Unlike John Montgomery, Lamont Bagby, and Fred Morton, these officials refuse to continue to deny the fact that there is a real crisis regarding violence in public schools. Instead of playing the “denial” game, they are validating the issues and seeking solutions by talking directly to all educators through an open community forum.
This article was sent to UGOTNERVE by a parent that attended Montgomery’s town hall meeting this past Monday. The parent expressed there frustration at the fact that after nine to ten, (which teachers around the parent questioned), visits to Rolfe Middle School, Montgomery deemed his perspective of the safety conditions at Rolfe to be more credible than students, volunteers, and educators that are present at the school on a daily basis. The parent went on to state that Montgomery proved that he is more interested in “covering up” than facing and solving issues head on. The email ended with the parent regretting that they had voted for Montgomery and stating that they should have voted for Tyrone Nelson instead; stating that Montgomery is just another “good o’le boy” that said the right things, but can’t do the right things.
UGOTNERVE shared that everyone may have another chance to vote for a new board in the near future if we have our way!
KEEP THE FEEDBACK COMING! KEEP UP THE NERVE!
Read the article below:
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Mayor, Alonso meeting with teachers about school violence
BALTIMORE -Teachers tired of students assaulting them and other violence plaguing Baltimore schools will get a chance today to tell Mayor Sheila Dixon and schools chief Andres Alonso their suggestions to make schools safer. “I expect lots of people, good input,” Alonso said. The forum comes after a student posted a video online of another student beating Jolita Berry, an art teacher at Reginald F. Lewis High School. The recording prompted teachers across the city and nation to speak out about the physical and verbal abuse they suffer daily at the hands of their students. Today was originally set aside so Alonso could tell teachers about the recently adopted $1.2 billion budget that will allow principals more discretion over spending and staff. But when a media frenzy surrounded Berry’s highly publicized attack and all talk on the airwaves and in school hallways turned to quelling the violence, Alonso decided to use the meeting to get feedback from teachers instead. “At the same time, the mayor was getting calls to respond, and she reached out to us,” Alonso said. “We decided to do together. It will be a problem-solving working session with people assured of confidentiality so they can be open with feedback.” Dixon wants to hear how teachers feel and how they think things can improve, her spokesman, Sterling Clifford, said. Alonso has launched a campaign to recruit 500 volunteers to work in the schools and help students in computer labs and libraries, and after school. Others said teachers need more training when defusing conflicts with students — a suggestion that infuriates some teachers who feel the blame is being placed back on them instead of unruly students and their parents. “Nothing prepares you for this,” Berry said. “No one tells you that someone’s going to clock you on the head and put it on video.” Marietta English, president of the Baltimore Teachers Union, says principals systemwide need to be more consistent in suspending and expelling dangerous students. “We have a zero-tolerance policy; it just isn’t followed,” she said. Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, president of the Baltimore chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and radio host Larry Young want to hold a town hall meeting about school violence as well. State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., are also organizing a school safety forum. kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com |
