One of the principles I have for this blog is to let people speak. My analysis of that rhetoric often comes later. I’m going to keep to that pattern regarding yesterday’s event: “The Future of the Camden Public School System: Worst to First — Can it Happen?” So much to say, but let’s start with voices and media coverage:
There is a ton of coverage, including this piece by Blue Jersey talking about the Gary Frazier, George Norcross confrontation, the Superintendent’s Op-Ed (check out the comments), pictures and thoughts from April Saul about the challenges faced by activists in the city, these videos by people attending the protest, and much, much more.
That’s the coverage and videos. Analysis to come.
Photo via April Saul. See her City Invincible facebook page.
Share it!
Welcome back! I’ve been waiting anxiously for your post after the recent events you highlighted. You are a respected academic here in Camden-where we both reside. I look to you to help me and others see beyond the subterfuge and spin presented by CCSD leaders. Simply put, I wouldn’t trust them to walk my dog. (!) Currently, I am part of a group of 60-100 plus mostly senior teachers that were served with a “CAP” aka a Corrective Action Plan this month. While I have been rated as an “effective” teacher the past two years, I misplaced my SGO (Student Goal Objective report) that no one reads and plunged into the “Partially Effective” danger zone. Now, my tenure is on the line and I am facing a real life firing squad. It is well-known that CCSD evaluators are encouraged to score low and I fully expect it. I honestly believe this is part of a master plan to jettison teachers with 10 plus years experience like myself and eventually destroy the local union.
I see the new teachers at Camden High, mostly young and Caucasian, but I don’t expect to see them for very long. I predict that most of them will eventually move on due to the low pay, zero respect, and crushing work hours.
As for me, I returned this year to a new, much smaller classroom lacking in the basic technology I had in previous years to teach technology classes. I didn’t even have a chalkboard! Is this a district that is moving forward??
After Vida exposed the two-tier school system at Bonsall Elementary recently, this “upstairs-downstairs” arrangement is in plain sight. Public school bad. Renaissance school good.
In any event, I apologize for the length of this post. Clearly, I have been forced to risk my career by making teaching my priority. For me, there is no other choice.