You have sent me several emails about concerns you have. I would like to address them:
1. Howell Schools has taken the official position that it will not air the President Obama speech during the first day of school. The day will be busy enough for students and if you want to watch the speech with your kids at home, it will be available on YouTube. Teachers may choose to defy that directive; and if they do, please let them and their Principal know how you feel about it. Here is some information about the issue: Obama Speech
2. There are rumors floating around that I plan to resign. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am here to serve and represent you and have no plans to resign. Many of you have asked if I am running for reelection and I am considering it. In September I will be out of the state off and on and will miss the Board meetings. But I hope to see you in October!
3. There has been much discussion about how to move the district forward. You have told me, and I agree, that the Board is charged with finding a Superintendent and should not pass that responsibility off on Ms. Parrish. It is our job to find a good candidate and then work with that person. As a board, we have some work to do to make sure we can communicate effectively with a Superintendent and help lead the district. We only have three main jobs, and this is one of them. We need to start searching for someone right after the first of the year.
As your kids begin the school year, please remember that you are their best advocate. You know your child better than anyone else. You love them more than anyone else. If something isn't going right, let the school know. Be brave and firm about voicing your concerns. Most teachers do want to help your child and will listen. If they don't, put it in writing and talk to their supervisor.
I am honored to be serving you on the Howell School Board. While it has been a long road, it is because of you that I am still here. Please let me know if you have any concerns or ideas for improving HPS. Have a great weekend!
10 comments:
Communications Guru:
You are so predictable it is pathetic.
"Here's what I am going to do today: I will load Wendy's blog and hit refresh until I see she posts something new. THEN - I will contradict everything she says and tell her she should quit"
Awesome!
Mrs. Day is showing she believes in the first amendment by never removing your pathetic posts or blocking your user account from posting on her blog. Honestly, I don't understand why she tolerates your vitriol.
Furthermore, this is nothing like President Reagan's address to schools. In large part due to the fact that the Reagan administration went through the school boards rather than having the Department of Education backdoor their way in through principals. In addition, he did not attempt to say his address was mandatory like the Obama administration is doing.
This is nothing but propaganda - straight out of the Saul Alinsky "Rules for Radicals" playbook.
I am VERY pleased to hear Howell will not be participating.
The story in the LCP regarding President Obama’s says
“Teachers in the Howell and Hartland school districts will leave it up to teachers whether to air Obama’s speech on the importance of education in their classrooms, but parents and students can opt out of viewing the speech if they desire.”
http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20090907/NEWS01/90907003/Obama+school+speech+ignites+parental+concerns
Either the LCP is mistaken or you have misrepresented the official position of Howell Schools. Stay in touch much?
Wow. Here's the transcript of the Obama speech. Good thing we have cutting-edge Board members on the front lines protecting our children from hearing they should do well in school and respect their parents and teachers--and further protect our poor children from the story of a poor Black man who grew up in America to become president.
Yeah, please "report" those teachers who "defy" Big Brother (and Big Sister, Ms. Day). Good freaking grief. What a scary disgrace:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/
When you get back from your Astroturf “tea party,” Ms. Day you should read this, and maybe we can restore some sanity to the school district.
http://jackshow.blogs.com/jack/2009/09/essay-educating-michigan-9809.html
annarborgeorge, You're embarrassed at the position of the Howell Schools? Really? This is the same school district who dictated what a foreign school-aged group of singers could and could not sing at a concert. And they used some twisted interpretation to do it. This is also the same school district, and Board, who says "treat the kids as adults" one minute and then says "oh wait. They're not smart enough for that. We need to treat them as children". And everyone wonders why kids are confused? Exactly what message are we sending when a PUBLIC school district says you can watch this but you can't watch that. Listen to this but for heaven's sake don't listen to that. At what point do we trust the teachers to pick what's right, what's wrong? We intrust our kids to them 6,7, 8 hours a day but really we don't. Yes, parents are the best advocates for their own kids but teachers and parents should be willing and able to work together to provide the best education possible. This school district has had issues for decades. Why don't you ask someone about the teacher back in the early 70's who was caught shoplifting and NOTHING HAPPENED by either the police or the school board. Wendy Day can try and get herself re-elected for the next 40 years if she wants. I can promise you that nothing will change. Especially her rants about how this public school is not being run the way SHE wants.
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