| Author | Message | ||
     ReallyTrying Citizen Username: Reallytrying Post Number: 716 Registered: 1-2003  |
So is it true? Has Renee Pollack resigned? If any of you have credible, fact-based info, not rumor or innuendo, I would love to hear it. Thanks! | ||
| annettedepalma Citizen Username: Annettedepalma Post Number: 421 Registered: 11-2001 |
Renee Pollack is still the Principal at CHS. | ||
| ReallyTrying Citizen Username: Reallytrying Post Number: 717 Registered: 1-2003 |
You can submit a resignation and still be principal. What I want to know is if she has resigned. | ||
| LibraryLady(ncjanow) Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3222 Registered: 5-2001  |
After I posted that "FACT", given to me by a friend who heard it from a friend, I was unable to verify it or find a link to it anyplace else. The Star-Ledger article in today's paper doesn't mention it either. I should never had posted something without checking its authenticity. | ||
| Rick B Citizen Username: Ruck1977 Post Number: 1042 Registered: 8-2003  |
it was probably hidden in order to help real estate in these towns sell this weekend. geesh... | ||
| Kiba Citizen Username: Radical_kiba Post Number: 73 Registered: 12-2005  |
No she has not resigned. Doctor Horoshack has however. :D But several of my teachers predict she might sometime soon. IT'S JUST A THOUGHT THOUGH. | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 3933 Registered: 7-2001  |
Kiba, I hope your quote is not correct. Any teacher who is talking to students about their bosses job status should not be employed. | ||
| Kiba Citizen Username: Radical_kiba Post Number: 75 Registered: 12-2005 |
parkbench87, They were just speculating. They gave no opinion on whether they wanted her to or not. As for being fired about speculation...well, the school has more important issues to tackle right now. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 804 Registered: 6-2002 |
Teachers shouldn't even be speculating this way in front of students. They are way out of line, and you students should call them on it. Suggest they use their time to teach you something instead. | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 4623 Registered: 5-2001  |
Proof that teachers use the classroom for more than teaching. Dispicable. | ||
| wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 2249 Registered: 5-2001 |
I appreciate the above student's honesty. But so many people posted here and said that in no way were the teachers acting anything but honorable and correctly - and any concerns the students had with Ms. Pollack were based on their own opinions - not influenced by the teachers. Oh well, I guess there's no tooth fairy either. I agree with Parkbench, Breal and ffof; discussing their boss' job status in front of the students is totally wrong. Respect goes two ways guys and you wonder why we're angry at your leadership and some of you as individuals? | ||
| Gordon Agress Citizen Username: Odd Post Number: 410 Registered: 8-2004 |
I agree with Wendy, ffof, breal, and Parkbench. | ||
| Jim McLaughlin Citizen Username: Jmclaugh Post Number: 61 Registered: 3-2005 |
I agree with Gordon. | ||
| Morrisa da Silva Citizen Username: Mod Post Number: 420 Registered: 12-2003 |
Quick, we need a new forum for this one. Everyone is agreeing | ||
| Gordon Agress Citizen Username: Odd Post Number: 411 Registered: 8-2004 |
I disagree. | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 1031 Registered: 10-2004  |
Sure in the black and white world the teacher is out of line. Now what if its an English or Social Studies class and they are discussing the walk out in terms of real world events? And what if the students themselves asked the question "Is Mrs. Pollack going to resign?"? Now its not so cut and dried is it? While I agree that the teachers should not be speculating to students on Mrs Pollack - as pure management one sided communications, in human terms I dont think its quite as bad as you have perceived it to be. | ||
| Jim McLaughlin Citizen Username: Jmclaugh Post Number: 62 Registered: 3-2005 |
I know for a fact that these matters are discussed in math class. | ||
| tjohn Supporter Username: Tjohn Post Number: 4180 Registered: 12-2001  |
It's very easy. Question: "Is Mrs. Pollack going to resign?" Answer: "It isn't appropriate for me to comment on that question." It's really simple. There is no gray area. | ||
| mjh Supporter Username: Mjh Post Number: 444 Registered: 5-2001 |
Inappropriate. There have been hints of these types of inappropriate discussions by teachers in many of the "Education" threads, and I really, really find it troubling. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 809 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mistake. An abuse. The teachers need to reel it in, and fast. | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 4625 Registered: 5-2001 |
They won't. The fishin's too easy. | ||
| breal Citizen Username: Breal Post Number: 811 Registered: 6-2002 |
Yeah. That's the abuse part. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 1424 Registered: 4-2004  |
I agree. | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2005  |
Woah...you're basing all your vehemence on what one student said. And, the student said that "teachers" (doubtful) said that she MIGHT resign. Not should. Doesn't really sound like soapboxing teachers rallying to captive audiences to me. Frankly, I'm a little put off by the tone of group hysteria concerning the hierarchy of principal and teacher being breached. "All hail the principal...or else you should be FIRED!" Boy, if I had a "boss" like that...  | ||
| Southorangemom Citizen Username: Southorangemom Post Number: 296 Registered: 6-2003 |
Respect is a two way street. One should respect the person in the position, but it also has to be given in return. My experience with Renee Pollack is that she can be charming one moment and screaming in your face the next. I don't care what title she has after her name, that kind of behavior does not create an environment where dialogue takes place or respect is shown for opinions of others. SouthOrangeMom PS While she can't be "voted" out of office by students, parents and taxpayers those who believe she is the wrong leader for this high school can make their voices known to the BOE. | ||
| Fruitcake Citizen Username: Fruitcake Post Number: 274 Registered: 9-2003 |
I've only seen the screaming in your face version. | ||
| Jim McLaughlin Citizen Username: Jmclaugh Post Number: 63 Registered: 3-2005 |
Shanabana, I'm not basing my opinion on what one student said. I've heard if from the mouths of my stepchildren and their friends. Unfortunately, it has been going on for at least a couple of years. Chris Robbins had to deal with to a lesser extent, but it accelerated after the cafeteria incident. I've also heard it from at least 2 CHS teachers who although they disagree with their colleagues, feel uncomfortable challenging them or their union leadership. BTW - I'm not defending Renee Pollack. I believe she needs to resign and I hope she does it sooner rather than later. However, than does not excuse the unprofessional behavior exhibited by SOME of the staff. | ||
| crabby Citizen Username: Crabbyappleton Post Number: 547 Registered: 1-2004 |
shanabana- where've you been? Over and over people have given evidence that this is happening based on what their kids say to them and their kids' friends. But some won't believe it. Then a student actually comes on and posts this, and some still don't want to believe it! Want more evidence? Did you watch the coverage on the news last week? The walkout is supposed to be all the kids' doing...ha! One of the biggest SOMEA naysayers was front and center on the camera. | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 294 Registered: 10-2005 |
Jim. Thanks for the explanation. Crabby. your name suits you. "Then a student actually comes on and posts this, and some still don't want to believe it!" The kid did not post anything that I find objection to at ALL. I'm very proud of our students who walked out. That's the spirit! I'll be voting in this BOE election, now that I have the issues down. If this principal is still around when I send my kids to highschool (granted that's years away) I'll have to think about another school. It's a shame, because the schools are what we moved here for, along with the (on average) respect for diversity. The respect of FREE SPEECH. Responsible teachers teach those values, IMO. | ||
| Gordon Agress Citizen Username: Odd Post Number: 412 Registered: 8-2004 |
I know nothing about Renee Pollack and I have no direct information about teachers talking about her with students. To the extent they are doing so, be it one teacher or one hundred, it should stop. And while saying "she might" could be different (or not) from saying "she should", this has become a loaded topic and teachers ought to stay away from it. "Respect is a two way street." This is a true fact of human behavior, but not a rule of conduct for the disrespected. One person's disrespect for another does not license disrespect in return; choosing to be disrespectful, on any excuse, is always rude, is always wrong, and always diminishes us. Again, I know nothing about this woman. Maybe she is as bad as you say, and maybe people's anger is well founded. But I'm never going to say that it is okay for someone to speak ill of a colleague, or to take pleasure in their misfortune. I might understand such things, but I'm not going to approve of it, and I don't think anyone else should either. | ||
| crabby Citizen Username: Crabbyappleton Post Number: 548 Registered: 1-2004 |
Shanabana- What a coincidence; your name suits you too! What the student reported is indeed objectionable, but not because she posted it, but because how it sheds a big bright light on what many have said for years. The issue is not whether we, as voters, like or dislike the principal. The issue is that there has been an ongoing (for YEARS) problem with teachers spending classroom time complaining about this or that to the students: their contracts, the money they make, the dislike of the principal, the stupid this, the can-you-believe that, the they-should-do-it-this-way, the sorry-I'm-out-today-kids-here-is-a-sub-because-I-just-can't-take-it-anymore, the I'm-so-miserable-aren't-you-too-you-know-strikes-can-be-very-effective. DOn't get me wrong, I have positive feelings about the strike. But something just smells - maybe the fish that breal and ffof alluded to. | ||
| Mandesha Marcus Citizen Username: Mandesha Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2005 |
i think Ms. Pollack basically treats the teachers as if they are children. She's condescending, and even though teachers don't say it, students know how they feel because we see the way she treats them (afterall, we're there). Teachers, as far as I’ve seen, don't comment on Ms. Pollack's position at the school publicly, but anyone who is in the school for seven hours, five days a week with them knows generally what they're feeling. That's just the nature of a community. I don't think, in any way, the teachers are out of line. As a student, I can honestly say I have had some amazing teachers at Columbia, MMS and Seth Boyden, who have taught me not only what is in the textbooks or guides, but life lessons. If you have not been in this school, in a classroom with these people, you can never understand. I respect my teachers, and I think that it is pretty obvious that they are not the problem. But again, I spend most of my time in Columbia and have a very different perspective. Also, I participated in the sit out, I watched my peers plan this event. It is the students who organized, who spoke out, and who attend these useless meetings. Last year also, it is the students. The least you can do is give us a little credit. We're very capable of letting out opinions be known. Manipulation not needed. | ||
| Peter G. Magic Citizen Username: Pmagic Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2005 |
It is much easier for many MOL posters who are aligned with the current board and administration to blame the teachers who are obviously discontent with Ms. Pollack than to accept the fact that both groups, teachers and students, are unhappy. Naturally when the students had a sit out, discontented teachers joined. That does not make them the organizers. No matter how many students come to MOL and post that this was organized by students to protest not having a voice in the new 8 period day, the Martin Luther King assembly, etc. - these same people will continue to say that this is just a ploy of the teachers. I will be very surprised if their candidates and Ms. Pollack are around after this year. | ||
| wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 2251 Registered: 5-2001 |
Peter, check out the above posts about this issue. While breal and Gordon can speak for themselves, I wouldn't at all say they are "aligned with the current board and administration." FWIW, I knew it was only a matter of time for someone to post this, if only as an example of the type of false and simple-minded posts which exist on this board. | ||
| Onyx Citizen Username: Onyx Post Number: 117 Registered: 10-2005 |
What a bunch of crap! This isn't elementary school. High school students have their own culture, peer groups, and beliefs. I believe some of you have forgotten what it was like to be in high school. They have to be highly insulted to read on MOL that their opinions are being molded by teachers, just because they have common grounds for being disatisfied with a certain principal. All you are doing is pushing them to get their parents to vote for Gleason, Payne-Parrish, and Eastman. Is that the result you are looking for? | ||
| wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 2252 Registered: 5-2001 |
We're talking about the inappropriateness of the high school teachers speculating about the principal's continued position IN FRONT OF THE STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSES Onyx. Not sure what you're (over)reacting to. If they're mistakenly insulted and "push their parents to vote for Gleason, Payne-Parrish, and Eastman" then as a thinking, sensitive community we're in big trouble. | ||
| Sandi and Paul Citizen Username: Momsandi Post Number: 72 Registered: 10-2005 |
I had two candidates picked out - Betheil and Brownlee - as I had posted earlier, but now I have changed to Gleason, Payne-Parrish, and Eastman. I wonder how many others have been switching their minds back and forth. Some of the posts on MOL (this is NOT a reflection on Wendy) have made me realize that I cannot align myself with the supporters of the incumbents. I am concerned that they are out of touch with today's youth and the impact that they should be having on their educations. I agree, Onyx, that parents will listen to high school students' opinions as they are the ones who are there and experience the whole educational process. I would take their opinions much more seriously than those of the teachers who are in arbitration for their contracts. | ||
| dave23 Citizen Username: Dave23 Post Number: 1606 Registered: 5-2001 |
A whole lot of hand-wringing over one fifteen-year-old's fairly vague comment. | ||
| Peter G. Magic Citizen Username: Pmagic Post Number: 94 Registered: 10-2005 |
No, Dave, this has been on several threads. The daughter of a previous board member even came on and gave her rationale for the sit out (the education thread which is now not up). Adults on MOL dismissed her as having been influenced by the teachers. I said that I would never vote for Gleason because of the way his wife, as a PTA president, handled the situation at South Mountain. Now I have to eat my words. I can vote for Mark and still be upset with his wife. | ||
| wendy Supporter Username: Wendy Post Number: 2254 Registered: 5-2001 |
I don't agree that the incumbents or "their supporters" are out of touch with today's youth. I don't agree that what ffof, parkbench, breal, Gordon or I said was hand wringing. And now I'm out of here and when I take a break from work I'll stay in the moderated Education forum where different opinions are backed up by intelligent analysis instead of sound bites. |
