Snaps for the Secretary of Education

It is no secret that I have been critical of the Dept of Ed regarding their policies that seem to solely blame teachers for chronically failing schools. However, I also have a duty to give credit where credit is due and the Secretary deserves a HIGH 5 for his rebuke of our school leaders choosing to play the blame game. He certainly got a front row seat to view the philosophy of education in HISD.

HISD published a clip of the video where at about 8min and 40sec into the clip our District 4 Board Member blamed the middle and elementary teachers in the Jones feeder pattern for the 80-90% of students that were not on grade level in reading. Further, she went so far as to advocate inciting outrage and picketing (something I thought we were always blamed for) against those teachers and their schools.

The response from the Secretary was notably humane as he rightly pointed out that the blame game doesn't help students succeed. We ALL have a responsibility to ensure that our kids are successful, including the kids themselves. HISD consistently points the finger at teachers, as evidenced by Harris’ remarks. The question is then how to HUMANELY hold teachers, students, parents, the District, community and state responsible for doing their part? No system can be successful when appropriate parameters aren't defined and enforced for all the responsible parties within said system. No matter how exceptional the engine, my truck won't run if the tires don't do their job..

We take our kids the way they come to us. We can't change them, their parents or our communities out as easily as I can change my tires or HISD thinks it can change out our teachers. Who would want to come teach in HISD under the type of philosophy that we have seen evolve here over the past few years? I bet a few people realize how penny wise and pound foolish they may be when that large cadre of dedicated career teachers in HISD decides to stay home for good. Most mid-career teachers already intend to bail for suburb jobs closer to home at their first opportunity.

Maybe we can change out the Board if we all decide to work together (and not for retreads of the same failed model). It is certainly going to take more than just a few of us, so get involved.

Check out the video yourself:
http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=67377dbbacd68210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=9339e02e91b23110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD