ELO teachers non-strike room
"We love our kids. We love our kids," said one teacher after the ELEA decided Sunday night not to go out on strike today. So it's business as usual in the schools this week. Or is it? Perhaps now it's time to reflect on the strike that never was. What damage has been done? Or do we all just need a break from all this? If the discussion here and the talk I've heard around town over the past months reflect public opinion, there is a huge gap between school and town people that isn't likely to go away overnight. Will we let the wounds heal, or will they continue to fester? One thing is for sure, we should all be happy about averting what would surely have been a very damaging strike. But where do we go from here?
posted by M. | 7:23 AM
39 Comments:
The difference between the old and new school is amazing! The "Old Days" were better days.
50 to 100 years from now, someone will be looking at a newer building and then looking at this photo and saying the same thing. Times change whether we like them to or not.
It is my guess that what is going on in the schools currently is what has been going on through this whole crisis-teaching. The wonderful part about education is when there is problem, conflict, argument, squabble, or brawl, once the bell rings and the students are there, learning occurs. Not just learning, but wonderful learning. If you think about all the ELSD has been through over the past few years, it is amazing how well the students, teachers, and administrators have held things together. If you walk into the buildings and see the environment that exists with the exposed ceilings and stripped floors, one must wonder how can education carry-on in buildings in those conditions. The answer comes down to the jobs that everyone has been doing, is doing, and will continue to do.
No strike but the same lousy teachers and same lousy education for our kids. Sugar coat it all you want but we still have the same bad schools, nothing has changed.
They love the kids? Bull Shit
11:12 Your full of shit. Keep telling yourself how great they are. You can give someone an education in Barn! It's all bull shit. It's to bad they didn't go on strike, the commission could of replaced them all.
12:24 Full of shit? What are you basing your knowledge on? Have you been in the schools? As far as the commission being able to replace the teachers---that is bull shit. Not sure where you heard that and what validity it has. Perhaps in your Barn where you learned to read and write.
They may very well love their kids but they also probably realized the community support wasn't there for a strike (less than 100 people at the vigil and most of them teachers and the remarks on this site, most likely were two indicators.
Regardless, hopefully this was a wake up call and education will get better in ELO.
Naturally, I am pleased that the ELEA and the board were able to avert a strike, but one thing I'm really tired of hearing is East Liverpool teachers blaming East Liverpool parents for the dismal academic performance of the district. Clearly parenting plays a significant role in education--everybody knows that--but you don't hear this excuse blurted out every five minutes in Wellsville. You're going to have to convince me that there is a marked socio-economic difference between Wellsville and East Liverpool to keep using that tired, ineffective, and arrogant argument.
Good teachers inspire students by example to pull themselves out of their condition. Bad teachers spend all of their time looking for excuses for failure. If E.L. teachers truly "love the kids," then they should do something to inspire these kids they love so much to become something more than they are. Don't put all the blame on the students, their parents, the school board, the superintendents, the buildings. Have I missed something? We simply no longer buy your argument. You're not going to reach every student--nobody expects that--but there is no reason in the world why we shouldn't expect our teachers to inspire students to achieve. Clearly, East Liverpool teachers are not doing that.
So please quit pointing the finger of failure at everyone but yourselves. You are fooling no one BUT yourselves. There is NOTHING more important than the education of our children. NOTHING. If you can't do it; if you can't inspire the students; if you can't do anything other than point the finger at us, then go somewhere else and fail. If you think you can do it, then get on with it and quit whining. Show us some tangible evidence that you can do what we pay you to do. That's all we ask.
Matt, you know that I mostly try to be very agreeable and we normally see eye to eye on most matters, HOWEVER, it's the same old discussion we always have about the poverty in this area. I am not a schoolteacher nor have any aspirations of becoming one. I also do not know one person who is employed as an educator in the EL school system, personally, or call them a friend. But I must disagree with you on the effect that poverty and socio-economic class has on a child's learning. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to pinpoint it or solve it. You and I aren't gonna FIND better paying jobs for these kids' parents. You and I aren't gonna convince a kid's parents to move out of LaBelle or Height's Manor or other low income areas and get jobs. Mostly because they have found a way to work and abuse the system so they are going to continue, or else they truly have no other way out and it's all the parents know. What little money they do get every month goes towards alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and other vices. I think it's too easy for some of us to overlook how rampant poverty is in this area. I make a conscious effort everyday to remind myself how lucky I am to have what I have, to have grown up in the nourturing environment that I did grow up in and to have the great support staff/family/friends that I have around me. Most of the children in the EL school district don't have that.
That doesn't give the teacher's a free pass to not inspire or educate. Please don't misunderstand me. But maybe the board should look for workshops or creative teaching geared at lower socio-economic schools. I think creativity goes a long way, (a long way beyond Flip Flippant, or whatever it was.) But let's not make the teacher's the new lightning rod for the area. Their task is a daunting one, one in which I don't envy. But everyone needs to work together on this project. They will never get results without some help.
Matt Handley
ELO
Wellsville has the same enviroment as East Liverpool and there score are much higher.
Actually, I don't think Wellsville has the same environment. And it's "their" scores, not "there." Where did you go?
12:49 When a school is in fiscal emergency, the planning commission has the authority to brake contacts. Check the ORC. Yes I received my education in a Barn. And they do have the power to send you down the road.
12:24 Look it up in the Ohio Revised Codes. You will find they do have the power to brake contracts. 12:49 must know what he or she is talking about....
Sorry to cut in gentlemen, or should I say "confirmed bachelors."
What's the deal with the gay wedding rings? Is this a website for those who are light in the loafers?
The content of the ad banners on this site is not under our control. Google's bots scan the site and look for key words that can be linked to ads. Regular readers will recall a recent story titled "Gay Marriage, Christian style." I suspect this title attracted the gay wedding ring ad banner. While ORL has nothing against gays, gay marriage, or gay wedding rings, we are not responsible for the ads. If this (or any other) advertisement offends you, that's just part of being alive in the world.
Wellsville or Liverpool? Most teachers are in it for June July and Aug. They lie, they screw kids all time. I don't have much use for teachers, most of them are hypocrites and fakes. They should be paid base on their performance in the class room. Hell they wouldn't work for that!
I agree with some of what you say, Matt. But how do you explain the marked difference between Wellsville and East Liverpool schools? Poverty alone is clearly not the issue, yet it continues to be used as THE excuse for poor performance in our schools.
Perhaps we also differ somewhat in the extent to which we believe teachers can help students understand the connection between academic success and improving their lot in life. As a 30-year educator, I can assure you that students don't need feigned "love" from their teachers. What they need is someone to convince them that success is possible with hard work. They need someone to be frank and honest with them about what needs to be done to achieve success. They need someone to challenge them, someone to let them know that failure is an option, someone to let them know that he won't give up on them if and when they do fail. This is what I mean by inspiration. It's a method, a job, a commitment, a talent. This is what teachers are supposed to do. It is their job to inspire, not to complain about the uninspired.
As well, teachers can make a big difference by raising (not lowering) the bar for all students. I deal with East Liverpool High School students and graduates every day at KSU. I have yet to run into one who says they are/were challenged at ELHS. In fact, the reason we have high school students taking college classes is that they are not sufficiently challenged at the high school level. Any way you cut it, this should not be.
I don't pretend to have all the answers, but like I said, I'm tired of the teachers refusing to accept any responsibility for the failed academic environment of East Liverpool schools. Did you read the stuff in the Morning Journal today? It's everybody's fault but the teachers. Most of us know that the first step in improving ourselves is confronting our own failures. I have seen none of that with our teachers. Of course, it's not all their fault, but some of it surely is, and until they shoulder their part of the responsibility, nothing is likely to change.
The teachers should take enough professional pride in their work that they will not accept this dismal performance from students. They should be eager to become academic heroes, not count the days to retirement. Again, let's see some evidence of extraordinary commitment to education. Teachers need to show us what they've got. They need to give us some reason to think they're doing all they can. Maybe part of that is getting angry at guys like me who aren't afraid to call them out.
I say reinstate religion, morning singing of the pledge of allegiance and giving these undisciplined brats a good whack on the ass when they need it. I am not that old but i remember going to East Elementary as well as Westgate in a time when we respected our teachers as well as feared them. I'm not sure exactly when they stopped paddling kids in schools but it's a shame they ever quit. I am not at all saying they should beat them to a bloody pulp. what i am saying is that i had my ass beat 3 or 4 times and that was all it took. these kids today get in their teachers faces and tell them to go fuck themselves without fear of being punished. these kids know that they don't have to listen to their teachers and that they don't have to really do homework or participate in class because the teachers can't punish them. god forbid a teacher pull a kid out of class and beat their ass for telling the teacher to kiss their ass cause mommy and daddy are sue happy and nobody better lay a hand on my baby. bullshit. let your kid take responsibility for his/her actions . your kid obviously isn't getting punished at home and you as a parent are sending the wrong message to them that it's ok to disrespect your teachers/elders. i know what i'm saying is old fashioned but let's face it, old fashioned worked alot better now didn't it
Idon't necessarily condone paddling but I remember my fourth grade teacher in Rogers Elementary was walking between the aisles and stopped to tell one boy something he did wrong.
"You BITCH," he said and that's all it took.
She back-handed him and he went right out of the seat on the floor.
I don't know what stunned me most: that a kid my age would say the "b" word or that the only thing he got was a crack in the face and not a REAL paddling.
This incident did not make me "fear" my teacher or have less respect for her.
It was expected that punishment followed bad behavior. Kids today don't expect any kind of punishement and know all too well their "rights." And yes, parents are sue=happy and the kids know that, too.
You couldn't pay me to be a teacher in today's society and I respect those who are.
That doesn't mean I supported or did not support ELEA' just an observation about teaching in general.
A GOOD teacher is worth their weight in gold.
The main difference I can see between Wellsville and East Liverpool is this: the citizens of Wellsville back the kids. Wellsville passes its school levies and the whole community seems to rally behind the students. Politics aside, Wellsville is like an extended family. East Liverpool is really three separate towns...those who live on the hills seem to look down on those who live downtown, who look down on east end.
Send them to a Catholic School
Please forgive me if i'm wrong, but I have never punished my child and never will. I do however discipline him. That doesn't mean that every time he messes up he gets a whack in the face or butt. It means that every time he gets some sort of discipline, whether it be grounded, loss of TV or PC. Something is done to stop his bad behavior. On this same note, I cringe at the idea of someone hitting my child to punish them. Punishment is when you get sent to jail or prison. I have spanked my child on the butt or hand, never in the face like so many ignorant parents do, then I follow with a hug and explaination as to why that just happened. I, to this day, look foward to the older years of my child, not like I hear so many times, "just you wait". Bullcrap, learn to be parents, stop hoping the teachers and everyone else will raise your kids properly. They're in school to learn an education, not learn how to be decent human beings. Signed,A loving dad.
I'm also a loving dad and I find that one of the few things the schools in my area at the elementary do is teach the kids to be "good citizens." That is, don't do drugs, slaute the flag, etc. Once they reach high school, they're taught that there are special groups who don't get into trouble when they commit an offense.
I wish the schools taught kids to be decent human beings.
I believe the teachers are doing their best to educate our children.
The rest falls on us as parents, you have to care and be interested in how your children do. I think this area lacks a lot in that area.
Being a good parent should not be blamed of what "social class" you fall under.
Sit in on clases and you'll find that the teachers may be doing their best but are not doing a good job of educating.
Matt,
Are you still selling the wedding rings for gay partners? I'd like to order three, all size 12. I'll send a check if you'll give me the total amount. Thanks!
It's up to parents, not teachers, to teach their children to be "decent human beings," and, unortunately, for many parents in this area, that's a foreign concept.
Teachers are supposed to be teaching the children to read, write and equate.
(and no I;m not a teacher)
TO 6:54,
I think it's pretty hard for the teachers to be doing the best they can when they are talking on their cell phones in class on a daily basis and baby sitting their grandchildren while they are trying to teach. Yeah, I have kids in EL schools and these are just a couple of the things that they have told me about.
Well the cell phone issue goes both ways then. How many children have a cell phone in their possession nowadays? ALOT. As far as teachers are concerned, I have never seen a teacher yet to use one in the class; maybe on break or lunch, yes. I am not a full time teacher, I just substitute. I am not chosing sides either, just stating facts. Back to the issue of students and parents----I think that parents need to wake up and take responsibility (or at least the ones who can't or don't want to work with their children)and realize that the teacher is not 100% responsible for what their child(ren) learn. It has to start with the parents at a very young age. We are here to teach them about math, english, writing, etc. We are not here to teach them proper manners and how to act decent at all times; that is up to the parents to do BEFORE the child enters the school setting. I'm not saying that we don't correct them when they aren't acting decent but they should know right from wrong and most of them do. I'm not sticking up for teachers because I do agree that some are only there for the money. But try teaching a class of 28 students, 6 1/2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Believe me, it IS worth what they currently get paid. How many of you reading this could teach a large group this size. Maybe that is why many parents don't teach their children anything; they are not getting paid and think it's up to the teacher?? Who knows. But I do know this, it's not an easy job, which is why there is a teacher shortage in our area. Remember~it takes a community to raise a child. Let's quit bashing each other and work together for our children's sake. THEY ARE OUR FUTURE :)
Shouldn't our schools and government officials try to work thing out together to make the area a better place?Why not use all that energy for a good cause instead of fighting?They should really think about the kids and give them a better education and a better place to use it once they have received it.They changed paradise and put up a parking lot!!!!You never know what you've got till its gone.Its time to rethink the system.See you Sunday I'll be taking pictures of whats left.
What the hell are you talking about "Johnny Cash?"
8;13 In simplest terms they tore down alot of old buildings in East Liverpool and turned them into parking lots.Did it really make an improvement to the community?The old schools were downtown where students would patronize the stores.There was pride in the community because every one felt they were part of a brighter tommorow.Parking lots don't always allow for new bussiness because now they have to invest in new buildings to house their merchandise.I'm sorry if I was fage I used an old song to tell my story.I thought most people would remember it.
On the lighter side:
TEACHER APPLICATION
After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said:
"Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning, and I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their T-shirt messages and dress habits.
You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem.
You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, make sure all students pass the state exams, even those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments.
Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap. I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card.
All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile
AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps! You want me to do all of this and then you tell me
I CAN'T PRAY ????
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING."
Hey, you'd think with your master's degree and great intelligence, you could get a job that doesn't qualify you for food stamps. Obviously you aren't that happy in your job. And i'm sure that reflects in your proficiency scores.
I assume teachers know they are getting into all that when they decide to become teachers. If they can't handle it, they should go into another line of work.
Not that I think it's right teachers have to be all things to their students; it's just the way it is and those hoping for a teaching career need to accept that.
There you go, 2:22, jumping to conclusions again. I'm not a teacher, I don't have a masters, and I implied nothing about my intelligence. That post was a JOKE I read on an internet joke page. It was a dig on not allowing prayer in the schools. But now that you mention it, what other kind of job would someone with a masters in teaching try to get (that wouldn't qualify them for foodstamps, of course)?
Everyone knows teachers don't make enough/any money. Therefore, you know that going into it. Once you went to school and got your degree in teaching, don't come crying to me when you're on food stamps. God Bless you.
Who sneezed?
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