'The essentials of good education are the same everywhere: a rigorous curriculum, effective instruction, adequate resources, willing students, and a social and cultural climate in which education is encouraged and respected. Teacher unions today, as in the past, must work to make these essentials available in every district for every school and every student. They cannot do it alone. They must work with administrators and elected officials to advance these goals. The unions will continue to be important, vital, and needed so long as they speak on behalf of the rights and dignity of teachers and the essentials of good education.' -a quote from the Asst Secretary of Education under President Bush
It is clear from the respected, educated people who help to form policy and lead our nation that unions, administrators and elected officials must work together. There must be a 'social and cultural climate in which education is encouraged and respected.'
What candidates are willing to promote this climate in Norwalk? We can't expect to bash teachers and unions and expect cooperation. Scare tactics? What is that about?
Your thoughts on how we learn to work together?
It takes a village, parents staff, the BoE, the unions to work together in order to make the Norwalk School System shine. Attacks on salaries and benefits that are set in stone for the next two years doesn't make sense. Why can't the RedApples work with the staff and the unions? It's the ONLY way to move forward. Maybe the Apples should read the old Dale Carnegie book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People.'
ReplyDeleteMost people know me as Rose Anderson. My father was the first Black fireman in Norwalk and the first Black fire chief in Norwalk and Greenwich. This was during a time when race was a major deal in society, but my father never let race play as an issue because he was good at his career. I am writing this letter in support of Sherelle Harris who is running for the board of education because she is similar. She is a confident Black woman who is not naïve to racism or the game, but chose to rise above that to serve children. As a librarian she has worked with The Norwalk Housing Authority and NEON in an effort to serve the Black community while also setting up programs in Spanish, Russian. She has programmed for most of the cultures in Norwalk. She has written about education prolifically and understands the issues Norwalk faces, particularly with underserved communities. She has always wondered if our curriculum was getting the best out of our children and shares state data with me. I am a special education parent and Sherelle has a special needs sister, so she is sensitive to my issues. My daughter is 10 and I met Sherelle when she was in preschool and her class would visit the library or Sherelle would visit the preschool. I could tell Sherelle has a heart for children and their development. We have been friends since. She is not a cliquish person and I respect that. In the position she is in as a librarian, she works with many different types of people. As a matter of fact, she moves in such diverse circles that if you put all of the people she gets along with in a room together, they would probably kill each other. I endorse her because she is the type of person who will help anyone she can to get the job done, but does not ascribe to any cliques.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Rosemeri Thorne
Norwalk