Earlier today I asked one of my teacher friends, "So did you read the Star today?"
"Yeah," she said. "So they spent $90,000 to find out that the district sucks. I could've told them that."
"I think it was a brilliant move," I countered. "David Smith is a shroud dude."
I laid out my theory: The board swallowed hard and lived through five miserable years with Bernard Taylor for the sake of bringing a semblence of stability at the top of the command chain. This establishes -- God willing -- a tradition of keeping superintendents around for more than a school year. It makes superintendent staying power a priority.
With this ethos in place, they brought in a ball-buster -- Anthony Amato. Hopefully he won't be easy to fire after he comes in and takes a flamethrower to 12th and McGee (and I've heard he's already got it turned up full blast, and folks at central office are fuh-reaking out).
And finally, just to add a little extra juice, to fan the flames of the revolution, they commission a study that declares in no uncertain terms what everyone knows, but which the previous administration worked so diligently to hide: The district sucks.
They ain't learnin' them kids nuthin, so to speak.
And it's not just Dave Smith who deserves praise. I think the current board might well be the best since Brown v. Board, and I've studied pretty near all of them. It's my sense that every single member sincerely cares about this city's kids, and wants to do what's right. They disagree from time to time. But, for the most part, they've kept things stable. And, more than anything, we've needed a stable foundation.
For the first time ever I actually feel some hope for this district. And this $90,000 failing report card is an important early step.
You can't get well if you refuse to accept that you're not well.
A Chicago Tribune Best Book of the Year
A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year
One of Kansas City Star's 100 Noteworthy Books of the Year
Winner of the William Rockhill Nelson Award for Nonfiction
Winner of the Harry Chapin Media Award
. . .
Forget the nerdy reputation that debate has. Instead think of a scenario as exciting as a sports game with high stakes like triumphing over racism. bad politics and abject poverty... An important, thoughtful and provocative look at race and class in America.
- The Boston Globe
Joe Miller's enthusiasm is infectious and the plot creates the suspense of a good courtroom thriller.
- Entertainment Weekly
The minute I finished Joe Miller's Cross-X, I held the book out in front of me -- amazed, rapturous, and hopeful... Miller's mesmerizing, vivid accounts of the debates will leave you crouched in your seat, holding your breath... An incredibly powerful, daringly hopeful book.
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Irresistible... Miller begins breezily but is soon deeply invested in the Central squad's mission to not only master the debate game on its own terms but revolutionize it with flashes of poetry and hip-hop wordplay... If all these kids could run things, Miller implies, imagine what could get done.
- Elle
5 comments:
You really think this is best board? Is that good or bad? I mean you have Dave Smith convicted of discrimanating against his employees.
Any rumors of what big changes are coming up? School closings and consolidations maybe?
I know a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff on that discrimination trial, and it was pretty bogus. The plaintif was a profiteer, from what I understand, and the jury was given very, very narrow instructions on how to calculate their decision.
The only changes I've been hearing about is that some folks will be pushed out. No names yet. Also heard he's bringing in a lot of his own people.
As someone close to the KCMO high schools, I've always smarted from your criticism. How would you do it?
school district as addict-sick-junkie, who needs to admit it's not well. i like that metaphor. let's see how rehab goes. . .
Whats the schools boards thoughts on the charter schools?
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