who have “opted out” or “refused” KPREP previously?
  • How much money does JCPS spend on KPREP testing, materials, software? (Please break it down by category and vendor, as well as any internal expenses.)
  • How many classroom hours are estimated to be spent on test prep (broken down by grade, subject, school)?
  • How do any of these rights change with ESSA, and when will they be implemented in JCPS?
  • What other areas has JCPS identified where they are working to remove/reduce the emphasis placed on test scores, as well as to level the playing field for all schools, so that assessments become more authentic and equitable?

If you could, please confirm JCPS’s participation in our panel no later than this Thursday, April 14, along with the name and title of the person participating. This will allow us time to include the information in our communications. We would also appreciate answers to the FAQs no later than April 21. If you have any questions about these requests, please let me know.

Dear JCPS believes having more educated and empowered stakeholders results in a stronger and more successful public education system.

Thank you for all you do.

Gay Adelmann
Dear JCPS

Behavior/Discipline

Serious Offenses Going Unnoticed

jcpswatch

Dear JCPS,

I am a JCPS teacher in the “prestigious” east end where we have ZERO behavior problems (insert sarcasm). This current school year, I am concerned that principals are really hard pressed to fully suspend a student from school. I don’t know if their hands are tied or if Dr. Hargens has just told them to not suspend at all, but we have a 5th grader who has literally broken bones in 2 different students. In one situation, he and another student got into a fight and the student of whom I am speaking broke the other’s collar bone. A few weeks later he threw a little girl to the ground and broke her wrist. This 5th grader has been removed from his classroom, however is still in our building. Almost every day he’s running notes to classrooms, delivering packages, following administrators around, on an Ipad, etc…Classroom teachers have refused to keep this student for obvious reasons. I’d like to see some discussion of the serious offenses seemingly going unnoticed by administrators. Why? I know I’m not the only one.

Signed,
Concerned Teacher

Behavior/Discipline

Discipline is a songbird. It needs to be fed.

jcpswatch

This letter was submitted by a @JCPSKY student.

songbird

DEAR JCPS,

We believe that our school needs to have more intense punishments for behavior. Kids misbehave all the time and get away with it. If you disrupt class you are tabbed out and return later. Lunch detention is a joke, the only difference with it and normal lunch is you just don’t talk while sitting at an isolated table. The school is way too strict on small things like if you are a minute late, and then the children with bad behavior just sit around with no worries.

In art class all I hear is swearing, and we never can hear the teacher. Whenever we have a sub in art class, no one listens and it is chaos incarnate. Kids talk about gangs, and using guns outside of school. They talk about violence and running from police. No one has any respect for elders. An elderly man who was subbing for Mrs. —— was not listened to and people talked about him behind his back. One student said “how old are you, grandpa? You have a horrible slouch.” Another student said “hey, sit your fat old *** down.” It makes the people who actually behave very uncomfortable when we hear things of that nature. People break the crayons and throw them at other people, and when they miss the target, they hit random people. After the crayons run out, they use pencils and that is extremely dangerous. Then they try to start fights and then maybe will they get punished. If not punished then, Mr. —— will come in to hush everyone up. After he leaves, it starts all over again. Some of us are scared we will get hurt by some of the kids. They are out of control and act like animals. I have seen only lunch detentions or tabbing out, and no real punishments. I do not like it when our instructional time is interrupted by the kids who misbehave.

This isn’t going to be solved just by JCPS. It is a team effort, and if we can get people of all ages to cooperate with rules and be positive role models for future generations this will be better. Just because you will not solve the problem by yourself doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to help. Reasonable punishments include afterschool detention, and mandatory Saturday school. The community can help revitalize areas of their cities that need help. I’m not saying we should spank children or use paddles, but teachers should have the right to use force if needed. It is very different now, of course it is. It may be the 21st century but discipline still exists. If you get a beautiful songbird and don’t have food for it, putting it in the attic doesn’t solve its hunger. It dies, and eventually the guilt will haunt the owner who knows (s) he could have done better. This isn’t random. The songbird is discipline, and not “feeding” it will lead to frustration of children with positive behavior. This guilt will make no one feel good. Please don’t let this continue until it is too late. The kids who misbehave know nothing will happen to them. They want to get tabbed out so they can get out of class. We are not criticizing you in a negative way, but rather building your knowledge of these problems so you all can help us before the problem grows.

Honest Bill, 6th grader in JCPS*

*Note: The identity of this student is being withheld from this posting for their protection. However, their identity is not anonymous to Dear JCPS, and should a JCPS Board member wish to follow up with the contributor in order to address these issues, Dear JCPS would be happy to facilitate an introduction.