Wareham Education Association President's Blog
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Thank you!
Massachusetts voters love their public schools. We love working in them -- thanks for defeating Question 2. Wareham said "no" to question 2 by a 58-42% margin. Thank you!
Friday, October 21, 2016
Visibility canceled
Update: the Vikings football game was cancelled, so No on 2 sign-holding
is cancelled -- thanks to everyone who showed up. The event will be
rescheduled.
Friday, October 7, 2016
The facts behind the letter...
A frustrated charter school lobbyist mailed a letter to the Courier
this week filled with misinformation, after learning that Wareham is one
of over 165 school committees opposing Question 2. In contrast to his
pitch, here are some facts:
*Charter schools are publicly funded, but are not public. Yes, they serve the public, like a bank or insurance company. Their budgets include public subsidies, as Towneplace Suites does. However, it is not accurate to state that charters are public when they spend money with little public oversight, no public accountability, and when they select their student body by omission.
*Charter schools are publicly funded, but are not public. Yes, they serve the public, like a bank or insurance company. Their budgets include public subsidies, as Towneplace Suites does. However, it is not accurate to state that charters are public when they spend money with little public oversight, no public accountability, and when they select their student body by omission.
*Charter schools trigger a tiny, temporary bump in a narrow type of
public school funding in some communities. These bridging payments
underfunded by the state last a year. The long-term result is less
funding for public education. When a house burns down, the insurance
check may increase the owner's bank account. That doesn't make it a
good way to plan a budget.
*Charter schools claim that more choice is always an improvement. However, they have not offered any new ideas in 7 years, according to the Department of Education, and oppose requirements that they hire qualified teachers or educate all students in a community. It does the children of Wareham and Massachusetts no service to allow a "choice" of an inferior education, with taxpayers footing the bill.
*Charter schools claim that more choice is always an improvement. However, they have not offered any new ideas in 7 years, according to the Department of Education, and oppose requirements that they hire qualified teachers or educate all students in a community. It does the children of Wareham and Massachusetts no service to allow a "choice" of an inferior education, with taxpayers footing the bill.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Full context: THe Wareham Courier article
A selected portion of an answer I gave to a media member was
published in the recent Wareham Courier. I am providing the full
question and answer here to restore the context that was taken out in
the article. I do knot know why the journalist chose to cut out any
mention of administration responsibility for discipline.
"What instructions/training or provided by Wareham Public Schools to assist teachers in enforcing discipline among students?"
I'm surprised to receive this question, as this is the administration's determination of policy and procedure. However, I can say that the Wareham Public Schools are expected to operate according to the discipline code explained in each school's handbook, and enacted by the School Committee. At the secondary level, teachers have the right to assign detentions and in-classroom consequences to maintain discipline in class so all students can learn; at the elementary level, detentions can be assigned only by administrators. Educators may not assign in-school or out-of-school suspensions, or Friday after-school detention. Educators also may write discipline referrals, and administration is expected to assign consequences according to the discipline code. In urgent situations, educators are to try to reach an administrator for help. During those times no administrator is available
"What instructions/training or provided by Wareham Public Schools to assist teachers in enforcing discipline among students?"
I'm surprised to receive this question, as this is the administration's determination of policy and procedure. However, I can say that the Wareham Public Schools are expected to operate according to the discipline code explained in each school's handbook, and enacted by the School Committee. At the secondary level, teachers have the right to assign detentions and in-classroom consequences to maintain discipline in class so all students can learn; at the elementary level, detentions can be assigned only by administrators. Educators may not assign in-school or out-of-school suspensions, or Friday after-school detention. Educators also may write discipline referrals, and administration is expected to assign consequences according to the discipline code. In urgent situations, educators are to try to reach an administrator for help. During those times no administrator is available
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Statement regarding June 8 letter
The Wareham Education Association would clarify that the leadership of
the association did not author the letter discussed at the June 8 School
Committee meeting. Members of the Association may have been involved
with its authorship, but the concept and text were never subject to
discussion or vote by the Board of the WEA. That should not be
interpreted as disagreement with its contents or concerns. Rather, any
educator willing to stand up for a smart and safe learning environment
for Wareham's children should be commended. The Association does
reiterate that it will sign any letter to the School Committee or
community.
----
Speaking personally, I wrote this statement is just to make clear that this particular letter was not a WEA missive. I am not seeking to undermine or contradict the issues raised in the letter, but do not want any confusion on who wrote it.
----
Speaking personally, I wrote this statement is just to make clear that this particular letter was not a WEA missive. I am not seeking to undermine or contradict the issues raised in the letter, but do not want any confusion on who wrote it.
Friday, April 29, 2016
May 20 Retirement Dinner
The annual WEA Retirement Dinner honors our members retiring this year:
Anne Marie Brooks
Sue Cistoldi
Heidi Simms DiGiovanni
Chris Quimby
Sherri Williams
Tickets include hors d'ouevres and a dinner. See a building representative for a ticket. $20. Tickets are limited.
Anne Marie Brooks
Sue Cistoldi
Heidi Simms DiGiovanni
Chris Quimby
Sherri Williams
Tickets include hors d'ouevres and a dinner. See a building representative for a ticket. $20. Tickets are limited.
Monday, March 21, 2016
School Committee candidates on the record
In early March, the two candidates for Wareham School Committee received
a questionnaire from our WEA, along with a self-addressed stamped
envelope. They were also directed to a link on the WEA website where
they could download the questionnaire electronically and return it by
email.
As of the deadline of March 20, only one candidate had responded. The WEA thanks Mary Morgan for her responses, and here answers can be found using the link above.
As of the deadline of March 20, only one candidate had responded. The WEA thanks Mary Morgan for her responses, and here answers can be found using the link above.
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