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Schools are about togetherness not division
Published Sunday, May 11, 2008
Tall trophies and stacks of certificates welcomed a nearly 100-person crowd at Thursday’s Natchez-Adams School Board meeting.
And for a full hour community members, students, teachers and very proud parents watched as Superintendent Anthony Morris publicly honored 60 or more students, teachers and parents for a job well done.
The meeting was the first one of its kind in nearly four years, maybe more.
It was a welcomed change for most. And it meets the cry from a recently organized group who has made a name for itself by pointing out flaws, calling for change and demanding that Morris go.
But the Committee for Better Public Schools wasn’t present at the board meeting. They didn’t see that Morris had directly responded to one of their requests.
The committee was too busy preparing for its own meeting downtown.
State Superintendent Hank Bounds was invited to the committee’s meeting to talk about the Natchez schools.
Bounds preached a message of togetherness and community involvement, but he couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room.
Why would the Committee for Better Public Schools schedule a meeting for a time when the local superintendent and the school board couldn’t attend?
School board meetings are put on the calendar a year ahead of time. They are required by law to be publicly announced in advance, and changing the time would not have been a feasible option.
Bounds shouldn’t have agreed to come talk to the group without Morris present.
And the committee needs to quickly learn that togetherness doesn’t work when you are intentionally divided.
Strong forces working against each other will only make things worse for our children. Personal agendas won’t get us where we need to be. That will take working together, each person pulling in unison.
Comments
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 2:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Why would the Committee for Better Public Schools schedule a meeting for a time when the local superintendent and the school board couldn’t attend?"
Likely because the Committee wanted to be heard without an agenda being set for them. They wanted to speak to the boss without the subordinate there perhaps because they have enough sense to know the boss is responsible for the subordinate's actions and therefore has incentive for protecting the subordinate.
With the Board, the Boss, and the Subordinate all present the Committee would have been facing a larger number.
The Committee is representative of the people who are footing the bills in this "stakeholder" enterprise; the hand that gives is above the hand that takes so they should be able to talk to the boss about their concerns without distracting presence. After all, the Committee is the boss of the boss in this matter.
Bounds preached a message of togetherness and community involvement. How much listening did he do?
Morris says he has the best interests of the children at heart. If so he should quit dividing them into sub groups to be used for federal resources and treat them and their parents like people. He should leave all that global talk alone and focus on Adams County and live up to his promises and statements. If he is an educator, let him show that he can educate.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi EnKi. I agree totally with your post. (You almost always say it best) What more can I say other than it's a shame the kids, teachers, and certain faculty are trying to bring their schools up, while the red-tapers continuously keep throwing in the monkey wrench. These KIDS need recognition, not the folk who are handing out the certificates.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on May 11, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In the past, if citizens could not the get the attention of their electorate/officials, they have formed groups/associations to try effect change.
Hopefully, this is the intent of the Committee for Better Public Education!
We definitely need a better public school system. It should be so good that the private schools in the area go out of business.
JMO
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on May 11, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"to try effect change" should read "to try to effect change".
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ditto, Gary. I hope that's the true intent, as well. The Committee for Better Public Education obviously is trying to do what the electorate/officials have refused to do all along.
Posted by DSGB (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason the meeting happened when it did was because Bounds said that was the only time he could squeeze in a visit to Natchez to meet with the Committee. Also the fact that he and Morris have a history together and they met before the meeting makes me wonder if Bounds and Morris planned it like that to make the Committee seem like a rag tag group of citizens who are just out to make noise. It was the first meeting of its kind in four years because now Morris and the Board are trying to show that they are concerned about the welfare of the District. Why did it take the forming of this committee to get things back that Morris has taken away?
These attacks are not personal, the Democrat is making it personal when you only report half the story. We know you support Morris, that is very evident, but he is damaged goods no matter how you look at it. Its time for a change and its time for a change now!!!
Democrat, I want you to push to get the release of test scores and publish them quickly when they are released. If scores are better, I am sure the committee will ease off but someone still needs to watch the school board and Superintendent. If scores are bad, I want to see how you will justify the poor management of an entire school district....
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DSGB, what are the Committee's main complaints? And what does the Committee feel needs to happen to make things better?
Posted by DSGB (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EnKiKur, check your email. The committee is actually seeking help for anyone who wants to come up with viable solutions. Honestly, I believe that a new breath of fresh air needs to be breathed into the district. Its time to get someone here that can rally the entire community around making these schools better. Someone who is citizen friendly, business friendly, and interested in the well being of the kids and not the legislature surrounding it...If I may suggest this, get in touch with either Michael Winn or Dr. Benny Wright and they can fill you in better than I.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I got your email DSGB and sent one back. Thanks, the issues are well presented, clear, and reasonable. I think I will take your suggestion.
Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It truly amazes me to see how the ND can turn something ugly and bad out of things that are so innocent. If I read the article on Bounds' visit correctly, it was stated in the ND by their own reporter that Bounds' own office set the date for the meeting. The Committee For Better Public Schools was formed to help enhance the educational system not to hurt, demean, or hinder the progress of the schools.
All members of this committee are property owners with a vested interest in good public education. Many of the members are products of Natchez Adams Public Schools, and they know what it takes to have good schools.
Now, to set the record straight, please ND ask the school board why did they have a school board meeting honoring the choir , Power Lift team, etc. while the scholarships given out on this same date and time was scheduled at another location? Someone inside the school system not the Committee For Public Education had to have scheduled this program. Again, parents, the committee memebr, and other interested parties had to choose one or the other to attend. Sheduling problems have occurred all year because parents have children at several schools, and these educational leaders have PTA meeting, programs, MCTII night, etc. all scheduled on many of the same dates and time.
I am personally asking the ND to report the news fairly,correctly, and find out the facts before making judgements. There are two sides to every story.
Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know the word members is misspelled in the above post. Sorry for the error.
I would also like to add that The Committe for Better Public Schools was only formed after many, many, attempts were made to meet with the school board members and the superintendent and we were totally ignored. WE CAME IN PEACE! I would like to thank all of you, who have supported or are supporting our attempts to make our schools better.
Posted by Lilsister (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way, ND I am a member of this committee that you accused of not attending this great awards program that was held by the school board. Yes, I did not attend this meeting for several reasons. First, I was not aware that this awards program was happening, and secondly, I was at NHS presenting thousands of dollars in scholarships to very deserving students for academics. These scholarships came from organizations and people, who realize the importance of academics in our community. Unlike our school board and others we put academics first.
It appears that you are anti the Committe For Better Public Schools, but before you judge us take the time to get to know us. I have never in my entire life heard and read so many negative comments about people for trying to make something BETTER.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on May 11, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Although I am not a member of this committee, I have had the pleasure of talking to one of their co-founders at length about their concerns and I was at the public meeting they had with the Aldermen, Supervisors, and school board. They have LEGITIMATE concerns that bear investigating. The sad part is that there are many, many principals, teachers, and administrative staff who have the same concerns. Unfortunately this is not an administration that welcomes input from its employees. If they do offer a different opinion, they are ostracized, publicly humiliated, and eventually leave because their work enviroment is so uncomfortable. Loyalty for public schools and support of its adminstration is great as long as you (the Democrat) are getting the whole picture. But this editorial reeks of one-sided, head-in-the-sand mentality. I challenge you to meet with this group and publicize what their concerns are. Aren't you supposed to be unbiased? Prove it by documenting BOTH sides.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who is on this committee? We have some good teachers in Natchez. Somebody needs to get a beanstick and run morris out of town.
Discipline in the schools has to be established first. The first time a student gives attitude out they go. The thugs going around making babies need to be put in our new facility on Hwy 84. Also their parents.
After discipline is established the ones who want to learn may be able to do so.
No one on this board is as smart as marK robINson but I am qualified to teach at the college level. I'll never teach at a public school because the first time a thug gets in my face I will throat punch him. or her. Then find their parents and do the same.
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