By Antonio D. French
Filed Thursday, March 30 at 11:48 AM
Superintendent Creg Williams, who has been given the benefit of the doubt my many in his first year at the head of St. Louis Public Schools, is now drawing criticism from many teachers for some of his recent decisions.
Some teachers believe that Williams is putting politics ahead of education in these last few days before the April 4 school board election. A memo was sent to teachers at Vashon High School today informing them that they would not be allowed to take any time off during the week before Election Day.
"Please be advised, that, per Dr. Clive Coleman, no vacation or PTO days can be approved during the MAP testing window. Black-out days are March 27 – April 28, 2006. There are no exceptions to this decision," said the memo.
The MAP testing date was recently moved up at several large schools, giving students and teachers less time to prepare for the test. With the support of Williams, several principals actually made Election Day the testing day, making it a very difficult choice for teachers who were planning to take a few hours off work to volunteer at the polls for parent candidates Peter Downs and Donna Jones. Both Downs and Jones were endorsed by the teachers union.
The memo also instructed teachers to have their students on their best behavior tomorrow morning -- "hair should be neat and your face clean," the memo said -- because Robbyn Wahby, an assistant to Mayor Francis Slay, will be escorting eleven "key supporters of Superintendent Creg Williams and St. Louis Public Schools."
Developing...
10 Comments:
The suggested clean-up of the natives is really insulting and paternalistic, reminiscent of the way of the old Belgian Congo.
11:57 AM, March 30, 2006
But since this means teachers won't be able to campaign for any candidate, including the incumbents, it seems fair to me.
And to be consistent, county office workers shouldn't be able to campaign either during the August election, despite their bosses mostly being the ones up for re-election.
12:00 PM, March 30, 2006
Paid time off is for workers to use as they wish. Changing MAP test dates to coincide with the election and to forbid workers from taking time off is despicable behavior.
I urge all teachers and district employees who wish to participate in the April 4 election to do so, regardless of the consequences imposed by Creg Williams and Co.
12:27 PM, March 30, 2006
Nope, sorry, but no employee can just do as he or she pleases, unless self-employed. If it worked your way, a lot of workers in any profession might take vacation when the work is heaviest, or the very same time they're most needed.
12:49 PM, March 30, 2006
Anoy #4, I can take time off (vacation) whenever I want at my job. Of course, there may be consequences if I take time off at certain times. But it's up to me if I want to take the heat for it.
I appeal to SLPS workers again...
Take the day off and work for the candidtae of your choice!!!
2:50 PM, March 30, 2006
One would think that they should be teaching on a tuesday???
3:30 PM, March 30, 2006
"county office workers shouldn't be able to campaign either during the August election"
Ha! Do you think for a minute that they will ever be banned from such campaigning?
7:42 PM, March 30, 2006
Why don't the tacher do their job -Teach on Tuesday. This epitomizes the problems with our teachers... their more interested in getting out of work than working to improve education.
8:50 AM, March 31, 2006
"Why don't the tacher do their job"
I agree. Your spelling ability shows that they have been slacking.
1:17 PM, March 31, 2006
STAND UP! WALK OUT! IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING...CHANGE GONE COME! WHAT BETTER TIME!
9:30 AM, April 02, 2006
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