In an e-mail message from Huff to employees, he said, "At the middle school, our eighth graders were issued IPads this year. As most of your know, I have an eighth grade daughter at South. I ask her about once a week how it is going. Last night, when we had that conversation, she talked about the "cool factor," how kids are doing great with them (not playing games, etc.) and how well the teachers are integrating the technology into their lessons."
Apparently, Huff's message did not get to East Middle School Principal Bud Sexson, who sent this message to his staff, "While dropping into classrooms thus far, I have observed students using games on their IPads.In the morning, a committee will create a new walkthrough form and it is not practical to come into a classroom and find a student playing a game then ask them if either they have been granted permission, is this down time, does this teacher allow this? You get the picture. Klista (district director of technology Klista Rader) says there should be NO gaming going on in classrooms so as Jason (Assistant Principal Jason Weaver) and I begin observations and walkthroughs, we hope to not see any students gaming."
If that's what Sexson wants, perhaps he and Jason Weaver should do their observations and walkthroughs at South, where apparently, according to the younger Huff, no gaming is going on; it is all business, all the time.
Of course, it is also cool.
Don't you just love 21st Century education?
5 comments:
There will not be one teacher left from the eigth grade up if they keep increasing the threat factor at the behest of their technological drones. They make it impossible to keep kids off inapproprate sites, then hold the teachers accountable. I'd like to see some of these jerks do what they are asking teachers to do. Of course, few at modot are even certified in secondary, so they have no idea what it is like in any regard.
I'm sure all eigth grade girls use terms like "integrating technology." That sounds about as real as the parent note from Glendale and the letter sent down from the Governor. Huff needs to quit assuming that all of us are dumber than he is and can't see what he's so clumsily trying to do with his empty praise. His actions speak way louder than his words. It's so little, and it is way, way too late to salvage this mess.
We who are working so much harder now than before the tornado, and who are earning not a dollar more, hope that Huff and his daughter enjoy their luxurious accomodations in the $600,000 house he built since the tornado hit. While Huff and family are so cozily ensconsed and enjoying their warm and fuzzy time, the rest of us are scrapping to get by. So please, Dr. Huff, spare us any more of your family time homilies. It's just too hard to take. Go back to ignoring us. It was more honest and comfortable for all involved.
Gee, now the public can see the "subtle" threats that the teachers live with now that technology has taken over the district. Yes, build that rapport, individualize your lesson plans, make sure you're engaging every student, get ready for Common Core, but yet, monitor over 30 screens at a time while handling your own discipline, because administrators are only there to make your life miserable and to carry out the wishes of the King and Queen of Modot.
I absolutely hate it. I'm one of the next 100 to go. We're only starting the fourth week of school, and I come home wanting to collapse every night. There is no way I will make it until May. The oppressive atmosphere combined with so little discipline and the lack of respect, put with not enough to really work with, and top it with that slap-in-the-face raise, and there is no reason to stay a minute longer. The Joplin District I grew up in is long gone.
Joplin teachers just need to get a bad case of the blue flu this year. It's especially contagious in tenured teachers, which granted is only about half the staff in Joplin these days. You don't have to feel guilty about hurting the kids. The administrators and your board are doing that every day. You teachers are the unfortunate middle men who always get the squeeze. Make them pay.
A good national media event about how life is in Joplin Schools since the tornado will cure a lot of what ails them. When people find out how bad it is since they made their donations and cared so much, the negative press will accomplish what your weak board cannot. You need to make your situation known. Don't take their crap.
Elementary buildings have the push not to have discipline referrals too. Not just a secondary issue.
I have a hard time laying my head on a pillow at night knowing that C.J. Huff's daughter isn't using IPads for their intended purpose: fun.
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