Friday, May 03, 2013

JHS students support me in letter to Joplin Globe.

Two of my former students, Joplin High School students Laela Zaidi, a junior; and Rylee Hartwell, a sophomore, offered me support in a letter published Thursday on the Joplin Globe website.

Among the things they wrote in the letter:

Joplin administrators recently went against their own principles that they claim to enforce. Joplin Schools wishes to encourage engaged, creative methods of teaching through “21st-century learning.” Instead of celebrating Randy Turner’s accomplishments, he is being punished for his work outside of the classroom. If Turner is let go, the district will lose one of its most enthusiastic and dedicated teachers.

As former students, we have seen firsthand the benefits of taking one of the only writing intensive classes the district can offer.

Turner allowed open, interactive discussions within the classroom. He taught in an objective manner, but nevertheless, inspired students to express their views without judgment. Those who were lucky enough to attend East Middle School (formerly South Middle School) have continued to express their gratitude for having a teacher who truly cared. In fact, Turner’s class has inspired many students, such as us, to continue writing beyond our middle-school years in online publications, as well as print media. By taking Turner’s class we learned words have the power to make a difference in our community and the importance of activism. This is a lesson that hundreds of students have carried with them long beyond their time at Joplin schools.

If the school district fires Randy Turner it will be turning its backs on its students. By firing Randy Turner, Joplin Schools will contradict its own ideology and lose an inspiring teacher and friend.


I have truly been blessed to have such wonderful students in my class over the years.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

as your best student ever in life on earth... i appreciate these true words.

you are awesome.

Anonymous said...

If you want better schools you must have better school board members.

Anonymous said...

As a grandparent seeing the way Mr Turner. Inspired my grchildren I appreciate his ability to continue inspire ......

Anonymous said...

Hey folks, gues what? This district is hiring MORE TLC's. can you believe they are cutting title 1 reading teachers and hiring more DR. B DRONES, TLC's. they make around $44,500. Are you tired of OUR KIDS BEING GUINEA PIGS?? Then you need to go to:
Jeff Flowers jflowers@ilcenter.org. Been on since 2008, too long
Mike Landis. mlandis@cableone.net--been on since 2001, time to go
Anne Sharp auntanne@cableone.net--been on since 2000, time to go
Randy Steele. jrsteele@cableone.net Been on since 2008, too long
Dawn Sticklen dhsticklen@gmail.com
Jim kimbrough kimbrough-j@mssu.edu Been on since 2006, too long
Phil wilcoxon. pmwillcoxon @freemanhealth.com
Been on since 2008, too long
Rumor has it that Sharp and Kimbrough voted NO TO RENEW THE CONTRACT OF DR. B. they could possibly stay. All we need is 2 more to vote her "off the island".
It is time for parents and teachers to take a stand against administrators who bully teachers.
What is going to happen when there is a class action lawsuit against joplin schools and the school board, who knows this type of behavior goes on?
Why is going to happen board members who continue to vote YES for this terrible leadership?
I know that the board members who vote YES for Dr. B will also be "voted off the island".
Guess the board members need to decide which is better:
1. Dr. B and her cronies
2. Keeping good administrators and teachers and putting kids # 1 instead of Dr. B and friends.
The ball is your court school board, are you going to fumble it again?