Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Typical APS thinking; parent-teacher conferences.

Parent-teacher conferences are not what they could be
according to Journal Education Reporter, Andrea Schoellkopf, link

The oligarchical response is to solve by edict.

oligarchy;
  1. a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
  2. a school district so ruled.
  3. the persons or class so ruling; the good ol' boys.

Their edict; "require a universal parent-teacher conference."

The Student Standard of Conduct suggests that the proper response is to
engage stakeholders in the decision making process.
Let them decide what they need.

The responsibility of the School Board is to create a district wide policy that requires administrators to engage stakeholders in the decision making process that will establish guidelines for parent-teacher conferences at a particular school.

The board has the authority to charge the Superintendent with ensuring meaningful participation in the decision making process, for all stakeholders.


Instead, Winston Brooks will stuff his parent-teacher plan down stakeholders throats.

He has no choice. If he lets stakeholders participate meaningfully in this decision, there will be no turning back. The cat will be out of the bag.

Once stakeholders have tasted meaningful participation in decision making, why would they ever give it up?

Why wouldn't they demand meaningful participation in every decision that affects their interests?

This is why the leadership of the APS has excepted themselves from accountability to the Student Standard of Conduct. They cannot be role models of either Respect or Trustworthiness.

They cannot afford to let stakeholders into their decision making process.

They will do everything they can to prevent being held accountable to any standard of conduct that requires them
respect stakeholders rights to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their interests.

Their real intention is manifest in their
ongoing refusal to tell stakeholders the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

About parent-teacher conferences, or about anything else.

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