Here you have it; something I have long suspected, namely that it is useless to attend schoolboard meetings. Up until now I thought it was perhaps only my local schoolboard's stance to ignore public input on important education issues, but it is likely true for most!
Wappinger schoolboard member John Lumia says:
"There are certain things that we cannot , as a schoolboard, change. There are certain things that are mandated to us...our function isn't exctly to evaluate the common core and pass judgment on it. Our job is to execute education and policy and government finances of the district, and we are kind of limited as to what we can do...we're very limited as to what we can do. So, hearing all these opinions is nice, it's great to see engaged members of the community, but there's not much we can actually do to influence the legislature from here. It's just a little far out of our reach here." Watch the segment here.
About his decision not to have a Common Core presentation by a parent he says,
"I wrestled with this issue for a while, and called fellow board members so I would have their opinion. I cannot vote to allow this presentation [because] we have..presentations given to the board, and they are done by administrators and staff, and they are done by experts, sometimes consultants that we hire for various projects, and we look to certain individuals for guidance, mainly experts like I say like consultants or administrators. Although I applaud a parent coming to the board, the appropriate method of addressing the board would be during the public comment session."
In case you missed his point; most schoolboard members do believe that it is the administrators, and consultants (working for the curriculum publishers) who are the experts. That is why they ignore research and statements by the real education and child development experts. It is the reason why schools have become so toxic for kids!
Lumia said:
"As to whether someone is qualified to provide this information. I frankly think that...only qualified individuals should be given that liberty."
Board president Ved Shravah BOE asked the superintendent if he can stop teaching Common Core in schools, if the board had voted against it. His answer: "We cannot stop it." Watch the segment here.
Ved Shravah:
"It is inconsequential what we say here...You can have 24 hour presentations; it is not going to change the fact that our children will have to learn Common Core Standards, they will have to take the tests. Our teachers have to teach, no matter what their opinion is, no matter what they think. It is mandated, it has to be done, and I don't see why we're having an argument around this issue." Watch the segment here.
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