grades at the HS

[Snoopy]

TeacherThoughts Wrote:You say we haven't dealt with the issue and we are hiding. Well some of us have and we are not hiding through the boards, we are sharing our info! Myself and others have tried to deal with this issue. I went to my department chair and they replied this happening all over the school. I went to my union rep and said it's not an union issue, more of a building issue. With that I did talk to someone higher up and they simply said to "do it." So, I could keep the grades and if something happens to my position then I can fight it with the union. But like you said, with the economy, we can't afford to take the chance! It's easier said then done, specially if you don't work at the hs!

Not looking for an argument, just sharing the info! You may not believe that this is going on, but it is!

Cheers!

The very last redeeming attraction that I have with Waukegan Schools is the Schuler program my eldest child is involved in. This happens to be a completely separate program from the school district. I walked the halls of the high school many times over the course of last school year, and I must say I was completely disgusted by the lack of control and adult leadership/supervision. The inmates were running the asylum. The security were attempting to get the kids to act somewhat appropriately. I stand to say that unless there is an enforcement of basic common decency, we have lost all credibility as a district and pray the state will run this district effectively.
I do not blame my best friend for sending his daughter to Carmel. This is not the Waukegan I grew up in. The only thing that keeps me participating in this district is my oldest child's love for the program she find herself in.
A very sad state of affairs we find ourselves in as parents. Teachers should take a stand against this madness. I may or may not have been walked to the principals office by my ear by Ms. Steinsifer in the 5th grade at Whittier school when I was misbehaving. I was more fearful if my parents would have been contacted from this momentary lapse of judgement.
I ask the teachers of this district to be men and women that we can be proud of. Be people of principle and lead the youth of Waukegan. Be the educator that the many parents wish you will be to our youth. Times are tough for everyone, I can only hope you are able to look into the mirror in the evening, and like who you see.
Shawn White
224-381-2834

[bruce]

What the common tax payer does not understand is that the hallways and behavior of the high school is a direct result of Mary Lamping, Steve Hamlin, and Donaldo Batiste period. Do you know that students are allowed to tell teachers to F** off and even threaten them and are still returned into their classroom the next day. Why is Waukegan the dumping ground of Lake Co. we are the only school around who takes in kids who have been kicked out of other schools. Ask the students what happens when teachers tell kids in the halls to get to class...go ahead ask them, they will tell you what kind of disrespect takes place. If the administration (who has the ability to actually send them home, or have them arrested) would get out in the halls and quit being scared of the students, then it may be a better school. Also, lets be honest.....Waukegan has a serious parent problem or lack of parenting. It is not the job of the teachers to raise children as respectfull young men and women who value education. However, it is ABSOLUTLEY the job of the extremley well paid administration to run a safe, disciplined and educationally sound school. Walk into the HS someday about 11am (as I have) and that will tell you what kind of job the 150,000 thousand a year principal is doing. Oh...im sorry hes doing great because the failure rate has improved, with his wonderful preassure put on teachers to pass undeserving students-------which is what this post was origanlly about.

[Snoopy]

What the informed tax payer/parent understands is that there are many adults teaching, cleaning and maintaining the building, etc. I do not place the blame entirely on the leadership, as it should be a concerted effort between all. The reason that "students are allowed to tell teachers to F** off and are still returned into their classroom the next day." is because the teachers have allowed this to happen. There is no way a child speaks to me in that manner without learning a life lesson. Give me a melodrama about the paperwork, hell, call me, I'll do the work for you. The moment an adult allows a child to disrespect them, they will lose all credibility with these children/young adults. I do not buy that argument one moment. The boss says let them back in.... Hell NO, get this disruption out of my class so I can teach! Make a stand. You have the ability to get this child sent home, you actually owe the tax paying parents this much, to clean up your room to teach those that care.
I hope you entered the teaching profession as one of a calling, to instruct/educate the youth, specifically Waukegan kids. Teachers accepted a wage with a contract, though it may not be as much as Winnetka, you are expected to fulfill your end of the contract. Educate and lead young impressionable minds and prepare them for the future. If someone threatens you, i beg your pardon, You have the right to have them arrested. I will say, how in the hell can Dr. Hamlin expect to run an extremely safe school if you are not part of the solution? Please bitch about Hamlin some more and not give me a solution to your troubles.
You are wrong about the parents of Waukegan and their lack of parenting. If the many parents knew that their child cussed at a teacher, that there is a consequence for that action, you may see this in a different view. Again, give me several experiences of how that didn't happen, blah blah blah. Who is the adult and who is the student? If you cannot demand and expect that respect in the classroom, perhaps this profession is not for you.
Lead, Follow, or Get Out of My Way! AIRBORNE!
Shawn White
224-381-2834
This is not directed at you Bruce, just some of the things you said. By the way, do not accept the pressure to pass undeserving students, that is cowardly.

[veryconcerned]

Mr. White,
I beg of you to try to meet with Kathleen Weishaar, a union rep and teacher in the mathematics department. She is a teacher who follows the school policies given to her "to the letter." She deals with disrespect the way the school has asked for it to be handled. She contacts parents, she uses the administration to help handle the situation. She is also on the administrations "poop" list for doing her job correctly. She's been reprimanded for following school policies. She can tell you what happens to teachers who do the right thing, and expect respect, and give out the proper punishments. Please let her tell you what happens when teachers are doing the right thing.

[Snoopy]

veryconcerned Wrote:Mr. White,
I beg of you to try to meet with Kathleen Weishaar, a union rep and teacher in the mathematics department. She is a teacher who follows the school policies given to her "to the letter." She deals with disrespect the way the school has asked for it to be handled. She contacts parents, she uses the administration to help handle the situation. She is also on the administrations "poop" list for doing her job correctly. She's been reprimanded for following school policies. She can tell you what happens to teachers who do the right thing, and expect respect, and give out the proper punishments. Please let her tell you what happens when teachers are doing the right thing.

Very Concerned,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I will reach out to this lady. I realize that one segment is not going to be able to "fix" this situation. It will have to come from an effort of many people. I am a son of Waukegan, and I wish we can get rid of the stigma attached to her. It all comes back to the schools for the revitalization of Waukegan. I believe in and know the man whose shoulders this situation weighs heavily upon. We need to provide Mike Rodriguez with information that he can think through. I know him to genuinely care about the future of Waukegan, including its schools.
Thank you again for pointing me in a direction to do my small part in a complex problem.
Sincerely,
Shawn White
(224) 381-2834

[curious]

With all due respect, Snoopy......you aren't lstening to the teachers posting here......or you're not hearing what they are saying....or maybe you are and simply don't believe them. Teachers are stating they are being pressured to adjust grades to boost the number of adequately performing students and can face retaliation for not complying; BY THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HIGH SCHOOL! Do you teally think that this same leadership is going to offer support for teachers who want to send home disruptive students or have students who threaten teachers arrested? For all the trumped up plans for improvement, in the end, when all else fails, the administration of district 60, from the top down are masters of deception to protect themselves from being held accountable for the reallity of the state of our schools. Until the day comes when there is a school board in place that is willing to look and listen beyond the diversionary tactics of overpaid administrators (whose primary goal is self preservation) the cycle will continue. What I know for sure is this: the problem, by and large, is NOT the teachers. Don't even get me started on the parents!

[Snoopy]

Curious,
Thank you for your input to this conversation as well. We can only come to a solution when we have many sides to a story before us. With the same respect you have shown me, I reply in kind. I understand pressure very well. I think it is unfortunate that teachers state that they are pressured by the administration. My contention is that if enough teachers stand by their principles, even if it means getting a letter in your file, the administration will see that 100 letters may be from the lack of leadership versus teachers not doing their jobs.
I wish to clearify a previous post. There are many redeeming things going on in the district. The teachers in the GAP were absoulutely amazing to my child. The principle, Nicole Fishman, at Jefferson, is a princess among women. With the teachers out of my post, I will say I have a hard time sending my children to Waukegan High School. They continue to tell me they want it, and I grin and bear it, especially when I set foot into that madness during the school year.
I hope we as a community can not become complacent with the madness in those halls. I hope teachers can rise up to the occasion and demand enough is enough. It starts with courage to not let your principles being trampled by a threat of a letter in your file. I know times are tough, they are for everyone. It does not mean we can't be proud of our day at work.
Shawn White
224-381-2834
I am a parent of two students that will be attending Waukegan High, I am included in your statement of ," Don't even get me started on the parents!"

[bruce]

Wow....snoopy not sure really how to take your reply to my post. I does seem to me that you are with the administration in putting all the blame on the teachers. THIS is Wrong there are great teachers in waukegan who are against huge odds, and now you have an administration that cuts them off at the knees every step of the way. Im way to annoyed with this typical response towards the teachers at Waukegan. Have fun and enjoy- you add the Airborn thing for.........?

[OhBrother]

bruce Wrote:Wow....snoopy not sure really how to take your reply to my post. I does seem to me that you are with the administration in putting all the blame on the teachers. THIS is Wrong there are great teachers in waukegan who are against huge odds, and now you have an administration that cuts them off at the knees every step of the way. Im way to annoyed with this typical response towards the teachers at Waukegan. Have fun and enjoy- you add the Airborn thing for.........?

Well I'm way too annoyed with the typical response towards the parents in Waukegan

I thought you all needed your tenure so you could stand up and fight the administration when need be. I guess you only need tenure so you can sit back and collect your paycheck, insurance and pensions. To hell with the kids.

[Snoopy]

bruce Wrote:Wow....snoopy not sure really how to take your reply to my post. I does seem to me that you are with the administration in putting all the blame on the teachers. THIS is Wrong there are great teachers in waukegan who are against huge odds, and now you have an administration that cuts them off at the knees every step of the way. Im way to annoyed with this typical response towards the teachers at Waukegan. Have fun and enjoy- you add the Airborn thing for.........?

Your disbelief to my post is taken the same way with me, Bruce. I have a unique position of being on the outside looking in.
Be annoyed by any of my words, it really does not mean much to me either way. The teachers should be protected under contract. The teachers that do not perform in my hometown should be dropped like a bad habit, as any administrators involved. Outsiders coming in to my hometown, making an incredible living 9 monthes out of the year, in my humble opinion, should be scrutinized as well. I see your stance in this discussion, and appreciate it.
I am a man that has been a Waukegan Public Schools son my entire life. Lately have not lived in Waukegan proper, but have never lived outside the bounds of WPS 60. I will not negate your argument of the many teachers doing a great job. I do believe they need to stand up and fight for what they believe in. If they have no passion for their position, I also humbly believe they should get the hell out of my hometown and replace them with someone that genuinely cares.
The very words that are provided under our constitution were provided you by the many service members that have come before you. I add the Airborne thing for.....? to let you and many others know that I am not fearful to make a stand against an injustice, especially a disagreement between governing bodies.
Shawn White
(224) 381-2834