Higher standards or not? Let's settle it; at once and for all.

The likelihood of success in any endeavor depends on two broad variables;

1. those which are largely or completely beyond control, and
2. those variables over which we are largely or completely within control.

Of variables over which we have, in this case, absolute control, I submit that there are none more important than standards and accountability.

Clearly an organization like the Albuquerque Public Schools has to have for their human resources, (high enough) standards of conduct and competence.  It is equally clear that if standards are not enforceable, the highest and lowest standards are indistinguishable in their effect.

By definition; "higher standards" means higher than the law.  "The law" is the standard that every higher standard is higher than.

There is a lot of talk about "higher standards" of conduct and competence for politicians and public servants.  It is only talk.  "Higher standards" are utterly unenforceable in a court of law.   School board members and administrators can be held accountable for their conduct and competence, only in courts of law; the lowest standards of conduct acceptable to civilized human beings. 

Were that not crippling enough, the table can be further tilted by means of limitless spending without oversight on "legal weaselry"; an option available to pols and public servants in proportion to their power.

The "leadership" of the APS refuses to talk openly and honestly about ethics, standards and accountability.  It has been fully two decades since the board adopted higher standards of conduct for students.  It has been almost a decade since the voted unanimously to strike the role modeling clause from their own standards of conduct.  It had read;

In no case shall the standards of conduct for adults
be lower than the standards of conduct for students.

Ever since, there have been double standards of conduct in the APS.  Students are expected to model and promote honest accountability to a nationally recognized, accepted and respect code of ethics.  School board members and administrators are only accountable to the law, and spend millions of dollars a year in efforts to escape even that.

APS image

We are at a fork in the road.

Monday next, incoming Supt.
Luis Valentino will join us there to lead the district down one road or the other.

The fork to same old, same old requires nothing of anyone.  It simply requires paying no notice to ethics, standards and accountability in the APS.

Walz, caught by macquigg

Kent Walz, the Journal and the establishment's media are content with same old, same old.  I can't imagine them actually lobbying in favor of inadequate standards, inadequate accountability, and inadequate record keeping, but you sure won't see them advocating for the other path.

Unclear still, how Valentino feels about higher standards of conduct and role modeling.  The question was kept from him at the public fora where he and other candidates answered questions.

Progress down the right path requires nothing of Valentino except a single act of courage; point to a time, a day, and a place where there will be a public meeting.  Allow open and honest two-way communication with stake and interest holders on ethics, standards and accountability in the APS; from students to school board members.

Those who would maintain low standards and selective accountability cannot defend their positions out loud.  They have been successful only because they have hidden their indefensible position behind a stonewall.

They have been successful only because of Kent Walz and his ilk.