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fringe
Citizen
Username: Fringe
Post Number: 831
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 12:52 pm: | 
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Martin Luther King Association
2004-2005 School Year
March 17, 2005
Student Demands
1) All statistics and demographics of the school district's educational results and the result showing the enforcement of school/district policies within schools must be delivered to the Martin Luther King Association by Wednesday, march 23 , 2005 and sent to homes of all student's by Friday, March 25, 2005.
Demands include:
a. AFG-Middle States results
b. Demographics and statistics of students who are sent to ISS
c. Demographics and statistics ( graduation rate, students who move up out of current level, average GPA, annual course passing rate, amount of students from each level who are sent to Montrose campus, amount of students from each level that drop out of school) of students from each level.
d. Demographics of the school district (South Orange/Maplewood)
e. The criteria that determine what level a student is put in and the process for moving a student up or down.
2) All teachers who are thought to be responsible for initiating the pending student walkout must be released of all pressures from the Administration and Board of Education. The Administration, Board of Education and community must recognize that the students have recognized the issues that exist within our schools and our district independent of any other body and that it is the students who have drawn the attention to these issues. A public apology concerning these issues is demanded.
3) Dates must be set for a series of community forums consisting of community members, school staff and members of the Board of Education revolving around the issues raised by the students. First two dates must be set before April 15th and be no more than seven business days apart and no less than four business days apart.
4) A meeting must be scheduled to be held within the next seven business days that will provide a area to facilitate the discussion on the setting of a date, before the end of this school year, for second AP testing dates this year and organizing "AP notification week" for next year.
5) A public apology during the community forum with the Board of Education for offensive language during the cafeteria incident and other offensive jesters thus specified.
[Signed by officers of]
MLKA, MOBCA & CHS Student Council
...........
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY
525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Peter P. Horoschak, Ed.D. 973-762-5600 X 1821
Superintendent FAX: 973-378-9464
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Quentin Williams, President, CHS-MLKA Club
Kelechi Anyanwu, Vice President, CHS-MLKA Club
Britney Crooks, Vice President, Messengers of Black Cultural Awareness(MOBCA)
Ugochi Opara, CHS Student Council President
Elana Cooper, CHS Student Council Vice President
FM: Peter P. Horoschak
DT: 18 March 2005
RE: March 17, 2005 Request for Information
I have been given a copy of the March 17, 2005 memo from the Martin Luther King Association, identifying five topics you wish addressed by the school administration (see attached). I am providing this written response today, knowing that you are planning an organizational meeting for this evening.
Most of the information you are requesting can be provided, depending upon the availability of the information in the school district’s database. If information is not currently available, I am willing to discuss the potential of collecting it in the spirit of cooperation, which you, as CHS student leaders, along with the Columbia High School administration, the school administration and the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education have demonstrated over the past several days. It behooves all parties to continue our dialogue in this cooperative spirit with respect to all parties’ concerns and responsibilities.
I am troubled that you continue to state your terms and conditions as a list of “demands” under threat of a student walkout. As Superintendent of Schools, I abide by Board of Education Policy #5700-Pupil Rights, which recognizes students’ right to freedom of expression. However, you must agree that Mrs. Pollack, along with other administrators, and I have provided you with opportunities for respectful discussions to enable you to voice your grievances and comment upon your respective concerns.
Listed in your “demands” are certain items that neither Mrs. Pollack nor I can agree to because of State laws.
Item 1 A – 1E: Under the NJ Open Public Records Act, and in accordance with Board Policy 8310-Public Records, the public is entitled to request and receive certain available school district data (see documents attached). The school district requires that a form be completed, and fees paid for such data; however, these will be waived. We will respond within seven business days (by Monday, March 28th), and if the data is not readily available, we will advise you if it can be compiled in such a way as to be useful to you and the approximate timeline in which we can provide it to you. We reserve the right to determine what information is disseminated, and in what format it is disseminated so the data accurately portrays what is presented. For instance, it is important to understand how the data under the AFG-Middle States process was compiled and for what purpose. If that information is to be widely disseminated, it will be done so with a full explanation of its meaning.
Under Item #1, you also “demand” that the information be delivered to you by March 23rd, and be mailed to students next Friday, March 25th. As I indicated above, we are permitted seven business days to respond. It is important that we agree on timelines for the collection and review of data prior to its dissemination to a wider audience.
Item #2: You request that “all teachers who are thought to be responsible for initiating the pending student walkout must be released of all pressures from the Administration and Board of Education…” and you also demand a public apology concerning these issues. Pursuant to State law, the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education are the only authorities that can determine if a school district employee is working within the prescribed boundaries of policy, law and professional responsibility. If an employee is believed to have violated either New Jersey State law or Board policy, or to have otherwise conducted him/herself outside the bounds of appropriate professional conduct, the employee shall be afforded an opportunity for due process to determine if this is the case. An outside organization cannot supersede the legal responsibilities vested with an elected governing body.
As I have conveyed to you in our meetings up to this point, I respect your recognition of issues that directly impact you. Board of Education members, Mrs. Pollack and I have agreed to address your concerns and to bring them to resolution. However, I will not enter into a dialogue and serious effort to resolve your concerns upon the condition that I apologize for matters that are of broader community concern; nor will I request any other district employee or Board member to do so. Your trust that Mrs. Pollack and I, along with elected officials of the Board of Education, will work with you in good faith is imperative. I assure you that no member of the school district administration is set out to work against you.
Item #3: I concur that community forums to address your issues are appropriate and would be useful. Furthermore, I believe the participation of your respective representatives in the district’s Strategic Planning Process will prove to be most productive, as its goals encompass many of your concerns. However, dates and times of community forums must be mutually agreed upon, as the process is already underway, and the Board desires to meet its pre-approved timelines to expedite the process.
Item #4: Mrs. Pollack is willing to meet with you during the week of March 21st to discuss your concerns regarding AP qualifying testing dates this Spring and how information on the AP process will be organized and disseminated for next year.
Item #5: As discussed in paragraph 8 above, you must concede that demanding a public apology is inappropriate, and should not be viewed as a condition of productive discussion. During our discussions earlier this week, as well as during the assemblies on Tuesday morning, I thought that we had moved beyond this point. I am dismayed that you continue to accuse Mrs. Pollack of wrongdoing, relative to the CHS cafeteria incident in 2003 and other “offensive jesters “(sic) which remain unspecified. I respect your right to raise legitimate concerns and I admire your determination. In return, I expect your consideration and understanding of our capacity to organize forums and deliver information in a timely manner. It is important that our dialogue continue on a tone of good faith and with mutual respect.
Mrs. Pollack and I remain ready to meet with you to continue these discussions.
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John Davenport
Citizen
Username: Jjd
Post Number: 468
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 1:40 pm: |
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I have three points to make.
(1) First, I'd like to praise the MLK club for
"asking all students in support of this initiative to honor the dress code, which is similar to that of what you would wear on a job interview." In my judgment, this would do a lot to improve the atmosphere of academic rigor and seriousness at the high school. Over time, it might help change attitudes towards study and the value of academic achievement that would help more students of all races move into higher-level classes.
(2) Progressive candidates for the school board will support this crucial initiative, I think. But the current incumbents up for re-election on the Board will certainly not. Moreover, they will vote to reappoint Peter Horoschak, and will support him when he gives tenure to Ms. Pollack. Everyone who sympathizes with what the MLK society is trying to achieve (which includes me), should think seriously about this before they assume that a vote for Jasey and Miller is a vote for the MLK goals of improving academic achievement for minority students. That improvement begins with a more rigorous curriculum in elementary schools, which Jasey and Miller have rejected. If you agree with the MLK goals, you should NOT vote to re-elect the incumbents.
(3) The MLK society should make clearer what kind of 'de-leveling' it has in mind. When 6th grade language arts was de-leveled, despite my urging, the Board of Education did not require that the new class (combining former levels 3 & 4) all be held to the same rigorous standards of the former level 4 class. Mila Jasey did not support an amendment making this requirement, proposed by Greg Betheil. This is what I call FIXED RIGOR de-levelling: all students are expected to perform up to the prior highest level criteria, and are graded accordingly. But without this principle, de-levelling can simply mean watering down the academic rigor of the class for everyone: everyone get the level 3 curriculum, with level-3 grading measures etc. Then de-leveling entirely fails to achieve its purpose. Student previously stuck in level 3 without adequate opportunity to move up are STILL stuck. Student previously challenged in level 4 are no longer challenged -- and thus become bored, alienated, likely to act out -- or their parents simply remove them to private schools. Then the result is a less racially diverse school with more students getting essentially level 3 education with a nicer label.
Thus I call on the Martin Luther King Association publically to declare support for FIXED-RIGOR de-levelling only. This is absolutely crucial for debate on this issue to advance. The MLK club should also demand a flexible elementary reading curriculum that is skills-focused an in accordance with the NJ State Core Curriculum Content standards requiring direct instruction in soudning out words. This should help more students avoid the need for remedial assistance in Project Ahead. Remember: reading problems in early grades are the harbinger of being behind in academic performance throughout one's school career! |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 1901
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 4:11 pm: |
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"The MLK club should also demand a flexible elementary reading curriculum that is skills-focused an in accordance with the NJ State Core Curriculum Content standards requiring direct instruction in soudning out words. This should help more students avoid the need for remedial assistance in Project Ahead. Remember: reading problems in early grades are the harbinger of being behind in academic performance throughout one's school career!"
John,
Why do you continue to invent what NJ State Core Curriculum standards say about phonics?
It seem you want to present a narrow interpretation of the actual words in order to misrepresent how our reading program follows State Standards. In the News Record you said that the Core Standards specified synthetic phonics which they do not. Now you are saying they specify "instruction in sounding out words." I read through the Core Standards and I don't see that listed anywhere.
The standards mention decoding and teaching kids to figure out words from context. Our kids get plenty of that while learning to read and in kindergarten and first grade they learn invented spelling (phonic through spelling), which is nothing other than SOUNDING OUT WORDS while you try to write them.
So what's the problem, John?
Here's a link to the standards--
http://www.state.nj.us/njded/cccs/s3_lal.htm#31
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tulip
Citizen
Username: Braveheart
Post Number: 2137
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 4:20 pm: |
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Sorry to barge into this discussion, but from the cccs:
In early reading instruction (preK-2), children need rich experiences with oral language and learning about sounds, letters and words, and their relationships. Phonemic awareness, knowledge of the relationships between sounds and letters, and an understanding of the features of written English texts are essential to beginning reading. Direct systematic phonics instruction enables many students to develop their knowledge of phonics, and provides a bridge to apply this knowledge in becoming independent and fluent readers. Systematic phonics instruction typically involves explicitly teaching students a pre-specified set of letter-sound relations and having students read text that provides practice using these relations to decode words (National Reading Panel, 2000).
nan: From your citation: this is about sounding out words. Letter/sound correlations are also described as "sounding out words." Is there a difference? |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1705
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 6:55 pm: |
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Thanks Fringe for posting the demands and response. Frankly, I see the tentative beginning of a dialogue that has the potential for positive results.
I have only one piece of advice for the MLKA. Do not allow yourselves to be manipulated by adults, whether members of the faculty, administration, BOE, candidates for the BOE,or MOL posters, who may have their own agendas. |
Concerned07040
Citizen
Username: Concerned07040
Post Number: 39
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 7:14 pm: |
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I also want to applaud the students for their brave and valiant efforts.
The issue of race at CHS has been swept under the rug by Ms. Pollack and Dr. Horoschak, despite numerous attempts by staff and students [both in and out of Student Council] to make it a public discussion.
Concerned07040
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Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 836
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 7:20 pm: |
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anon:
I have been trying to confirm whether a teacher advising the group is a party to the suit.
If so, well, we will see what we will see. |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1708
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 7:40 pm: |
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Reflective: If you mean the suit wherein MOL was named as a defendant, the actual "parties" to the suit are the two ex-students who are the named plaintiffs and the numerous defendants. Do you mean an "instigator" of the suit? |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 1902
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 7:54 pm: |
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Tulip,
Yes, students can also learn about letter sound correspondence through chunking of words and other larger units of letter combinations. This is all based on what the National Reading Panel found and that stated that there was no difference in the type of systematic phonics used.
Basically, I'm complaining that John is, as usual, trying to misrepresent our curriculum to grease the skids for his BOE candidates. That's what's really going on here. He posted the same post on three threads. See Brian O'Leary's excellent response on another thread for details. |
Nathan Winkler
Citizen
Username: Nathanwinkler
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 11:59 am: |
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I am the student who raised the importance of hard work and showing up on time at the MLKA assembly.
I did not and would never use the phrase "you people". The meeting was video taped and as soon as the TV studio makes the tape available I will be able to prove this.
I did use the word "you" implying that I am separate from the students I was talking to, specifically the leadership of the MLKA who sponsored the assembly. This is because I would never consider myself part of a group of students who would use the phrase: "These are our demands" and threaten the school if they are not met.
I would never consider myself part of a group that pulls the race card and paints with such a large brush. Are there a lot of problems at CHS? Of course. Does that mean that the "school” is "racist"? Certainly not.
By saying the school is racist the MLKA leadership implied that all of the teachers I've had, black and white, which have shared tremendous knowledge with me are racist.
By saying the school is racist the MLKA leadership implied that its alumni and students were racist.
Accusing Columbia High School of racism is a disgusting overstatement that clouds many real issues. That is why I used the word "you" because listening to the MLKA leadership during that assembly left me burning with anger at the damage they were inflicting on the school I love.
--Nathan Winkler CHS Class of 2005
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Analog01
Citizen
Username: Analog01
Post Number: 60
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 1:25 pm: |
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First - it seems clear to me that the MLKA is orchestrating their demands to coincide with the frivolous lawsuit that is now pending.
Second - I applaud Mr. Winkler for speaking up so eloquently to clarify what has been misrepresented by the MLKA and others on this message board. |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 553
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 2:10 pm: |
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analog01 - it is not clear to the rest of us. Please explain why it is clear to you. Please also explain how the MLKA misrepresented Mr. Winkler's comments.
Please note that the list of requests is not signed solely by MLKA officers but a vice-president of MOBCA and the ranking officers of the Student Council. Are these organizations all orchestrating their demands based on the lawsuit?
I've noticed that several people, including Dr. Horoschak to an extent, have been highly critical of the 'demands' made by these student representatives. Let's look past the semantics of that word; how about we replace it in all cases with 'request' and take a fresh look at what the students are trying to say?
Finally, I must repeat that race is an issue at Columbia. Whether it be actual racism or percieved racism, it is important for the community to realize that many students feel very strongly about these issues. Dismissive attitudes toward student grievances have not, do not, and will never help the situation. The students are willing to have an open communication; the best course is to aid it in any way we can. |
LibraryLady(ncjanow)
Supporter
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 2325
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 3:17 pm: |
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Eloquent statement, Nathan. Beautifully written, logically presented. Obviously written by someone who was well educated by our school district.
Thank you for presenting your view point.No hearsay or second guessing. Nice to hear from the original source. |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1713
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 4:26 pm: |
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Thank you, Mr. Winkler for clearing up certain facts. for your articulate presentation of your point of view and for your defense of CHS. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 839
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 8:09 pm: |
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albatross
How about the mlk, the mobca and the student council changing the word from DEMAND to Request?
Then the appropriate responses can start.
To me it's disingenuous for you to suggest to posters to ignore the word Demand, and thus dilute the reponses. They wrote the letter, they should change the word. You should advise them to change the word.
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John Davenport
Citizen
Username: Jjd
Post Number: 471
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 9:28 pm: |
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Thanks Tulip. Non-synthetic phonics (chunking etc.) is not "systematic" in the sense that this term is used in NRP publications. If anyone would like to read my rejoinder to Nan Elkins's last editorial (which the News-Record did not want to print, denying the usual rejoinder privilege) I'd be happy to send it. I don't want to burden MOLers with more of this stuff. |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 556
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 9:36 pm: |
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I'm sorry I wasn't clearer - it's not that I think that the responses should be diluted, it's that I think people are reacting more to the word 'demand' than to what the students are actually saying. |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 1914
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 11:05 pm: |
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Warning: continuing thread drift:
John, I'd never heard of "chunking" until my kid came home from 1st and 2nd grade with the term. It IS taught in our schools, along with "sound it out". The problem with "sound it out" for some kids (mine) is that they become overly dependent on it for spelling. So now I've got a kid who is a great reader and a great comprehender but a not-so-great speller. I assume/hope that as she reads more the familiarity will correct the spelling errors but I've heard from some adults that's not necessarily the case. BTW she does just fine on the weekly spelling tests. She can definitely memorize the words for each week. But she doesn't retain it and falls back on "sounding it out" which makes her writing not nearly as good as her thinking. Also, she had plenty of phonics in preschool. It's not the be-all and end-all of reading and writing. It's just one more tool of many.
Cathy |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 1907
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 5:56 am: |
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Sorry for the thread drift, but I need to correct John Davenport's inaccurate definitions.
The NRP report defined systematic phonics as follows:
The hallmark of systematic phonics approach or program is that a sequential set of phonics elements is delineated and these elements are taught along a dimension of explicitness depending on the type of phonics method employed.
The report also described various types of systematic phonics. none of which was shown to be superior to others. Here's a partial list of types studied in the NRP, including John's preference, Synthetic, which blends single letters and some that use what is termed larger unit phonics (Analogy, Analytic, etc.) that blend larger chunks.
Analogy Phonics Teaching students unfamiliar words by analogy to know words (e.g. recognizing that rime segment of an unfamiliar word is identical to that of a familiar word, and then blending the known rime with the new word onset, such as reading brick by recognizing that -ick is contained in the known word kick, or by reading stump by analogy to jump.
Analytic Phonics - Teaching students to analyze letter-sound relations in previously learned words to avoid pronouncing sounds in isolation.
Synthetic Phonics- Teaching students explicitly to convert letters into sounds (phonemes) and then to blend the sounds to form recognizable words. |
ladyrunner
Citizen
Username: Ladyrunner
Post Number: 39
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 3:15 pm: |
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Something John said is worth repeating. Board member Jasey has supported the superintendent in every bad decision he has made. She helped get us to this point of "student demands".
Voting to re-elect her would not support the goals of the MLKA. Re-electing her would re-elect MORE OF THE SAME. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 391
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 4:03 pm: |
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Go, Nathan.
Alb (or anybody) - what is MOCBA? |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 557
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 7:39 pm: |
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MOBCA stands for Messengers of Black Cultural Awareness. I believe it functions along similar lines as the Italian Cultural Club, but in all honesty, I am not familiar with any of Columbia High School's cultural organizations. I believe that this particular one is fairly new. |
Analog01
Citizen
Username: Analog01
Post Number: 61
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 10:29 pm: |
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get real, Albatross. The "demand" thing is ridiculous. It is so blatantly designed to coincide with the lawsuit. MOBCA???? Sounds like a racist organization to me. |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 105
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 8:49 am: |
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Coincidence with the lawsuit? Thats just what a coincidence is right?
The 'demand thing' as you put it is a perfectly understandable negotiating tactic done by high school kids who do not know where their limits are. Its obvious that they can't 'demand' anything since they are not in control. But their 'demand' is a serious request with the power of protest backing it up. That threat and only the seriousness of that threat is the reason for the action taken by the principal and the superintendent.
Nothing ever is accomplished within a beaurocracy without an impetus. If they were to just send a note requesting each of those points it would not have been taken seriously and would have been dropped for other 'priorities'.
As for whether the MLK club is being driven by adults or students - we dont know. Therefore speculation is pure fiction. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7967
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 8:57 am: |
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Hoops, among the demands is one for amnesty (for lack of a better word) for their advisors. I think that this gives more than a little credibility to the speculation of faculty leadership or at least involvement. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 514
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 9:32 am: |
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Analog01,
Your opening yourself up to some serious debate with that remark. If you are not familiar with the organization…do not label it as a "racist organization". |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 106
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 9:35 am: |
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Bob K - I could argue that it means that the leadership of the MLK association have foresight and want to prevent any of their decisions and actions from harming any teachers. It is obvious that they have had interaction and discussions with adults on the matter, however it is not necessary that there is adult manipulation and/or direction being given behind the scenes. Therefore unless you have a credible witness or an admission from a participant I suggest that speculation is fiction. |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 558
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 1:10 pm: |
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"get real, Albatross"
I'm not the one throwing unbacked accusations at every organization that says something I disagree with. You are, and so far all you have to show for it is meaningless bluster. If you have accusations to make, you'd better be able to back them. If not, then don't waste our time.
If I'm too dumb to comprehend what you're saying, then maybe you'd better spell it out for me, huh? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7968
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 1:18 pm: |
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Hoops, stop writing in the passive voice, it really isn't your style. 
As time goes on who did what to whom will come out. Only time will tell.
One way or another I think the MLK club brought up a lot of good points and brought to the surface some issues that have been smoldering for quite some time. |
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