Friday, May 27, 2011

"The stupidest makeup day ever!"

KRQE newsreader Dick Knipfing introduced the story, link, on
APS' final makeup day by reporting that people are suggesting it
may be the "stupidest makeup day ever".

He feigned concern that, though it is a school day, no students
are going to attend. And if they do attend, they won't be doing
anything even remotely educational.

What he doesn't know is that the same thing happens on the
last day of school whether it falls before Memorial Day or after.
Grades and attendance records are due from teachers at the
beginning of the day on the last day. That means the books are
closed on student performance and nothing they do on the last
day counts. That's why the Del Norte student suggested that
they could go to school Tuesday to mess around and they
"can't really get in trouble".

What he means by that is not that they can't get into trouble,
just that they are unlikely to be consequenced for doing so.

Students know Tuesday is not a class day, and teachers know it.
APS' leadership does not. According to Knipfing's report, they still
"expect kids to show up." When on Tuesday, they do not, an APS'
spokesperson will say, "we are surprised no one showed up".

That statement will point to their ignorance or their dishonesty;
APS; Always Prevaricating about Something.

The administrative disconnect with the real world is noteworthy,
in particular since it is the practice in the APS, for administrators
to make all the really important decisions while teachers, who
among them share nearly 100,000 years of current teaching
experience, are effectively left out of the decision making process
entirely.

Whatever students do on Tuesday, taxpayers will not be getting
their money's worth; $5,555,555.55 give or take.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So why doesn't Dick Knipfing report on the excessive absences, 50 or more, excused and unexcused that these kids and their enabling parents rack up in a typical year. All I ever hear is CYFD is too overwhelmed to take care of educational neglect issues. APS sticks it's head in the sand and denies that it is even happening. And yet they want to tie my salary to the kids and families who do not give a rats behind about education. Yeah, that's going to happen. Can anyone say career change?

Anonymous said...

Down below is the e-mail that Sandia HS principal Katy Harvey sent out to her staff on Wednesday, May 25. As you will learn from the e-mail, she gave her staff the green light to miss Tuesday, May 31.

E-Mail Sent By : Katy Harvey
Department(s) : Administration
Friday will be our last "official' day together and we will use some of that day for a celebratory lunch and a farewell to some wonderful staff who are leaving SHS. Please join us for lunch at 12:00 on Friday in the library. I anticipate that we will be done by 1:30ish.

If you are not around or I don't see you on Tuesday, May 31st, enjoy your summer. Make the most of it. We will be here most of the summer (except for two weeks) so drop by if you out and about.

Before you check out, MAKE SURE that your grades are in to Louanne. Deadline May 31st at 4:00.

Thanks for a wonderful year. I've enjoyed every minute. (I did not enjoy getting up early however!)

Best wishes,

katy