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It really
shouldn’t be over!
Published November 7, 2014
By Steven Flagg
As expected, a dynamic new superintendent carried the day
and Issue 1 passed. It’s to his credit and the relationships
he has built in this community that TPS passed a new levy
for the first time since 2001. I’d like to say
congratulations, but I can’t because Issue 1 wasn’t for the
kids.
A lot was left unsaid by those campaigning and supporting
the levy about the ability to improve student outcomes and
the issues TPS officials pledged would be resolved. You can
find information about these issues in the posts at this
site. It’s my way of protesting the injustices found in how
resources are allocated to schools serving our most
disadvantaged students. It should be a wake-up call and
elicit protestations.
To those who kept their silence on the issues and those who
did not ask the questions, this quote seems most
appropriate: “To sin by silence, when one should protest,
makes cowards of men.” …..Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1914. You can
read the full text of her poem from her book of poetry,
Poems of Problems, page 154 at the
Internet Archive.
Fundamental changes are needed and TPS administrators don’t
have the resources nor the cooperation and vision of their
Board and union leadership to meet the expectations of
better student outcomes that they have created during their
campaign to pass Issue 1.
There is still an opportunity to make those changes and we
can only hope that Romules Durant and his staff will have
the courage to discuss and address the impact of onerous
contract provisions such as seniority based teaching
assignments before any wage increases are agreed upon.
If it’s really for the kids, speak up. Better yet, shout
from the mountain top.
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