I just received this post from Deb of Education Consumers Clearinghouse. I am still tracing the larger item from which the following quotes originate: But, is it still true?
Rare is the school board that takes parent concerns seriously. Have you ever observed how they treat parents that dare go to a school board meeting and complain about curriculum? In many cases, the parents have to remove their child from the district.
To quote National School Boards Association Executive Director Ann Bryant 3-05-02 "School Board Members are instructed to not think of themselves as a representative for their constituency." Rare is the school board that takes parent concerns seriously. Curriculum is a private matter for the school to decide. Have you ever observed how they treat parents that dare go to a school board meeting and complain about curriculum? In many cases, the parents have to remove their child from the district. In the US, courts have ruled twice in the last year that the school decides curriculum, parents have no say. In Oregon, there is a law that states parents must be included in the curriculum decision making. The district didn’t comply, the parents got a lawyer and lost. We have TERC for math and the chicken squawking and mirrors included in algebra I wrote about previously. It has seemed to me that school boards get their "Wacko Mom red flag" training early. My reply to Deb included the following:
These references mirror my experience, and why I have called for the last 30 years for abolishing school board systems. They are an illusion of democracy, as well as a protection racket for the empire builders who feed off their self-perpetuating industry, and a cruel hoax on parents. I did come across literature from our School Board Association 20 years ago which trained new trustees by role playing. One took the role of an irate mother, with feathery hat and rolled up Enquirer in her hand, flouncing around….! There is our example of your “Wacko Mom Red Flag” stereotype. Have attended two different school board meetings lately to reaquaint myself after 20 year absence from the school reform cause. Still the same bobble heads rubber-stamping establishment directives.
My reply to Deb, April 04/07
Dear Deb:
Can you please lead me to the article by Anne Bryant of NSBA, dated 3-05-02? Can’t find it.
These references mirror my experience, and why I have called for the last 30 years for abolishing school board systems. They are an illusion of democracy, as well as a protection racket for the empire builders who feed off their self-perpetuating industry, and a cruel hoax on parents.
I did come across literature from our School Board Association 20 years ago which trained new trustees by role playing. One took the role of an irate mother, with feathery hat and rolled up Enquirer in her hand, flouncing around….! There is our example of your “Wacko Mom Red Flag” stereotype.
Have attended two different school board meetings lately to reaquaint myself after 20 year absence from the school reform cause. Still the same bobble heads rubber-stamping establishment directives.
Why do you want to run for School Board?
Best, Tunya
Further comment from DEB Deb Andrews | E-mail: needhelpaskdeb@aol.com | URI: http://needhelpaskdeb.com | IP: 207.200.116.202 | Date: April 29, 2007
Tunya,
Thank you so much for the post today. Very well put.
Parents have no rights in schools today. There have been two court cases in the last year stating that the school knows best about curriculum for the child.
A school district in Klamath Falls used an attorney to look at their finances and a court ruled the public cannot get access to the findings due to attorney client protections.
The National director of school boards stated that school board members are not to think of themselves as arepresentative for their constituency.
When I spoke out about educational malpractice of my local district, they threatened me, (in writing)with a law suit.
What rights?